Removing their disguises, Rover and Zhezhi explore around the warehouse to search for more clues
Zhezhi: “This must be the warehouse they were talking about… There's still some leftover ink lying around.”
Rover: “These paintings…”
Zhezhi: “They're all from the list. This batch is all Serenity of Xiehua Village... Mingyan's work.”
Rover: “So all those copies from the studio…”
Zhezhi: “These aren't just simple copies anymore... It's obvious now... she was working with them to create forgeries... for her own gain. In the end, this is the path she chose... I-I suspected as much, though I couldn't quite... I mean, I wasn't sure until I saw the paintings myself.”
Rover: “I'll notify the Patrollers.”
Zhezhi: “Wait. This painting... it's the Serenity of Xiehua Village original. Not a copy... Shouldn't it be at the studio? Oh, I see it now. This was the painting they stole from the studio!”
Rover: “How can you tell them apart?”
Zhezhi: “These copies, they're almost identical to the original... but there are some details, subtle ones, that reflect the artists' quirks, not just their technique. The painter copied them well. But if you look closely, you'll find that the finishings are a bit, um, more rigid in some areas.”
Rover: “How do you know so much about the original painting?”
Zhezhi: “Well, that's because I…”
*Finding it difficult to open up to Rover, Zhezhi trails off before she could finish her sentence Meanwhile, the painting behind her started to resonate, calling forth Tacet Discords in the vicinity*
Zhezhi: “—Look out!”
Rover and Zhezhi quickly lay waste to the oncoming wave of Tacet Discords
Rover: “Are you hurt?”
Zhezhi: “Phew... No, no. I'm just catching my breath… But where did these Tacet Discords come from…”
Rover: “The researcher mentioned a link between Mingyan and TDs. Her emotions caused the painting's frequencies to fluctuate, attracting the monsters.”
Zhezhi: “But she's not even here.”
Rover: “You said art always reflects the artist's mood. It's just... I'm not sure why her mood is, um, reacting to us…”
Zhezhi: “Maybe... could it be because I'm here? She did see what I could do with my Resonance ability, once. Ever since I saw her diary, I've been wondering... Maybe it was seeing my ability that inspired her to start creating those phantasms. Maybe that's why she began to lose herself in her art… It seems like all those accumulated emotions just... just burst out whenever we get close to her or one of her paintings. It's all my fault…”
Rover: “It's neither your fault nor the paintings'.”
Zhezhi: “But…”
Before Zhezhi could continue, they hear a group of Exiles scuffling towards them
Zhezhi: “More Exiles from the Art Exchange!”
Rover: “More on that later!”
Rover and Zhezhi fight their way through the “Exile” Camp to escape Right at the exit, Yinfeng and a gang of Exiles were waiting to ambush them
Yinfeng: “Did you really think we'd let you just walk away after you destroyed our warehouses and interfered with our business?!”
Zhezhi: “Business... Why is everyone so obsessed with making money...?”
Yinfeng: “Fellas, whaddya say we grab that compensation from our friends here for all the trouble they've caused us?”
Zhezhi: “A creator's passion... Does it not mean anything to you...?”
Yinfeng: “You... who exactly are you people? You don't look like you're Patrollers... What do you want? If it's the paintings you're after, take as many as you want! We can always make new ones.”
Zhezhi: “Forcing people to make copies like a factory line... it's disrespecting the creators' dignity.”
Yinfeng: “Oh, it's just a couple of stones and trees on a piece of paper, for crying out loud. Even I can draw one with a flick of the wrist, who cares if they're real or not… For the amount of paint and ink that goes into them, I'd even go so far as to say paying those painters 20 credits each is a rip-off.”
Zhezhi: “How could you measure the value of creation in such a way...?”
Yinfeng: “Oh, so you're also here for the money? Look, name a figure, we'll pay double if it'll make you shut up! How does that sound? Take it and scram!”
Zhezhi: “That's not what I meant.”
Yinfeng: “Then what the hell do you want from me?!”
Zhezhi: “...I-I want to expose everything to the public.”
Taken aback by Zhezhi’s exclamation, Rover was quite surprised by Zhezhi’s idea
Rover: “What?”
Zhezhi: “Aside from reporting you to the Patrollers, I want to let the public know about all the forgery and smuggling you've been doing. The way you coerced the painters... a-and put their lives at risk for profit... I'll expose it all! I-Is something wrong...?”
Rover: “I like the idea. You have my support.”
Zhezhi: “I...I can't remain silent about this any longer. This is the only way more people can learn about the truth…”
Yinfeng: “You'd better think this through! The Shanyun Art Exchange is not a group you wanna cross…”
Zhezhi: “I never painted for the Art Exchange's approval. If no one else dares to speak up, then... then I'll be the one to do it!”
Rover: “I might have just the plan. First, we keep these guys on close watch. Then, we need to catch them off guard, and the best way to do that is…”