» The Youngest Son of Sunyang
Reborn Rich - Chapter 266
[266] The Secret Gallery 4
Bette Porter took repeated sips of water to calm her simmering frustration.
The chairwoman of the Sunyang Arts Foundation, a major figure in the art world, had always swept auctions clean using proxies, so this was Bette Porter's first time actually facing her.
But she didn't even spare her a glance, and her chilling, condescending attitude was no different from how a white supremacist might treat her darker skin.
"I believe there won't be any particular issues with the contract terms. However, we've added a stronger clause, please review it."
If it hadn't been for the lawyer accompanying the chairwoman, Bette Porter would have already overturned the deal. His fluent English and gentlemanly politeness were all that sustained her patience.
"If the details of this transaction are disclosed or the agreement unfulfilled, and the cause is found to be with the Wentworth Art Gallery, then you must pay a penalty of three times the amount."
Bette Porter hadn't forgotten Jin Dojun's instructions.
A handwritten signature on the contract!
She was resolved to concede everything else, if only she could obtain that.
"Very well. But I believe this clause should apply equally to both parties?"
At her reply, the lawyer's eyes sparkled.
"Ah, indeed. But... is the person who desires this artwork an individual, not a gallery? Is the Wentworth Art Gallery merely a proxy...?"
"That's not in the contract, so I don't have to answer, do I?"
She didn't miss the twitch of the old woman's eyebrow, who had been sitting haughtily. That old hag, she definitely understands English.
"My apologies."
The lawyer bowed slightly, then pulled out more documents.
"This is an insurance certificate. In the event that the contract contents are disclosed due to an issue on our side, or if any part of the contract is violated, this certificate guarantees immediate payment of three times the transaction amount, that is, 1.8 billion dollars. We wish to avoid the hassle of litigating a contract breach in court."
Bette Porter hadn't expected them to come so thoroughly prepared. As she stared blankly at the insurance certificate, the lawyer's lips curved slightly upward.
"Considering the financial state of a small New York gallery, isn't this level of safeguard only natural? We don't believe you or the Wentworth Art Gallery could pay back such a massive sum as 1.8 billion dollars. Therefore, a definite safeguard is necessary. You understand, don't you?"
"Ah, yes."
"Our foundation's credit rating is global, so insuring it didn't cost much. It was 5.4 million dollars... quite cheap, wouldn't you say?"
Bette Porter felt dizzy at the thought of her own gallery. If it cost 5.4 million dollars even with the backing of Sunyang Group, a leading Korean conglomerate, her own insurance premium would easily exceed ten million dollars.
She felt equally ashamed, remembering how she had scoffed at Secretary Song. She had to show them the face of a proxy with no decision-making power.
"May I be excused for a moment? I need to make a call..."
As she took out her cellphone, Secretary Song, who was sitting with them, let out a snicker and said,
"By all means."
With a face flushed crimson, Bette Porter hurried out.
Once she disappeared, Lee Pilok opened her mouth.
"I don't know who that girl is calling right now, but the person on the other end is her financier."
"I see. It seems she's snagged quite the sponsor."
"In the end, for a pretty-faced woman, her body is her weapon, not her mind. Such vulgarity."
The woman, convinced that Bette Porter had already climbed the ladder of success using her body, clicked her tongue and moistened her lips with wine. Just then, Bette Porter re-entered with noticeably lighter steps.
"I will obtain the insurance immediately. I will have it delivered to you by tomorrow at the latest."
"Your decision-maker works quickly, it seems."
When Secretary Song's taunt struck her ears, Bette Porter sprang to her feet.
"I apologize for my rudeness earlier, Mr. Song."
While Secretary Song was flustered by the polite apology, she spoke to everyone present.
"I will bring the insurance certificate tomorrow, and we can sign the contract then. Good day."
As Bette Porter reached for the contract, a gruff voice was heard. In clear English.
"Wait a Second"
Lee Pilok pulled the contract from the table towards herself and signed it without hesitation.
After she finished signing, she pushed her chair back and stood up.
"I won't need to meet you twice, will I?"
Lee Pilok, who had concluded her remarks in clear English, instructed Secretary Song to do something and promptly disappeared.
"We will bring the contract to your gallery tomorrow. We can receive the insurance certificate then. Would that be acceptable?"
"Of course."
Bette Porter shook hands with the two men and escaped as if fleeing.
* * *
Fraud amounting to 600 billion won.
The definitive evidence of that fraud is now in my hands.
Of course, it would only take effect after the painting was received and the money sent.
"When will the painting arrive?"
"They say it will arrive in fifteen days."
"Fifteen days?"
"Yes."
Fifteen days, that's no time to prepare a forgery. They must be in a rush. Moreover, it implies it's being brought in by plane, not ship... Usually, smuggling brings ships to mind.
What method could they possibly be using to utilize air travel?
"How long will the painting appraisal take?"
"It will take two months. Of course, if it's genuine, it will be shorter."
"Shorter if genuine?"
"Yes. It's usually called the Blink principle, you see..."
Blink means to blink your eyes. This is a principle?
"Experts get a feeling the moment they first see it. No matter how sophisticated a forgery, something feels off. Conversely, if it's genuine, even if it's old, gasps of admiration naturally escape."
"So, you mean detailed inspections begin when something feels off? And if it's genuine, no inspection at all?"
Bette Porter gave a small smile.
