Artifact Reading Inspector

Chapter 52: Hidden Treasure (2)

The Japanese officer, who had hidden this painting, didn’t know its exact value. However, at least he knew that it had to be treasured.

He had attached the painting to the lid, but he put on top a cloth made of cotton so that the painting wouldn’t be damaged. He then put the painting on the lid and then covered it with a black cloth.

With that, the painting didn’t fall off when the lid was removed, and it wasn’t easily noticed because of the black cloth.

Especially in the dark cave…

“Huu…”

Haejin took a deep breath to calm down his throbbing heart and carefully cut the black cloth. Then, he carefully removed it, and the painting was revealed.

“Huh… no way…”

No way. How could this painting be here? Even that Japanese officer had realized that this was one of the best among what he had by far.

If Byeongguk had seen it, he would have just been happy, said that it looks like a good one and handed Haejin a painting container.

Haejin took another deep breath to calm his surprised heart. He then extremely concentrated on removing the painting stuck on the lid with the knife.

He wanted to do it quickly and put the painting in a container, then leave; however, his hand couldn’t move fast lest he made a mistake.

He gulped hard and worked for about five minutes…

Finally, the painting fell from the lid.

Haejin rolled it up in a flash, put it in a container and crouched down at the entrance to crawl out.

He came out from the cave, blocked the entrance again and started to walk through the trees faster than when he had come.

Haejin left the mountain without using the same route he used first, instead, he followed the hiking road that people normally used. He was then able to go back to his car.

He carefully loaded the equipment and the paintings, he then got on the car.

Although he had left slightly late, it wasn’t that late. On his way, he discarded the equipment he had used in a desolate place.

He drove all night and arrived at Zhengzhou Port. He wasn’t that tired even though he had worked and driven all night, probably thanks to his mana.

He parked the car near the port and sent the location to Byeongguk who called Haejin immediately.

“Have you finished?”

“Yes, I’m at Zhengzhou. I’m about to look for that customs worker you mentioned.”

“I know that you can take care of it yourself, but you should never be seen by the police. Especially so because you must have artifacts, and China’s Ministry of Public Security are very keen about drugs and artifacts. If you get caught, you cannot get out easily, no matter how strong you are. You know what I’m saying, right?”

“Of course, I do. I will never get caught by the police, so don’t worry. However, who is the person who has helped us this much? It cannot be someone you used to make deals with. He lent me a car and prepared the equipment.”

“He owes me a favor. You cannot work on your own in this field. You must get help from others. So, I am often indebted to others and have often helped others. Of course, I didn’t help for free. I must be paid enough.”

“Kind of mutual help?”

“Yes. If you don’t do this, words will spread around quickly. Eventually, you cannot get any help. Giving and receiving, those are the basics, but very important.”

Haejin entered the terminal with an agitated heart. He didn’t hang up, just in case. He then stopped for a moment and he looked forward.

“Huh? Byeongguk, it’s strange.”

“What?”

“The guy you told me about, Tan Shao, he’s not here. Small with lots of gray hair… hang on, I’ll keep looking.”

Haejin pretended to talk on the phone so that the patrolling policemen wouldn’t suspect while he kept searching for Tan Shao; however, he was nowhere to be seen.

“It’s not lunchtime yet but he’s not here. It means he has been transferred somewhere else or might not show up today.”

“That’s a problem. Then, can you make it to Tsingdao?”

Tsingdao, which was famous for its beer, is located in Shandong Peninsula close to Korea, so the ships that secretly sailed to and fro between China and Korea mostly went there.

“That is too far. I’ve also been told that I can borrow the car only for two days. I cannot get there in two days. I can use the train but staying in China with these is way too risky. Even if I make it to Tsingdao, if the worker you know isn’t there, then the situation would be the same.”

“What on earth are you carrying that you are so cautious? Can’t you tell me on the phone?”

“No, not on the phone, never… hmm… okay. I’ll take care of it.”

“How?”

“Somehow. Let’s say I get on the ship. Will there be any problem when reaching Busan?”

“No, no problem. There’s no ship to Busan from there, so you will have to come to Incheon. I’ll talk to a man who works at Incheon customs. Don’t worry. Just come.”

“Okay. I’ll see you in Seoul.”

Haejin hung up, bit his lips and thought about the situation. Using magic would probably work… however, everything he had would be taken away from him if things went wrong, so he tried not to do that if possible.

He was lost in thoughts like that, but then two policemen started to come toward his direction from afar. Since Haejin was not going through the customs for a long time, he looked suspicious.

Haejin was about to lose his paintings.

