Chapter 86

Chapter 86 – Genius and Genius #2

“What’s the trend among high school students these days?”

Joo Hyun-ho suddenly asked as he guided them around the school . However, he had prepared this question from the moment he met them .

It was the reason why he was accompanying the high school students . The answer would naturally be Phantom, allowing Hyun-ho to hear about him . Setting aside the public opinion on the Internet, he wanted to know what ordinary students thought about Phantom . Therefore, he would hear the answer from the high school students he met by chance .

An Eun-young tapped her lips with a finger and thought for a moment,

“It is calculus? Once it is learned properly, it is helpful in studying for university and is surprisingly fun . Interesting things like linear algebra and ordinary differential equations… In particular, I like the Laplace transform the most . ”

“I-Is that so?”

Joo Hyun-ho started sweating at the unexpected response .

These days, high school girls seemed to be learning university level maths as a hobby .

“In recent years, there is a tendency to have complex problems that can’t be solved by just one area, such as the matrix, function, derivative and integral . You need to know the exact intentions…”

An Eun-young suddenly bowed with a flustered face .

“I-I-I’m sorry . I don’t think that is what you were asking…”

“Haha . An Eun-young’s interest is studying . I suppose that is how you passed the special admission . That is how you passed right?”

“Yes…”

Joo Hyun-ho nodded, and looked at the girl again . Come to think of it, the place where they were currently walking was S University . Those who entered through special admissions were considered to be the best of the best in the country .

On the other hand, the boy she was with had a different atmosphere . How did they become so friendly?

Joo Hyun-ho laughed at the thought . He was analyzing children . It was the so-called occupational disease . Come to think of it, he was like this before becoming an investigator…

“Then what is Seo Tae-hyuk interested in these days?”

This time, Hyun-ho shifted his gaze to Tae-hyuk .

“Interested?”

“You don’t have to be so nervous . I’m just asking as a personal interest . ”

Tae-hyuk coughed .

His heart was still wary after he accidentally stole a police badge before . When he first got the crime skills, he stole wigs, handcuffs, underwear and various other things, but he had rarely made mistakes recently . However, he had accidentally bumped into Joo Hyun-ho . In the end, Robbery was triggered . He was able to steal the other person’s belonging in one try thanks to his 50 points in dexterity .

Joo Hyun-ho might have been suspicious if it wasn’t for An Eun-young’s innocent face . It seemed like Hyun-ho had relaxed after talking to An Eun-young a little bit .

‘Huh? Wait a minute… He feels comfortable with Class President…? Is this also the impact of the studying skill?’

It hadn’t been to this degree before, so maybe her skill had also evolved .

‘By the way, what am I interested in?’

Tae-hyuk thought for a moment before answering Joo Hyun-ho’s question .

“Isn’t it money? I want to buy a house . In today’s low-growth era, cash is the best . I recently found a good way to make money . I’m thinking of earning money whenever I can . ”

“…These days, children are growing up prematurely . I was busy talking about games all day when I was younger .

“I love games . ”

“Eh? What games?”

“Poker, Go, Texas Hold’em, Blackjack… Well, anything that makes money . But rumors spread since I keep winning, so it wasn’t always good . ”

“Cough . In my time, it was just flipping coins on a book…”

“Well, it is similar . ”

In the end, Joo Hyun-ho’s expression turned grumpy because he couldn’t get the information he wanted . Were all kids like this these days?

Once they arrived at the destination, Joo Hyun-ho started to give an explanation .

“Why is there a museum on school grounds?”

“It says here . ”

Tae-hyuk waved the pamphlet about the school .

“In order to do community service, this university opened up some facilities for the public . It is a multi-purpose space boasting a unique architectural style and displays modern and contemporary art . ”

Hyun-ho ignored Tae-hyuk and continued the explanation,

“Especially in the winter, it is displaying various works of art from the Baroque period in cooperation with the Russian Hermitage Museum .

It was a strangely familiar name . Tae-hyuk searched through his future memories .

“Isn’t it the museum created by Catherine the Great?”

Hyun-ho asked with wide eyes,

“Oh . You surprisingly have a lot of interest in art . Do you plan to pursue this path?’

“That’s not it . I just found out by chance . ”

“I thought you were a chrysalis for a moment . ”

Tae-hyuk narrowed his eyes .

Obviously, the Hermitage contained a collection of artworks from all over the world, causing it to be called one of the world’s three largest museums . And if his memories were right, Russia’s [Red Mafia] operated there . Ironically, the owner of the museum was the world’s foremost forgery specialist .

“Then the works of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Rubinson, Picasso, Van Gogh and Renoir are displayed here?”

“Aish, no way . No matter how cooperative, they wouldn’t lend us something so famous . At best, they have Poussin or Rubens pieces . ”

“I am sure that the value of the paintings in the Hermitage Museum is close to a trillion won in terms of money . ”

Tae-hyuk’s eyes shone .

As Joo Hyun-ho said, famous paintings were worth billions of won . The reason he came here was to get information on the machine ‘Machina’ for Kim Soo-bin . However, it was possible to raise his discerning eye by viewing artwork . He never knew when he needed Forgery again . It would be better if he could make some preparations in advance .

“Director! It has been a long time . ”

Joo Hyun-ho greeted the man dozing at the entrance of the museum . The old man with grey hair acted ignorant .

