Chapter 240: The Showdown! The Oil Painting Beauty: How Much Collateral Damage Can You Accept?
"Oh, I forgot to introduce you two."
Professor Alicia Harper, tears streaming down her face, turned away to wipe them, then forced a smile as she made the introductions: "This is Dr. Chuck Wolfe. He needs a professional restoration artist to consult on his case, and this is Eileen Klein, an incredibly talented painter..."
"Dr. Wolfe, I've heard so much about you."
"Miss Klein."
Chuck and Eileen locked eyes, completely ignoring Professor Alicia Harper's emotional state.
They both understood exactly why she was crying.
But Professor Alicia Harper had no idea that these two knew her past. Watching them stare intently at each other, an indescribable feeling welled up inside her.
If it weren't for the complete absence of romantic tension in their eyes, she would have been absolutely certain they'd fallen in love at first sight.
Even though she couldn't detect a trace of intimate attraction, the way they stared at each other—oblivious to everything else—still made her deeply uneasy.
Perhaps this complex feeling could be summed up in one phrase: toward both of them, she felt, "But I was here first..."
"Dr. Wolfe, after hearing this story of the two peerless sisters, what's your take on it?"
Eileen repeated her question with a knowing half-smile.
"I've also heard a story about two extraordinary sisters, but it's quite different from your version,"
Chuck said calmly, meeting her gaze.
"Oh?"
Eileen raised an eyebrow. "I'd love to hear your interpretation."
"The story begins the same way, with two unparalleled sisters,"
Chuck began his counter-narrative: "The older sister is ruthless, possessing incredible strength and vast power, yet her reign is tyrannical and brutal, built on a throne of blood and countless victims. The younger sister is kind-hearted with exceptional talent—perhaps even greater natural ability than her older sister. But when they were children, the older sister pushed her from a tree, fracturing her arm and leaving her permanently injured, unable to ever surpass her sister.
The younger sister never complained, content to remain in her sister's shadow, assisting and supporting her.
Then she met a man who truly understood her.
This man also suffered from an unusual condition, and the two—kindred spirits in their shared struggles—formed a deep connection, perfectly matched.
Under his influence, the younger sister's innate kindness began to overcome the twisted, domineering cruelty her older sister had forced upon her, and she started wanting to do something meaningful with her life.
This was intolerable to the older sister, who demanded absolute obedience when she realized what was happening. Not even her younger sister was exempt; she wouldn't allow anyone or anything to escape her iron grip.
The older sister wanted to kill this man, but unfortunately, he proved far more formidable than she'd imagined, and she wasn't confident she could eliminate him.
Furthermore, her younger sister adamantly insisted she not harm her only true confidante, leaving the older sister with no choice but to bide her time.
But power is always a zero-sum game.
The man's heroic actions inevitably clashed with the Blood Throne forces under the older sister's control. Her organization suffered repeated defeats, and when the reports came in, the older sister didn't intervene—leading to questions about her capabilities.
Some of her more restless subordinates decided to take matters into their own hands, attempting to assassinate the man, only to be killed by his superior skills.
The younger sister, realizing her sister's people had made their move, was devastated. Fearing for her confidante's safety, in a moment of protective fury, she eliminated all of her sister's operatives who posed a threat to the man, and then disappeared.
Unable to find her sister, the older sister flew into a rage and finally decided to confront the man herself."
"And then what happened?"
Professor Alicia Harper was riveted, momentarily forgetting why she'd been crying.
She'd once had a sister like that—horseback riding together, swimming in the creek, running wild and free... such wonderful times, that powerful bond.
But now, Chuck's version—the same story seemingly told from a completely different angle—had diluted the overwhelming emotions she'd felt listening to Eileen's tale. Yet the more she listened, the more something seemed off.
If it were truly the same story, at first she could attribute it to different perspectives leading to different interpretations—both versions being aspects of the truth.
Put together, she could still make out the story's basic shape.
But as Chuck continued, his version of "The Peerless Sisters" had clearly diverged from Eileen's.
