Artifact Reading Inspector

Chapter 182: Star Appraiser (2)

After the interview, Haejin had dinner with his museum’s employees. Then, he left alone and took a taxi.

It was to take care of the remaining members of the Trinitatis, and he hadn’t drunk because he had to stay sharp.

According to the address Silvia had given him, they were hiding at a small cathedral in Hwagokdong, Gangseogu.

Haejin wanted to ask how Silvia had found them, but he had to think of a way to get them first.

He went through the winding and complicated alley of Hwagokdong and arrived at the cathedral. The lights were still coming out of the windows.

There was a convenience store nearby and many were passing by, but it felt somewhat spooky.

Haejin wondered if he should just go in through the main gate or climb over the wall after midnight, but then the gate was opened, and a man came out. He didn’t appear to be a foreigner even from distance.

The man was wearing a black priest’s outfit. He made a call and then went back into the cathedral.

Haejin realized that he had come too early in his agitation. Therefore, he bought some food at the convenience store and started eating.

After that, he spent some time walking around, then he went back to the cathedral after midnight.

It was even spookier now, maybe because it was late.

Haejin walked slowly to the back of the cathedral and casted an illusion spell on the area.

Knock, knock…

He carefully knocked on the back door, but no one answered. He tried to open the door, and to his surprise, it was unlocked.

What he saw right after opening the door were three adjacent doors.

He was puzzled for a moment, wondering what kind of maze it was, but then he realized it was a place for confessions.

He passed the confessionals and was about to find them, but then he heard people talking near the altar.

It was English with a British accent.

“We must go back. Father Dier has been missing for too long. It means he is already in heaven. You know without Dier, who has traces of the chosen power, we cannot persuade him.”

Haejin carefully stuck his head out and looked. Two foreigners were talking in front of the altar.

One seemed to be at least 50, and the other was young, probably about 20.

“No, we cannot go back now. We have sacrificed too much, and Zeou Shuin, who used to manage east Asia district, has disappeared. We’ve even lost Lee Shian and Dier! If we back off now, Trinitatis will surely fall.”

“But how can we two alone convince him?”

“If we can’t, then we have no choice but to convert him through force…”

Haejin was so shocked to see them determinedly to take out guns.

He thought they would be with great powers like Dier, but it turned out they were just ordinary people.

He let out a sigh of relief and casted a sleeping spell right away.

“If we make a mistake, it can…”

The young priest immediately fell on the floor, but for some reason, the magic didn’t work on the old priest.

“Andro! Andro! What…”

Haejin’s heart sank. He then ran and punched the man’s face.

“Uhh… uhh…”

While he was still in pain, Haejin threw his gun away, pressed him so he wouldn’t be able to move, and searched him.

He thought something like a bracelet or a necklace had to be blocking his magic, and he was right. He found a brooch that glittered with a mysterious green light.

It was full of swirling mana, so it had to have great powers.

Haejin put in his pocket. Then, he used his psychic magic on him and started to ask, “What is your name?”

“Paolo Dmitris.”

“What is your occupation?”

“High priest.”

“Why have you come to Korea?”

“To meet him…”

“Why are you trying to convince me?”

“Only the great sacrifice can save the world. Only the great sacrifice…”

Paolo suddenly started to tremble. It then reminded Haejin of Dier’s death.

Haejin quickly backed off, and Paolo’s body immediately caught fire.

“Ahhh! Save me! Please!”

Dier hadn’t suffered that much when he died.

What was good was that the fire didn’t burn anything else. It just incinerated Paolo’s body and disappeared.

Haejin took the unconscious young priest out of there, wiped his memory, and left him nearby a hospital.

Now, he was going to turn into an idiot who lost his memories, but Haejin had no choice as he couldn’t erase only the specific memories about the Trinitatis.

He went back home and took out the green brooch. Its brilliant hue was gone, it was now grey.

Haejin had a bad feeling about it, so he didn’t take its mana. He just put in on the table and went to sleep. However, that night, he had a strange dream.

White land, so cold that could freeze anything, strong gusts of wind that almost blew him away, and the blue stone that was sleeping way under there.

And he was without his powers…

The next day, he went to work as if nothing happened, but Eunhae worriedly asked, “Did something happen to you last night?”

“No, why?”

“Because you look so tired, it’s like you haven’t slept for days,” Eunhae replied.

“But I’ve slept well. I’m fine.”

Actually, he wasn’t fine. He couldn’t be fine because he had this feeling, that he had seen his last in that dream.

“Are you sure?” Eunhae asked again.

“I’m telling you, I’m fine.”

“Hu… okay then. However, I think you should postpone that business trip for the Henderson Collection for about a week.”

“A week?”

“Yes. I thought the interview yesterday was all, but another program has called. You know, that program about appraising antiques.”

“Oh, you mean ‘Find Treasure’, right?” Haejin guessed.

