Chapter 26
It was a bit, no, quite amusing.
‘What kind of relationship?’
It was embarrassing to even think of them as “us.” They had merely cooperated once for a common goal.
And yet….
The Exarch recalled Minervina’s eyes as she looked at him.
Those eyes, which at first seemed like mere colored glass, had gradually shown a faint trace of regret.
“…”
“Your Grace?”
Evil interrupted the Exarch’s contemplation.
The Exarch collected himself and started walking.
“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”
He had achieved his goal.
And somehow, he had this thought.
‘Next time, I shouldn’t let her run away like that.’
* * *
Numerous artworks purchased from the Gahasu auction were delivered to the Sophs warehouse.
The split portrait of Odin, Hawley MacCrawford’s “Death in Green,” and others.
But Baeksan’s interest lay elsewhere.
“Where is it? The last piece. Angela Moss’s…”
“This way.”
Elize guided Baeksan to one corner of the warehouse.
There was an enormous canvas covered with linen cloth. When pulled away, it revealed something closer to a sketch than a finished work.
“We did buy it, but…”
Elize’s voice trailed off.
Indeed, apart from being a study by the famous artist Angela Moss, the piece held little merit.
That was from a layperson’s perspective, at least.
Baeksan saw something different.
[Angels at Play]
A study by Angela Moss depicting angels playing by a river.
The true value of this painting has yet to be revealed to the world.
Remove the outer canvas and behind it lies another painting….
“There’s another painting behind this. We’ll need to remove the outer layer, if that’s okay?”
Elize was immediately horrified.
“Remove it? An Angela Moss study?”
“Yes. If we do it carefully… now, where’s a knife…”
“Wait!”
Elize screamed and called staff members from all around.
“Even studies should be treated with reverence in art!”
Though she said this, Baeksan clearly heard her muttering “Do you know how much this cost…”
Fair enough—even as a study, a famous artist’s work wasn’t cheap.
It was natural to worry about taking such a rash action based solely on Baeksan’s word.
The staff members gave Elize similar concerned looks.
But Elize gave a firm order.
“Remove it.”
Several people struggled with the canvas. Soon enough, there was a pop, and the outer layer came off.
“Miss Elize, there really is another canvas behind it!”
Someone shouted.
“…! Quick, remove it all!”
Elize began urging them on, and even the staff who had brought in other works turned their attention to the commotion.
Finally, the massive canvas was peeled away like an eggshell, revealing a magnificent oil painting underneath.
[«Ascending Angels»]
A masterpiece by the great Angela Moss, paired with «Descending Angels».
“…! …!”
Elize stood speechless, eyes wide, just staring at the work.
Beside her, Baeksan stood with arms crossed, looking up at the painting.
‘Would have been a shame to miss this.’
[«Ascending Angels»]
Worth at least 22,400,000 gold.
22.4 million gold.
In other words, 2.24 billion.
This was the most valuable item Baeksan had appraised so far. And since it said “at least,” it could go for even more.
Even to Baeksan, it was an impressive work.
‘So this is what art is.’
It depicted what looked like half-opened eyes against a dawn sky, with the Milky Way and stars visible through the gaps.
Angels held hands as they ascended toward it.
After being momentarily overwhelmed by the painting, Baeksan casually asked.
“It’s worth a lot, right?”
“That’s the understatement of the century!”
Elize burst out. The usually composed woman shouted with a face flushed bright red.
“Do you have any idea how momentous this is? This is a major discovery! We’re witnessing a historic moment that will revolutionize the art world! There were theories that Angela Moss’s «Descending Angels» was only half of a pair, but to actually find it…!”
“Hmm. Wonder if ‘Ulysses’ is going to get a stomachache over this?”
“This is far beyond that level!”
Elize shouted with a look that seemed to say ‘How can you talk like that in front of such a masterpiece?’
If the ambitious Elize was this excited, it must truly be something extraordinary.
‘Now, what was the winning bid again?’
They had agreed that Elize would receive 80% of any amount exceeding the initial purchase price.
‘The original study was 900,000 gold, and if we put this up for auction it’ll fetch at least 22.4 million…’
Baeksan’s finger-counting calculations suddenly stopped.
“…”
“I still can’t believe we discovered such a work… Miss Mine?”
“Yes?”
“Why are you grinning like that?”
“Oh? Ah.”
Trying to suppress her smile, Baeksan looked at Elize’s face and couldn’t help but laugh again.
“Why are you smiling too, Miss Elize?”
“Miner—no, Lady Mine…”
Elize grabbed Baeksan’s hands, her eyes sparkling like stars.
“Won’t you work for Sophs permanently?”
“Sorry, but I can’t do a lifetime contract.”
“We’ll worship you as a god, please! You are a god!”
“I suppose I am a god.”
“Right? The God of Appraisal!”
“No. An evil god…”
“?”
* * *
‘Since it’s almost evening, you don’t need to come to the appraisal house tomorrow, Lady Minervina.’
Elize’s blue eyes couldn’t have looked more earnest. They still seemed to be pleading for a lifetime contract.
Baeksan gratefully accepted just the day off.
The next day, she ate the ham sandwich she’d bought the previous day in the empty dormitory. Lying on her bed, she thought:
‘I’m… rich.’
She had 4,200 gold saved in the bank.
Plus, Elize had given her an advance on her commission for Angela Moss’s «Ascending Angels».
A whopping 700,000 gold.
Total: 704,200 gold.
‘I! Am! Rich!’
Baeksan kicked the air excitedly while lying down, trying to contain her joy.
‘Should I buy a house with this much?’
But being used to dormitory life, Baeksan didn’t make hasty decisions.
‘Besides, I realized something yesterday.’
Last night, on the way back from the Gahasu auction.
Perhaps because she had just participated in the auction, Baeksan’s mind was full of thoughts about money. Even while watching the streets through the carriage window.
Then suddenly, this window appeared:
[Haolia Street 35 Route 71]
A street dense with luxury shops. While growth potential isn’t great, land values will trend upward for the next 30 years.
At that moment, Baeksan’s eyes went wide, and she couldn’t help but burst out:
‘There’s real estate!’
‘Pardon?’
‘It’s nothing!’
Why hadn’t she noticed this before?
Receiving Elize’s suspicious glance, Baeksan smacked her forehead.
Because the system usually followed Baeksan’s thought patterns in showing explanations, she hadn’t noticed this aspect.
From then on, Baeksan scrutinized every street she saw while riding in the carriage.
[Haolia Street 35 Route 68]
[Valan Street 41 Route 7]
[Valan Street 29 Route 4]
.
.
.
[Yaka Street 77]
Land where the Imperial family plans to build a large memorial soon.
The sale price is low compared to investment value as this hasn’t been announced yet.
If something is prepared in advance, it could cause a historically recorded collapse….
This was the information Baeksan wanted.
‘Yaka, I’m buying that!’
Lying on her bed and recalling yesterday’s sweet information, Baeksan grinned.
Then she suddenly sat up.
“Instead of just lying here, I should go buy it right now.”
Baeksan immediately changed clothes and headed out to the street. Since she wasn’t yet comfortable hiring carriages, she decided to walk to Yaka Street.
Then her gaze suddenly caught the white building on the hill.
‘The temple….’
Come to think of it, she had forgotten.
‘I should have asked how I ended up here, and if there’s any way to get rid of this awful quest.’
Maybe since she’d actually succeed at the quest, making them colleagues of sorts, they might give her a hint?
