I Got the Almighty Tongue - Chapter 210



Only Krnovel

210 Why is Dad here?

“Ryan, we’re in big trouble.

“Someone just stormed into the main auction house. They’re claiming that Chateau Petrus is a fake, and it looks like things are about to get a lot worse.”

Paisley, a low-ranking member of the emotional team, reports to Director Ryan.

“What? Are you sure he’s a chef?”

“I think so. I think there’s an MIT professor there too.”

“shit.”

Ryan quickly gets up from his seat and heads to the auction house.

A few days ago, a man came to Ryan.

He claimed that the Chateau Petrus that was up for auction was a fake and said he could prove it.

Ryan, who was intrigued, offered him a seat and heard the whole story.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t just take your word for it and ruin the product.”

His argument was valid. But the catalogue of the product had already been distributed to the world’s wealthy, and the idea of ​​having to open the box and open three or more bottles of wine for verification was a difficult request to accept.

Laser spectroscopy can be used to analyze the chemical composition of wine without opening the bottle, giving a rough idea of ​​the grape variety.

Ultrasound examination can also be used to estimate the density of liquid inside the bottle, as well as the alcohol content and sugar content.

In addition, Sotheby’s has already verified the trace elements contained in the wine through X-ray fluorescence analysis. The wine definitely had an elemental composition that reflected the soil characteristics of the grapes grown in the Bordeaux region.

“Unless the exhibitor is an idiot, he would mix the real with the fake. If 60% of the wines exhibited are fake, at least three bottles should be tested.”

“(2/5)³, so if what you say is true, there is a 117/125 chance of catching a fake.”

Ryan, a graduate of the prestigious Columbia University, has a brilliant mind.

It was a well-founded claim, but he didn’t want to make a big deal out of it.

“If 80% are fake, then that’s 99.2%. Anything under three bottles is mathematically meaningless.”

“Look here, Chef.”

Working at an auction house inevitably means meeting all sorts of people.

From people claiming to own hidden Picasso or Van Gogh works, to those making outrageous demands, claiming that items up for auction are fakes.

This chef’s claims were well-founded, unlike theirs, but if you keep worrying about all these things, you can’t proceed with the auction.

“Go ahead.”

“Those wines are authentic, at least from what we’ve verified.”

“I told you that this is an opponent that conventional verification methods don’t work against?”

Ryan sighs.

“Let’s say we ignore your advice and go ahead with the auction. Of the 100 bottles of Chateau Petrus, how many do you think will be opened within 10 years?”

Jehee frowns at his sudden change of topic. Then she nods as if she understands.

“Probably not a single bottle will be opened. Maybe one or two at most?”

“That’s right. Not many people would open a product that will automatically increase in price if left alone.

So let’s change the question. Let’s make a big concession and assume you’re right. What are the chances that the winning bidder will claim the wine is fake?”

Ryan glares at Jehee and asks.

“Do you want to say zero?”

“I’ve been in this business for 15 years. I’ve seen a lot of rich people. They always want to do things in the most efficient way possible.

Financial loss? $5 million is not a big risk for them. Rather, they think that having their expertise questioned and losing face is a bigger loss.

If the incident were to come to light, they would risk their privacy being invaded and ridiculed within the wealthy community. They would never make this public. I don’t know what they would do in private.

Now let me say it again.

Why should we have to compromise our product to meet your demands? And that too after all the testing we have done so far?”

“Is this how Sotheby’s works?”

“We have taken all necessary measures. I recognize that verification cannot be 100% accurate. But please understand that trust is important when dealing with cultural goods.

Was the Salvator Mundi (Latin for Savior of the World) really painted by Leonardo da Vinci? No one will ever know. But if the public believes it, then it is authentic.

“Last year, the painting sold for $80 million.”

Ryan explains the rules of the industry in a friendly tone.

“That’s not the way to solve the problem. As a chef, I value the authenticity of food. Fake wine is not just a financial scam; it threatens the entire wine culture.

Such actions, which ignore the efforts and artistry of true craftsmen and betray the trust of consumers, can jeopardize the credibility of not only the wine industry but also the entire fine dining industry in the long run.

But I know full well that your mind will not change.”

He shakes his head as if he has given up and gets up.

“I believe you are a smart person, so you won’t do anything useless. You probably have a lot to lose.”

