» The Youngest Son of Sunyang
Reborn Rich - Chapter 264
[264] The Secret Gallery 2
"Ah, when you approach Sunyang Gallery, you can buy a few pieces from other places concurrently, so it doesn't seem like you're exclusively interested in their collection. Don't concern yourself with the expenses."
"Could you excuse me for a moment?"
Bette Porter hastily grabbed Rachel's hand and stepped outside. The two reappeared after conversing for a good ten minutes.
"I'm sorry, Howard. I was a bit rude."
"No, it's quite all right. I did say something that would naturally cause anyone to be flustered."
"I have but one question. If I fail to acquire works from Sunyang Gallery, will the support for Wentworth Art Gallery be withdrawn?"
"Haven't I already told you? I'm an outsider when it comes to art. In that case, it will be as if this conversation never took place."
Bette Porter bit her lip.
It was undeniably a condition that felt unsavory, too uncertain to simply bite into.
"Lastly... this will be a personal question, if you don't mind?"
"Please, ask away. If it's a question I find difficult to answer, I'll simply offer 'no comment'."
"I've heard that Howard is from the owner family of Sunyang Group. Sunyang Gallery is also a foundation operated by that very group. So why are you going about things in such a complicated manner?"
"It's a complicated family matter, so no comment. Heh heh."
She saw my smile and gave a shrug.
"Okay. I'll give it a go."
"That's not enough."
"What?"
"You'll 'give it a try'? If you approach Sunyang Gallery with such a half-hearted intention, you won't even receive a proper response. Only a flawless plan, without the slightest loophole, will manage to unbolt Sunyang Gallery's defenses. Everything that sits behind the name 'Sunyang' is a monster."
I raised my finger and pointed at myself.
"Look at me. Do I strike you as a conventional man?"
* * *
"What did you two talk about outside?"
"She asked about your true identity."
"So what did you say?"
"I told her not to question it, but to comply with your wishes. I also subtly hinted that her life would be transformed."
"Do you think she'll follow your advice?"
"Probably.... No, almost certainly."
"Why are you so certain?"
"Bette Porter, she's highly capable in that field, and her ambition is far from ordinary. It's just that luck hasn't favored her yet. The art world tends to be rather conservative, but she possesses a somewhat radical disposition."
"So I'm essentially using money to accommodate her unconventional disposition, I see."
"You're not really all that concerned about it anyway, are you? No matter how successful the gallery becomes, it will likely only yield pocket money-level profits for you."
"My pocket money isn't much at all. I simply don't have the time to spend it."
Rachel's words held true. Bette Porter, without a moment's hesitation, devised a meticulous and flawless plan for her ambitions and immediately put it into action.
The first step was to spread a rumor.
The rumor spread: Wentworth Art Gallery had found an immense patron, and while it might still fall short of the New York Metropolitan Museum, growing to become one of the top three private galleries was no longer a mere dream.
As if to substantiate the rumor, galleries not only across the United States but also from various corners of the globe received emails from Wentworth Art Gallery.
Along with a list of works they wished to purchase from each gallery's collection.
Such actions cannot be undertaken frivolously. It is common knowledge that if this were merely a casual inquiry to gauge prices, both Wentworth Art Gallery and Bette Porter would be utterly ruined in this industry.
Of course, Sunyang Gallery also received the same email.
* * *
The Sunyang Gallery management didn't find themselves overly troubled by the email. This was because its authenticity had already been investigated and confirmed by Sunyang Group's New York subsidiary.
"This can certainly be seen as a transformation, then."
"Precisely. Given that rumors have already widely circulated across New York, it's safe to consider this a formal proposal."
"But will the Chairwoman truly sell the paintings? Her covetousness for art is boundless, isn't it?"
"Nevertheless, we must report it. Hasn't she always insisted, as a matter of habit, that any offer to buy a painting must be reported? She claims it's the only way to ascertain the true current value of the works."
"Then let's prepare the report. Director Bette Porter is said to have an excellent reputation in New York. It wouldn't be a bad idea to establish a connection with our gallery through this opportunity."
They presented the investigation findings from the New York subsidiary and the email to Madam Pilok Lee, the foundation's Chairwoman.
Madam Pilok Lee meticulously examined the report submitted by the gallery's head of operations before finally speaking.
"Are you certain? That they genuinely wish to purchase our paintings? And do they possess the financial capacity to do so?"
"It appears so. It's a fact confirmed by the New York subsidiary."
"Is that so? Alright, you may leave."
"Yes, Chairwoman."
As soon as the head of operations bowed and left, Madam Pilok Lee pressed the intercom.
"Tell Secretary Song to come in."
In less than a minute, a man appearing to be in his forties entered and bowed.
"You called for me?"
"Take a look at this."
She casually handed over the report.
Secretary Song meticulously checked the email as well before looking up.
"Well? Isn't it quite favorable?"
"Chairwoman. Among the items on this list, some have already been discreetly sold..."
Secretary Song lowered his voice.
"I know. So, compile a new list from what we currently possess. Select only the most valuable pieces."
"Yes."
Secretary Song was about to exit, but Madam Pilok Lee's instructions were not yet complete.
"You'll have to travel to New York, won't you? Meet this 'Porter,' or 'Putter,' or whatever her name is, who sent the email, face-to-face. And confirm whether she'll accept our conditions."
"Yes, Chairwoman."
As Secretary Song exited, a flush of color spread across her face. A perfectly suitable patron had emerged just when she needed one to lavish funds upon, and she was eager to seize this opportunity.
* * *
"I've been waiting for you, Mr. Song. How was your flight?"
"It was pleasant. Thank you for this warm reception."
