CH11

"What do you mean it smells like money?"

"Hmm, well, how should I put it? If an artist is full of ambition… wouldn't they likely become more successful?"

"You mean you're investing with an eye on the future?"

"Yes. If I'm going to spend money, it's better if it has investment value."

It was quite a bold statement for an eleven-year-old.

But Park Yong-hak seemed pleased with my words.

"Since you're talking about investments, let me ask you something."

"Yes, Grandfather."

"Didn't you say you were going to hang this painting in your room?"

I nodded.

"Then isn't that inconsistent?"

"...?"

"If the money is in an account, at least it earns interest. This is like putting cash in a frame and hanging it up."

Unlike money, a painting can appreciate in value just by being displayed.

But surely Chairman Park knew that.

He must have wanted to assess his grandson's level.

In that case…

"Well, if it were displayed in a museum, it could at least generate admission fees."

That would have been a decent answer for an eleven-year-old.

But I took it a step further.

"Grandfather, since we're on the subject, how about we change the painting's location?"

"Change its location?"

"Yes. Instead of my room, let's move it to your collection. Of course, under the condition that ownership changes as well."

"You're saying I should buy this painting from you."

"Wouldn't it be better included in your collection than with me?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Art is strange. Just changing the owner can increase its value."

"...!"

"The moment it becomes part of your collection, its value would multiply. Isn't that much more economical?"

Chairman Park had always looked down on me.

But at this moment.

For the first time, he bent down and met my eyes.

He had a lot to say but seemed to be choosing his words.

So I went ahead.

"Grandfather, didn't you like the painting?"

"Why, do you think I was drooling over it?"

"Not exactly."

"...?"

"You observed it for twenty minutes. If you didn't like it, you would have turned away immediately."

"My money is involved. It's natural to examine it thoroughly."

"But twenty minutes is a bit long, isn't it?"

"What?"

"At your level, you often spend money to save time. It's more beneficial to buy time than to deal with tedious and bothersome tasks. But you spent twenty minutes on this painting…"

Chairman Park neither confirmed nor denied it.

He simply lifted the corners of his mouth slightly.

"My grandson is interested in investments, so I have to oblige. How much did you pay for this painting?"

"One million won."

"Hmm, so I should pay double that."

He scratched his head.

"Why, isn't that satisfactory?"

I nodded.

"Do you want five times the amount?"

I shook my head.

"Speak like a man."

I stated an exact amount: fifty million won.

Chairman Park's forehead wrinkled for a moment.

But only for a moment.

"Hahaha!"

He laughed loudly.

"You've grown bold after winning some prize money from your writing contest."

"..."

"You're asking fifty times the amount for a painting you bought just a few hours ago?"

"Even if I bought something for ten thousand won from an antique shop… if it's a real treasure, couldn't it fetch a thousand or ten thousand times that amount?"

"So you're saying… this is a treasure?"

"If you invested twenty minutes in this work, couldn't it be considered a candidate for a treasure?"

"Hah!"

Chairman Park let out a startled laugh.

But he didn't dismiss me.

Instead, he put on his magnifying glass again and approached Yoo Sun-ho's work.

He had examined the painting thoroughly.

So his gaze turned to the stack of drawings.

He flipped through the papers quickly, unlike when viewing the oil painting.

But at the last sketch.

The one of the man holding a bouquet instead of a Molotov cocktail.

"..."

Even the great Chairman Park was captivated for a long time.

Phew.

I needed at least forty million won.

So, I boldly asked for fifty! A very high figure.

But to my surprise.

Chairman Park was seriously examining the drawing.

Gulp.

Could he be considering my offer?

A painting I bought for one million won for fifty million?

I didn't want to show it, but my heart pounded loudly.

After some time.

Chairman Park finally turned to me.

"Let me ask you one thing. Why do you need so much money?"

"..."

"If it's not just for pocket money… tell me. What do you plan to do with it?"

"..."

"If you don't have a clear purpose, you wouldn't be pushing this hard, right? Am I wrong?"

Did he think I would spill everything at this point?

Chairman Park's eyes gleamed silently.

However.

"I'm really sorry."

But I'm not just an eleven-year-old.

"Grandfather."

"...?"

"I learned that true certainty isn't shared."

"What?"

"The plan is too good… I don't think I can share it with you."

"…Ha!"

"Can you understand?"

A risky gamble.

I did my best.

The dice have been cast, and now it's time to see the results.

At that moment.