Shin Je-hee was an influential chef. If he were to talk carelessly, many people would get tired of it.

“Have you ever thought about who has more to lose?”

The look in his eyes as he looked at me was eerie.

“Hahaha! Just kidding.

“I guess there is no other way. I will ask you to verify this more thoroughly next time.”

His face relaxes as if he’s joking.

Ryan felt uncomfortable with his significant attitude, but he soon forgot about it. He had too much work to worry about.

He hurries to the auction house.

When Ryan arrived at the auction house, he witnessed an unbelievable sight.

The chef who had been talking to him was standing on stage with a hammer, and two bottles of wine were already opened. And next to him, a woman was holding a test tube and adding wine to the reagent with a Pasteur pipette.

Jonathan’s face turns pale as he watches this.

The sight of wine worth millions of dollars being trampled by intruders was an indescribable catharsis for the audience, some of whom laughed while others cheered.

But everyone was so absorbed in what was happening on stage that they felt drawn in.

“I’ll open the third bottle. This is the last one.”

Squeak.

Another box opens with a hammer and the wine is thrust into his hands. He deftly removes the capsule and cork.

Margaret puts the pipette into the bottle and sucks up the wine.

For a moment, the entire auction house held its breath. The few seconds felt like an eternity.

Bam.

Wine falls into the test tube.

Ruby-colored wine drops cut through the air, forming elegant curves. And the moment they touched the surface of the transparent reagent, gentle ripples formed.

The wine slowly spreads into the reagent.

It slowly eats away at the reagent, just as ink soaks into paper. And the transparent liquid begins to change as it takes on the color of the wine. The purple edges gradually begin to recede. And green takes its place.

The color starts out as a light olive, but gradually changes to a vivid green with an increasingly intense emerald tone.

And everyone in the auction house could see it.

“Oh my god!”

“Oh my god.”

“I can’t believe it.”

Each person’s sighs fill the hall.

“As I said, the green color is a phenomenon that occurs when pigments from ingredients other than grapes react with the reagent. This wine is fake.”

Ryan and Jonathan lower their heads at Jehee’s words.

dump.

Margaret slumps down, her legs giving out.

match.

match.

match.

Then someone walks onto the stage, clapping his hands in a regular beat like a metronome.

People who recognize who he is quickly get out of the way.

“It was a really great show. I would pay to see it if I could.

But how should we take this? I have trusted Sotheby’s and bought a lot of wine from there. So what I am saying is that it may not be the real deal.”

Mexican mining magnate Alberto Bayliss glares at Jonathan and says:

Ryan felt his eyes going dark. Today would go down as Sotheby’s worst day.

As the person in charge of verification, he is likely to be involved in several lawsuits, not to mention being fired.

But solving the immediate situation came first.

‘It is a bad idea to make excuses here. You should apologize and promise maximum compensation to calm the customers’ anger.’

As he closes his eyes tightly and is about to leave, he hears a familiar voice from behind him.

“Mr. Baileys? What are you talking about? This verification was requested of us by Sotheby’s.”

Jehee looks back at Ryan and secretly winks. In that moment, he can figure out what the chef is thinking.

I can guess why. He probably doesn’t want to become enemies with Sotheby’s. He didn’t let go of the rope that came down to him like a miracle.

“Yes, Mr. Baileys. This verification is an event planned by Sotheby’s to further strengthen the trust of our customers.”

Alberto looks puzzled at Ryan’s words.

“This dealer also tried to supply fake wine to our restaurant.

I knew this in advance and decided to work with Sotheby’s. Dr. Thompson from MIT also participated in the verification.”

Margaret notices, then stands up and nods.

But people’s eyes were focused elsewhere.

Squeak.

The wooden door on the right side of the stage, which had been tightly closed, opens and someone comes inside.

“Did you enjoy the show?”

Dan Ruprecht, Sotheby’s CEO, walks in slowly and looks around the room.

A giant in the auction industry who has worked for the same company for 34 years since joining Sotheby’s in 1980, including 14 years as CEO.

With his extensive knowledge and experience in the art market, he successfully led the company and contributed greatly to expanding its influence, especially in the Asian market.

He had been out and hurried back to the office after hearing his secretary’s report.

Jehee noticed that there was a small earpiece inserted into his ear.

He will already have the whole situation figured out.

