Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Chapter 90
Chapter 91
Chapter 92
Chapter 93
Chapter 94
Chapter 95
Chapter 96
Chapter 97
Chapter 98
Chapter 99
Chapter 100
Chapter 101
Chapter 102
Chapter 103
Chapter 104
Chapter 105
Chapter 106
Chapter 107
Chapter 108
Chapter 109
Chapter 110
Chapter 111
Chapter 112
Chapter 113
Chapter 114
Chapter 115
Chapter 116
Chapter 117
Chapter 118
Chapter 119
Chapter 120
Chapter 121 - Portrait Of Titus (2)
Chapter 122 - Visitor From The Desert (1)
Chapter 123 - Visitor From The Desert (2)
Chapter 124 - Visitor From The Desert (3)
Chapter 125 - Visitor From The Desert (4)
Chapter 126 - Rookie Of Boston Red Sox (1)
Chapter 127 - Rookie Of Boston Red Sox (2)
Chapter 128 - Buddhist Scripture Written With Gold (1)
Chapter 129 - Buddhist Scripture Written With Gold (2)
Chapter 130 - Buddhist Scripture Written With Gold (3)
Chapter 131 - Chaebol, Painting, And Happy Tears (1)
Chapter 132 - Chaebol, Painting, And Happy Tears (2)
Chapter 133 - Chaebol, Painting, And Happy Tears (3)
Chapter 134 - Enemies Are Everywhere (1)
Chapter 135 - Enemies Are Everywhere (2)
Chapter 136 - More Paintings (1)
Chapter 137 - More Paintings (2)
Chapter 138 - To Florence, Italy… (1)
Chapter 139 - To Florence, Italy… (2)
Chapter 140 - To Florence, Italy… (3)
Chapter 141 - People Who Are After The Masterpiece (1)
Chapter 142 - People Who Are After The Masterpiece (2)
Chapter 143 - People Who Are After The Masterpiece (3)
Chapter 144 - The Medici And The Aristocrats (1)
Chapter 145 - The Medici And The Aristocrats (2)
Chapter 146 - The Medici And The Aristocrats (3)
Chapter 147 - The Medici And The Aristocrats (4)
Chapter 148 - The Medici And The Aristocrats (5)
Chapter 149 - Drawings In The Charity Auction (1)
Chapter 150 - Drawings In The Charity Auction (2)
Chapter 151 - Drawings In The Charity Auction (3)
Chapter 152 - Drawings In The Charity Auction (4)
Chapter 153 - Drawings In The Charity Auction (5)
Chapter 154 - Now, To London… (1)
Chapter 155 - Now, To London… (2)
Chapter 156 - Now, To London… (3)
Chapter 157 - Now, To London… (4)
Chapter 158 - Seeing The Light Again (1)
Chapter 159 - Seeing The Light Again (2)
Chapter 160 - Seeing The Light Again (3)
Chapter 161 - Seeing The Light Again (4)
Chapter 162 - Uninvited Guest (1)
Chapter 163 - Uninvited Guest (2)
Chapter 164 - Uninvited Guest (3)
Chapter 165 - Uninvited Guest (4)
Chapter 166 - Dark Shadow (1)
Chapter 167 - Dark Shadow (2)
Chapter 168 - Dark Shadow (3)
Chapter 169 - Change And Progress (1)
Chapter 170 - Change, And Progress (2)
Chapter 171 - Change, And Progress (3)
Chapter 172 - Appraiser Talks Through Appraising (1)
Chapter 173 - Appraiser Talks Through Appraising (2)
Chapter 174 - Appraiser Talks Through Appraising (3)
Chapter 175 - Appraiser Talks Through Appraising (4)
Chapter 176 - Appraiser Talks Through Appraising (5)
Chapter 177 - Inheritance Left By The Parents (1)
Chapter 178 - Inheritance Left By The Parents (2)
Chapter 179 - Inheritance Left By The Parents (3)
Chapter 180 - Inheritance Left By The Parents (4)
Chapter 181 - Star Appraiser (1)
Chapter 182 - Star Appraiser (2)
Chapter 183 - Star Appraiser (3)
Chapter 184 - Terms Of Return Of Artifacts (1)
Chapter 185 - Terms Of Return Of Artifacts (2)
Chapter 186 - Terms Of Return Of Artifacts (3)
Chapter 187 - Terms Of Return Of Artifacts (4)
Chapter 188 - Terms Of Return Of Artifacts (5)
Chapter 189 - Artifact From North Korea (1)
Chapter 190 - Artifact From North Korea (2)
Chapter 191 - Artifact Match (1)
Chapter 192 - Artifact Match (2)
Chapter 193 - Artifact Match (3)
Chapter 194 - Artifact Match (4)
Chapter 195 - Artifact Match (5)
Chapter 196 - What Happened In Austria (1)
Chapter 197 - What Happened In Austria (2)
Chapter 198 - What Happened In Austria (3)
Chapter 199 - What Happened In Austria (4)
Chapter 200 - Bait To Catch The Big Fish (1)
Chapter 201 - Bait To Catch The Big Fish (2)
Chapter 202 - What The Depressed Man Left (1)
Chapter 203 - What The Depressed Man Left (2)
Chapter 204 - Where The Faith Leads Him To (1)
Chapter 205 - Add Painting To Painting (1)
Chapter 206 - Add Painting To Painting (2)
Chapter 207 - Add Painting To Painting (3)
Chapter 208 - Finally, To There… (1)
Chapter 209 - Finally, In There… (2)
Chapter 210 (End) - Epilogue
Categories Genre: All, Completed, Fantasy, Supernatural Status: Completed ______
Total Chapters in book: 210
Estimated words: 468205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 2341(@200wpm)___ 1873(@250wpm)___ 1561(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 468205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 2341(@200wpm)___ 1873(@250wpm)___ 1561(@300wpm)
______
LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 210 Page No. 209 Page No. 208 Page No. 207 Page No. 206 Page No. 205 Page No. 204 Page No. 203 Page No. 202 Page No. 201 Page No. 200 Chapter 32
Chapter 32: Fishing (2)
“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.
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…”
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.”
Total Chapters in book: 210
Estimated words: 468205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 2341(@200wpm)___ 1873(@250wpm)___ 1561(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 468205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 2341(@200wpm)___ 1873(@250wpm)___ 1561(@300wpm)
______