The Auction
***
Yeouido Art Gallery.
Gu Woong-jae, the gallery's president, was reviewing documents in preparation for the auction set to begin in a few hours. He checked the time, rose from his seat, and headed outside.
Just as Gu reached the gallery's main entrance, a black sedan pulled up. The door opened slowly, revealing the man he'd spoken to on the phone an hour earlier.
The man, towering like a utility pole with his dark, tanned skin, strode straight toward Gu with heavy steps.
As the distance closed, Gu's lips trembled uncontrollably. Sweat drenched his palms. The look in his eyes wasn't joy—it was pure fear.
Gu bowed so low his forehead nearly touched the ground.
"It's been a while. I'm Gu Woong-jae, president of Art Gallery."
"Pleased to meet you."
"It's been about three months since we last met last year."
"Can we inspect the item first?"
"I figured you'd want to. I've prepared everything. This way, please."
Who was this man to make Gu grovel like this?
Gu led the man to his private office. As the door opened, appraiser Kim Gap-yong bowed politely.
Before him sat the celadon vase Min-ho had brought.
Most ignorant upstarts or difficult clients with little understanding of auction items reached out to touch them right away. But this man knew the gravity of the pieces traded here. He examined it carefully with his eyes alone and nodded.
"So this is that legendary piece I've only heard about."
"Yes. It matches every detail the elder described—size, shape, everything."
"I'd like to see the front as well."
"Of course."
Gu nodded, and the appraiser, wearing white gloves, carefully rotated the vase.
"As you can see here, the dragon motif is strikingly clear, and it even uses that blue dye from Arabia. No doubt about it—it's flawless. What do you think?"
The man stared intently at the vase for a long while before nodding.
"Even to my eyes, it looks exactly as the elder described."
"This vase's official name is the Dragon-Pattern Flat Celadon Vase. It was made in China's Jingdezhen, famous for ceramics, in the late 1300s."
"Enough explanation. Are you certain it's authentic?"
"Of course. You know our appraisers at Art Gallery well."
Art Gallery was Korea's premier exhibition space and hosted the largest auctions every quarter. Its credibility was beyond question.
The man nodded, and Gu continued fawningly.
"Our appraisers' jaws dropped in awe. It's a true treasure among treasures."
"And if it turns out to be fake...?"
"No need to worry. It won't be. If it somehow is, we'll cover all costs."
The word "compensation" seemed to irk him; he tilted his head and spoke in a deep, heavy voice.
"Has the elder forgotten? To him, money is just scraps of paper."
"My apologies. I hope there's no misunderstanding."
"Are there any identical pieces in Korea?"
"None at all. Even scouring all of China, you might find only one or two. It's incredibly rare."
The man stared piercingly at the vase without moving a muscle for a long time. Still fixated on it, he asked dryly,
"What's the starting bid?"
"1.5 billion won."
The man nodded and stepped to the desk phone, picking up the receiver. He glanced up at Gu—leave.
Gu and the appraiser quickly moved to the door.
"No one will enter until you're done. Please make yourself comfortable."
"If anyone overhears the call, there could be trouble."
"Yes, yes, understood."
His words were polite, but his demeanor was arrogant.
Once Gu left, the man dialed a number.
"Elder, it's Moon Sang-oh."
An elderly voice, raspy like phlegm in his throat, replied.
"How's the item?"
"It's definitely the Dragon-Pattern Flat Celadon Vase you've been seeking."
"If Gu says it's genuine, no issues there."
"No flaws to my eyes either."
"Good. Don't worry about the numbers—just bring it quietly to me."
"I'll handle it without a hitch."
Even for auction items, questionable provenance could lead to headaches later. To cover all bases, the elder asked one more thing.
"Better to tap even a stone bridge. What did they say about the origin?"
"I heard it came from Lawyer Choi Jong-hoon."
"Jong-hoon brought it?"
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
Mention of the lawyer made the elder set down his pipe.
"Something's missing. Check again."
"My apologies—I overlooked one. There was a new hire with the lawyer."
"New hire? What's his name?"
"Credit team employee Lee Min-ho. Just those two."
"I see. Things just got interesting. When's the auction?"
"Exactly 3 hours and 2 minutes left."
The elder fell silent, pondering deeply. After a minute, he spoke heavily.
"Clear the debt, save that bastard's daughter... One stone to catch not a bird, but a whole flock..."
From just a few clues, he'd pieced together Min-ho's entire plan.
"Take this round anew."
"Set a limit on the bid?"
"Yes. A real sharp one would know the item's true value."
"How much?"
"4.5 billion max. Beyond that, let it go."
"Understood. Budget at 4.5 billion."
The elder smirked faintly, intrigued, then added a final condition.
