CH15

Despite saying that it was a bother to bring the painting, he now wanted it placed in his study.

Seeing my expression, Chairman Park spoke with a neutral face.

"Are you getting into the habit of selling paintings?"

"Pardon?"

"I'm asking if you brought another painting to sell to your grandfather."

"No, Grandfather. That painting isn't for sale."

"…?"

"You can't sell a gift, can you?"

"A gift?"

I nodded.

"Why would he give you a gift? Isn't he trying to curry favor with Hyungang?"

"I can't explain in detail, but think of it as a substitute for a contract."

"Another secret?"

"Yes."

"You have a lot of secrets."

Despite his words, Park's expression wasn't bad.

More importantly, he seemed genuinely interested in Jo Soo-deok's painting.

"It's cold. Let's go inside."

Jeobeok, jeobeok.

Chairman Park matched his steps to my smaller strides as we walked.

"Grandfather, if you were to buy that painting, how much would you pay for it?"

"Why? Are you thinking of selling it now?"

"No, I'm just curious."

"That's a secret."

"Uh, how can that be a secret?"

"You're allowed to have secrets, but I'm not?"

"Are you getting back at your young grandson?"

"Yes, I am."

This might be the first time.

Having a joking conversation with Grandfather… no, with Chairman Park.

Maybe that's why the walk to the house through the garden felt especially short that night.

***

Jo Soo-deok called his students.

The ones who were skilled, the so-called "aces."

Among them,

"They need to be persistent, have good stamina, and be comfortable meeting people."

He filtered them once more.

"And they need to be fluent in English."

Matching these final criteria, he assembled a team of exactly seven elite members.

Yes, with these seasoned warriors, what is there to fear in the world?

Park Ji-hoon had given a clear description of Dürer's piece.

A drawing of a mother holding a child.

An old sketch on worn paper, he said.

'But where did he get such information?'

That question lingered only briefly.

'Well, Hyungang's intelligence network is said to be better than the CIA.'

Park Ji-hoon said they could start slowly.

But Jo Soo-deok thought differently.

'With a rough location and a specific profession, a few phone calls should do the trick.'

He decided to make calls right away.

Jo Soo-deok had a wide network.

Embarrassingly, it was because he spent more time networking than painting.

Thanks to that, he knew a few professors at universities in Boston.

'Let's start with the top universities.'

The conversation was simple.

He needed help finding someone.

Within academic circles, getting a list of architects living in Boston shouldn't be hard.

Some were reluctant.

That's when he alternated between carrots and sticks.

"Remember a few years back at that conference? I saw you with that blonde at the hotel. I gave you a good scolding, right? What are you doing talking to a married man like that! And then he said he was sure he saw you. So I told him, 'Hey, maybe his wife dyed her hair blonde! Right? Wasn't I right?"

Then a reply came right away.

(So, who are you looking for?)

"An architect in Boston with an old drawing…"

After a few calls and two days, he got a response.

(An architect living in Boston with a courtyard and an old drawing.)

"You found them already?"

(There are about fifty of them.)

"Great."

(Some might be missing.)

"Hey, you're not a computer. It's natural to miss a few."

(Then I'll…)

"Wait, wait."

(What now?)

"It'll take me at least two days to book a flight and get there."

(And?)

"Could you check for any missing people in the meantime?"

(Isn't that too much?)

"Come on, asking a friend for a favor. Didn't you sneak out to the casino at the last conference and lose ten thousand dollars? Remember the girl who comforted you…?"

(I'll check for any missing ones. I'll have my Ph.D. students handle it.)

"Good, Ph.D. students! That sounds reassuring."

With everything ready, he could fly to the US the next day.

"Yeah, let's take this step by step. Then…"

Once back in Korea, he would paint like crazy.

"The opening exhibition of Hyungang Art Museum…!"

Could there be a better start for the second act of his art career?

Jo Soo-deok's eyes were burning brighter than ever.

***

The next day, at the Hannam-dong residence.

There was a call for me early in the morning.

It was from Professor Jo Soo-deok.

"Why so early?"

(I finished the preparations and wanted to report.)

"Pardon?"

(I put out a wanted poster, and leads are pouring in.)

A wanted poster? Leads?

Jo Soo-deok sounded quite excited.

(Now I just need to fly over and identify the suspects.)

