Chapter 96

"How many floors? Eight floors? Including the basement, nine floors?"

Crazy...

Can you even imagine the scale?

"Isn't that incredibly expensive?"

"Hehe, it is. It would probably be about twice the value of your home."

Twice?

Really?

As I stood there with my mouth agape.

Han Ganghee shook her head and waved her hand.

"I mentioned it because the conditions you provided fit perfectly. Hehe, but it seems a bit excessive, doesn't it? I'll look for some more affordable options and get back to you."

"No."

"Huh?"

"It's not excessive. I was thinking of exactly that amount."

Han Ganghee's eyes widened.

"Really?"

"Yes, 100 billion won. I came here thinking exactly 100 billion won."

*

A few hours earlier.

The playground in front of the Shinchon branch.

I returned to the swing and, while looking at the images Kim Gyu-tae had sent, I asked.

"2.5 million dollars? That much? How much did our last piece of porcelain go for?"

[At that time, it was exactly 1.8 million dollars.]

Minimum guarantee.

The price that the auction house guarantees to pay even if the item doesn't sell.

And the minimum guarantee Sotheby's offered was.

A staggering 2.5 million dollars, about 30 billion won.

[Of course, this was the minimum guarantee offered before it was appraised as 'the first in Europe.' The actual minimum would have been over 2 million dollars.]

"Then it's similar to last time. Wow..."

Sotheby's, these guys.

I really like them?

I triumphed inwardly and moved on to the next image. And then.

"..."

I counted the zeros several times and confirmed the numbers. They remained the same.

"Lawyer, is this correct?"

[The Christie's conditions, right?]

"Yes, the minimum is 5.5 million dollars? Does that make sense?"

The last piece of porcelain went for 7 million.

But this time, the minimum was 5.5 million.

[It's because Christie's recognized the value of the work. And generally, paintings tend to command the highest prices among artworks.]

Kim Gyu-tae answered in a calm tone, but I could sense the excitement in his voice.

[After mentioning Sotheby's a bit, I didn't even need to negotiate. Christie's was so proactive.]

"Wow..."

[They also promised to expedite the process if we wanted and offered a 1% reduction in commission.]

It couldn't be just because we had one transaction with Christie's. This must mean <The Smiling Knight> is extraordinary, right?

"Would the final bid be higher than last time then?"

[It's hard to say. As you saw last time, works that generate a lot of anticipation can still fail to sell at the auction.]

Right, that's true.

Ultimately, the outcome depends on the atmosphere at the auction, which is beyond our control.

"Alright. I'll stop daydreaming. Let's proceed with Christie's first."

[Yes, that sounds good.]

Still, with a minimum guarantee of 5.5 million dollars.

Even in the worst-case scenario, it would be 70 billion won in Korean currency.

Even if the worst-case scenario happens, with a 30-35% loan, it would mean I could buy a 100 billion won building.

'In real estate transactions, a 30% loan is actually quite reasonable.'

That's how the budget was derived.

100 billion won.

*

Back at Han Ganghee's real estate office.

I stepped out of the office and said goodbye to Han Ganghee.

"I'll keep in touch with the owner and ask about their intentions. And if it's confirmed that the property is on the market, I'll contact you right away. We can visit the site together."

"Yes, I'll come running as soon as I hear from you. Last time, speed was crucial, right?"

"Hehe, that's right. And I'll look for some other properties too. I didn't know you were considering up to 100 billion won. I'll broaden my search, okay?"

"Yes, I trust you, boss!"

And when I returned home late at night.

A 1.5-room apartment in a university area.

This was the last day I would spend in this place before moving.

"You've really worked hard, haven't you?"

I had lived here since my college days, so how many years has it been?

I had stubbornly held on, so the room had never been properly cleaned or remodeled.

"Now I'm leaving. It was fun, but let's never see each other again!"

I said my final goodbye to the room and started packing.

Actually, there wasn't much to take.

I had bought everything new when I moved into Saint Hangang Forest.

On the contrary, there was an abundance of things to throw away.

I applied for large waste disposal, sorted things out, and it seemed like I wouldn't be able to clean the remaining room even if I stayed up all night.