The biggest difference was that the man hadn't died!
"And then?"
Chuck, who'd been staring at Eileen the entire time, didn't look away when Professor Alicia Harper asked. He simply continued looking at Eileen and said, "Later, the older sister overestimated herself and underestimated the man. With the younger sister's help, he captured and imprisoned the older sister.
Unable to accept her fall from power, the older sister went mad in her confinement, spinning tale after tale. In these stories, she was still the supreme, bloodthirsty queen, with everything going her way, and no one capable of defying her will."
"Oh!"
Professor Alicia Harper was shocked by Chuck's version, exclaiming in disbelief.
But compared to Eileen's version, it lacked a certain emotional weight.
"Ms. Klein, have you heard this version of 'The Peerless Sisters'?"
Chuck adjusted his glasses, looking at Eileen expressionlessly.
Eileen's lips curved into a smile: "I'm hearing it now."
"What do you think of this story?"
Chuck asked.
"Whether it's the older sister or the younger sister who's lost her mind, nobody really knows,"
Eileen laughed. "After all, stories are just narratives people tell. But one thing is crystal clear: before the story ends, the two sisters still have a chance to reconcile—as long as the younger sister doesn't betray her older sister for some man and comes back to her side! Is the bond between sisters who've survived everything together really less important than a guy?"
"This has nothing to do with romance or family loyalty,"
Chuck said calmly. "The relationship between the younger sister and the man isn't romantic love—it's a platonic friendship built on shared suffering and genuine understanding. The fundamental conflict between the sisters is actually the older sister's pathological need for control.
The younger sister is also brilliant with her own independent mind; she can't possibly just exist to give her older sister the illusion of total control."
"..."
Watching these two locked in their staring contest, Professor Alicia Harper felt incredibly strange. It didn't feel like they were discussing a story anymore; rather, it felt like the sister and the man in the story were speaking for themselves.
However, she didn't dwell on it—she'd just been deeply immersed in the narrative herself.
With Chuck's exceptional intelligence and vivid imagination, it was perfectly natural for him to project himself into the story and speak from the man's perspective.
So, to break the tension, she joked, "Are we still talking about 'The Peerless Sisters'?"
"Of course,"
Eileen smiled and looked at her. "Alicia, which version do you think is more realistic?"
"Ah..."
Professor Alicia Harper was immediately conflicted.
A story is a story; there's no such thing as "more realistic." This forced choice put her in an impossible position.
Emotionally, she naturally preferred Chuck's version.
But rationally, she'd finally found such a perfect pen pal and friend, and she really didn't want to lose her.
"Don't overthink it,"
Eileen laughed. "A story is just a story; there are infinite possibilities. If there really were such a pair of extraordinary sisters, then I'd love to see what the actual ending would be. After all, reality is harsh; it can't be imagined or staged!"
She then asked Chuck about what he wanted to consult on, and Chuck naturally shifted to discussing the aspects of his case involving famous paintings.
The two engaged in a highly professional conversation, completely dispelling Professor Alicia Harper's strange impression.
Yes! That must have been just her imagination!
When Eileen asked her to run to the library to retrieve something, she went without hesitation.
After she left, the real conversation began.
Eileen and Chuck locked eyes again, and looking at Chuck's decorative glasses, she smiled, "Little sister, you've had your fun; it's time to come home."
"Didn't you understand the story?"
Chuck said bluntly.
"This is none of your business!"
Eileen glanced at him coldly, staring at his glasses. "Listen, you should know this has nothing to do with you. I didn't give the order, so I didn't break our agreement. Your sudden disappearance hurt me deeply. Like I said—you don't want anything to happen to him, do you?"
"Do you really think you're all-powerful?"
Chuck said calmly.
"At least I can make a man disappear."
Eileen's lips curved upward. "Any man! Don't think you're invincible just because you survived one assassination attempt. There are always methods of assassination you can't even imagine. If I hadn't agreed to her request, do you honestly think you'd still be alive?"
"I don't care what you think—I care what I think!"