“Eh? Who is this? If it isn’t Investigator Joo? But the people with you…”

“They are touring the school and wanted to see the museum . It is break time right now, so is it okay for them to look?”

“Of course . But Investigator Joo owes me . ”

“Thank you . ”

Kim Hyun-do, the curator of the art museum, easily nodded .

“Students are good at observing . Ah right, if you step over a line then you will hear a beep . Watch out, since the police will come . ”

“Ah, yes . I understand . ”

“Should I call a guide?”

“It is okay . Thank you for letting us in during the break time . ”

The reason why Kim Hyun-do could look relaxed despite the museum full of expensive paintings was simple . The inside of the museum was so strictly managed that not even one ant could hide .

“Did you know that most paintings displayed in museums are forgeries?”

“R-Really?”

An Eun-young’s eyes widened since this was the first time she heard about it . Then people were paying to look at fakes .

Joo Hyun-ho said with a smile .

“Vincent van Gogh’s self-portrait and Renoirs’ Bal du moulin de la Galette are worth billions of won, and are too valuable to be displayed in museums . So, as an alternative, replicas were made of ceramic plates . They stay well in light and are strong against fire . The guests can also touch them directly . They can also take a commemorative photo in front of it . A lot of people prefer this . ”

“It is the first time I’ve heard of this!”

“The funny thing is that a replica created properly can be priced at hundreds of million of won . In some cases, a replica of the replica is on the market . It is like the Matryoshka dolls . Isn’t it funny?”

An Eun-young smiled without making a sound . Then she noticed Tae-hyuk staring silently at a painting .

“Huh? Tae-hyuk?”

Most of the paintings displayed here were authentic . They were surrounded by a barrier to prevent access . If someone stepped inside then the warning system installed would go off .

Seo Tae-hyuk looked at the painting with a serious expression and said in a quiet voice,

“…It is a wonderful painting . ”

“Eh? Your eyes are surprisingly good . That is Rubens’ ‘The Descent of the Cross’ . ”

An Eun-young spoke with an impressed face .

“T-Then this is the painting that the protagonists from a Dog of Flanders wanted to see last…?”

“Correct . Ruben’s work is displayed directly in the cathedral .

“Wah…”

An Eun-young looked at the displayed Rubens painting with shining eyes . He was a painter who painted many grandiose and brilliant mythical and religious paintings throughout Europe . Anyone would think of him when thinking of a Baroque master painter . Now she could see his paintings close up .

Tae-hyuk asked,

“Is this authentic?’

“Of course . So you shouldn’t touch it . The huge security bell here will ring . ”

“Famous works are being displayed . Isn’t it surprisingly not well know? I think the attendance would be big if it was advertised as the painting from a Dog of Flanders . ”

“Right? I also think it is a bit strange . Well, it seems like the director doesn’t like doing such a thing . ”

“I see . Thank you for the explanation . ”

“Then I guess I did a good job . There is a school club where I worked as the manager . Would you like to go? It is a mystery club . There are things like murder props, and we also have mystery novels so you will have fun there . ”

“I also like mystery novels! What will Tae-hyuk do?”

“Um… I want to look at the paintings a bit more . I will follow you in five minutes, so go ahead and play . ”

“Is that so?”

“Then don’t come too late . ”

Hyun-ho and Eun-young were delighted to learn that they were both huge mystery novel fans . They left the museum while asking about each other’s favourite works .

Tae-hyuk’s eyes flashed as he stayed behind and looked at the Rubens painting . He wasn’t mistaken .

“This is a fake . ”

@

There was a fake product in a museum that only displayed genuine items . It was made so well that his crime skills reacted .

[You have seen a forgery of incredible perfection . ]

[The level of your discerning eye has risen . ]

[The autograph of the artist is hidden behind it . ]

Sometimes forgeries were brought in if it was too risky to display the original . But the expenses of the exhibition was too heavy to display a fake .

‘There is something here . ’

Fortunately, it was currently the museum’s break time . There was only a minimum of staff in the hall, with the rest eating or resting .

To avoid any doubts, Tae-hyuk first left the museum and hid behind the building and took out the opera mask . He also didn’t forget to use Disguise in case his mask was peeled off . After changing into clothes that looked like a tuxedo, the Phantom disguise was completed .

‘Was his name Kim Hyun-do?’

Tae-hyuk boldly entered the museum thought the front door . The yawning Kim Hyun-do said,

“I’m sorry but we are currently on break . Please return 30 minutes later… A-Ack! Ah…I’m really sorry . Isn’t this in fashion these days?”

Since the advent of Phantom on the TV, it was the fashion to walk around with opera masks . Kim Hyun-do often saw people wearing opera masks so he was only a little surprised .

“I am the original product . ”

Tae-hyuk smiled as he slowly took off his mask . The face behind it was Kim Hyun-do’s .

“Aaaaack G-Ghost, ghost…!”

Kim Hyun-do shrieked and fell off his chair . Then he stuttered out,

“H-H-Here, d-did you come here to blow it up?”

Tae-hyuk shrugged and replied,

“I don’t always bomb people . I just wanted to have a private talk with Director . Don’t worry . It will end very soon . ”

The mouth below the mask slowly curved upwards .