“Wine counterfeiters are becoming more sophisticated. But we will always stay ahead of them. This collaboration with MIT is just the beginning. We will continue to work hard to repay the trust of our customers.”

His voice was soft, but had the power to persuade.

Clap clap clap.

The customers start applauding.

Crazy.

In the midst of the chaos, a sound of someone falling is heard.

Vincent, who was trying to run away, was subdued by FBI agents. His hands were handcuffed.

Clap clap clap.

Beep.

Applause rings out and a whistle sounds from somewhere.

It was a perfect show all the way to the end. The guests who came to the auction house cheered.

* * *

“Would you please explain now?”

Dan Ruprecht invited Jehee and Margaret to his office.

“I had made an offer to your company in advance, but it was rejected, so I had no other choice.

If Vincent hadn’t been caught, the elaborate fake wine trade would have gone out of control. This auction may have given him wings.”

ha.

Dan sighs.

“Wine is really difficult. Do you know the Jefferson Wine Case?”

Hardy Rodenstock, a German wine collector and dealer, claimed in 1985 to have discovered an 18th-century Bordeaux wine in a Paris cellar bearing Thomas Jefferson’s initials (Th.J.).

These wines were believed to date from 1787 and were purchased by Jefferson while he was ambassador to France, generating a great deal of interest.

And in December 1985, one bottle of this wine, Chateau Lafite, sold for a record $157,000 at a Christie’s auction.

However, doubts about the authenticity of this wine continued, eventually leading to legal disputes.

“Of course I know. The truth has not been revealed until now.”

“Do you know why?”

“It must be because the owners were against the opening.”

“That’s right. In order to verify, we have to open the wine, and then the value of the product is lost. It’s a really contradictory situation. We’re doing everything we can, but this is what happened.”

“Do you think Dr. Thompson here might have a solution?”

Hib.

“Me?”

Margaret hiccupped in surprise at Jehee’s words.

“Doctor. Please make a formal contract with us. We will pay for the research. Please research a method to determine the authenticity of wine without opening it.”

Dan’s expression is serious. Margaret nods at him.

“If we could build a device that could analyze anthocyanins using terahertz wave technology or light passing through a bottle, it might be possible. Advanced spectroscopy might also be the answer.”

Margaret was lost in her own world.

“They say it’s a blessing in disguise, and it looks like you’ve met a noble person. Let’s discuss the details later. And Chef Shin.”

“yes?”

“Please refrain from such surprises in the future. If something like this happens again, please tell me directly.”

He says playfully, handing me his business card.

The three of them looked at each other and burst into laughter.

* * *

Early in the morning, the twins were sitting on chairs that Marianna had brought into the garden, waiting for the newspaper.

Their small, stubby legs swayed in the air, barely touching the floor. Yuna was wearing pink bunny pajamas, and Noah was wearing green dinosaur pajamas.

“Not yet?”

Yuna yawns and rubs her eyes.

“Not yet.”

Noah pricked up his ears, but all he could hear was the sound of birds.

“I’m sleepy, so I wish you’d come quickly.”

“Should we have peanut butter chocolate today?”

“Strawberry tastes better.”

Joohee gave the twins a reward every time they did something special.

This included bringing them newspapers and letters, and each time she gave them a reward, she would kiss the child on the cheek and give them a big hug.

Yuna and Noah were so happy to hear their mother’s praise that they sat side by side like this every morning, waiting for the newspaper.

“There it comes!”

Noah looks at Yuna and says what he heard.

When they hear the sound of the newspaper delivery man’s bicycle, the two children jump up and run to the front door.

The delivery man now seems used to it, tossing newspapers to the children and giving them a thumbs up.

Yuna picked up the newspaper first. And her eyes grew wide.

“dad?”

Noah quickly comes over to Yuna, stands on tiptoe, and looks at the newspaper.

The Wall Street Journal had a large picture of Jehee on the front page.

[Elaborate Counterfeit Wine Up for Auction at Sotheby’s, Caught by Chef]

In the photo, Jehee is holding a hammer in one hand and opening a wine box.

“Why is Dad here?”

Yuna tilts her head.

“I don’t know. But it’s interesting.”

“Let’s go to Mom quickly!”

“huh!”

Two children run into the house carrying newspapers.

Marianna smiles as she sees Yuna’s rabbit ears and Noah’s dinosaur tail fluttering in the wind.