"No. Even if it's believed to be genuine, an inspection is necessary. Instead, there are times when it feels like a forgery, but all tests still conclude it's genuine. Such cases consume a lot of time, because we have to trace back the painting's sales history."
"You mean you don't trust the results even if the inspection concludes it's genuine?"
"Even now, human aesthetic judgment is often more accurate than physics or chemistry."
For the contract in my hand to become a definitive weapon, it would take three months.
"I see. Then the work is concluded. Thank you for your hard work. The sponsorship funds will be provided starting this month, and I hope you will grow into a fine gallery."
Although she had been entangled in strange affairs, the good outcome seemed to make her forget all the troubles, and Bette Porter's expression was incomparably bright.
After she left, I made a call to Korea.
"Executive Director Woo. Please come to New York, bringing along some sharp individuals who won't get lost even in unfamiliar places. Enjoy a few days of vacation, and then let's get to work starting in fifteen days."
* * *
"What? Lee Pilok herself?"
"Yes. The things you only suspected from your investigation have become a reality."
Executive Director Woo Byungjun was speechless for a moment. It was an affair that far exceeded the scale he had imagined, and the amount must have been difficult even to conceive.
"Then, this time, it's smuggling worth 600 billion won?"
"Yes."
Upon confirming the amount, Executive Director Woo's expression darkened.
"Director. No matter that it's about finding this woman's weakness, 600 billion won is too much. Even if the slush fund Chairman Jin left behind is vast, the bleeding is too great."
I thought he was feeling uneasy about attacking his grandmother, but that wasn't it. He was worried about my money.
"Executive Director."
"Yes."
Even as I spoke with a smile, his expression remained grim.
"If a needle pricks you and a few drops of blood appear, do you call that bleeding?"
"What? What do you mean by...?"
"600 billion won is nothing more than that to me. And my grandfather didn't leave that money for me to spend on such things. That money will be used strictly to solidify my position in Korea."
Only then did Executive Director Woo grasp the meaning, and his mouth hung open.
"I have a lot of money. If it were purely a money battle, the position of Sunyang Group chairman would already be mine. It's because there are many shares that money alone cannot buy that I am enduring this hardship."
I briefly enjoyed Executive Director Woo's expression, still wide-mouthed and speechless.
"Anyway, Executive Director."
"Ah, yes."
"In a few days, the painting will arrive at the gallery. Executive Director, please have your staff follow the painting's delivery personnel."
"Smuggling couriers?"
"Yes. What I truly can't understand is the air travel. How can they bring in a smuggled painting by plane...?"
"You don't know the flight details, do you?"
"No. I don't even know if it's JFK Airport or Newark Airport. So, there's no choice but to track the couriers."
"Understood. I'll get the men ready. What about the overseas accounts?"
"I only know that they are Virgin Islands accounts. We can't find these with our own power. There's no choice but to ascertain them through my grandmother."
"In any case, it seems this woman won't be able to escape your grasp, Director."
"Let's be a little more ambitious. If we dig into the couriers, won't something more come out? I should take this opportunity to thoroughly expose my grandmother's asset list. Heh heh."
* * *
Although I yearned to rush to the gallery and see the painting, I had no choice but to wait at the hotel.
Now, the gallery would begin the painting appraisal. Naturally, people from my grandmother's side would also be present and remain until the very end, because if anyone there recognized my face, things might go awry.
I waited nervously for a call.
The first person to call was none other than Bette Porter.
She spoke, even on the verge of tears.
— "Howard. I don't know how to express my gratitude for giving me the opportunity to see such a masterpiece firsthand."
"Is it genuine?"
— "Yes. It's the unanimous opinion of all the experts present. It's definitely genuine."
There was nothing more to hear.
I hung up Bette Porter's call and immediately called Korea.
"Assistant Manager Kim. Get me the official artwork list of the Sunyang Arts Foundation and send it by email."
I also checked the Sunyang Gallery's website. I scoured all the announcements and notices, but there was no mention of the painting's sale.
Although I wanted to deposit the money and finalize the illegal transaction right away, I couldn't create a suspicious situation, so I had to wait two months. But it didn't seem like this situation would change.
Executive Director Woo Byungjun returned to the hotel late at night.
His expression was completely rigid.
"Director. It seems they used the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs?"
"Yes. There were two teams of couriers: Sunyang New York subsidiary employees and the New York Consulate General. I was a bit late because I had to confirm their residences."
It was absurd, but this thought came first.
My grandmother, truly remarkable.
"It means there's someone among my grandmother's close aides who has connections to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If we only know who that person is, this battle will be over."
"Perhaps. Someone of that caliber would be her closest confidant... and they would know where the madam's secret stash is hidden."
Executive Director Woo glanced at me, then spoke.
"I'll meet with the consulate employees. If we figure out how much those bastards know, and the extent of the person in charge here, it should be easier, don't you think?"
Public officials are truly easy to deal with. Because stricter rules apply to them than to civilians, they'll spill everything with just a little threat. Add money equivalent to their retirement pension, and they'll choose betrayal any time.
"I'll prepare the carrot; you wield the whip, Executive Director."
"For these guys, the whip is enough. Just keeping their necks attached is a sufficient carrot, you see. Heh heh."
He truly is a reliable person.
He's good at his work and knows how to save money.
I'll have to make sure this man's retirement severance is very generous.