Artifact Reading Inspector

Chapter 87: Baroque Special Exhibition (4)

“Oh, sir! I didn’t know you were here…”

Misuk realized what was going on and showed up. She blocked Jo Haejun’s way, but he just smiled and moved aside.

He was in his late 50s. He had been elected five times in Gangbuk. Even Haejin, who didn’t know much about politics, knew him.

“I should just watch paintings when I am in a gallery. There’s no reason to go around and say hello. Anyway, thank you very much for sending me an invitation.”

He slyly smiled and Misuk’s eyes shook slightly.

Most people wouldn’t dare to act like this, but even Sungjun couldn’t treat the representative of the opposite party rudely.

“You didn’t come last year… if you had told us in advance, we would have made preparations so that you could watch more comfortably.”

“Oh, for some reason, I wanted to come today. There has been a lot of hard work recently, so I came to cool my head. I didn’t know I would get to witness such a thing.”

Then, the determined Elissa interrupted.

“There must be a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding?”

Misuk and Hyoyeon couldn’t hide that they were nervous. They all looked at Elissa.

She looked around and opened her mouth, her lips were dry. Haejin couldn’t even imagine how nervous she was in that moment.

“Even if the painting in this painting is a little awkward, it cannot be the proof that this painting is fake.”

That was the right argument. The problem was that her opponent was also good. Hailey nodded as if she agreed to Elissa.

“I admit that. Normally, it would not be enough to call this painting a fake. However, we must consider that this is Vermeer’s painting. Look here. He described Jesus as delicately as this noble lady. Thin arms, muscles, and sick-looking face. All are depicted with extreme care. He, however, tilted Jesus’ ankle? I doubt that. Vermeer was a very pious man. If it were another artist, I would think it is simply a mistake, but as it is Vermeer’s, I think it is different.”

Hailey spoke with logic. Everyone looked at Elissa again.

To beat Hailey, she couldn’t get along with her talking about Vermeer. Hailey’s logic was circumstantial, after all.

However, Elissa Kim couldn’t overcome the pressure of the situation.

“No matter how pious he was, I cannot believe that he would never make mistakes. He was also not educated in art for a long time. Of course, he can make this kind of mistake.”

Oh… Elissa was so nervous that she made a fatal mistake. Hailey smiled.

“Are you saying that Johannes Vermeer was an amateur? Vermeer, the pride of the Netherlands? I’m very surprised to hear a member of the Chicago Appraisers Association speak of Vermeer like that. Is that the Association’s official opinion?”

Even the boldest person would get anxious when pressed like this.

“No, no. I’m just saying that normally…”

Hailey cut her short and gave her last punch.

“Enough with useless excuses. You do know that hiding traps in paintings like this is a method from Tom Keating, the famous forger?”

“You’re thinking that he did something with this painting. However, you must know that Tom Keating didn’t hide bombs in all the paintings.”

“Are you suggesting a test? We will get our answer if we pour water on it.”

“If it isn’t, can you handle the consequences?”

Elissa courageously spoke, but she didn’t know how things were going exactly. The reason came from behind her.

“What are you talking about? Are you going to pour water on it now?”

Hyoyeon yelled. Elissa realized her mistakes only then. She quickly waved her hands and made excuses, but it was too late.

“I didn’t mean…”

Misuk spoke instead.

“No, stop. I’m sorry. It appears that there has been a mistake. So please stop today. We’ll find out what has happened and if there’s a problem, we’ll take care of it according to the protocol.”

That was the standard answer. It meant Hailey should not talk about it anymore. In a way, Misuk was surrendering.

Elissa looked at her. She thought they couldn’t lose like that, but Misuk ignored her.

She didn’t have a choice. If Tom Keating’s fake performance happened there, Hwajin’s reputation would drop to the ground and the whole world would find out about it.

“It’s a shame, but it does happen sometimes. I hope you take care of this wisely. It’s a good thing that I came instead of my boss.”

Hailey bowed her head politely at Misuk and left. She had done what she came for, so she had no reason to linger behind.

As Haejin saw her leave, he suddenly wondered how Eunhae had made the International Revenue Service/IRS Art Advisory Panel speak for her.

She had to at least know that Hyoyeon would send them an invitation… Haejin also wondered how Tom Keating’s painting had gotten here. He quietly went there and casted magic.

As everyone was shocked and was studying Hyoyeon and Misuk, no one found Haejin’s action strange. However, the moment Haejin used magic, he couldn’t help but look at Misuk.

The moment their eyes met, Haejun broke the silence with a playful voice.

“Oh, Jeongcheol, take a photo of this.”

“Yes, sir.”

