Chapter 12: First Step as an Antique Appraiser (2)

Haejin arrived at the Four Seasons Hotel, went up to Byeongguk's room and knocked. A head with black hair popped out.

"Oh, it's you. Come on in."

Byung Guk was about 170cm tall and had shaggy hair and a beard, so without taking a shower for even a day, he started looking like a homeless guy. That was how he looked today.

"You need to take a shower. And shave."

"You don't know what you're talking about. If I go to make a deal and look neat, they would suspect me as a fraud. I have to be 'natural' to make them think, 'Oh… I guess things like this are sold from this kind of shaggy people.'"

"You are just too lazy. Don't make up stories… You said Sujeong is coming. Are you going to greet her in that nasty condition?"

Sujeong studied the preservation and restoration of artefacts at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, Austria and was coming back to Korea soon. When she was little, she used to hate her father not coming home often, but she also got interested in antiques because of her father.

As the university was famous for restoring artefacts, Byung Guk was very proud of Sujeong and often said she was very good at it. Haejin wondered how good she was.

"Then, she might run away. She hates dirtiness so it's so hard. Hhhh… she is coming next month, so you should leave for some time. Let's go meet her at the airport, she would love to see you."

"You used to tell me to stay away from her."

"Hey, that was when you were in elementary school. Well, I cannot let her live abroad forever. Hu…what if she suddenly brings a foreigner and tells me she will marry him? I just want to have some grandchildren now."

The death of Haejin's father had certainly changed Byung Guk.

"Anyway, what's the thing?"

Byeongguk's eyes sparkled. He put a celadon on the table. It was a kettle, less than 30cm tall, but its mouth was long, and the body was ample but elegant. The pattern of the body had inlaid peonies. Its beauty and grace would easily draw your attention.

"You remember this?"

"Of course. I think my father gave this to you as your share in Sacheon, China. I clearly remember this. Why did you bring this here instead of selling it there?"

Haejin remembered this celadon most clearly for one reason; it was the only artifact that had been made in Korea, more specifically, Goryeo.

"Celadons of Goryeo are not considered much in China. You know that. They think their celadons are the best."

"Hmm… that's true."

Apart from the artistic value of the artefact, the Chinese think their artefacts are the best. So, Goryeo Celadons are never as expensive as Chinese celadons of similar quality. Of course, that doesn't mean Goryeo Celadons are treated as cheapies.

"So, I brought this here. How is it? Is it good?"

Byung Guk focused only on grave robbing. He didn't study art like Yunseok or had an interest in it. Therefore, he didn't have a discerning eye.

Yunseok had told Byung Guk that Haejin was the best Korean appraiser many times, so he called Haejin instead of his late father.

"Yes, the colour is good and there's no sign of a mended crack. It was a classic Goryeo Celadon made around the 13th century. This is worth at least two billion."

"Isn't two billion too cheap?"

"Hmm… I don't know. If the buyer appreciates its value, he might pay you more. The problem is whether he likes it or not… but he is buying it without seeing it and he is sending it to someone else…"

"It happens sometimes. The buyer sends an appraiser to check that the thing is real and then calls me to his or her home."

"So, you don't know whether you will make the deal here or not yet."

Byung Guk seems bitter.

"Even if I have a real artefact, I cannot summon those people with heavy butts with just one phone call. Some will buy immediately, some will call me to their homes… I don't know what will happen."

"Hmm… that's bad. I would get paid only if you get paid."

Haejin said that as a joke, but Byung Guk took out an envelope full of money.

"It's fine. I know you. Here is your money, so you can go now."

It couldn't be thousand won notes, so Byung Guk was giving Haejin big money.

"Why are you paying me so much?"

"It includes condolence money for your father. Taking care of the funeral must have been hard… you should have called me."

Byung Guk was the only one who cared about Haejin's father.

But suddenly, Haejin wondered about something.

"Oh, I have something to ask you. Wasn't there something strange when you excavated with my father?"

"Something strange? And which excavation are you talking about?"

"The last one…"

"Huh? I didn't do it. Oh… I had to go to Austria because of Sujeong, so I couldn't go to China with your father. Someone else must have accompanied him, probably."

"Do you happen to know who that is?"

"You know your father wouldn't have told me that. I wouldn't have said that if I were him."

Haejin wondered if the book or something that happened there worsened his father's condition.

However, now he didn't know who he should ask.

"Well, you're right. I should go now."

"Okay. Oh, wait. If you are not busy, will you go to Insadong with me after the deal?"

"Why?"