Bette Porter had not expected such a quick response from Sunyang Gallery.
She could only surmise that the swift email reply, and their eagerness to meet and discuss in person, stemmed from the complicated circumstances Jin Dojun had hinted at.
"You appear quite aggressive in acquiring artworks; is this a new policy for the gallery?"
"Rather than a policy, 'being reborn' would be a more precise description. A truly dedicated patron has emerged, you see."
At her explanation, Secretary Song's eyes gleamed.
"Might you be able to tell me who that patron is, by any chance?"
Bette Porter's eyes narrowed, taken aback by this man who spoke to her as if conducting an interrogation from their very first encounter.
"I regret to say that I cannot disclose that information. It strikes me as odd. It is our gallery that is acquiring the paintings, not the patron."
"Ah, my apologies. The truth is, our Sunyang Gallery has exclusively sold works to private individuals."
"Isn't it a well-known fact that private individuals are the primary clients of a gallery? Are you, by any chance, contemplating a transaction with the patron through us?"
"If I may be so bold, yes. Would that be possible?"
Bette Porter found this difficult to comprehend. The funds for the art acquisition would, in any case, originate from the patron. Even if they were to transact directly with the patron, wouldn't the outcome be identical if the patron simply donated the paintings to the gallery?
This man, who had flown all the way from Korea, was at this moment merely uttering meaningless words.
The sole difference between a gallery transaction and a private one lies in a single distinction: whether the paintings are displayed in a public space or a private one.
Bette Porter finally discerned the true nature of the transaction this man desired.
"Could it be... that the public display of the paintings is out of the question, and you wish for the transaction itself to proceed in absolute secrecy?"
Secretary Song's expression brightened.
"Exactly. That is the transaction we desire."
"It's a common condition in private transactions, after all."
Countless artworks disappear this way.
"So, if our gallery were to acquire them, would it imply no issue, provided we uphold those conditions?"
"That is correct. However, can a gallery truly abstain from public display?"
"It would require discussion by the board, but it's not entirely impossible. The works held by Sunyang Gallery are, after all, masterpieces. If we consider their preservation, it might just be feasible..."
Once she displayed a positive reaction, Secretary Song advanced the conversation a little further.
"Would you care to look at this?"
He pulled a thick file from his bag.
"Among the works you requested, there are some that we are unable to sell. This is a revised list of the pieces available for purchase. I ask for your review."
As Bette Porter received the list, Secretary Song bowed lightly.
"Then, please contact us once you've reached a conclusion. How long do you anticipate that will take?"
"I'll let you know by the day after tomorrow at the latest. Will that be acceptable?"
"Of course. Very well then."
As Secretary Song left, Bette Porter let out a short sigh.
She was genuinely curious about the strange goings-on at this Korean company, so renowned for its mobile phones.
* * *
"So those are the conditions, as expected."
The transaction conditions Bette Porter outlined confirmed the veracity of Managing Director Woo Byungjun's report.
Indeed, how many works could truly be housed in Sunyang Gallery's vault? I could almost guarantee that the entire collection consisted solely of those multi-million-won pieces occasionally displayed during special exhibitions.
"Let's see the list they brought."
I compared it against the list of Sunyang Gallery's works that Managing Director Woo Byungjun had compiled, then separately organized only the missing items and presented them to Bette Porter.
"Sunyang Gallery seems unlikely to sell those. Still, what kind of value would they command?"
As she ran her finger down the list, her mouth gradually fell open. When her surveying finger finally stilled, she simply shook her head.
"If these works were put up for auction at Christie's right now, no one could possibly predict their final bid prices. If they were all auctioned simultaneously, the competitive spirit of global billionaires would ignite, sending prices skyrocketing through the roof, wouldn't it?"
"I'm not asking for an exact price. Just provide a rough estimate."
She fell into thought once more, until, at last, a figure emerged from her lips.
"At least 2 billion dollars."
Given that many must have been sold off long ago, even if I calculate with just half, my grandmother has buried over 1 trillion won in stocks. Now, it's time to fully expose her entire hidden fortune.
"Then, to acquire all the works that Sunyang Gallery has presented, how much would be sufficient?"
She gazed at me with an odd expression, seeing that I didn't even bat an eye at the mention of 2 billion dollars, and then, once again, she was taken by surprise.
"All of them?"
"Yes. Of course, they will present a price, but we cannot simply accept it unconditionally, can we? Therefore, we must consider the optimal amount that ensures the deal won't fall through."
"600 million dollars."
As if she had already finished her calculations, she answered without a moment's hesitation.
"Let's acquire them all."
I didn't hesitate either.
Bette Porter's expression was one of both surprise and joy, but I immediately put a stop to it.
"Hold on, Bette. This isn't a donation. The purchaser of the paintings will be Miracle or myself. It will simply take the form of a complimentary lease to Wentworth Art Gallery. This distinction must be made absolutely clear."
Disappointment flickered across her face, yet as this was also a common method of charitable giving, she nodded in understanding.
But she soon frowned.
"Oh, dear... if our gallery acquires these works but cannot exhibit them, what meaning does any of this hold?"
Her heartfelt regret was palpable.
She is, after all, someone who believes that simply wrapping up masterpieces and consigning them to deep underground storage is an affront to the artworks themselves, isn't she?
I smiled quietly at her and spoke.
"At most, it will be one year. In one year's time, I will ensure those works can finally be revealed to the world."
"Really?"
"Of course. But before that, we must secure the transaction, mustn't we?"
"If we agree to their conditions, the transaction is as good as finalized."
"Is this your first transaction...? We've heard their conditions; now it's time to present ours."
My knowing smile clearly revealed her utter confusion.