Chapter Title: The Mysterious Porcelain
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I thought I'd misheard her.
If she didn't mean a lover in some casual, frivolous sense,
"The Korean government? You mean the country?"
"Yes."
There was no hint of joking in her words.
She began her explanation in that low, distinctive voice of hers.
"First, let me tell you why Chairman Yu Ho-seung of Samji Corporation gathered all those potters. He's always been a huge pottery enthusiast and collector. He especially loves my master's works, and whenever he finds a piece he likes, he snaps it up no matter where in the world it is.
But this time, while on a business trip to France, he spotted a porcelain vase owned by some entrepreneur and fell head over heels for it on sight. The guy had bought it at auction a few years back, and apparently it was smuggled out amid the chaos of the Imjin War five hundred years ago. No telling how it ended up in France, but it must've changed hands plenty of times."
"He wants it, doesn't he?"
"Yes."
"Then just buy it. Money can't be the problem."
"That's... he can't."
Can't buy it?
Did that Frenchman swear he'd never sell, even over his dead body?
"The French cultural heritage agency is trying to designate it as a cultural artifact."
"Why turn a Joseon porcelain into French heritage?"
"That's Europe for you. They're absolute geniuses when it comes to swiping other people's legacies and stuffing their museums."
"Thieves."
"Total thieves. Anyway, the key point is, once it's officially designated, it can't leave France."
...
In my eyes, that theft seemed way more important.
But anyway,
"I get the situation, but why bring in potters?"
Seon Eun-kyeong quietly scanned the surroundings.
Once she'd confirmed no one was listening, she spoke up.
"Chairman Yu Ho-seung wants an exact replica of it."
"Haha, the real deal's out of reach across the ocean, so a fake will have to do?"
Greed or obsession, whatever it was, the man had guts.
Guess that's what it took to run a massive corporation.
Me? I was a little disappointed.
"So he's rounding up potters to commission a copy."
"That's the gist, but it's not that simple. That porcelain... it's incredibly unique."
"Unique how?"
"I've only seen photos, but there's no way to figure out the technique just by looking at it."
"Tell me more."
"Well... it's basically a white porcelain flower vase. But it's not pure white porcelain color, and not celadon's blue-green either. There's this subtle, mysterious sheen... Ugh, it's really hard to describe."
Not white porcelain, not celadon?
That could mean it was somehow both.
But back then, no pottery techniques mixed the two. The methods were totally different to begin with.
...
Now I was curious. What the hell was this piece?
"French experts already threw in the towel on analyzing the materials. You're all that's left."
"Do I have to go to France or something?"
Seon Eun-kyeong gave a faint smile.
"No. It'll arrive at Chairman Yu's place tomorrow on his private jet."
"But you said it can't leave France."
"Not 'yet.' The designation probably won't be official for about a month. Normally, you couldn't take a pending artifact across borders, but... the chairman threw massive money at lobbying the entrepreneur and the heritage agency. Just for a secret one-week loan."
That explained the secrecy.
If the French government found out, it could blow up into a diplomatic mess.
"To cover any mishaps, French heritage guards will watch it 24/7. Can't touch it for security—just look."
"So to sum up: we have to replicate a five-hundred-year-old mystery porcelain with unknown materials, based purely on visual inspection?"
"Sharp as ever."
Seon Eun-kyeong nodded like I'd nailed it.
"My master will be there, along with five Intangible Cultural Heritages and three master potters. Whoever pulls it off... well, name your price."
Name your price.
That wasn't just a figure of speech.
From Yu Ho-seung's position, he'd pay whatever it took.
If he wanted an exact match that badly.
It was tempting, actually.
Money was nice, but I was dying to know what that porcelain was.
Five hundred years ago—my era.
An unidentified piece from the time I lived in.
Gathering eight top experts like this? Had to be something special.
It was tickling my competitive side.
Still, there was one thing I wanted to clear up.
"Sounds like a tough, delicate gig. More than I imagined. Not something your master would recommend me for off one Moon Jar."
"You only made the one Moon Jar, but my master saw a lot more in it."
Every word from Seon Eun-kyeong dripped with respect for her teacher.
What struck me as odd was how she showed zero jealousy toward me.
Even in a situation where she, the prized disciple, was being sidelined for some nobody.
On the flip side, what was Kim Sil-seop thinking?
Why did he want to test my skills this way?
But even so.
"So, you in?"
Like there was any question.
"Yes. Count me in."
Whatever Kim Sil-seop's angle, it didn't matter.
Everything Seon Eun-kyeong pitched hit all the right notes for me.
And above all...
I wasn't the type to back down from a challenge like that.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
That evening,
I sweet-talked Dung-sik into going shopping for some proper clothes.
Even I didn't want to show up at Yu Ho-seung's place looking like this.
"Shopping out of nowhere? Weren't you never into clothes, hyung?"
"Don't we look way too broke? You and me, rotating the same two outfits—the ones from day labor."
"Fair. People stare like we're homeless sometimes. Tsk. Gotta grab some tees. What about you?"
