Chapter 23: The Masterpiece That Made Him Famous! The Stalker!
"Skye, your program has been loaded," Ethan Lee said, pointing to the high-tech laptop on the table.
Now equipped with hacker skills, he could tell that Skye's laptop had an extremely high-end configuration.
"Loading complete!" Skye exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as the progress bar on the screen filled.
However, she glanced around cautiously, feeling that the location was unsafe. Without hesitation, she closed the laptop and put it away.
Hmm... sneaky. What is she up to? Ethan had only caught a glimpse of the screen, but based on the hacking skills he had acquired from the system, he could tell that Skye was highly proficient. For her to be this thrilled, she must have hacked into the database of some top-secret organization.
Ethan scattered the last of his bread crumbs to the swans that were scrambling for food and clapped his hands. "We should leave. The wind tells me this place has been targeted."
"The wind?" Skye arched an eyebrow, amused.
She picked up her laptop bag and chuckled. "Is that how all artists talk?"
She found it hard to believe that she had already drawn attention after just joining the Rising Tide Organization. Unless... what kind of department could act with such efficiency?
"Alright, great artist, stop being so paranoid." She playfully grabbed Ethan's arm. "Come on, take me to your art exhibition."
"There's nothing special there," Ethan said with a mysterious smile. "I have a better place to show you—where my best works are kept."
---
Central Park, Manhattan
Inside the North Building, not far from the Stark Tower, a security guard greeted Ethan with a respectful nod.
"Good evening, sir." He tapped on his tablet a few times before handing it to Ethan. "Please unlock access here."
Ethan took the tablet and entered a decryption code, granting them access to a restricted floor. He and Skye took the elevator up.
As the doors opened, Skye stepped out and gasped. "Oh my god, Ethan, are all these your works?"
The floor was filled with secure glass display cases, each containing paintings of various sizes and styles, including exquisite oriental ink paintings. Even as someone who wasn't well-versed in the art world, Skye could tell these pieces far surpassed those displayed in traditional exhibitions.
"Some are mine; some are masterpieces I've collected from renowned artists," Ethan explained.
He approached a sleek metal wall and placed his palm on it. With a soft hum, the wall slid open, revealing a grand portrait over a meter tall.
Behind the glass was a stunning depiction of a heroic war goddess—so lifelike it almost seemed to breathe.
Skye stepped closer, her fingers lightly tracing the glass. "This is incredible... What's her name?"
Ethan smiled. "Goddess Athena—one of my most famous works."
"Athena..." Skye mused, intrigued. "Ethan, do you think gods—like those in Greek and Norse mythology—actually exist?"
Ethan shrugged. "I believe the so-called gods are just highly advanced beings. Aliens, perhaps."
By his calculations, it wouldn't be long before Thor's Mjolnir made its appearance.
Skye smirked. "You sound like such a materialist. Shouldn't artists be more romantic?"
"Materialists can't be romantic?" Ethan teased.
With a gentle push, "Goddess Athena" swung open like a hidden doorway. "If you're looking for a private place to work on your laptop, this should do."
Inside was a spacious room with a rich artistic ambiance. Fresh wooden furniture, vibrant paints, and an assortment of painting tools lined the walls, though many seemed untouched for some time.
He pressed a button, and the window shades lifted automatically, revealing a breathtaking, panoramic view of New York City.
"There's an entire room behind this painting? That's insane!" Skye marveled, her admiration growing. "Using such a priceless masterpiece as a door... that's a whole new level of extravagance."
Ethan chuckled. "Not many people know about this place. I've only ever brought Gwen and Jessica here."
He gestured toward the entrance. "Now, I'm inviting you in as well. Welcome, little assistant."
---
Below the Building
A figure with long blonde hair lingered in the shadows.
Barbara had been tracking Ethan and Skye, but her surveillance efforts had yielded nothing substantial.
"Maybe I'm wasting my time following them. I should just go straight to investigating the Ghost Spider Club," she muttered.
Something felt off. The wind was unexpectedly strong tonight.
I checked the weather data before heading out… why is it different now?
Upstairs, Ethan, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them and smirked.
"Found you."
Through his refined air-flow sensing abilities, he had locked onto the presence of his pursuer.
"Looks like someone needs to be taught a lesson."