Mistaken for Genius Appraiser – Chapter 3

Siwoo returned home and turned on his computer.
Elder Song’s words echoed in his mind.

“If there’s a record in The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, the item’s value will increase even more.”

Siwoo knew information that Elder Song didn’t—thanks to his status window.
He accessed the website for The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, operated by the National Institute of Korean History.
All records were digitized and accessible to everyone.
The records spanned 472 years, from Taejo to Cheoljong, preserved intact.

“Lee Jongseong, Minister of Personnel.”

He typed the keywords into the search bar and pressed Enter.
Search results flooded the screen.
Records from King Yeongjo’s reign filled the display.
Siwoo looked for information about the person named Lee Jongseong.
Minister of Personnel was a high-ranking position, second-grade official.
He was certain there would be a record if the King had personally bestowed a gift upon such an official.

“Found it!”

“No way. I actually found it.”

Siwoo mumbled to himself.
This was an official record stating that King Yeongjo had personally bestowed the vase upon Lee Jongseong.
It even specified that it was made by Jang Seokchil, a craftsman from Bunwon.
It matched the inscription on the vase perfectly.
He had also found some interesting additional information.

This vase was no longer just an antique.
It was a relic, imbued with the records of a long history.

* * *

The next morning, Siwoo took out the business card Elder Song had given him.

Jeong Hae-won.

Below the name was only a contact number.
There was no title or company name.
A typical business card would be packed with affiliation and position, but this one was different.
In fact, that made it seem even more extraordinary.

A person who didn’t need to explain themselves.
It meant they were someone recognized in the field just by their name.
He cautiously sent a text message.

After sending it, he felt unnecessarily nervous.
Was the wording too stiff?
He had all sorts of thoughts.
But before long, his phone rang.
Checking the number on the screen, Siwoo took a deep breath and cleared his throat.

“Hello?”
“Is this Mr. Siwoo Kim?”
“Yes, it is.”
“This is Jeong Hae-won. Thank you for contacting me.”

A low, calm voice of a middle-aged man followed.

“Elder Song mentioned it. The inscription states it’s a royal gift from King Yeongjo by Jang Seokchil.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Elder Song rarely makes personal introductions. It means this is a piece worth paying close attention to.”
“That’s too kind of you to say.”

He tried his best to respond calmly.

“What is the condition of the vase?”
“There is a crack on the side. However, there are no signs of repair, and its unique color and pattern remain clear.”
“Hmm.”

A hint of regret was present in Jeong Hae-won’s low hum.

“That level of damage is acceptable. I will evaluate it after seeing it in person.”

Siwoo played his prepared card.

“Yes, that would be best. Also, I found relevant records in The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty.”
“Oh. There were records?”

Jeong Hae-won’s voice became noticeably brighter.

“Yes. The Annals of King Yeongjo record that King Yeongjo bestowed it upon Lee Jongseong, the Minister of Personnel. Jang Seokchil’s name was also clearly stated.”
“Oh, I see. That’s very fortunate.”

Jeong Hae-won’s tone clearly conveyed his satisfaction.

“The presence or absence of records makes a world of difference. It elevates the item’s status.”
“Indeed.”
“Mr. Kim, are you available today?”
“Yes, I am available anytime today. I can come to you.”
“If it’s alright with you, could you come to Cheongdam-dong around 2 PM? I will send you the exact address via text message.”
“Understood. Thank you.”

The call ended.
It was a short conversation, but he couldn’t help feeling nervous.
This was a transaction that could involve over 100 million won.
A moment later, a text message arrived.

“Eterna Gallery?”

He typed the name into the search bar.
Siwoo’s eyes widened at the results.
It was one of the top art galleries in Korea.
No one among collectors was unaware of it.
The exterior of the building in the photos was already exceptional.
It was a unique building where black bricks and exposed concrete harmonized.
A curved roof, reminiscent of Korean traditional eaves, was placed atop the modern exterior.
It was an architectural space where the East and West, tradition and modernity, coexisted intriguingly.

‘Is the transaction going to happen here?’

Siwoo carefully began packing the vase.
He placed it in a box and filled the empty spaces with cushioning material.
It absolutely could not shake.
Once he finished preparing, he looked at his watch; it was time to leave.

* * *

Cheongdam-dong.
Following a narrow alley through the upscale residential area, a building with unique architecture appeared.

‘This must be Cheongdam Eterna Gallery.’

A security guard stood at the main entrance.

“May I have your name?”
“Siwoo Kim.”
“Yes, confirmed. You may enter.”
“Thank you.”

After showing his ID and passing security, another staff member was waiting.

“Mr. Siwoo Kim, right? We were expecting you. I will guide you.”

As he stepped inside, a spacious lobby unfolded.
The building looked large from the outside, but the interior seemed even more expansive.
The ceiling was high, and subtle lighting enveloped the entire space.

“You can wait over there. I will take my leave now.”

At the spot indicated by the staff member, two people were standing.
One was a man in his early fifties.
He was neatly dressed in a black shirt and a gray jacket.
His eyes were sharp, but his expression was gentle.
He was undoubtedly the one whose voice Siwoo had heard on the phone.
The woman standing next to him appeared to be in her late twenties.
Her dark hair extended below her shoulders, and she wore a simple white blouse and black slacks.
However, as they say, the simpler the clothes, the more they highlight the wearer.
There was an enigmatic sense of luxury about her.