But.

'I've called everyone to help!'

Later, professionals would come to dispose of everything and clean up. The moving company would handle all the moving.

I had spent money, so I had almost nothing to do.

'Moving can be this easy!'

However, there was one urgent problem that money couldn't solve.

──Cocororo...

Getting the painting back from Coco.

The auction was a few weeks away, but.

Once I moved tomorrow, appliances and furniture would start arriving, and I needed to get the painting back from Coco to use the "Hot Hand."

But.

──Cocororo!

When did this guy become so perceptive?

He had been eavesdropping on my conversation with Kim Gyu-tae and kept avoiding me.

──Grrr!

Even when I got close, he bared his teeth and became wary.

'Coco... '

In New York, I had gently pressured him by lying that I would only take it out for a short while and return it quickly.

──Grrr! Grrr!

...Now there was no way.

If so, there was no choice.

I decided to use my trump card, which I had been keeping safe from Coco.

I opened a hard case that I had placed next to the boxes.

Click─

A metal lock opened, revealing a sketchbook.

'Please, Coco, charm it!'

It was the sketchbook of Melanie Floyd, which I had kept in high security.

Is this the smell of success?

Melanie Floyd.

The artist of the brooch I bought for 30,000 dollars at Christie's New York, <Unnamed Nameplate>.

While talking with Kim Gyu-tae about Christie's, her name came up.

I searched the internet and found updated information.

[The MZ Wave Sweeps the Venice Biennale... The Golden Lion Award (Best Artist Award) Goes to a 20-Something]

[Venice Biennale Concludes, Golden Lion Award for Best Artist Goes to American Emerging Artist, Melanie Floyd]

Melanie Floyd had won the Golden Lion Award at the Venice Biennale.

'Crazy... This person is a genius, isn't she?'

I had already sensed her talent, but I never expected this.

The Venice Biennale, known as the "Mother of Biennales" and the "Art Olympics," is an international art exhibition.

To win the best artist award there.

Moreover, it didn't end there.

[Shocking Destruction Performance, What if a 1.2 Billion Won Artwork is Torn?]

[Sotheby's New York Auction Venue Shaken by Mystery and Shock... Is it Contemporary Art or a Freak Show?]

Melanie Floyd was causing a sensation in the New York, and indeed the global, art scene with her artistic eccentricities.

If it was being reported in our country, the reaction in the local scene must have been even more intense.

But an interesting fact.

The photo in the article showed a familiar painting being destroyed.

'Oh, that one?'

It was one of the sketches from Melanie Floyd's sketchbook.

'A good omen?'

In every way, the value of this sketchbook could only increase.

The artist's value skyrocketed with the Biennale award.

The value of the sketches increased with the destruction of the original.

Moreover, it wasn't even at its peak yet.

[Six Emerging Artists Noted by MoMA and Guggenheim... From Jack Collins to Melanie Floyd]

[<International Art Trends> Melanie Floyd to Hold Solo Exhibition at Guggenheim]

Melanie Floyd's future was expected to be bright.

'I should keep this sketchbook?'

Like aging wine.

The longer I kept it, the more its value would rise.

'Hehehe.'

So.

Could a cat just pass by an art exhibit?

Flip─

Coco reacting to the sound of the sketchbook pages flipping was a natural progression.

──Grrr...

Even with his sharp teeth bared, Coco couldn't take his eyes off the sketchbook. His gaze softened somewhat.

'Right? You're interested too?'

I deliberately placed the sketchbook on the floor.

And kept flipping through it. After all, the copies were just copies; I didn't need the drawings of other artists.

Flip─ Flip─

Then, Melanie Floyd's own sketches appeared.

──Cocororo...

Like a wild animal opening up to a rescuer, Coco cautiously approached, one step at a time.

'Good, good.'

I kept flipping through the pages and finally found the one I wanted.

A controversial work that had disappeared from the world.

The piece that symbolized the Manhattan skyline with vital signs, <Vital Island>.

I subtly checked Coco's reaction.

'He can't resist this, right?'

