Artifact Reading Inspector

“What kind of condition?”

“We never had this conversation. You and I never talked about the painting being fake.”

This was shocking. Eunhae couldn’t talk for a while, she just bit her lips.

Then, she calmly asked, “Do you know that it can be a problem?”

“No, it won’t be. You sold me this painting at a hundred million without it being a fake, and I am not planning to promote it to sell it.”

“Ha… I really can’t understand what you say sometimes. I don’t know why you want to buy this at a hundred million when you are not going to sell it, and how can I pretend to be ignorant when I already know that it’s a fake?”

“Aren’t you going to keep that painting in the exhibition, anyway?”

Eunhae blankly stared at Haejin’s face. Now, she understood what Haejin meant by not promoting it.

“You mean you won’t have to promote it. It will be promoted as a sold painting to the viewers until the exhibition is over. Do you think someone will want that painting just for that reason? And that person would buy it at a hundred million?”

“There will be. There must be someone who would want that painting for two reasons.”

“Two reasons?”

“First, it is thought to be a painting of Sinsaimdang, the person in the fifty hundred won bill. It is also not well-known yet. Of course, whether it is really Sinsaimdang’s would be an issue, but if it’s so controversial, it would mean the painting is very persuasive. Do you admit it?”

“You are right. I myself thought it was Sinsaimdang’s.”

“The second reason is important. It is you.”

Eunhae frowned.

“Me?”

“Yes. You are going to introduce that the person who bought that painting is the appraiser who has been approved by Vice Chairman Lim Sungjun of Hwajin and Chairman Song Haecheol of Yuseong.”

“Haha…”

Eunhae laughed, but she couldn’t say no. She bought the painting, would sell it legally and tell everyone who bought it.

“Don’t worry. Shouldn’t the people who sold the painting to you take their responsibility?”

“That is right.”

Eunhae clenched her fists and nodded. Haejin smiled.

“Wouldn’t it be a good chance for you to see their reaction? Whether they knew it was fake or not when they sold it to you.”

If they had known, they would clearly try to pull another scheme before the exhibition ends.

“Then, wouldn’t they stop me from selling the painting? If words get out that it’s a fake before the exhibition ends…”

“I would finish everything before that. As long as you help me… and if I get to sell this painting, you can take it out from the exhibition right away. It’s not real anyway, so you can do that,” Haejin said.

“Hu… then I should just be an ignorant, good child?”

“Yes. Just say you bought it cheap and sold it at a good price. If anyone asks how much you sold it at, just smile.”

Eunhae shook her head.

“I am going to act. I didn’t see that coming.”

“Your beauty is enough to be an actress. Then, I will buy the painting. When and how should I pay?”

“It’s okay. We will keep it until the exhibition ends, you can pay me afterward. If you get to sell it in the meantime, you can give me the money then.”

“Okay. You are cool. Haha!”

Haejin laughed, but Eunhae couldn’t. She followed Haejin to the entrance and said goodbye. She looked bitter.

Curator Jeong Mina sensed that and carefully asked, “Miss, would you like to check the moving line?”

“Huh? Oh, okay. Let’s also change the location.”

Eunhae pointed at the painting that was thought to be Sinsaimdang’s. f𝒓𝗲𝗲𝒘𝑒𝚋ｎoѵ𝒆𝗹.co𝗺

Mina asked, “You told me before to put it at the end of the moving line…”

“No, I was wrong. We should put it in the middle of the moving line. On the opposite side of those genre paintings so that it would be viewed after them. It should still draw attention, so make the lights brighter, okay?”

“I understand.”

“Oh, and that painting has been sold. Don’t write the price. Just write that it has been sold.”

“Oh, really? Then, those guests are…”

“Yes. We agreed on words, they won’t change their promise. Note that the deal has been struck. If anyone tries to find out at how much it was sold for, tell that person you don’t know. Just tell them that only I know that. Okay?”

“Yes. Wow… the exhibition hasn’t even started yet, and one has already been sold… this is going well!”

“Well… we shall see how it goes. And the VVIPs?”

“10 a.m. tomorrow. I finished checking each of them. Everyone was interested, probably the theme of this exhibition is good. Mr. Lee Jongmyeong is also coming at 10 o’clock.”

“Don’t mind about him. Are the board members coming?”

“I haven’t been contacted about it. And… it is not sure, but the Vice Chairman might come tomorrow.”

At that moment, Eunhae’s eyebrows went up.

“What? Who told you that.”

“Mr. Choi of the secretary office. He said that the Vice Chairman has had the schedule for tomorrow morning canceled. He won’t tell more, but he told only me, so…”

“Then he might come here tomorrow. I get it. Sending meat and fruits to Mr. Choi’s home was worth it. Make sure everyone is ready and keep texting Mr. Choi tomorrow. Ask him to call or text me if the Vice Chairman heads to Bukcheon. He probably won’t answer, but it is worth trying.”

