Chapter 895

Drake's eyes flickered, and he took a deep breath before scrutinizing the painting closely. One minute passed, then two, then five. Finally, he noticed the subtle discrepancies between the two halves of the painting. The differences were so minute that, without careful inspection, they were almost impossible to see. As the realization hit him, Drake's face turned ghostly pale, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead. As someone who studied fine arts, he understood the implications. If both halves were truly the work of the same artist, there shouldn't be any discrepancies at all. "Look closely at the center of the painting," Julian suggested as he fetched a magnifying glass, carefully examining the artwork. "There's a faint seam down the middle, cleverly hidden with rice paste and pulp by the forger. If you heat it slightly, it becomes much more apparent." He pulled out a lighter and gently warmed the painting. The seam instantly became visible. Upon seeing this, not only Drake