"Anything that catches my eye."
Hee-so had zero so-called "fashion sense."
In that department, his head was as blank as a six-year-old's.
Tops were tops, bottoms were bottoms—that level.
So this time, I trusted my own instincts.
Me, the guy who'd once had Joseon's finest eye for beauty.
I firmly believed anything that looked good to me would look good to everyone.
And I found it faster than expected.
Right outside a department store I'd passed without thinking.
A mannequin standing in the massive storefront window.
The Western suit it was wearing. A proper suit.
Thud.
I planted both hands on the glass.
It felt like my soul got pulled right inside.
I'd seen countless people in suits.
But this was different.
The proportions of pants to jacket, the button placement, the lapel shape, the visible texture.
...
One word: insane.
"That's not just clothes. It's art."
"Ohhh, that? Duh, not just any clothes. It's Armani."
"Armani?"
"Giorgio Armani? You know, the designer who made the brand."
Artisans recognize artisans, after all.
"So it's a piece by the Armani craftsman. That's what I'm getting."
"What? Hyung, you know how much that costs?"
"Nope. As long as it's under 4.5 million won."
"What kinda logic is that? That's your whole savings! You'll be out on the street— Hyung! Where you going?!"
Where? To buy it.
I flung open the department store doors and made a beeline for Armani.
Conveniently, it was right by the entrance, so I dove in.
A bit later.
"Hyung, you really lost it..."
Dung-sik stared at me in horror outside Armani.
I'd not only snagged the suit but gone whole hog and grabbed shoes too.
Mood was high, so trying them on felt kinda thrilling?
"Only 3.54 million? Got a million left."
"Gah!"
Dung-sik clutched his forehead and staggered, even though it wasn't his cash.
"You gonna fire pottery in that? What's the point of such pricey stuff?"
To meet Yu Ho-seung, man.
And Kim Sil-seop too.
But Seon Eun-kyeong said top secret, so lips sealed.
"Looks good."
"Huh?"
"Looks good, end of story. Fits perfect and looks sharp? Good enough."
"Well... yeah. You're all skinny with long legs—it suits you. Jealous. The cut's killer... but 3.54 million?!"
"Quit whining and come on. Let's eat."
I strode off ahead.
Clack, clack—the shoes sounded crisp and satisfying.
Back in my past life, nothing but straw sandals; never slipped into taesahye leather shoes for yangbans.
No wonder they strutted around all high and mighty.
Good shoes really did lift your spirits.
And just like that, I was ready to face Yu Ho-seung, Kim Sil-seop,
and above all, that secret porcelain.
The one that was my "contemporary."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The next afternoon.
Eight men had gathered in the reception room of Samji Corporation Chairman Yu Ho-seung's mansion.
Korea's top Intangible Cultural Heritages and master potters.
The room had two doors, one on each side.
One led to the hallway,
the other stood guarded by two white guys.
A secretary with perfectly slicked-back hair served them tea.
"Chrysanthemum tea. Please relax until the last guest arrives."
She set down the cups and stood there, lost in thought.
'Figured as much—all grandpas. Pottery's a rich old folks' hobby, after all.'
To her, the pottery world was theirs alone.
Big-shot chairman, Intangible Cultural Heritages, jaw-dropping priceless vases.
Nothing to do with a regular like her.
"Guy I know missed master status again. Might as well head overseas..."
"Incheon's regional Intangible picks feel kinda sloppy, it's frustrating..."
"...These days' young apprentices care more about pensions than calling, tsk."
'No clue what they're on about.'
And their outfits? Total disconnect.
A few in plain suits,
most in tailored hanbok.
Big names in pottery, sure,
but to ordinary eyes, just stuffy, conservative old-timers.
Then her in-ear crackled with the gate guard's voice.
-Lee Hee-so incoming. Last one.
"Copy."
She murmured softly and clicked her way to the door.
The men on the sofas glanced over too.
Wondering who the final arrival would be.
Creeeak.
The door swung open, revealing a young man.
Perfectly dressed in what was clearly high-end suiting, he fit the room like he belonged.
The secretary blinked. A potter?
"...Lee Hee-so-ssi?"
"Yes, that's me."
She bowed hastily.
"Sorry. Didn't expect someone so young—caught me off guard. Please, come in."
'A young, sharply dressed potter? Really?'
She kept her confusion hidden and guided Lee Hee-so to the sofas.
Lee Hee-so gave the eight men a light bow.
"Lee Hee-so."
Meanwhile, they thought to themselves:
'Who's Lee Hee-so? Never seen him. Got the chops for this?'
'That getup... looks more like the family's grandson than a potter.'
'No idea who he is. Young punks these days—all flash, no substance. Back when I was your age...'
Mostly skeptical stares.
A few let out awkward chuckles.
Only Kim Sil-seop watched with a blank expression.
Lee Hee-so ignored it all, slowly eyeing the eight men.
Searching for Kim Sil-seop, the one who'd summoned him here.
Just then, the secretary—whispering into her in-ear—approached.
"Everyone's here now. Time to head to the room with the piece."
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