Artifact Reading Inspector

Chapter 133 Chaebol, Painting, and Happy Tears (3)

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“When I heard the painting was from Lichtenstein, I recalled something. So, I immediately asked my source at Saeyeon Gallery if she knew anything…”

Haejin could guess who that source was. It had to be Jeong Mina, who used to be close to Eunhae.

“So?”

“I asked because it didn’t cost anything, and I didn’t think she really knew something. It had been more than a decade ago, and way too important, but…”

Eunhae leaned forward and lowered her voice.

“Two days ago, more than fifty paintings went to Saeyeon Gallery.”

“Did she get to see what they were?”

“No. People she had never seen before came after midnight and put them in the basement storage, but Hyoyeon and her mother were there.”

“Maybe… the painting was lost on the way.”

Haejin made a guess, but Eunhae shook her head.

“No. Judging from what Mina said, it has been a while since Hwajin started to use the police. I think my uncle ordered to empty his storage, where he kept his artifacts, after Happy Tears was stolen.”

“Then, from now on, the artifacts he owns in secret would be at Saeyeon Gallery for some time.”

“Yes. The gallery has many security guards and a good system. But it is weird that my uncle is taking this much caution.”

“Why? Isn’t he being careful as something might be stolen again?”

Eunhae shook her index and smiled.

“No. You shouldn’t think that he moved the artifacts there as no one would steal from that place. Although Saeyeon Gallery is perfectly protected by a security company and CCTVs, the storage he used to keep his paintings must have had enough guards and equipment. Nevertheless, he moved his things because…”

Haejin could see what she was trying to say.

“He cannot trust anyone. No, he cannot even trust his own family?”

“He does trust his family. It’s just that he can no longer trust the people he used to be close like family… I think he is suspicious of his secretaries and members of the strategic planning team. They were his right-hand men. I said the paintings were moved. Isn’t that strange? Why would Hyoyeon and her mother do that themselves? Usually, employees do such a thing…”

Haejin had not found that strange, but now that he thought about it, it was definitely strange. They were at the gallery themselves after midnight.

“This is getting more and more interesting.”

“Yes. That’s why the paintings were moved to Saeyeon Gallery, that place is practically exposed. If something is stolen from there, it would be easier to catch the thief, and they would be able to evade being accused of illegally owning those paintings…”

Haejin leaned on the sofa and sighed.

“Hu… anyway, I am not in this anymore, so all we have to do is to just sit back and watch.”

“But did Hyoyeon just let you go after you said you wouldn’t appraise it? She is usually not that kind.”

Eunhae looked confused, but Haejin wasn’t going to tell her the truth. The truth was a story very hard to believe, anyway.

“What could she get from me? Plus, she knew you were waiting for me and that you knew where I was, so she couldn’t easily mess up with me.”

“Well… and although this is serious, I don’t think they are extremely nervous. They must be prepared on their own.”

Haejin was sure they were very nervous about it, but Eunhae said they weren’t. It made him curious.

“Wouldn’t the secret funds of that family be investigated again if the painting is revealed to the public? And people would want to know if the independent counsel has looked into it properly at the time…”

Eunhae shook her head.

“That kind of mood might be set, but it wasn’t investigated properly even back then. Why would it be different now? They must have gotten rid of all pieces of evidence, so you would have to find hidden proof and press them. Who would want to hang a bell around a cat’s neck?”

Haejin looked at Eunhae with surprise.

“You were usually so optimistic, but now, you are very negative.”

“Because I have seen enough things. There isn’t a single prosecutor or a judge who isn’t under Hwajin’s influence. Then, which prosecutor would be willing to put a knife at Vice Chairman Lim Sungjun’s throat? And even if there is that kind of prosecutor, no judge would be able to give him the proper sentence?”

“I think prosecutors would not be willing to… but even judges?”

“Judges are no different. They pretend to be just, but what matters to them is logic, not justice. Logic is more important than the truth. As long as there are lawyers who can provide that logic, they can always stand on the wrong side. There were many former prosecutors and judges among the external directors and members of the legal team of Hwajin, and there’s even a former minister of justice.”

“The former minister of justice is Hwajin’s external director? Wow… but there are so many prosecutors and judges. There must be some of them who live by their code!”

“Of course, there are, but Hwajin doesn’t leave them alone. According to what Kim Sangcheol said when he revealed Hwajin’s secret funds, Hwajin gave wine or hotel discount coupons as gifts to persuade politicians and prosecutors who wouldn’t accept money… plus, it is hard to refuse when your senior or a friend asks you a favor. And that happens again, and again, and before you know it…”

“Wow… what the…”

Haejin had seen news about this from time to time, but he had dedicated his life to studying antiques, so he didn’t know much about that kind of stuff. It turned out they had really massive power.