“Huu….”

He took a deep breath and slowly walked toward the customs, applying saliva on his finger… then the policemen stopped and didn’t come to him.

“Please put on your belongings.”

Haejin’s bag went through the X-ray and, at that moment, Haejin used magic.

“Hmm…”

The customs staff, who stared at the screen, let him go without saying anything. Haejin picked up his bag and quickly walked to the ship.

“Pant… pant…”

It was strange. After the ring’s help, his body had been full of strength even after using magic, but now his legs wobbled as if all the mana had been used just after casting that spell.

“Why?”

Haejin forced himself to get aboard and lay down. His head was still dizzy. It was probably because of the ring.

Was it because its power had worn off? The more Haejin thought about it, the more he wondered about its power. He couldn’t help but think that there had to be more items with that pattern somewhere in this world.

Haejin’s heart, which had been surprised by Tan Shao’s absence, was not surprised at Incheon again.

Thankfully, a customs worker who Byeongguk had oiled(?) in advance greeted Haejin.

He went past through the customs and left the terminal. Byeongguk was there.

After getting on the ship, Haejin had just sent him a simple text saying that he had passed, he had then turned his phone off. Therefore, Byeongguk was curious.

“How did you pass?”

“Money can solve everything.”

“What? You solved the problem with money? On the site? Wow… should I call you bold? Or should I call you crazy?”

If that’s what Haejin had really done, he would be crazy. However, he had used the illusion magic to make the staff see an ordinary traveling bag so he could pass without any problem.

“I was in a hurry. I had to do something. I am tired, I should get some rest.”

“Wow… you would make for a great fraud.”

Haejin now relaxed after arriving in Korea and met Byeongguk. He had been very stressed mentally, even with his magic.

When they arrived in Seoul, Haejin resisted the urge to go home and rest; instead, he went to Insadong first. He wanted to unpack and check the paintings he had brought as soon as possible.

Especially the last one. If it was what he was thinking, Sujeong and Byeongguk would get shocked and get a heart attack.

He arrived at the workshop with an excited heart, but there were unexpected guests in there.

“What are you doing here? And you are not that close to each other…”

In the workshop, three beautiful ladies were drinking coffee, including Sujeong. The other two were Eunhae and Yaerin.

Instead of replying, Sujeong saw Haejin’s bags in his hands and asked, “I heard you went to Hong Kong with this lady. But, why did you return separately? And what are those? Have you brought something good?”

“I don’t have any present for you, so don’t get your hopes up. However, I’ll show you something else instead.”

“Huh… no, thanks.”

Sujeong was disappointed. Haejin smiled and turned to Eunhae and Yaerin.

“What brings you here?”

Yaerin talked first.

“You haven’t received your fee. You have gotten me a Jacques-Louis David, so I couldn’t let that go.”

Eunhae flinched at hearing Jacques-Louis David. She probably didn’t know that Yaerin had bought such a painting in Hong Kong.

“Is it that urgent? I was going to find you when I come back to Seoul. I didn’t know that the payer would rush about it.”

Yaerin smiled.

“There is one more thing. The media is paying attention because of the celadons we have recovered in Taean. Especially the blue prunus vase you recovered first. It’s quite an issue. The media is asking to see it, but it’s not ours. That’s why I’m here.”

“Hmm… why does Yuseong want the media’s attention? It can excavate without getting attention first…”

“For the same reason I bought that painting. Yuseong is going through a hard time in many aspects, and we are trying to improve its image as much as possible. If we exhibit the artifacts from Taean in museums and open it to the public for free, the politicians will be quite favorable to us.”

Yaerin talked without holding anything back, although her competition was right next to her.

“Is it okay to say all that? Ms. Eunhae can hear you.”

“She knows it already, so it doesn’t matter. Plus, she has no influence in Hwajin. She is busy taking care of her gallery.”

Eunhae smiled, admitting it.

“She always talks like that, so it’s fine.”

“It’s good that you are not fighting.”

The two didn’t react as if they didn’t hear anything.

Haejin then turned to Eunhae.

“And you?”

“The permission to build your art museum has been approved. The Cultural Heritage Administration liked Kim Hongdo’s painting that you have brought from the U.S. As you know, the rank of the museum depends on what kind of artifacts it owns. However, this time… you have found a national treasure celadon with the joint excavation with Yaerin’s family, and now that you own a Kim Hongdo, you got the permission faster than usual. The rank is low, but it will be upgraded if you get more artifacts.”

The rank didn’t matter at all. What mattered was that Haejin had built an art museum.