The oil painting laid flat on the canvas looks just like an ancient painting recently bought at a high price from a gallery; not to mention swelling or damage, even the paint on it is still vibrant.

It merely has the inevitable cracks of an ancient painting's paint, which not only doesn't diminish its value but rather makes it appear more like an antique.

"Could it be that even this painting is an Ocean Treasure?"

Inspect carefully.

The main subject of the painting is a ship slowly capsizing, to be more precise, it's a Flute Ship that was very popular on the Old Continent 300 years ago.

Of course, it wasn't popular because of its outstanding performance.

It was because, back then, import duties in various countries were levied based on the deck area of ships. The Flute Ship had a very narrow deck but a wide hull, clearly a clever tax-avoidance design.

Moreover, the vessel's design (specifically referring to its rigging) was relatively simple to operate, requiring fewer crew members compared to other ship types. So, during a certain period, these merchant ships thrived due to their operating costs being only half that of other ship types.

However, the design with inward-tilting gunwales also made the ship's center of gravity too high, resulting in a large turning radius, making it easy to capsize and having very poor maritime performance, unsuitable for open sea voyages!

And then there's the most peculiar point...

The ship in the painting vaguely resembles the battered wreck lying on the flat terrain here.

Of course, a painting is after all not a photograph, and its details are generally handled in a mediocre fashion; even Aiven's "Data Visualization" offers no strong reference significance.

But at least it's certain that they are both ancient Flute Ships.

"A painting depicting a shipwreck salvaged from a sunken vessel?

Moreover, if it weren't for this real ship here, and if I hadn't personally salvaged it, I would have surely thought this was some kind of ancient antique!"

Yet its impeccable exterior reveals it!

Aiven quietly activated his Spiritual Vision, and that Extraordinary Spiritual Light, completely different from the hidden nature of Ocean Treasures, flickered with nauseating wavelengths—black-gray, marinade green, bloody red.... In short, a mixed pattern of various unpleasant colors, gloomy yet tumultuous.

He slowly withdrew the hand he was about to extend to touch it, frowning as he looked at the still-present Hilus soldiers:

"Who discovered this painting earlier?"

All the soldiers in the ranks looked at each other, yet not one stepped forward.

"Hmm?"

Aiven immediately sensed something amiss; these guys couldn't possibly defy or conceal his orders.

Unless no one had touched the painting or the person who did had already...

Turning back to the painting, Aiven now looked at it as if he were gazing at a rattlesnake spitting venom, unconsciously taking a few steps back.

Tap.. tap..

Unrelated to how powerful they might be, it's purely an instinct of avoiding risk and harm.

Soon enough.

"Report, Sir! Jeremy is missing!"

The soldiers quickly counted their number and indeed found a companion had mysteriously disappeared.

None of them knew where he had gone.

His last appearance in someone else's sight was when they finished gathering loot and reformed the ranks.

Two soldiers assured Aiven that the soldier named Jeremy was just beside them, but no one noticed anything unusual before Aiven started asking questions.

In an instant.

Although the sunlight remained bright, everyone felt a chill at the back of their necks, as if an icy invisible person was perched on their back, breathing down cold air...

One by one, their eyes wandered around, fearing that something eerie here might quietly make them disappear too.

At this moment.

Nearby, Milan noticed the anomaly, put away the "Storm Bottle," and approached Aiven.

After hearing his account of the discovery.

He took out his Crystal Ball, fiddled with it for a while, and then, with a frown, tentatively guessed: "Shadows, mist, mandalas, bleeding treasures... could this be a 'Cursed Object'?"

"A Cursed Object?"

Presently, Aiven was no longer the rookie he once was; he naturally knew what a "Cursed Object" was.

Commonly, "Cursed Objects" generally refer to items that bring misfortune.

They are often valuable treasures like jewelry and art pieces, and anyone who collects or even simply touches them will encounter varying degrees of bad luck, with bizarre injuries, deaths, or supernatural disappearances being the most common outcomes.

One of the most famous "Cursed Objects," even known to many ordinary people.

That is the world's oldest and largest diamond: "Bright Mountain."

The mere consequences of deaths and supernatural disappearances pale in comparison; they are nothing compared to it because the disaster it brings to its owner is—National Destruction!

According to legend, it is both a symbol of power and wealth and the root of bloodshed and death; only the most powerful individuals (like a Monarch) are qualified to obtain it, but they will ultimately lose their power because of it!

Many years ago, a Chieftain of the Southern Continent snatched it from an unknown Temple of the Loa, and ever since, strife, blood, and misfortune accompanied its owner.

From the Southern Continent to the Old Continent, it has already led to the collapse of a double-digit number of Principalities and nations!

