CH 105 Visitor From The Sea

In came the tall and thin wandering painter Clark, who should, of course, be called Mr. Court Painter by now.

Together with Charles, who came to Metzl Castle, was this Mr. Painter.

Back then, he received the appreciation of the King because of a painting, and the news that he was appointed as the court painter of Legrand spread quickly. The painters of the great aristocrats were so jealous that they criticized his paintings as desecrating art.

But to his delight, many people traveled to Koszoya's town hall to admire his painting.

Charles didn't stop them either. As if it was God's compensation for him, as much ridicule and criticism as he once received, he would receive as much praise now——there were even many people who had begun to learn the new painting techniques from him.

Nothing could make him happier than this.

Compared with the first time he met the King, Mr. Clark was in better condition——at least his clothes were much cleaner and tidy.

However, the King was slightly surprised when he saw him.

"What's this? Could it be that our huge Legrand really can't afford to support a court painter?" The King asked Charles in surprise.

Clark still looked as exhausted as if he was about to keel over suddenly, his face as pale as a vampire's.

Charles was also stunned: "Clark…..?"

Clark bowed again and again to express his apologies, and he hastily explained that he had been struck by a new inspiration these days, so he had to draw that painting no matter what. During this time, in the inn, he had been completely taken over by this.

"Then let us admire your masterpiece."

The King, always tolerant of his geniuses——or madmen——forgave the painter his faux pas.

The first oil painting was erected carefully by the attendants, and Clark revealed a faint hint of pride on his face.

This one painting was nearly two-thirds the length of the entire room.

It was the "Night of the Plague in Koszoya" that the King ordered him to paint.

The King once again confirmed that Clark was destined to leave his mark in the history of art. He was a genius, no doubt about it.

The theme of the painting "Night of the Plague" was originally despair, and the tone was depressing and sad. But in contrast, Clark had attributed such bold and bright colors to the painting that it could be called brilliant and intense.

The theme of the painting was the light and agile Walway pirate ships. Pirates with cloth strips tied on their heads stood on the decks, holding a sword in one hand and hanging onto a cable in the other. Bright flames gushed out from the dragon-shaped metal nozzle of the pirate ship's prow, and the flames swept across the deep sea, reflecting the entire sea area a brilliant gold.

The golden brilliance that was only used on saints in the past was plated on those free and unrestrained pirates this time. They stood free and fearless on the bow of the ship, like bronze statues carved by time. In front of them, the plague ships looked so dim, behind them was the majestic and thick city wall of Koszoya, and under the city wall were the Rose knights standing like shields.

"The King and His City" was a hymn that belonged to the King only, but it was not that the praise given towards kings had not appeared before. But this "Night of the Plague in Koszoya" was completely deviant, and the protagonist of the painting was that of ant-like ordinary people.

They were just some pirates, no more significant than the most ordinary of folks.

They used their own flesh and blood to fight against the terrible plague ships to protect an ancient city. So the painter froze the moment when their brilliance was at their highest, and engraved the moment of their heroism. In the face of these fearless heroes, even the plague became a supporting role. From then on, people would always remember that in that disaster, it was the power of insignificant human beings that forged an indestructible wall.

What was even more touching were the details.

The painting took three months to paint, and while it was being painted, Clark was aboard a pirate ship.

The King's order was to "let the people remember each and every one of them".

His original intention was to have the people remember that night, and it turned out that Clark was more stubborn and persistent than the King and Charles could have imagined. He learned from Charles and Hawkins of all the people who fought that night, and wrote it down in his little book. Then, he ate and lived with the pirates for almost a month, and learned a little bit about the personalities and appearance characteristics of those comrades who died in battle from the pirates.

During that time, the Walway pirates spoke with Clark almost every day:

"Yes, yes, there was a scar on Tom, right here."

"That guy is a little shorter than me."

"I'm so pissed off! That guy still owes me three gold coins, how about you add a mole on him…..Ah, never mind, that guy is already uglier than me, and adding it will only make him even uglier. "

…...

There was one thing that inspired both tears and laughter:

A month later, Clark, who was only here to collect information, actually made a request to become a member of the Walway pirates. Moreover, when the Walway Pirates voted democratically, his request was almost unanimously passed——the single vote against it came from Captain Hawkins. Because Clark refused to remove the iconic oblique scar on his face.