"If it's that new hire bidding, cap at 4.5. Anyone else, no limit—but he won't let it climb that high. He'll slit their throats first."
"I'll proceed without issue."
"One more thing to keep in mind."
"Yes, elder."
In a gravely cautionary tone, the elder warned,
"Your skills outmatch his, but handling his momentum won't be easy. You'll sweat bullets."
"I'll do my best."
"We'll drink to it tonight."
"I'll call after the auction."
***
Min-ho had seized the golden chance to wipe out a staggering 3 billion in collections debt in one go. Fully prepared, he arrived at the gallery with his crew.
Oh engaged the parking brake.
Before opening the doors, Min-ho gave their outfits a final once-over.
"Dong-ho, put on sunglasses. Nam-hoon, unbutton two more up top."
"Like this?"
"Good enough. Swagger when you walk, cross your legs when you sit. The rest you know."
"Yeah, we've seen it enough on the way."
Dragged to an auction mid-work, the three were tense and shrunken. Though Min-ho was their peer and younger, he felt like a total boss.
Pi Dong-ho, stealing glances at Min-ho, asked cautiously,
"What if we win the bid? I got no money."
"Don't raise your paddle early. Hold it up till I call a number. Then drop it. Simple, right?"
"Got it."
"Meet back at the car after. No talking to each other till then. Got it?"
Min-ho patted Dong-hoon and Nam-hoon's backs, sending them into the auction hall.
Oh, adjusting his clothes in the mirror, asked,
"This okay?"
"Perfect. Same strategy for the guys."
"I... can I pull this off?"
"Of course. I trust you and always bring you along—you'll nail it."
"Alright, see you soon. Do great."
"Don't worry. Next month's bonus will be fat too."
Oh got out and headed in. Now, just one final prep left.
Min-ho checked his own outfit again and asked Choi,
"The list?"
"Here."
"As expected of you, Lawyer Choi."
"It's a secure document handled only in-gallery. Review it, and I'll dispose of it."
"How'd the heads-up to major collectors go?"
"Gu Woong-jae handled it personally."
The auction was capped at 100 attendees, all verified for social status or equivalent wealth.
As Min-ho predicted, it was a mix from all walks: lawmakers, professors, doctors. No issues.
"But how'd you sneak our three in?"
"Spots opened up. Since winning isn't the goal, I asked Gu to list them as proxies."
Scanning the list, Min-ho smirked at the final name.
Moon Sang-oh... Swallowed the bait right on cue.
Choi noticed Min-ho's lingering gaze and asked carefully,
"Young master, any issue?"
If Choi knew of Moon Sang-oh, he'd have reported it first. No mention meant he was clueless.
Mission accomplished—no need to say more.
"Nah, nothing. Just same name as a friend."
"Your expression soured—I thought something was wrong."
"High school buddy same name. But age doesn't match."
"Young master, 30 minutes left. Factor in seating, time to head in."
"Yeah, ready. Let's go."
***
As Min-ho and Choi headed to the hall, a staffer approached quietly.
"Excuse me, the president asks to see you briefly. He said to convey apologies for the eyes around."
"No trouble. Lead on."
"This way."
They were led not to Gu's office, but behind the building where no one lurked. Gu emerged from the shadows.
"Aigoo, Lawyer Choi, so sorry to bring you here."
"No matter. Entering the president's room on auction day invites rumors."
"Thank you. I've arranged for your three staff and this Lee Min-ho to enter."
"Appreciated."
Gu knew the trio were plants, but the new hire puzzled him. Bystanders sufficed—why list Min-ho as a collector?
Rich kid? Nah, I'd know... Face seems familiar...
This was Art Gallery—only the elite of elites. A rookie's salary couldn't touch it. Gu pegged Min-ho as backed by big money and approached warmly.
"Our Lee Min-ho here seems really into art. Staff say you rattle off painters' names like nothing."
"No, just know the famous ones."
"Ah, got it. So you're here to buy today?"
"Yeah, gotta grab what I want to satisfy the itch."
"Knew you weren't ordinary from the start. Best of luck."
Gu glanced around, lowered his voice.
"That's why I brought you here. On the list I gave, bottom one's a VIP."
Min-ho feigned ignorance.
"Special... Chaebol?"
"Can't say specifics, but thanks to him, the vase'll fetch higher than expected. I whispered as instructed."
"Your guess?"
"Hard to say till bids fly, but figure 2 billion more."
"Great intel. Thanks."
"See you at settlement."
It looked coincidental, but Min-ho's meticulous plan orchestrated it all.
Just nail the finish now.
Min-ho nodded with a smile.
Choi, oblivious it was all Min-ho's design, asked,
"Young master, helpful?"
"Very. You'll see results soon. Anyway, bit more than expected. Let's head in."
Min-ho strode confidently into the auction hall.