Now it is set on the crown exclusive to the Pope of the "Dawn" Church. It is unclear whether it is due to the might of the True God or the Pope not having a country of his own, but the vicious curse finally ceased.

Relieving many Monarches of different countries with a silent sigh of relief.

There is also another extremely fearsome "Cursed Object," one that the Wizards and Extraordinarys speak of with dread, existing within the infamous Curse School.

It is the culmination of their final creation and ultimate knowledge, known as the gemstone "Black Orlov." Said to be the source of all curses in the world, an insoluble curse, one that even a Demigod cannot resist!

Of course, no one has ever seen the latter. It's very possible that the "Cursed Object" is still lingering at the Mysterious Source, and hasn't been manifested by them at all.

It's just them spreading rumors to intimidate foreign enemies.

However, any kind of "Cursed Object" must be handled carefully.

Because curses are the most unreasonable things.

If an object bearing a curse is destroyed, whether the curse will disappear, transfer, or even erupt on the spot is unpredictable.

Even sending it to the Church for purification might not work.

Aiven felt like he had taken on another hot potato this time; the antiques he collected didn't even cover his mental damage fees.

"Why don't we just put it back on the ship and sink it into the sea again?"

Then Milan came up with an idea.

"Alright..."

Aiven thought for a moment and had no better solution, so he nodded and accepted Milan's suggestion. As long as it didn't cause trouble on his territory, let it haunt whoever it wants.

He was about to order the soldiers to send this spooky thing back to the ship.

However, this eerie oil painting underwent a new change.

The flute ship in the painting completely sank down, and a young man in Hilus military uniform started floating up, gradually approaching the surface of the painting.

"Ah! That's... that's Jeremy, he's gone into the painting!"

Someone in the lineup exclaimed.

And then they saw.

As if behind a thick layer of tempered glass, the young soldier painted with oil colors was shouting silently, his hands continuously pounding on the boundary between the two-dimensional and three-dimensional worlds.

As if shouting, "Let me out! Let me out!"

This eerie scene didn't spur any rescue intention from his companions, instead, they all took another step back.

Especially seeing that oil-painted face press close to the canvas trying to get out, even Milan standing nearby shivered a bit.

Swoosh—

Seeing this, Gary was even more on high alert. In one step, he swiftly moved to the forefront of the two and drew his sword, pointing it at the oil painting.

What should we do?

This thing was already strange, and now no one dared to touch it. Touching it might get someone silently trapped inside, turning into that ghostly appearance, which is worse than death.

However, Aiven was not scared either, instead, he showed a slight understanding, took out a silver dagger from the "Magic Pocket," and stepped forward.

Swish! Swish!

He gestured twice at the painting, the tip of the dagger almost cutting into the canvas.

"Hey, you inside! Want to come out and chat?"

This scene also looked quite eerie.

Speaking to this oil painting, but it wasn't that Aiven's mind was deranged under its influence.

Rather he confirmed something from the sudden change; this painting has its own consciousness and understands their conversations.

Moreover, "it" strongly didn't want to be thrown back into the sea!

"Oh, you might not recognize this dagger.

Don't be fooled by its ordinary appearance, it's the 'Rune Silver Dagger·Demon Breaker' made by the 'Starry Night Order,' highly effective against Resentful Spirits, Evil Spirits, and other spiritual beings.

Truly an ideal choice for journeys and adventures, a necessity for killing and robbing.

It's said to even repel Evil Spirits, or hurt their core concepts, you wouldn't want to try, would you?"

As the words fell.

The struggling youth in the painting paused slightly, then continued to pound at the invisible barrier as if he didn't understand Aiven's words at all.

"This..."

Of course, Aiven didn't have another "Demon Breaker," the only one he had was used to obtain the "Dust of Evil Spirits," he just wanted to bluff it.

However, the consciousness hiding inside seemed a bit dull probably because it hadn't seen daylight for centuries, but it had an instinct to disguise itself; it was indeed a "Cursed Object"!

Among the Extraordinary, there's a saying: "Never trust anything that thinks for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain!"

Scratching his head, about to find another way to force the "brain" in the painting out.

"Kaka!"

Kaka, who had been hiding in Aiven's shadow, suddenly sprang out and turned into a two-dimensional existence, diving into the painting before he could react.

Soon the painting ceased to be silent, a sound like boiling water could be heard.

Gurgling...

The image blurred and distorted into various death scenes from different eras and people, like spilt and constantly stirred dyes.

Then.

An old man's mumbling voice suddenly emerged:

"Ah! Stupid lizard, get off me! You're stepping on my foot!"

Moreover, every word used was in a different country's language, a single short sentence spoken in eight different languages.

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