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)
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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 99
Chapter 99: The Medici of the 21 st Century (5)
“What did the other appraisers say?”
“They can’t agree. Some say it’s real… some say it is not…”
“However, which opinion is the dominant one?”
Saatchi looked into Haejin’s eyes. He was trying to find out why Haejin asked that.
“Usually, people do not ask that kind of question because they fear being accused of their purpose,
but you don’t look like you’re worried about it.”
“I asked because I was curious.”
“Well, that can happen. There is a dominant opinion. They think it is real…”
“Really?”
Haejin slowly examined the painting that was lying on the floor because it was too big.
It was more than 4m wide and 2m tall.
It had been drawn with Jackson Pollock’s unique drip painting: black lines and various colors filled
between them.
Actually, making a fake drip painting good enough to fool experts was too easy.
Jackson Pollock was also an artist of the 20 th century, getting the paints and canvas he used was easy
to acquire.
Because of that, Jackson Pollok’s paintings confused many appraisers.
“Isn’t it strange that such a big painting from Jackson Pollock wasn’t discovered until now?”
“I think so, too. The reason it is believed to be Jackson Pollock’s painting is that it was mentioned in
his old letter.”
The basic of appraising a painting was checking its source.
Appraisers rely on the source even more than the painting’s quality. Discerning the authenticity based
only on the painting itself is like the final resort.
So, paintings without a clear source sometimes make the appraiser not sure of its authenticity.
In that perspective, the fact that the painting had been mentioned in Jackson Pollock’s letter was
enough to make the appraisers believe that it was real.
“If you have found out its source, you are right to believe that it is real. Then, why did you spend so
much money to bring me here?”
“Mr. Park, I must remind you that this painting is worth forty million euros. It means checking again
and again won’t be enough, no matter how many times I do it. Besides, I would be in trouble if rumors
get out of a painting going through my hands and it is a fake.”
Forty million euros. It was expensive, but Jackson Pollock’s paintings were all expensive.
“So, it is a matter of trust?”
Saatchi’s smile disappeared and crossed his arms.
“As you know, I’ve been betrayed once. So, I don’t trust anyone.”
He had founded an advertising agency called Saatchi&Saatchi in the 1970s. It was even listed on the
New York Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
However, he and his brother were forced out of their own company. So, Haejin could see why he
couldn’t trust others.
“That can happen.”
“Interesting. It can happen… the way Asian view things is sometimes unique. Anyway, I am still who I
am because people believe that I can be trusted. Charles Saatchi cannot be admired anymore if he
can’t be trusted.”
“My appraisal cannot be accurate. Plus, I don’t know if you’ve heard this, but I charge a high fee.”
“Oh, I’ve heard about it. You take 1% of the appraised price of the artifact. In fact, that doesn’t make
sense. Who would think that receiving 400 thousand euros after appraising a painting that is worth
forty million makes sense?”
Haejin was considering the plane tickets and rooms of the five-star hotel he’d been provided with, so
he wasn’t planning to receive the whole 1%.
“I’ll take 0.5%. That’s the international standard.”
Actually, 0.5% wasn’t part of any international standard. Haejin just said the fee of one the appraising
agencies that paid the most.
“I cannot give you that much even if it’s fake. I’ll give you 0.5% of the fake’s price, according to the
international standard.”
Saatchi accepted the international standard which Haejin insisted on. However, receiving the fee
based on the price of the real artifact, even if it was fake, was a rule Haejin had set when he started.
“I’m sorry, but I think I’ll have to go sightseeing.”
“You can’t accept that? Hmm… aren’t you being too greedy?”
“I know it might look that way. However, I don’t have any reason to lower my fee to do this work. When
people hear that I’ve lowered my fee once, everyone who asks me to appraise will demand me to do it
again.”
“That’s true.”
Charles Saatchi didn’t argue and nodded. He could have said that he wouldn’t tell anyone that Haejin
lowered his fee for him, but he didn’t do that.
“Then, I hope you enjoy your time in London.”
Haejin stood up and Saatchi smiled while waving his hands.
“I was joking. Please, sit down. I will pay you the fee. You are more impatient than you look.”
“Haha… I guess I took things too far.”
Haejin was embarrassed. He then sat down while Saatchi pointed at the painting on the floor.
“I’ve spent more than 500 thousand euros on having this painting appraised. I want to stop now.”
It meant Haejin should stop talking and start appraising. Eunhae stood up to sign the appraisal
contract with the staff of the gallery. Saatchi waited quietly until they were done.