"I still feel bad about the time I ran away alone when I was excavating in Cambodia with your father. You are alone now, so I cannot just send you away. I will give you one of the things I have, so sell it to get some money. I have sold everything expensive, so the rest are not that expensive, but it will give you enough money to start a little shop."

"Oh, that's fine. Just sell it yourself and buy Sujeong a house when she gets married."

"I have that prepared. So, stop talking and come with me. Or you will regret it."

"Hhh… then I will pick the most expensive one."

"You do that. Huh? A phone call. Hello? Yes, room 318. Yes, I will be waiting."

Byung Guk hung up. He didn't look nervous.

They took out some juice from the refrigerator and waited. Soon enough, they got visitors.

"Hello, I am Director Lee Minsung of Hwajin Electronics."

Three men entered the room. One of them was an old man, at least eighty years old, director Lee

Minsung was in his early 40s, and the last was a young man who had an overwhelming aura with sunglasses and a muscular body.

Hwajin Electronics? Haejin felt he somehow kept running into Hwajin's businesses.

"You brought a bodyguard?"

Byung Guk asked with his unique sly face. Minsung adjusted his glasses and asked.

"To prepare for unpleasant situations. But this is?"

"My nephew."

"I don't think you just brought your nephew here… what does he do?"

Minsung studied Haejin with a sharp gaze. It was like he shot infrared rays with his eyes.

"I appraise antiques."

Minsung was a little surprised at this answer.

"You appraise antiquities, at such a young age? Haha… this man here also came to appraise, do you know who he is?"

He was implying that Haejin should know him to call himself an appraiser.

The old man was thin and had a long face. He was smiling slightly while looking at Haejin as if asking,

'You know me?'.

Haejin studied his face. He recalled a name. But he got mad at that annoying look on the old man's face that looked down on him.

"Well, I don't know."

His opponents were more surprised at the bold answer. Minsung coughed and glanced at the old appraiser. He tried to make his point nicely.

"Khmm… I don't understand how an appraiser doesn't know Professor Oh Wonsang of Korea University's Antique Department. He is also a member of the Korea Antique Association's Appraising Committee."

"I used to live abroad and just got here. If I know what is needed to appraise antiques, I will start studying now."

Byung Guk knew well that Haejin was proud and feisty just like his father. He laughed and changed the mood.

"Hahaha! My nephew is a little straightforward, right? It's because he used to live abroad. Well, that's not important, right?"

Minsung didn't hide that he was offended.

"Yes, but… I do worry about your nephew's social life."

"I work as an appraiser because I don't care about my social life, but if this also involves being social, I have chosen the wrong job."

Minsung's face now turned red. He wasn't the one who was buying, and he couldn't break the deal, so he tried to control his anger.

"Khmm… let's see the thing first."

"Yes. That's what matters. Here."

Byung Guk brought the celadon again. Oh Wonsang took out a magnifying glass.

He studied the celadon from the bottom to the top and nodded to Minsung. It was real.

"Let's go."

"Where?"

"We cannot give you the money here. Besides, we cannot talk about the price. The chairman would see it himself and decide."

Byung Guk thought it might happen, so he wasn't that shocked. He glanced at Haejin and agreed.

"Okay. Let's go."

Two young men came in and started to carefully wrap the celadon. They had done it many times, as it took them less than 3 minutes to lift it by its bottom and put it in a box.

"We will go with it. No objections?"

Byung Guk was worried that they might switch the celadon, but Minsung didn't care.

"Okay. It's not like we will… khmm… anyway, we should move fast. But is your nephew coming with us?"

"Of course. I feel comfortable with him by my side…"

"Well, okay."

Haejin had no choice but to get on a Range Rover after Byung Guk.

After 20 minutes, they arrived at the wealthy village of Pyeongchang-dong, Jongno Gu. It was surrounded by high walls but, even from afar, it looked like a different world to which the commoners had no access.

"Please, get off."

"This place is great."

Haejin had thought he wanted to live in a place like this someday but, actually seeing it, he wanted it even more.

"You've never been to a place like this, right?"

"Yes, I wish I could live here. But why is this village so expensive?"

"Oh, you see, the president's residence is close to here. So…"

"Stop talking, let's move."

Minsung didn't like that Haejin and Byung Guk were fine in front of a large mansion that would overwhelm anyone.

Anyway, they went through the entrance after an ID check and security cameras. They then walked across a large garden to enter the mansion.

As Haejin had expected, the interior and everything was expensive. However, he then saw a painting on the wall that caught his eye.

"Hello."

There was a man in his early 50s sitting on a sofa. It was the vice chairman Lim Sungjun of Hwajin whom Haejin had only seen on TV.