Hearing the cheers of the pirates, Charles thought amusedly and helplessly, could it be that the Walway Pirates always recruit strange and oddball members?

After so much effort, Clark's painting possessed a very rare quality.

That was the strong emotion hidden in the flames of war.

Every pirate was portrayed vividly, throwing a rope, or throwing a spear…..They have such a tacit understanding with each other, and they trust each other with their backs. When looking closely, one could hear the voices of them calling to each other. In the raging war, they were true brothers.

On the day it was finished, the pirates of Walway, a group of rough men, looked at it and secretly blinked away tears.

Under the fearlessness and the flames of war, what settled was sadness and nostalgia, and all the beautiful emotions.

This was what the King wanted.

It completely got rid of the worship of divinity and idols, and eulogized the sorrows and joys of mortals themselves.

"I'm very happy that the gallery of the Rose Palace will be welcoming its most magnificent exhibit." The King folded his fingers and stared at the painting. He smiled and asked Clark, "What reward do you want? My Mr. Chief Court Painter. "

From an ordinary court painter to the chief court painter, Clark bowed to express his gratitude somewhat flattered. After hearing the King's inquiry, he bowed again: "You have rewarded me too much, Your Majesty. In fact, I would like to ask you to accept a gift from me…..it is the only thing I can use to express all my gratitude."

The attendants brought in the second painting.

When he saw the painting, Charles couldn't help revealing a smile: "Mr. Clark, did you have too much contact with our Mr. Architect?"

The second painting depicted the scene where the Archbishop of St. Wyth was beheaded on public display.

In the painting, the executioner held up the head of the Archbishop of St. Wyth and showed it to everyone. The fully armed Iron Rose Cavalry was orderly and majestic, and the crowd also showed varying expressions. The dazzling sunlight fell from the sky onto the blood-stained steel blade of the executioner. The cold light and the blood were in stark contrast.

The King couldn't help laughing, "You've just painted a burning rack for yourself, my good sir."

"In fact, this is the second bruning rack."

Mr. Clark answered very calmly.

Before he lived in anonymity, he was sentenced to death for saying that "painting, as an art to express emotion and thought, should not be limited to religious subjects". Now, he painted this painting that could be called a provocation towards the Holy Court, and won another bruning rack for himself with absolute strength.

According to the standards of the Lunatic Academy of Sciences, he actually came from behind, and ran ahead of the rest of the lunatics and became the first person to get two burning racks…..

Don't know how the guys from the Lunatic Academy would react after knowing this.

"I believe it may be of some use to you."

Mr. Clark looked at the King and said sincerely.

It was not wrong to say that he was obsessed with art and painting, but the "capital of art" where he was originally from was very close to the Holy Spirit Bay, so he was very familiar with the situation of the Holy Court.

The King's actions during this period were so big, almost everyone knew that a fierce conflict was breaking out between Legrand and the Holy Court. Clark was not a priest, nor a soldier, he had no other ability, he could only help the King in this war in this way.

It might seem ridiculous, but Clark did feel obligated to do so.

Like the ancient knights who were willing to die for their king, he was willing to paint for the King something which was basically equivalent to another burning rack.

This was the only way he could repay His Majesty.

The King solemnly accepted Clark's gratitude and ordered the Master of the Households to send the painting to the exhibition gallery of the Royal Academy.

"Also, Your Majesty." Clark suddenly revealed a somewhat timid and nervous expression, "Can I ask you something?"

"Be my guest."

"I have a few friends…..I think they can be of help to you. They had escaped from the Holy Court, could you….." He stammered, "They are very willing to be of use to you!"

The blockade along the southeast coast was now extremely tight. Although he had become a member of the Walway Pirates, he never made this request in front of Charles and Captain Hawkins. Because he had seen with his own eyes what kind of price the Walway pirates paid to maintain the blockade.

They carried out the King's orders scrupulously, and asking them to bend the law in his favor was an insult to them.

The only one who could make the decision was the King.

"Who are they?"

The King asked, and Clark's hesitant look made him feel that these "friends" might not be so "ordinary".

"Some....." Clark gritted his teeth, "Astrologers."