After that, Haejin secretly applied saliva on his finger, went to the painting, crouched down, and used
magic.
He had given up appraising with his eyes the moment he found out that it was Jackson Pollock’s.
Appraising his painting with eyes is like gambling.
And more importantly, Haejin wasn’t interested in abstract expressionism, he didn’t think he could
appraise it properly.
The feeling of exhaustion passed, and the painting’s true identity was revealed. Haejin pondered on
the vision he had seen through magic while pretending to examine the painting.
About ten minutes later, he stood up and turned to Charles Saatchi.
“What kind of feelings did you get when you bought this painting?”
“Feelings I got when I bought this painting? Why are you asking that? I don’t think it would help you to
appraise it.”
“Yes, it won’t help me. I’m just curious.”
Charles Saatchi’s face hardened for the first time. He raised his voice.
“I brought you here to have that painting appraised, not because I needed a counselor.”
Haejin sat down on the sofa and answered coldly.
“I have the answer you wanted. I just wonder what kind of feelings made you buy this painting.”
Saatchi’s eyes shook.
“You have the answer? Hmm… okay, I’ll answer your question. At the time, I felt Pollock’s strong
energy. Although his paintings look nasty at first, they are composed quite delicately. I felt that with
this painting, too.”
He knew why Haejin was asking that and replied properly.
“I see. Hmm…”
Haejin looked at the painting again and stroked his chin. Saatchi leaned forward and asked, “You may
say that I was wrong. I think a forgery that can fool my eyes are great on its own. So, if you are afraid
of me, there’s no need to do that.”
Haejin had asked that out of pure curiosity.
Charles Saatchi was a big investor of contemporary art now. He would find talented artists and works
of art that could be valuable.
He couldn’t have had magic, so Haejin couldn’t help but wonder what kind of feeling he had gotten
from the fake painting. That’s why he asked even though he knew it was rude.
“This is fake.”
Charle’s eyes turned darker at Haejin’s simple answer. Haejin didn’t know how much he had paid for
it, but he must have paid a fortune, but he didn’t stir much. It was impressive.
“And the reason?”
It isn’t easy to prove why Jackson Pollock’s painting is fake.
“Have you analyzed the paints?”
“The paints?”
“Yes. I think the paints used for this painting are different from the paints Jackson Pollock usually
used.”
“And you can see it with your bare eyes?”
Of course not.
“…”
Charles Saatchi asked in surprise, but Haejin kept his mouth shut and looked away.
Saatchi took it as a yes. He nodded and exclaimed.
“Impressive. As you said, we haven’t analyzed the paints. But I have a question, everyone knows that
Jackson Pollock painted with enamel or aluminum paint, and those who were close to him must have
known which brand he used. However, how could the forger not know that?”
He didn’t analyze the paint because he had considered that. Using the paint that the original artist
used was the basic when it comes to making a forgery.
However, John Myatt was different. He was an artist who was persuaded by John Drewe. He didn’t
consider scientific analyzing methods when making fakes.
Nevertheless, his fakes were sold at a high price because John Drewe fabricated their source.
He knew that an appraiser cannot argue a painting is fake if there was a clear record of its existence,
even if the painting itself was slightly less good.
And artifacts with clear sources are preferred by auction agencies as they can assure the buyer that it
is real and was not stolen.
In addition, the price of the artifacts varies greatly depending on what kind of story and history they
have.
People prefer paintings that have a little bit of the artist’s life more than a painting without any record
and story.
John Drewe fabricated the source by adding fake documents to archives in museums and the artist’s
letters.
“One might make a mistake sometimes.”
“Umm…”
Saatchi couldn’t believe it easily. Haejin then added, “You said this painting had a clear source? That
it was mentioned in Pollock’s letter?”
“Yes, I did.”
“You should check that letter again, whether it was really written by Pollock or not.”
Saatchi was shocked. He called someone and instructed them to examine the letter again.
It would go through countless tests including handwriting analysis and, in the end, it would be proved
as false.
Until then, this painting was only suspected to be fake.
“Mat Vellin complimented you so much. You are different, indeed. No appraiser has approached this
matter like you before. Nothing has been decided yet, but I will pay your fee according to the contract.
Please go back and rest, we will contact you when the result comes out.”
“Then…”
Haejin had declared that the painting Saatchi had paid a fortune to buy as a fake. He couldn’t even
say something to comfort him and was about to just leave, but Saatchi called him again.
“Oh, and how about having dinner together this evening? I think we have a lot to talk about, apart
from the result.”
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)
______