“Honestly, at the time, I didn’t think everything Kim Sangcheol said was a lie. I couldn’t ask my grandfather if that painting really belonged to us, so I just thought what the prosecutors said had to be right… but I was way too naïve… hu… if this had happened when I was still at Saeyeon Gallery, I could have found out as much as I could before leaving…”

“You don’t have to feel bad about it. It’s not like you could have done something if they said Happy Tears was Hwajin’s.”

“Still, I am curious. When and where they bought it, and did the independent counsel really fail to find it or just concealed it… don’t you want to know?”

“I do, but… after hearing what you just said, I am even less interested. We can’t announce it even if we get to know about it. It will just make us angrier…”

Haejin stood up.

“It’s too late now. Thank you for waiting for me, and let’s have lunch together sometime later.”

“Okay, you should get some rest. You just got back from the business trip.”

Haejin went home and fell on his bed without taking a shower.

He had been feeling very tired lately, but after using magic twice that night, he didn’t have enough energy to take a shower. At least he wasn’t exhausted like he used to be: his legs didn’t wobble, and he didn’t feel like throwing up. That was good.

Hassena had sent a text that read, ‘Have you arrived?’, but Haejin was too tired to reply and fell asleep.

Buzzz…

Haejin wanted to sleep more, but he got a call early in the morning. He couldn’t help but answer with an irritated voice.

“Hello? Is this Mr. Park Haejin?”

“Oh, yes. It’s me. But why? Who are you and why did you call me so early?”

“This is the embassy in America. Princess Hassena was found dead last night.”

“What?”

Haejin wondered if he had heard something wrong, but he knew he didn’t. His heart sank, and he jumped to his feet.

Hassena had said they would meet again only yesterday…

“Her attendants called 911 at the hotel, and she was treated at the hospital, but eventually she died.”

Haejin couldn’t believe it and quickly turned on his computer.

“Is she really dead? What happened?”

“She had a heart attack, we do not know anything more. We want to find out, but as Princess Hassena was a VIP of the Arab Emirates, there is no way for us to approach the matter now. It’s not like you got married…”

The diplomatic service also knew Haejin and Hassena had promised to get married. That was why Haejin was informed so quickly about the matter…

“Ha… how is the Arab Emirates reacting?”

“They haven’t said anything officially, but they sent experts to New York to find out what happened.”

“Did anyone break into the hotel or anything?”

“We don’t know, either. Mr. Eric Holton, the owner of the hotel, is under investigation right now because of that matter.”

“Oh…”

Haejin couldn’t say anything. Even if he had planned to evade marrying her, she was the first woman he had talked about marriage seriously.

Haejin had thought they couldn’t be together as they were born in different countries with different cultures, but she was serious about marrying him. And now she was gone, just like that.

“We will call you again if we find out more.”

“No, I will go to New York immediately.”

Haejin was eager to find out what happened, so he wanted to find out himself.

“You can come if you want, but there’s nothing you can do here. The scene is under control already, and you are a Korean civilian without any authority. You can do nothing.”

As he said, there was probably nothing Haejin could do.

If he could get anything that belonged to Hassena, he could look into the past and see what had happened, but he couldn’t obtain anything.

“Hu… okay. I’ll just watch for now.”

“Okay. Additionally, because of the embargo, news will not get out until 3 p.m. in Korea.”

“Then, I will not have to be worried about it. Thank you.”

“I will call you again.”

The man was very kind. They had probably been quite excited about Haejin and Hassena’s marriage.

As Eric was being investigated, Haejin sent him a text. He would reply later.

After that, he was… sad. The feeling was indescribable. How could a person die so suddenly?

Moreover, Hassena was a billionaire with huge money and the bodyguards were always with her, so Haejin didn’t imagine that she would be endangered.

He just blankly stared at the sky on his bed for hours. Then, he managed to get to his senses, get up, take a shower, and leave his home.

“Good morning, but is something wrong?”

Eunhae welcomed Haejin, but then, she sensed something was different.

“No, no. I’m fine.”

Eunhae could see he wasn’t, but she didn’t ask. She talked about something else instead.

“Oh, and Ms. Sujeong will start working as a restoration researcher here next month.”

“Oh, really? I thought she wanted to set a shop and become a shop owner. Couldn’t she get enough jobs?”

“No, but she cannot handle the clients’ complaints on her own. It is impossible to restore artifact to its former self 100%. So, she was really stressed.”

“Then she should have called me…”

“But you’ve been so busy after you opened this museum… Ms. Sujeong and her father planned to come to visit a few times when you were not around, but then they changed their mind. I think Ms. Sujeong’s father wants you to call him, so you should.”

“Oh, okay.”

“And… there’s someone looking for you inside.”

Eunhae gestured at her office.

“Who is it?”

“He is a prosecutor. I checked his ID card to be sure, and he is a real prosecutor.”

Haejin could guess why he had come…