章 677: Chapter 677: It Just Happened That Way
I wasn't trying to blame him.
The Buddha statue in front of me was actually quite nice.
"Haha, exactly! Experiencing an auction firsthand is so much more fun than just watching from the sidelines. Since you're here, we've prepared something special for you to try out!"
I nodded at Manager Ma, and he grabbed the item, box and all.
Checking it over, I locked eyes with Peterson.
"Having participated like you suggested, I finally understand why people get drawn into auctions. But how on earth did you manage to bring that here as an auction item?"
The Kwan Yin statue I won was originally in the hands of a Japanese collector.
I distinctly remembered it stirring up quite the fuss over its repatriation.
The government had offered 4 billion Won, but the owner demanded 20 billion. The gap remained, and eventually the government had to back down.
If a historic artifact forcibly taken during the Japanese occupation was bought for such a high price, it could hinder future repatriation efforts.
"I'm sorry, but I can't reveal the owner's identity."
"That's not what I'm asking. I'm just curious about why the person chose to put this item up for auction now."
The Kwan Yin statue was supposed to be kept hidden for much longer.
It wasn't until the repatriation foundation was established in the 2010s that it was meant to be revealed.
"Actually, the owner has been considering whether to auction the statue for some time now."
"Oh really?"
"I don't know how you'll take this, but…"
Peterson hesitated, gauging my reaction.
"It's fine. Please, go on."
"Korean artifacts don't tend to draw much interest in the auction market. If it had been a Chinese relic, its value would have skyrocketed."
I already knew this.
As Peterson said, Korean artifacts struggled to gain traction in auctions.
It was a completely different situation compared to the inflated value of Chinese antiques.
"We anticipated that your Kwan Yin statue would fetch around 10 million dollars. The owner aimed for at least 15 million. However, they decided against the auction due to that expectation."
"Until I showed up, that is."
"That's right. I figured you'd buy it no matter the price. The love Koreans have for their cultural artifacts is well-known in the auction world."
It seemed Peterson hadn't just idly participated in the auction market.
His charm, insights, and extensive connections had brought him to where he was now.
"I contacted the owner and convinced them they would get the price they desired."
Peterson had targeted me, skillfully securing items that piqued my interest.
Murdoch was pragmatic, enough to earn a reputation as a capable individual.
"That sounds promising. I'd love to hear from you if any Korean artifacts go on auction. Even if I can't attend, I'd consider sending a representative."
"Understood. Once the sale price is finalized, where should I deposit the proceeds after deducting my commission?"
After a moment's hesitation, I shook my head.
"I'll transfer the purchase price separately. Just send the net proceeds to four different accounts."
Manager Ma handed Peterson a sheet of paper.
It had the account numbers of UBS banks in Switzerland written down.
"You want to split it into four transfers?"
"I'd appreciate that. If I receive it in one go, I'll have to physically go to Switzerland to distribute it."
"We can certainly accommodate that kind of service."
Indeed, the auction market was a haven for money laundering.
Seeing how accustomed they were to such transactions, I couldn't help but smile at their ease.
"I'll deposit the purchase funds right now. Could you provide the account number?"
Peterson took out a business card with the account information, handing it to Manager Ma.
"Manager, please process it immediately."
Once Ma confirmed the card, he pulled out his laptop to initiate the transfer.
"Charlie, when can we expect to see other artworks?"
While Manager Ma handled the payment, Peterson cautiously inquired.
"Hmm… I'm currently pondering whether to put my collection up for auction again. I haven't even made a list yet. I'm not planning to auction off my pieces in the UK just yet."
"If you need a storage space, there's a warehouse in Switzerland that keeps art and artifacts under the radar. It's managed in a way that no one knows who the owner is. I'd wager half the art sold at our auction is stored there."
"Really? That exists?"
Only in Switzerland could such shady businesses thrive. When I asked, Peterson turned the question back on me.
"Are you familiar with the Geneva Freeport?"
"I am."
"There's a private storage complex called Port Franc. It used to hold grains and manufactured goods, but as the art market expanded, it has become a vault for wealthy collectors' treasures."
"I had no idea it served that purpose."
"The Freeport is under Swiss governance, but it's a tax-free zone. That's why many collectors send their acquired artworks straight there to avoid hefty taxes."
Peterson continued explaining about Port Franc.
"If all the artworks and artifacts stored there were to hit the market, they'd exceed hundreds of billions of dollars in value."
Hundreds of billions? That was an astonishing figure. Just how many works were lying dormant there?
As if he could read my thoughts, Peterson continued.
"It's estimated that there are several hundred Picasso paintings alone stored there."
The very existence of such a place echoed the reality of art collecting today.
Most people no longer bid on items purely for appreciation, but rather strictly for potential investment.
"What happens if stolen items are found?"
"Swiss authorities will likely confiscate them. However, that has rarely happened in the decades since the warehouse opened."
No amount of security could guarantee it wouldn't be touched if someone set their mind to it.
That thought made me reconsider entrusting my pieces there.
With many of Hussein's collections believed to be sourced from black markets, there was no reason to take risks.
"In that case, it might be more reassuring for me to store them myself."
Peterson seemed about to say something but hesitated.
At that moment, Manager Ma, who had just finished processing the transfer, chimed in.
"Boss, the deposit is complete."
