Gallery -- Hojo Manor
Nov 22, 2024 23:10:36 GMT -6
Post by Yorusuke Nagano on Nov 22, 2024 23:10:36 GMT -6
Hojo froze, his eyes wide and disbelieving. For a moment, it seemed as though he hadn’t heard Renji at all. Then his face darkened, his features twisting into a mask of rage.
“Fake? Fake?” he bellowed, his voice echoing through the lavish room. “You dare come into my home, insult my expertise, and declare my life’s work a collection of worthless forgeries?”
Yorusuke stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. “Hojo-sama, I assure you, this isn’t a personal attack. My findings are based on careful examination. Amano’s works are distinctive, and the lack of authenticity marks is only the first indicator. The stitching is inconsistent with her technique, and the pigments used in the paintings are not her signature blends.”
Hojo’s face turned red as he clenched his fists. “You’re lying! Or you’re incompetent! I know what I bought—I know art better than the likes of you!”
Renji raised his hands, trying to de-escalate the situation. “Look, we’re just here to help, alright? If these pieces were switched out or tampered with, it’s not your fault. But you’ve been duped, and we need to figure out who did it.”
“Duped? Duped?” Hojo’s voice rose to a near roar. “I don’t need your pity or your accusations! This is a smear campaign—probably orchestrated by my competitors to tarnish my name!”
Yorusuke’s expression remained steady. “Hojo-sama, anger won’t solve this. We need to trace the provenance of these pieces. If you work with us—”
“Get out!” Hojo shouted, pointing furiously at the door. “Both of you! Out of my house! I won’t be lectured by some jumped-up Soul Reapers who think they know better than me!”
Renji’s jaw tightened, but he kept his voice level. “Hojo, we’re just doing our job—”
“I don’t care about your job!” Hojo snapped. “I’ve had enough of your condescension and your lies. Leave! Now!”
Renji exchanged a look with Yorusuke, his brow furrowing. “Fine,” he said finally. “We’ll go. But this investigation isn’t over. You’ll be hearing from us again.”
Hojo sneered. “Not if I have anything to say about it. Now get out of my sight!”
Yorusuke inclined his head slightly, unfazed by the outburst. “We’ll see ourselves out. Thank you for your time, Hojo-sama.”
Moved
“Fake? Fake?” he bellowed, his voice echoing through the lavish room. “You dare come into my home, insult my expertise, and declare my life’s work a collection of worthless forgeries?”
Yorusuke stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. “Hojo-sama, I assure you, this isn’t a personal attack. My findings are based on careful examination. Amano’s works are distinctive, and the lack of authenticity marks is only the first indicator. The stitching is inconsistent with her technique, and the pigments used in the paintings are not her signature blends.”
Hojo’s face turned red as he clenched his fists. “You’re lying! Or you’re incompetent! I know what I bought—I know art better than the likes of you!”
Renji raised his hands, trying to de-escalate the situation. “Look, we’re just here to help, alright? If these pieces were switched out or tampered with, it’s not your fault. But you’ve been duped, and we need to figure out who did it.”
“Duped? Duped?” Hojo’s voice rose to a near roar. “I don’t need your pity or your accusations! This is a smear campaign—probably orchestrated by my competitors to tarnish my name!”
Yorusuke’s expression remained steady. “Hojo-sama, anger won’t solve this. We need to trace the provenance of these pieces. If you work with us—”
“Get out!” Hojo shouted, pointing furiously at the door. “Both of you! Out of my house! I won’t be lectured by some jumped-up Soul Reapers who think they know better than me!”
Renji’s jaw tightened, but he kept his voice level. “Hojo, we’re just doing our job—”
“I don’t care about your job!” Hojo snapped. “I’ve had enough of your condescension and your lies. Leave! Now!”
Renji exchanged a look with Yorusuke, his brow furrowing. “Fine,” he said finally. “We’ll go. But this investigation isn’t over. You’ll be hearing from us again.”
Hojo sneered. “Not if I have anything to say about it. Now get out of my sight!”
Yorusuke inclined his head slightly, unfazed by the outburst. “We’ll see ourselves out. Thank you for your time, Hojo-sama.”
Moved