“No, I wouldn’t let you be on that kind of program. Only a few people watch it… it’s a comedy show. They are going to go to a celebrity’s home, and he has collected a lot of antiques. So, they want you to appraise them,” Eunhae explained.

“But why should I do that? You can’t be pushing me for a performance fee. What is it?”

Eunhae continued, “Even if you are a great appraiser, you have been refusing to register to Korea Appraisal Committee, and it has its downside. It has made you look bad when you testified at court… so reputation is what you need now. This museum has become the most famous museum in Korea, except for the National Museum, so if we get you a little more personal reputation, you wouldn’t have such a problem in the future.”

It made sense, but honestly, Haejin didn’t want to do it because of his laziness.

“But I’ve done that interview yesterday. Wouldn’t it be enough?” Haejin asked.

“But that program is about current affairs. It’s not like you’re going to appear on it often… this program is different. It always gets a view rate of over 10% and young people watch it. Just appear on it for a short time, and it will help you a lot. Only a few people will then raise doubt about your appraisal,” Eunhae tried to convince him.

Although Haejin had been asked to appraise many times, he had given different appraisals from what other appraisal agencies said, so people were already talking behind his back.

Although no one had officially accused him, he thought Eunhae had the right reasons to suggest him to appear on the program.

“When should I do it, then?” Haejin asked.

“This Thursday.”

“Then, is there more I should do after that? You just told me to postpone the trip to America for a week.”

Eunhae explained, “The police has asked for your help because of Mrs. Haewon’s matter. They said they would come in the weekend as you must be busy on weekdays, so I said okay. The more we take care of such complicated matters, the better… but do you want to do it after the trip?”

“No, it’s fine. I just have to tell them my appraisal, right?”

Eunhae confirmed, “Yes. Then you can go to America next week on any day you want.”

“Then I’ll just go on Monday. I’ll go early and come back early. The sooner I go, the faster the Henderson Collection will come. Oh, and tell the production crew of that comedy show about the Henderson Collection. It would make me look even better.”

Eunhae clapped and agreed, “Oh! Yes, yes. Why I couldn’t think of it myself? Okay then, wear something nice that day. You are as handsome as any star, but your clothes are too old-fashioned.”

“But I think my clothes look just fine…”

“It’s not like I can be your stylist… anyway, wear that tailored suit you wore the other day.”

Eunhae patted Haejin’s shoulder, winked, and went to her office.

“Comedy show…”

Haejin got a little nervous about appearing on a comedy show.

After a few days, Haejin went to a luxurious apartment in Cheongdamdong.

The program’s writer had told him they were visiting a famous comedian’s home, and even they didn’t know what kind of antiques he had.

They were filming in an underground parking lot in the apartment. When he arrived there, many lights and dozens of staff were surrounding a few people to film them.

“Hello, I’m Park Haejin. I was told…”

He grabbed a member of the staff, who recognized Haejin, and started asking for guidance.

“Oh, hello. They’re waiting for you now. This way, please.”

She took him to producer Go Jinseok, who was famous even to ordinary people.

“I’ve heard so much about you. You are very famous these days, right? I have a friend who works at a different broadcast station, and he told me you were the best.”

That friend had to be producer Yu Jaeil.

That is how Jinseok had found out about Haejin even though his interview hadn’t been broadcasted yet.

“Haha, I’m not sure whether I am the best…”

Jinseok explained, “We’re filming now, so please wait. We will go up to Mr. Lee Jaesu’s home and talk about his antiques. That is when you appear. For now, please just watch us film.”

Lee Jaesu was a very famous comedian. He was old and sometimes said the wrong things, but he was witty and nice to everyone, so the public loved him.

“Okay.”

Haejin had thought it would be funny as it was a comedy show, but as he watched while waiting, he realized it was hard.

They kept laughing, talking and going around without a break. It looked very hard.

Three hours had passed after Haejin arrived when they finally started to film the part about antiques.

The old comedian bluffed like a proper comedian and bragged about his antiques.

“My father started collecting them and left them to me. They are all magnificent. First, take a look at this porcelain. Impressive, isn’t it?”

“Oh, but it looks like just any makgeolli cup!”

A young comedian next to him made a joke.

As it was a comedy show, everyone just laughed.

“But you don’t know a thing about antiques, you idiot!” Lee Jaesu yelled. The host of the program calmed him down with a laugh and called Haejin, “Well, that’s why we’ve brought the real expert. It’s Mr. Park Haejin, the Prince Charming of Insadong!”

When Haejin went to join them in front of the cameras, they made a fuss while welcoming him.

Then, the young comedian asked, “It’s fake, isn’t it? Aren’t things like this on sale in the markets for 3 thousand won?”

“3 thousand won? Hey! I’ve paid 30 thousand won for it at Dongmyo!” Jaesu smiled and went along with the joke.

However, Haejin was a little shocked because he sounded like he really was not joking.

Had he really bought it at Dongmyo for 30 thousand won?

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