Instead of answering, Chairman Park showed a mysterious smile.

***

Thirty minutes later, in Chairman Park Yong-hak's study.

Chairman Park sat at his large desk, and opposite him stood his daughter-in-law, Song Soo-hee.

"Father, you called for me?"

Instead of answering, Chairman Park looked at the painting on the wall.

It was Yoo Sun-ho's 'Spiral.'

After about five minutes of silence, Chairman Park slowly spoke.

"Have you seen that painting before?"

"Yes, I saw it at the university exhibition."

"What did you think?"

"I felt it was a very bold work. The use of colors was excellent."

"Is that all?"

"Pardon?"

"Didn't you feel anything more?"

"..."

"You thought it was decent."

"Yes, for a first-year student's work, it was very good."

"Then why didn't you buy it?"

"Ah, well, I thought fourth-year student Lee Yoon-ki's work was far superior in terms of completeness…"

"Ridiculous!"

Song Soo-hee flinched at the sharp reprimand.

"You graduated from Seoul National University's art department, yet you lack the vision of an eleven-year-old!"

"..."

"The child saw that painting and was so passionate about it that he entered a literary contest and won! He used his prize money to buy it!"

Song Soo-hee had seen the same painting on the same day.

What were you doing, he was asking.

"Who asked you to find hidden treasures? Isn't it your job to seize the opportunities right in front of you?"

"I'm sorry, Father."

"Thanks to you, I'm about to lose a lot of money."

"...?"

Park Yong-hak waved dismissively as if to say it wasn't important.

"From tomorrow, go back and revisit all the places you've been to. See if there's anything you missed like that painting. Search thoroughly."

"Yes, Father."

"You may go now."

After Song Soo-hee left the study, Park Yong-hak kept his gaze on the painting.

Just as his grandson had said.

'A painting overflowing with ambition.'

It had enough potential just from its spirited nature.

But.

Park Yong-hak's gaze moved to the drawing.

The sketch of the man holding a bouquet instead of a Molotov cocktail.

Seeing this sketch transformed a question mark into an exclamation mark.

Talent capable of becoming legendary!

But more surprising than the artist's potential was his eleven-year-old grandson's insight.

And not only that?

-'I learned that true certainty isn't shared.'

He threw his words from dinner right back at him.

-'The plan is too good… I don't think I can share it with you.'

He's still hinting that there's more to his plan.

If he was curious about his plan… he should buy the painting as an investment?

And since it's a transaction, there's no sharing of profits?

"…Ha ha."

'This kid is something else.I've never made an investment with no return in my life.But this little rascal's tricks are expensive!'

Even as he thought this.

Park Yong-hak's lips curled into a smile.

Moments later.

He reached out and picked up the receiver.

He spoke without hesitation.

"You know Ji-hoon's account, right? Send some money there."

***

The next day.

I rushed to the bank after school.

To check the numbers on my passbook.

"Wow!"

The amount was fifty times what I paid.

I don't know the connection between Yoo Sun-ho and Banksy.

Even if they were the same person and the value of the artwork skyrockets… I didn't make a bad deal.

It would take at least twenty years for Banksy to make a name for himself.

Rather than holding onto the painting…

'It's better to turn it into cash and grow my money.'

Especially when there's a business that guarantees a solid return if I invest.

'To secure seed money, selling is the best option.'

Wait.

Now that I think about it.

'How did I only write novels in my past life?'

I'm practically a businessman, haha.

Of course, this is all limited to the realm of art.

Anyway.

I had about sixty million won now.

The cost would depend on how many people I send to Boston and how long they stay.

'I'd like to get an estimate if there's a suitable agency.'

But finding such an agency is unlikely!

Still, I couldn't just sit idle.

'There's a way.'

As I got into the car parked in the garage, I said.

"Driver, please take me to Seoul National University."

***

Thirty minutes later, in the Western Painting Department office at Seoul National University.

"Ji-hoon, what brings you here?"

The head professor greeted me with his usual friendly smile.

That businesslike face that appears when there's something to gain.

Sure, I don't like relying on goodwill either.

Let's strip away the pleasantries and get down to business.

"Did you convey my regards to your grandfather?"

"Yes."

"Oh, thank you. So, what brings you here today? Are you here to see more paintings?"

"No. I'm here to propose a business partnership."

"Pardon? Did I hear that right?"

"Yes, you heard correctly."

"...?"

"A business partnership. Don't you like the idea?"