Artifact Reading Inspector

The rumor about secret deal between Vatican and Italian mafias had existed since very long ago.

Of course, there is no way to find out if that rumor is real, but as Haejin really hadn’t cared about both Vatican and Italian mafias, he was quite surprised at Matias’s answer.

“Do you think Vatican and mafias really have that kind of relationship?

Haejin had assumed the Trinitatis was hiding in Vatican, but it had to be little part of Roman Curia.

However, it was hard to think that few of them had made secret deal with mafias.

“That’s not it.”

Cavani sat down and grimly explained.

“The black connection that existed between archbishop Paul Marcinkus, former president of the Vatican Bank in early 80s, and the mafias is very famous. People used to march on streets because of it till a few years ago. So the deal between Vatican and mafias itself doesn’t surprise me, but I haven’t expected it to be about artifacts. I didn’t know Vatican was in situation urgent enough to stretch out to such black money.”

In everywhere in the world, the easies way to form secret fund is to buy artifacts.

As they are easy to trade for cash, their value goes up in time and the price is up to the seller, it is hard to collect tax on it.

In fact, artifact is the best thing to make secret fund, but it wasn’t like Vatican didn’t have artifacts.

It rather had the most precious artifacts, much more than any other city and organization, and once they decided to sell them, they could get almost unlimited amount of money.

But the problem was that they could never mess up with precious artifacts, but what can replace them are forgeries.

With good forgeries, you can get money as if you own your own money factory, so once you start making money with forgeries, it is not easy to stop.

“Do you remember the government official who came to see me in Korea?”

“Are you talking about Giorgio Sayor of Cultural Heritage Bureau?”

“Yes, that middle-aged fat man. At the time, I thought he was trying to be a guardian of Italian artifacts, but as I observed his word and actions, I got suspicious of him.”

Cavani got serious more than ever.

“Please explain.”

“I don’t have any objective proof, it’s just my feeling. I’m not sure. But it felt like he was connected to those mafias who tried to hire me.”

At the time, Haejin had found out Giorgio Sayor was working with mafias with his magic, but as he himself wasn’t directly involved in that matter, so he had just moved on.

However, as things proceeded in this way, he couldn’t pretend to be ignorant anymore.

He felt bad about doubting a person without any evidence, but that was the truth.

“It’s only your feeling?”

“That’s why I haven’t told you about it. But now I cannot keep pretending to know nothing. As I have no proof, you can ignore what I just said.”

“No, thank you for telling me. As it is your feeling, I cannot ignore it. Artists’ feeling is different from that of ordinary people.”

“But isn’t it better this way? It might become a chance to get rid of those mafias who are after artifacts.”

Haejin sounded positive, but Cavani gave hollow laughter at this.

“Haha, you are very optimistic. I wish you were right, but in this country, all cops and politicians are connected to the mafias. No matter how huge are the crimes they commit and no matter how solid are the proofs they leave, they cannot be eliminated. Messing up with them would be suicide.”

“Oh… It is really serious.”

“Anyway, if Mr. Matias’s painting draws their attention, we might be able to go after both Vatican and mafias.”

“But we should make it go to Vatican, not mafias…”

Then, Matias snorted and interrupted.

“It is all up to the seller anyway. Even if some odd people try to disturb, they won’t be able to do a thing if I refuse to sell.”

“I would be able to relax if you sell it yourself.”

Matias worked in whole Europe, not just in Austria. If he sold himself, there would be nothing to worry about.

“I’m the one who bought a painting from them, so selling one to them can’t be hard. But more than that, do you have what I asked for?”

Matias spoke it wouldn’t be any problem. Cavani nodded and called his servant.

He came with a small paint can as tall as thumb.

Cavani saw him hand it over to Matias and asked.

“What is it for? You asked for specific brand, is that for special use?”

“As you know, although the painting itself it finished, I must do one more thing. I should leave the trace of time on it.”

“You’re talking about craquelures.”

“This is varnish. There are two types of varnish; oil-based and volatile. This is volatile.”

“I know that. My servant told me so.”

Matias looked at the painting can as if it were some kind of funny toy.

“This is a little different from ordinary varnish. You must know it, but this is vernis craquelur made by a French company called Lefranc et Bourgeois. When applied on painting, it will make the paints crack in about 20 minutes.”

“Oh…”

“And if I apply a little dirt after the varnish is dried, it will make quite decent craquelures.”

Haejin was impressed, too. He had known a few methods of creating craquelure, but he hadn’t known this one.