Chuck said calmly. "And I think I can survive."
"You know what you mean to her, so you're banking on me not going all-out against you, right?"
Eileen studied Chuck for a moment, then nodded. "Maybe you're right. I won't let some man's life or death destroy my bond with my sister. You're not worth it! But I don't believe she'd kill me for you either. We're sisters, after all!
Of course, if I really died, or if I were imprisoned like in your little fantasy story, the global criminal network without my leadership, plus all those powerful figures you keep pissing off—they'd definitely go all-out to eliminate you. No matter how skilled you are, you'd still die.
And that's something she can't accept. Since neither of us will die, but our conflicts keep escalating with collateral damage piling up, it'll come down to who breaks first over the casualties."
Her smile became more sinister. "It certainly won't be me, because I don't care about anyone except her. But what about you?"
Chuck was silent for a moment, meeting her gaze. "Is it possible you're overestimating your own importance? Is it possible you'll be imprisoned or eliminated, and I'll still be perfectly fine?"
"That possibility might exist, but what are the odds?"
Eileen's expression was calm. "Are you willing to take that bet?"
"Aren't we already gambling?"
Chuck said evenly. "What else would you call this?"
He took a step forward.
Anna's disappearance was meant to break free from her sister Eileen's control, giving him the freedom to dismantle Eileen's criminal network, eliminate her influence, and ensure the two people closest to him could coexist peacefully.
However, he didn't mind going straight for the head of the snake.
Just like in the stories, he had no intention of killing her—only capturing and imprisoning her.
After all, she was Anna's older sister, and he could see that Anna felt differently about her.
"Then come on."
Eileen stood there, arms outstretched: "As long as you can handle it, I'm ready!"
Chuck extended his hand.
His watch vibrated almost imperceptibly twice.
Chuck's phone lit up; he opened it to see live footage from Monica and the others.
"What are you two..."
At that moment, Professor Alicia Harper returned from the library, saw this scene, and her eyes widened.
"He claimed he could determine all my measurements just by looking—I don't believe it,"
Eileen laughed. "Do you?"
"Me neither,"
Professor Alicia Harper forced a smile. What else could she say but agree?
Chuck naturally withdrew his hand, pocketed his phone, and calmly recited Eileen's exact measurements.
"..."
Professor Alicia Harper was stunned, instinctively looking at Eileen with questioning eyes.
"Impressive indeed,"
Eileen said with a knowing smile. "How many experiments must you have conducted to develop such sharp observational skills?"
"Wait, it's actually correct..."
Professor Alicia Harper's expression was bewildered.
If Eileen were wearing something form-fitting like a Spider-Man suit, she wouldn't be surprised, but while Eileen's outfit was fashionable and artistic, it wasn't tight or revealing. Her measurements... how did Chuck figure that out?
Could it really be as Eileen suggested—that excessive research data accumulation had given Chuck superhuman perception?
This ability seems slightly questionable.
Hmm! It must be that Eileen and Chuck don't get along, and she's deliberately messing with him.
Chuck isn't that kind of person! Though he's charming, he's not a creep!
"Alright, thank you."
Eileen took the items from Professor Alicia Harper's hands and casually kissed her forehead. "Seeing you this time has been the greatest gift."
"Oh, this..."
Professor Alicia Harper was completely flustered, her face flushing as she glanced at Chuck, utterly unsure how to react.
Chuck walked away without looking back.
This made the bewildered and embarrassed Professor Alicia Harper feel slightly better, though the blush on her face didn't fade—instead growing more intense after Chuck left. She managed a few polite words before hurrying to catch up.
Eileen walked to the window, watching them leave. When Professor Alicia Harper awkwardly exchanged words with Chuck and couldn't help but glance back at her, Eileen placed her finger against her bright red lips and smiled. Startled, Professor Alicia Harper quickly turned away.
"How delightful... but what a shame."
Eileen's lips curved into a smile, then her eyes turned ice-cold: "In the end, you're just collateral damage... not her!"
(End of Chapter)
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