Artifact Reading Inspector

Chapter 20: Two Paintings (1)

“Soon after I received the information about Momoko from Ms. Hyoyeon, surprisingly, she contacted me first. Well, not me but my uncle.”

Sungjun glanced at Byeongguk.

“Him? So?”

“She offered us a deal. She would tell us the truth about the teacup, in exchange she wanted some of the artifacts that my uncle exports secretly.”

Now Momoko turned into a traitor who sold information.

“That Mizno Toru can’t even manage his people. Hahaha! Fences often betray one other. That’s good.”

In fact, Gaidasis and Horidasis (People who make profit from buying goods at a low price. Secret expression used by antique dealers) who showed up after the Japanese colonial era had a nature of fooling others.

Like gamblers who played cards, they tricked ordinary people all the time, and even ‘experts’ tried to often rip off one another.

This was the reason Koreans thought that antique dealers were half frauds.

“Strictly speaking, she is just an employee and will get nothing whether the deal is struck or not. At best, she would get a little bonus. However, if she gets some of my uncle’s artifacts, she would be able to get a considerable profit in Japan. Of course, that deal was good for my uncle as well. It is a chance to get various selling routes in Japan.”

“I see your uncle is quite famous.”

Whether Haejin was telling the truth or not, Sungjun didn’t seem to mind that since he had gained a lot.

“He is. I’m not saying this just because he is my uncle.”

It was Byeongguk’s turn.

“Haha, as I said before, I trade various kinds of goods. Especially Chinese and Middle Eastern artifacts that are hard to get. Most of the artifacts of the Middle East that are traded in this country have gone past my hands.”

He was extremely good at bluffing.

“Hmm… I would like to see some artifacts from the Middle East. They are quite rare in this country.”

“If I get something good, I will bring them to you first. I can show Momoko the rest.”

“Yes, you know how you should work.”

Sungjun seemed to buy the story, so Haejin moved on to his conclusion right away.

“So, this is the result of my appraisal. I think the Japanese’s celadon is worth approximately five billion. However, the teacup’s value cannot be measured. Judging only its artistic value, it is worth much less than the celadon, but the teacup has General Lee Sunsin’s breath.”

“I admit that pricing it is hard, but if that teacup was really used by Lee Sunsin…”

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He couldn’t be sure just from the record of one family since there was no official record.

“Actually, I also wish we could see the treasure of the Terauchi family, that is why I cannot be 100% sure that this is the truth. However, we can assume that if it wasn’t true, they would have no reason to come up with such a complicated scheme.”

Sungjun thought about it. Next, he nodded.

“Hmm… I see. We will take it from here. Lastly, which artifact do you want to be paid by?”

“I will get 1% of the celadon’s appraised fee; fifty million.”

“I guess that’s because the teacup is priceless?”

“Yes. To someone, it may be worth ten million but, to someone else, it could be worth more than ten billion. It’s a shame that the person who knows the real value is a Japanese.”

“That’s because he knew about it in advance. Anyway, you have been impressive. You will get the fee today.”

Sungjun went into his study again.

“Well, it wasn’t appraising, it was more like investigating. I don’t acknowledge you. Anyway, you’ve done well,” Hyoyeon shrugged and went up.

She was half right and half wrong. Haejin used someone else’s mouth to reveal the true identity of the teacup. However, he used magic to find that out. He had to go through a very complicated process to prove it.

Anyway, they next left the luxurious mansion.

Haejin then asked Eunhae, “What will you do now? If he tells you to trade…”

Eunhae smiled brightly and stopped his worries.

“He won’t. He sometimes makes decisions that are hard to understand, but he tries to keep the rules when it comes to artifacts. Anyway, I didn’t know the teacup I bought was such a great artifact. The board will certainly be satisfied.”

Actually, Haejin didn’t really believe her. He had heard more than enough stories, from Byeongguk and his father, of people in the center of power. They would pretend to be just while they would then betray their conscience.

In particular, he didn’t believe it after seeing the Chinese artifacts exhibited at Saeyeon Gallery. He thought Sungjun might try to negotiate by saying that he will give them the teacup if Mizno Toru was willing to give them the celadon and extra money. However, since Eunhae was the actual director, he was slightly relieved.

Anyway, Eunhae was happy about the outcome of the Yang Sojin’s event. She kept smiling widely, unlike when they made their way there.

“That’s good.”

“Hey… I am sorry about the last time. Please, take this.”

Eunhae gave Haejin a white envelope. There was a 45 million in check.

“You don’t have to…”

“No, please take it. So, that I can ask for your help when needed.”

Haejin couldn’t refuse that. Of course, Byeongguk made a pout and looked away.

“Okay. Oh, but I have a question.”

“Please ask.”

“How does the gallery get Chinese artifacts? I mean since before you inherited it.”

In fact, Haejin was looking for a chance to ask the question that was bothering him for a while.

Eunhae hesitated slightly and then said, “Most artifacts from China come through Insadong. As you know, finding Chinese artifacts on auction is not easy.”