"Are you a detective?"

(Just saying I'm being thorough and systematic.)

"Still, it's only been a few days…"

(I'm the right person for this job. You're feeling it, aren't you?)

"Wasn't it an easy task to begin with?"

I joked, and he responded in kind.

(When a real pro takes on a task, people often think it was easy. But once you try, it's different.)

"I'll take your word for it."

(Thanks!)

"Heh, guess I should send you the funds now."

(Thank you again, sir! I'll use it wisely, like it's my own money.)

This man was certainly cheerful.

(Once I confirm the transfer, I'll book the earliest flight. I'll update you frequently, so please stay home as much as possible.)

"Of course. I'm a homebody."

(A housewarming?)

Not a housewarming, a homebody…

Oh, maybe that term didn't exist yet.

"I'll stay home. Call me anytime."

(Yes, sir! I'll be off then…)

"Professor."

(...?)

"The painting you gifted me."

(Oh, yes, yes!)

"It's in my grandfather's study and hasn't come out."

(What do you mean…?)

"He liked it so much, he won't return it."

There was a brief silence.

I realized then that silence could contain joy.

(Ji-hoon, no, sir! I will be loyal to you.)

"That's not why I said that."

(Nobody can stop my loyalty! It's unstoppable!)

An old man about to turn sixty, saying this to an eleven-year-old…

Anyway, the call ended with that pleasant surprise.

***

Park Yong-hak was observing two large canvases placed side by side, taking ample time to scrutinize both works.

'Are these really by the same person?'

Indeed, both were by Jo Soo-deok.

The left one was the painting Ji-hoon received a few days ago.

The right one was a piece Jo Soo-deok had unveiled years ago.

The stark difference in quality made him sigh.

"Hmm."

A low sigh escaped Park Yong-hak's lips.

The paintings Jo Soo-deok had previously revealed were all mediocre.

They were good enough to secure a professor's position, no doubt.

But they lacked the distinctive flair needed for the global market.

But this was a surprise.

The piece Ji-hoon brought surpassed his past works by far.

It seemed as if he had an epiphany.

What had changed Jo Soo-deok?

With a heart full of curiosity, he wondered if something had happened during the business proposal.

Could Ji-hoon have seen Jo Soo-deok's true potential?

Following these thoughts,

He chuckled.

Imagining such things about an eleven-year-old.

'Soon, people will claim there's a fifty-year-old fox inside my grandson.'

Trying to shake off the thought, Park Yong-hak stood up.

He opened the curtains and gazed outside.

The high sun.

The trees basking in the glorious light of life.

Even such a cheerful scene couldn't shift his focus.

'Why does my grandson seem more promising than my son?'

At that moment,

Ring-ring.

The sharp ring of the phone interrupted his thoughts.

"Who is it?"

(Chairman, it's Chief Kim Uk-hwan. I have something to report.)

"A report?"

(Yes. May I visit to brief you?)

"Time is precious, just report over the phone."

(Yes, Chairman.)

Kim Uk-hwan paused before continuing.

(A substantial amount of money from Ji-hoon's account has been transferred to Professor Jo Soo-deok. Professor Jo has booked a flight to Boston and is on his way to the airport.)

"Boston?"

(It seems he's looking for a painting. Given his connections and the specific leads, his resourcefulness is quite impressive.)

"Did he use those skills to coax my grandson?"

(Excuse me?)

"He convinced my grandson with his resourcefulness to invest, saying he had good paintings and would personally fetch them. Is that what happened?"

(Well…)

"Why can't you answer?"

(According to my findings, it seems Ji-hoon made the proposal first.)

"...?"

(Professor Jo is inherently timid and averse to risk. He would prefer to receive benefits rather than directly involving himself in taking risks.)

"Timid?"

(Yes. He wouldn't dare use Hyungang for his gain.)

"Then you're saying my grandson approached him first?"

(A proposal or… persuasion, it seems.)

"Are you certain?"

(The circumstantial evidence is clear.)

"So, my grandson has better skills in negotiations."

(Chairman, should we investigate what painting he is after and its value?)

"No need."

It's like anticipating a movie only to have its plot spoiled.

"Forget the kid and focus on company matters."

(Yes, Chairman.)

A peculiar smile lingered on Park Yong-hak's face as he set the receiver down.