"Really? Peterson, would you check it?"
Peterson pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
A short conversation later, he smiled and said,
"The deposit has been confirmed. Thank you."
Peterson nodded in thanks. Once he finished, he looked at me with excitement in his eyes.
"I look forward to working with you going forward. Please ensure I get to see the entire collection."
"I'll let you know once everything's ready. Now that I've seen how Peterson operates, I can understand who he really is. After all, he's a friend of Chairman Murdoch."
I added playfully, then stood up.
"Well, I should be going now."
"Where are you headed?"
"I'll likely be leaving the UK and heading into Russia."
"I wish you safe travels."
I turned away from Peterson and left the Sotheby auction house.
* * *
Leaving the UK, I arrived in Moscow.
Instead of heading straight to the Kremlin, I made my way to my home on the outskirts of Moscow.
"Chairman Kim Mu-hyeok, it's been a while."
Medvedev visited my mansion late at night. Though he surely knew I had arrived, he feigned surprise and asked.
"What brings you here without any notice?"
I intentionally didn't contact the Russian government beforehand.
It was an unplanned visit, and there was no need to create extra fuss.
"Hahaha! If you didn't visit since Chairman Kim arrived, how could I not come? Did I just inconvenience you?"
"Not at all. No offense taken. It's nice to see a drinking buddy again. Let's head inside."
I led Medvedev into the living room.
Today, I had planned to drink with Manager Ma, so there were only two glasses prepared.
"Manager, please bring another glass."
After instructing Manager Ma, I took a seat with Medvedev.
As soon as we were seated, he broke the silence.
"I heard you've had a tough time in Iraq."
"Tough? It just turned out that way."
"So you're the one behind the video recently released by the U.S.?"
The video Medvedev mentioned was about the operation to eliminate terrorists.
Even with numerous suspicions raised, the U.S. government showed little response regarding the hostage rescue operation.
As time passed, the Democrats intensified their attacks, and even within the Republican Party, the gravity of the issue became apparent.
'The spotlight's on Korea now.'
Domestic sentiment was fixated on the rescue efforts.
However, the U.S. scandal still affected Korea.
Rumors spread on the internet that to uphold the U.S. principle of not negotiating with terrorists, the Korean government had negotiated on behalf of the terrorists and paid the ransom.
What started as mere whispers online exploded into major headlines as major media outlets started questioning the situation.
― Hey! Mu-hyeok, what do we do about this?
Suddenly, the flustered voice of Myeong-su popped into my head.
Once I was in the UK, Myeong-su had contacted me, and we discussed follow-up measures.
The more dramatic an event, the bigger its repercussions. Therefore, I deliberately waited until the situation escalated.
Of course, there was also an effect on Kim Mugil, but simply saving his life was already sufficient for me.
The aftermath was no longer my concern.
"Indeed. We paid the ransom, rescued the hostages, and then Black Bear wiped them out."
The unfolding situation in the U.S. and Korea.
As those two nations stirred, a video was released by a news channel owned by Murdoch.
It was footage of Igor's team conducting the extermination operation against the terrorists.
It was aerial footage, yet the quality was excellent, allowing viewers to feel the intensity of the scene.
Simultaneously, the Bush Administration released an official statement.
― Our administration stands firm on the principle of making no compromises or concessions with terrorists. However, we could not abandon our citizens yet again. Thus, after close discussions with the Korean government, this operation was executed.
Buoyed by their earlier questioning, American media outlets and the Democrats were hit by backlash.
Korea experienced similar turbulence.
The Progressive Party ceased preparations for the protests they were set to hold in Gwanghwamun in conjunction with civic groups, and the approval ratings for Yoon Chang-ho's government rose as a result.
"Having witnessed Black Bear's operation firsthand, I now understand why they're sought after across the globe."
In the mission to eliminate the kidnappers, Igor's team had flawlessly wiped out the terrorists without a single casualty.
Now that the footage was public worldwide, no nation could afford to underestimate Black Bear's capabilities.
"It's thanks to special forces from the U.S. and Russia. Igor's team is among the elite operatives within Black Bear. You know better than anyone, given our prior joint mission in North Korea."
Medvedev nodded solemnly, seeming to regret that talents from the former Soviet Union were affiliated with Black Bear.
Manager Ma brought over a new glass.
"Manager, sit down and drink with us."
I poured vodka into the new glass and slid it toward Medvedev.
"For tonight, let's just relax and enjoy ourselves. My hangovers are always tough when I drink with you."
Feigning seriousness made Medvedev laugh loudly.
"What are you talking about? I've never beaten you at drinking, Mu-hyeok. One day, I'll definitely win!"
In a warm atmosphere, we all emptied our first glass together and continued chatting about mercenaries.
"Our government is considering forming a private military corporation."
"Is the Russian government stepping in?"
Medvedev shook his head, placing his glass down.
"On the surface, it won't have any government ties whatsoever."
Medvedev's words reminded me of a notorious private military contractor from the past.
However, that company was established after 2010.
"If this comes to light, there could be significant fallout."
"It won't be discovered; I can assure you."
While Medvedev was confident, the Western world would soon recognize the connections between the Russian government and its private military contractors.
"Countries in the West might not believe it, but any private military company developed in Russia will never escape the government's influence. Which nation is likely to trust that?"
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