Haejin wasn’t upset about the fact that the artifacts his father had excavated were in Korea. As a Korean, he thought it was fine as long as the Korean artifacts were not exported. It was selfish, but any human being would feel that way.

The problem was that if Chinese artifacts were secretly brought in Korea, Korean artifacts were also secretly sent out, and Saeyong Gallery could be in the middle of it. Was Eunhae pretending to not know this even if she actually did? Or was she really ignorant?

What would Hwajin even gain by exporting Korean artifacts?

“You said Insadong. Then, there must be more than one man.”

“Yes. There are about three of them in total, and we get the artifacts from them. Of course, they are not stolen goods. I told you before about Ma Won’s painting, but stolen goods cannot be exhibited and may cause problems. So, we don’t buy them, even personally.”

Honestly, there wasn’t such thing as an artifact that wasn’t a stolen good. Artifacts turned into not stolen goods only after the people who owned them were revealed in time. It was a lot like laundering money.

In that perspective, those dealers who brought artifacts from China brought them after changing them into clean goods. Additionally, that wasn’t a job an art dealer could do alone.

“Okay. Please drop us at my apartment.”

“Maybe we can have lunch together…”

Haejin really wanted to, but he couldn’t avoid Beyongguk’s annoyance.

“I’m sorry, I have something to do after lunch.”

When Eunhae left them, Byeongguk patted Haejin’s shoulder and lifted his thumb.

“Wow… that was a great idea. Now, that Vice Chairman doesn’t even need to pay attention to Momoko. Now that Momoko has betrayed Mizno Toru, she won’t be able to set foot in Japan.”

“She can’t go back since she is now a traitor, even though she didn’t want that. If she tells Mizno ‘This is what happened so please forgive me,’ they would only think that she is mad. My story makes more sense, even to someone else.”

“Of course. Wow… you have grown up so much.”

“I have been taller than you for a long time. You know that…”

They chatted while eating lunch. They then returned to Haejin’s home. Even though the aftereffect was lighter now, he couldn’t help but still feel weak.

He woke up in the evening and went to Incheon Airport with Byeongguk. However, in the taxi, Byeongguk said something crazy.

“Are you going to date Eunhae if she asks you?”

“Date her? She has a fiancé.”

At that moment, Byeongguk’s face brightened up as if someone casted a light on it.

“Really? I thought… but why did she get engaged instead of marrying right away? We didn’t do such a thing even in 1988. Is it because they are rich? They do such useless things.”

“Would you come after me if I say that I won’t date Sujeong?”

“Khmm… not like that… it doesn’t work that way. You should connect to each other. It’s not something I can make happen. You should connect, of course…”

Byeongguk looked back, but Haejin knew he wanted Sujeong to fall in love with him and settle down in Korea.

They arrived at the airport and waited. Just when Haejin was about to go mad because of boredom, Sujeong’s plane arrived.

“Dad!”

The gate opened and a young woman ran out. Was she really Sujeong? They last met when they were in elementary school, but now, she had turned into a beautiful lady. Haejin had seen her photo sometimes but, in real life, she was a lot cuter.

“Oh, my girl. You must be tired.”

“No, you booked me a first-class seat. So, it was bearable.”

Byeongguk earned three billion in just one night, so he would never let his daughter fly in economy class for more than ten hours.

Sujeong turned her head, stared at Haejin and suddenly hit his stomach with her fist.

“Uk…”

It didn’t hurt much, but Haejin didn’t expect it and was surprised. Sujeong smiled.

“Hey, you have become cooler than I thought.”

“Uh… you still have your temper.”

“You know I have a temper. I’ve heard about your situation. Your father passed away and you are now appraising antiques, right?”

“Yes, it is natural for me to work in that field after my father, but I didn’t know you would also join it. You used to hate it.”

Byeongguk looked away and pretended not to hear him. Sujeong had to move around so many times to avoid the police…

“So, I don’t need to steal.”

“Khmm… I don’t do that anymore either. Now I just help him to pass the time. Really,” Beyongguk said.

“Don’t you do that again! Or I will never see you again and not treat you as my daddy!”

“I won’t! Really! Anyway, you must be hungry. Let’s go to eat something. You must miss Korean food, right? Do you want to eat samgyetang (Korean chicken stew)? Or how about rib eye?”

Byeongguk pinched Sujeong’s cheek while she smiled brightly.

“Rib eye, yes! Let’s go!”

She had lots of luggage, so they went to the hotel where Byeongguk was staying. Sujeong then checked in. Next, they had a late dinner at a nearby Korean barbeque restaurant. Haejin thought it might be a little uncomfortable as he was in the middle of a family reunion but, strangely, he felt comfortable as the time passed.

“I have something to show you. Follow me.”

After dinner, Haejin was about to leave, but Sujeong stopped him and took him to her hotel room. She then took out a long painting container. Of course, Byeongguk was with them.

“What is it?”

Sujeong stopped opening it and looked at Haejin and Byeongguk. Her playful eyes said that it was nothing important, but…

“Promise me you won’t tell anyone what you are about to see.”

“Okay, so take it out. What is it?”

She opened the container and carefully took out the painting inside.