His secretary took photos of Haejun and the painting with his phone.

“Senator Jo, you cannot do this.”

That happened too quickly, so Misuk tried to stop him. However, Haejun had taken enough photos. He stepped away with his sly smile.

“Thank you for letting me enjoy good paintings today. But you will have some explanations to do about how you have brought this painting. There are rumors about expensive paintings being secretly traded among wealthy people to be used as secret funds.”

“That didn’t happen.”

“We shall see after the investigation. It says it is owned by this individual… I wonder how much you paid to bring it here. And, how much of that money went to the painting’s owner.”

He turned back and left before Misuk could say anything. Misuk glared at him and turned to Elissa.

She slapped her cheek with all her might.

Slap!

Even Haejin was surprised and took a step back.

“How dare you make my daughter a laughingstock?”

Elissa stumbled, covering her cheek. She was too surprised and shocked to say anything. Her red face and shaking eyes showed it.

“What are you looking at? Aren’t you here to watch paintings?”

Misuk looked around and yelled. Then the people, who had gathered around, dispersed. But, of course, they did their best to listen.

Haejin, who had gotten away from Misuk, was also listening. Misuk turned back to Elissa and cursed at her.

“This is why I shouldn’t trust people who studied abroad. You don’t know a thing about paintings and what? Chicago Appraisers Association? How did you get in there? Did you sleep with someone?”

Even though people were away, most of them could still hear it. Nevertheless, she insulted Elissa in public like that.

She had a problematic personality. As Haejin had found out how the painting had gotten here, he just couldn’t stand Misuk’s wretched behavior anymore.

Misuk, Hyoyeon, and Elissa had all known that the painting was fake. However, she was blaming Elissa for everything. So shameless…

“No, no.”

“Huh! Of course…”

Misuk glared at Elissa and turned around to leave. Then, Hyoyeon yelled at Mina, who was standing next to her in fear.

“Hey, what are you doing? Put that down!”

“Yes, yes.”

“There are only fools here… ugh!”

After Misuk and Hyoyeon left, the gallery was cold.

It was because of the staff who cleaned up the mess. They all looked sad as if they had lost their country. Eunhae showed up from somewhere, patted their shoulders, and left.

Haejin saw her eyes as she went past him. Unlike before, they were full of anger. And seeing that, Haejin thought of a good way to make those mother and daughter pay.

Leaving after Eunhae would arouse suspicion. Haejin slowly looked at the paintings and left about an hour later. There was someone waiting for him.

“Are you done here, sir?”

The man worked at Haevici Gallery. Haejin wasn’t that close to Haevici Gallery, but Yaerin had asked him to come.

Going to Saeyeon Gallery’s exhibition only and missing Haevici Gallery’s exhibition could be a problem, so he couldn’t refuse to go.

“Yes. You didn’t have to wait…”

“No. Ms. Yaerin told me to wait for you and bring you there.”

Haejin wanted to ask Eunhae how she had brought Hailey Robert, but it looked like he had to postpone it.

When he arrived at Haevici Gallery, there was a special opening event for the VIPs going on, just like Saeyeon Gallery.

There were some people Haejin had seen at Saeyeon Gallery earlier. Yaerin, who was wearing a neat black two-piece suit, saw Haejin and came to him.

“You’re late.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. But I was only 10 minutes late.”

“Only my family makes me wait 10 minutes.”

If it had been someone else, Haejin would have thought it was crazy but, as it was Yaerin, it didn’t feel weird.

“Really? That can happen in life.”

She pouted, and then covered her mouth to laugh.

“I heard Saeyeon Gallery has been humiliated. Oh, I should have been there…”

“You still care about it, even though Ms. Eunhae is no longer its director?”

“Oh, it doesn’t have a thing to do with that. It’s a matter between Hwajin and Yuseong. My aunt was so delighted when she just told me about it… she’s even happier than me. And, you do know how things are between me and Eunhae.”

“Yes, but…”

“Anyway, welcome. Come, I have someone for you to meet.”

Yaerin dragged Haejin into the deeper part of the room.

“Here. Say hello. This is Oh Hyaeju of Osung Foods, my friend.”

There was a woman in her mid-20s waiting for them. She looked shy as her face was red.

Haejin wondered if this was some kind of blind date, but he thought Yaerin would not have dragged him there for that.

“Yes, hello. I’m Park Haejin.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Oh Hyaeju. I’ve seen you before, actually.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. Your museum is so famous that I had to go. I just saw you from afar then, but we’re meeting properly today.”

“Oh.”

Haejin didn’t have anything to say, so he answered shortly. Hyaeju hesitated and continued.

“Actually, I asked Yaerin here to help me meet you.”