Just as he had thought, Matias must have been jealous of his genius brother and had kept researching.

Matias quickly finished the painting. After a day, he carefully framed it and left to Vatican, Italy. Haejin and Silvia were with him.

Matias had changed into an ordinary man seen in any rural area from the greedy and spooky man he had been, probably because of the painting he had finished.

It appeared he wasn’t jealous of his brother anymore after making a good painting.

They unpacked at a hotel in Rome, rented a special non-vibration vehicle, and went to Sintine Chapel.

Vacian is a small city state near Rome and has its own administration system. As it is surrounded by walls built in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, you must go inside.

They sat down at a small coffee shop near the chapel. A gentleman in his 40s came and spoke to Matias.

“I didn’t know we would get to meet again so early. But these people are….”

The man was wearing black suit and black shirt, so Italian man’s unique chicness was even greater with him.

“These are my clients. This is Marcisio, he handles loan with artifact collateral at IOR Vatican Bank.”

The man who handled loan with artifact collateral was here to buy a painting, and even a fake… it was a little funny.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Mr. Park from Korea.”

Marcisio nodded but didn’t care about him more. He asked Matias.

“So why are they here?”

“I told you, they are my clients. If you don’t buy the painting, they will.”

Marcisio was offended. He frowned.

“So you want me to compete with them? It’s absurd.”

Matias smiled and took a sip of espresso that was so bitter that Haejin was sure he would never be able to get used to.

“But everything in this world is competition. Of course, I have no intend to force you. I just luckily got to know these clients from Asia, but I came all the way here instead of handing the painting over to them because I wanted to show it to you first. If it hadn’t been because of you, I would have sold it to this beautiful couple I met in Venice.”

Marcisio snorted.

“Huh! Do you think they would be able to bring it home, even if they but it? You must know the Cultural Heritage Bureau is being even strict on each customs.”

“Have you forget that I said the painting was fake?”

“But they won’t let it out just because it is fake.”

He was right, even fakes couldn’t go through customs easily.

It would be different for souvenir imitations, but with such delicately made forgery, they would ask questions, about who made it and at how much Haejin had bought it.

And it would be lucky if they let it pass after asking. But as the customs would confiscate the painting until investigation is done, having the painting taken at the airport would just mean blowing off the money.

Plus, when the customs workers conclude the forgery might be used for crimes, they look into the intention of the buyer and the seller.

And as Italy work hard to protect its artifacts, at least officially, once the customs found out about the forgery’s existence, Haejin might not be able to come back to Italy again.

Matias spoke as if he couldn’t understand why Marcisio was still angry.

“As I said before, I came all the way here to Vatican just to give you a chance. I cannot understand why you are so sharp.”

“You really brought them without any bad will?”

“Why would I lie to you? It’s not like it is really Titian’s painting. Do you think I will sell Titian’s painting to these Asians?”

“People like you would sell your own parents for money, so what would stop you from selling to Asians?”

“Haha, you speak like you have no interest in money.”

They argued for some time, but none of them left the spot first.

Marcisio stared at Matias, glanced at Haejin and Silvia, and nodded.

Matias gestured at him to follow. He stood up and went to the non-vibration truck parked nearby.

Because of the ten light bulbs lighting the inner side, it was even brighter than broad daylight.

Because of it, the painting in the middle of it shined like a solo singer standing alone on the stage.

“Hmm… Impressive.”

Marcisio exclaimed when he saw it.

It was not just because it was Titian’s painting. He was impressed by the forger’s skills of making a fake look like the real painting.

“Are you going to buy this?”

Marcisio didn’t even think twice to nod.

“How much is it?”

“This is extremely precious forgery. And…”

“Enough, just tell me the price.”

“A million euros.”

“Do you even know it is not real?”

“Of course. If it is too much for you, then there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Matias shrugged ant looked at Haejin and Silvia who were making a fuss in front of the painting.

They excited chatted in English as if they had never seen the painting before and kept saying ‘how much is it?’ like they were ready to pay immediately.

“I cannot decide on this myself.”

“Then how long am I supposed to wait? As you can see, I have some very impatient clients waiting here.”

“Huh! Merchants…”

He still didn’t seem to believe Matias had met the Asians by chance.

But as Matias had said, he didn’t have a choice. He called someone and talked on the phone for long time. Then he hung up and spoke.

“He will be here soon.”

“Who will…?

“Cardinal Pierosa.”

It was then. Silvia’s eyes started to shake…