“Okay.”

Eunhae went back to her office alone. She picked up the phone right away.

“Hello. It’s me, Eunhae. It’s been a long time, right? I am sorry. I have been so busy with the exhibition. I was hoping to meet you with the experts who appraised the painting I just got. How about this Friday? There is a good restaurant in Samcheongdong. Let’s meet there. Okay, I will see you then.”

Eunhae hung up. She sighed and sat down.

“What would he get by pushing me away that he is doing this?”

She grabbed her forehead. Then, someone knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Her voice was sharp. A female employee carefully came in.

“Researcher Lee Dongjin at Samcheok has come to report about the second excavation research.”

“Oh, yes. Let him in.”

Haejin and Sujeong went back to Insadong where Byeongguk was smiling widely.

“She is certainly cool. She sent 1.1 billion at once, while Lim Sungjun didn’t even send half.”

Sungjun’s men said the money was too big and they would send it in time. It made Byeongguk angry, but what could he do? This happened all the time, so he had to accept it.

“Dad, forget it… Haejin has just earned three hundred million as his appraising fee.”

“What, you said you were going to appraise and got three hundred million in return? Wow… you are really crazy!”

“You have earned much more than me. Why do you say that?”

“Hey, I risked my life and went into tombs to take out the artifacts. Do you think selling them was easy? Gangsters, politicians… I lost at least 3kg each time I sold a thing. You go, talk and come back with three hundred million, oh…” ƒr𝙚𝙚𝘸e𝚋𝐧૦ѵ𝒆𝒍.𝒄𝒐m

Byeongguk grabbed his forehead and lay down on the huge table that was for restoring artifacts.

“Haha, then you should start studying antiques.”

“Forget it. I am too old for that. I should focus on not forgetting the things that are in my head.”

“But you just got some money with Yoon Duseo’s painting!”

“I did. I was rejoicing about earning a hundred million, but suddenly I feel sad.”

Sujeong sat next to Byeongguk and spoke.

“Three hundred million is nothing. There is something more remarkable. That is…”

Sujeong was very excited. She told the story without taking a break. Byeongguk sometimes exclaimed, sometimes felt sorry and, in the last part about buying the fake painting, he widened his eyes and stared at Haejin.

“What? You can’t be mad… but you earned three hundred million and spent a hundred million on buying a fake?”

Haejin asked instead of answering.

“Byeongguk, you know someone in Japan, right?”

“In Japan? Of course. But what kind of person are you talking about? You don’t mean the owner of a restaurant I often visit.”

“Someone who can give rise to a rumor.”

Byeongguk sat on an old wooden chair and spoke in a heavy voice.

“You want to start a rumor? About the painting you bought?”

“Yes.”

“To who?”

“Do you know Ando Hadake?”

Byeongguk jumped to his feet.

“Ando Hadake? The Devil of Tokyo? You are going to drag him in?”

In Japan, there were many frauds in the antique market even before Japan lost the Second World War. And unlike Korea, that had covered many parts with cement for development, Japan still had regions that kept its old self, so there are many Gaidasis (those who collect artifacts and sell them to middle merchants) working there.

“Yes.”

“Why? Why Ando Hadake?”

“I have a debt to pay back. It is good since I need the money. I have unexpectedly gotten a good bait, so I have a chance to lure a big fish.”

“Is it about your father?”

“My father, and also myself… it was when I was in elementary school. My father was excavating in Japan, and something crazy came out of a tomb.”

“Something crazy?”

“Yes. There was a painting of Byeon Sangbyeok, an artist of the late Joseon period in that tomb.”

“Byeon Sangbyeok? The master of cat paintings?”

“Yes. Isn’t it funny? Cat painting means long life, and someone asked to be buried with a cat painting after death…”

Cat painting means long life, as the letter for cat, 猫, is pronounced similar to 耄, the letter for old man who has lived long. So, cat paintings are more than about describing cats. It was often drawn to celebrate or hope for a long life.

“That is funny. So?”

“It was our ancestors’, and it had the meaning of a long life, so father tried to come back to Korea with it in secret. However, somehow, they found that out and kidnapped me just before father got onboard of a ship and threatened him. I saw him then. Ando Hadake. That old devil.”

“Oh! Really? Weren’t you hurt?”

Sujeong was surprised.

“Fortunately, no… anyway, my father was shocked and tried to exchange me for the painting. However, they had another condition other than returning the painting.”

“He must have prohibited your father from making deals with other art dealers. That is why he never brought me to Japan no matter how much I begged. I didn’t know it and I used to complain…”

Byeongguk knew a lot about Japan. He seemed to know well about Ando Hadake and his evil reputation.

“Anyway, please do it as soon as possible. There’s no time.”

Haejin turned around and left the shop. He heard Byeongguk’s voice from behind.

“It will take two days. Two days and Ando Hadake will hear about your painting.”