And indeed, Coco is Coco.

Recognizing the value of the work, he pounced immediately.

──Cocorororo!

He seemed ready to calmly appreciate the sketchbook.

'I can't let him do that.'

I lifted the sketchbook high.

Coco leaped reflexively.

Even when I lowered the sketchbook to the floor, he did the same, lowering his posture to match the height of the sketchbook.

I lifted the sketchbook again.

"Does it really catch your eye?"

──Cocorororo!

"Then sit. Wait."

──Coco.

Coco sat right there.

'Almost there.'

I recalled a dog channel I had watched recently.

When trying to take a frisbee from a dog, you can use another frisbee as bait.

'Will it work on Coco?'

I cautiously extended the sketchbook in front of his nose.

"Do you want to eat this?"

──Cocororo!

"Then spit it out. Then you can eat it."

──Cocororo?

Coco tilted his head.

"Don't you want it? If you don't, just say so."

I closed the sketchbook and put it back in the hard case, and he instantly approached, putting his paws into the case.

"Why? Don't you want me to close it?"

──Cocororo!

"Do you want to eat it? Then spit it out."

──Cocorororo...

Under the pure white fur.

The two black eyes shone sadly.

I know it hurts, Coco, but there's no other way.

It's a nine-story building, a nine-story building.

I stroked Coco's head and said,

"Coco, eating the same food every day gets boring, right? Sometimes you need to eat ramen and hamburgers. Don't you think?"

──Cocororororo...

"Will you never get to eat this again if not now?"

──Cocororo!

Finally, did he change his mind?

Coco did a big backflip.

'Yes, that's my baby!'

Following the trajectory, a blue magic circle appeared.

The legendary forgery, <The Smiling Knight>, popped out and gently landed.

"Phew..."

Finally, the nine-story building was back in my hands.

I had a plan for storing it.

I was shortsighted.

I didn't need to give it to Coco from the beginning.

At that time, it was to understand what the work was.

To store it without damage, that was the decision I made.

"Tam!"

It would be the same if I gave it to Tam anyway.

And to our innocent Tam, this masterpiece is no different from a piece of plywood on the street.

──Pewpewpew!

Eat when told to eat.

Spit out when told to spit out.

Tam, you're the only one!

"Can you hold this for a bit?"

──Pewpewpewpew!

The bright smile of the guy.

I chuckled and fed the work to him.

'Now I can breathe a sigh of relief.'

Meanwhile, Coco was causing a fuss for the sketchbook.

──Cocororororo!

That's not going to happen.

"Coco, we have a lot to do tomorrow, right? I'll give it to you after we finish, I promise!"

Click─!

I closed the hard case.

──C... Cocororo?

Coco only tilted his head, seemingly not understanding the situation.

Then he needs to learn.

How the world works.

"Coco, we'll be using the 'Hot Hand' on various things tomorrow, right? Let's feast then."

──Coco?

"That's like a buffet, isn't it?"

Coco's demeanor changed instantly.

──Grrrr!

I stood up and resumed packing.

Coco's disgruntled sounds continued for a while, but I ignored them.

'Coco, I'm sorry... but what can I do?'

I learned from that channel.

The most important time for training is during the puppy stage, before they become adult dogs.

I steeled my resolve.

*

The next day.

The long-awaited moving day.

My 9-pyeong room, where I could see the opposite building when I opened the window, had.

"Wow... Even when I see it again, the view is amazing, really."

On one side, it overlooked the vast Han River, and on the other, it embraced the greenery of trees. It had transformed into a super-luxury apartment.

Just looking out the window from the living room made me feel expansive.

'Now I'll see this every day!'

The move was quick and efficient.

Since I didn't have much to move, the movers came 2-3 times and it was done.

"Wow, this is the last load?"

"Living alone, I guess you don't have much stuff. The house is like a palace."

There wasn't much to pack.

Just some clothes and immediate necessities?

"Where should I put these?"

"Ah, put them in the built-in closet in the largest room. Put this box in one of the kitchen cabinets."

"What about this?"

"Ah, just leave it in the living room. I'll organize it."

"Sure."