“Mr. Siwoo Kim?”
“Hello. I am Siwoo Kim.”
“I am Jeong Hae-won, an appraisal consultant at Gallery Eterna.”

Jeong Hae-won extended his hand, and Siwoo shook it.

“And this is…”

Jeong Hae-won looked at the woman beside him.

“Shin Ah-young. I run this gallery.”

Siwoo was inwardly surprised.
To operate a gallery of this scale at her age.
He thought she couldn’t be an ordinary person.

“Siwoo Kim.”
“Elder Song told me. He said an unusual ceramic piece has appeared.”
“Yes. Fortunately, I came to own it.”

Shin Ah-young nodded slightly.

“We shouldn’t just talk here, let’s go inside.”

As they entered, Siwoo was surprised again.
An exhibition hall appeared.
Various ceramics were displayed throughout.
Each one seemed to shine under the lighting.

‘Beautiful.’

Even to Siwoo, who knew nothing about ancient art, these were no ordinary pieces.
In the center, in particular, a White porcelain moon jar was displayed in a glass case.
Its soft curves, its pure white color.
It was a piece that could be called the essence of Joseon porcelain.

‘Are all of these originals?’

Siwoo held his breath.
The very air felt different.
He couldn’t even imagine how much the items displayed here were worth in monetary terms.

‘Don’t be intimidated. I’m here to sell a ceramic, after all.’

He was guided to a reception room and took a seat.
Tea was prepared on the table.
A staff member quietly poured the tea and then withdrew.
Siwoo carefully opened the box he had brought and took out the vase.
In that moment, Jeong Hae-won’s and Shin Ah-young’s eyes changed.
Their gazes fixed on the vase.
Jeong Hae-won put on gloves and lifted the vase.

“Allow me a moment.”

His hands were careful yet skilled.
He examined the inside of the foot, counted each claw of the dragon motif, and meticulously inspected the condition of the glaze.
Finally, Jeong Hae-won placed the vase down.

“It is undoubtedly authentic.”

Jeong Hae-won continued, letting out a low sigh.

“There are fewer than five extant works by Jang Seokchil. This is the first instance with an inscription as a royal gift.”

Siwoo took out the documents he had prepared.

“This is the related record I found in The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty.”

Jeong Hae-won took the documents and began to read.
His eyes grew wider by the moment.

“King Yeongjo personally mentioned Jang Seokchil’s name. It is extremely rare for a craftsman’s name to appear in the annals. Most craftsmen never even had their names recorded.”

Shin Ah-young also took the documents and said,

“I looked into the person named Lee Jongseong. I found an interesting story. He is the fifth-generation descendant of Yi Hangbok, and his relative Park Munsu, having lost his parents at a young age, lived relying on his maternal relatives, so they studied together.”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
“There are many stories, especially surrounding Crown Prince Sado during King Yeongjo’s reign.”

That was something Siwoo had also looked into.

[In 1758, as the Crown Prince’s faults due to illness worsened, Yeongjo dismissed all officials of the Crown Prince’s Household and personally oversaw the situation from the Mingjeongjeon terrace, while the Crown Prince prostrated himself on a straw mat in the Simindang.]

[Minister Yi Jongseong confronted Yeongjo, stating that the King’s method of excessively reprimanding the Crown Prince’s faults was wrong, and that even if there were mistakes, they should not be exposed but taught and corrected.]

“I also saw a movie about Crown Prince Sado, and through it, I witnessed how a person began to unravel from a young age due to Yeongjo’s passion for education and excessive expectations for his child. Because of that, Lee Jongseong’s words resonated even more.”

She swept her hair back and looked at Jeong Hae-won.

“I truly love relics that contain such stories. Mr. Jeong, what do you believe this item is worth?”
“Hmm.”

Jeong Hae-won mused for a moment. Then, he slowly opened his mouth.

“I consider 500 million won to be appropriate. The crack is regrettable, but the inscription and the record in the annals more than compensate for it.”

Shin Ah-young nodded.

“That’s not a bad price.”

She looked at Siwoo.

“I want to purchase it for 500 million won. What do you think of that price?”

Could the number 500 million won be said so easily by someone?
This must be what it’s like to live in different worlds.
His heart pounded wildly.
But he tried his best not to show it on the outside.
With a slight smile, he calmly said,

“It is a very satisfactory price.”

The transaction was finalized.
He signed the contract and completed the paperwork.
Jeong Hae-won confirmed the deposit.

[Deposit: 500,000,000 KRW]

Siwoo stared blankly at his phone screen.

500 million won.
He couldn’t even fathom how many years he would have to work at his company to earn that amount.
After leaving his company, he had no idea what he would do.
But at this very moment, 500 million won had appeared on his bank account.
As they say, when one door closes in life, another opens.
He felt like an excessively large door had just swung open.

As he left the gallery after the transaction and was about to say his goodbyes,

“Don’t shake it! Transport it carefully!”

A hurried voice was heard.
Turning around, he saw several employees carefully transporting an item contained in a wooden box.
It seemed to be a newly acquired item for the gallery.
He overheard the employees’ conversation.

“Are you moving it to the vault?”
“Yes, Consultant Jeong Hae-won is going to appraise it.”
“Others couldn’t accurately identify the item, but perhaps Consultant Jeong Hae-won can figure it out.”
“Of course. He’s the most famous in Korea.”

Siwoo’s gaze shifted to the box, and his eyes widened further.
Light was seeping out from within.
However, unlike the vase, a dark light was visible, not a bright one.