147. So you mean that’s real…?

In the reception room of the Asia-Pacific department of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was in full swing to welcome guests.

“Ugh. I’m already busy with China, but Secretary Kim Yong-hwan doesn’t want me to ask for something like this.”

Deputy Director Raphael grumbled as he sorted through the papers strewn about on the table.

Chief Yvonne said while setting the refreshments.

“But, Deputy Director, the famous song is coming in person. If not at this time, when will I see you?”

“If I wasn’t a fan of Song, I would have just asked him to come next time. You know. How stressed am I these days?”

“I know. But Song is a hero who even received the Legion of Honor. If rumors spread that he refused the meeting, the best idols would fly to the Asia Pacific building?”

“but···. Considering Song’s popularity right now, that might be enough.”

After chatting like that, the appointment time approached.

Yvonne, who ran after receiving the call that a guest had arrived, brought four people with her.

“hello. This is Sohn Mi-joo, an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea.”

Son Mi-joo was introduced instead for the group who could not speak French.

“This is Lee Jae-geol, secretary general of the Overseas Cultural Heritage Foundation. That person is director Han Jeong-hee of actress Song Kyu-ha’s agency.”

Kyu-ha, who was on the far right, said hello in fluent French.

“Nice to meet you. This is Song Gyu-ha.”

When Kyuha greeted him, Raphael, who had been stunned, was very pleased.

“Five! It’s the first time I’ve seen you in person other than the news. It’s an honor to meet you. My name is Rafael, Deputy Director of Asia Pacific.”

“This is Chief Yvonne.”

After a brief statement, Raphael went straight to the main point.

“It’s nice to meet you, but I didn’t expect to meet you on the job. May I ask now what you asked to see us for? In fact, we are very busy because there is a problem with China.”

At those words, Son Mi-joo nodded.

“Then let me get to the point. We have come to request the return of about 3,000 Korean cultural assets, including Jikjisimcheyojeol, Najujeopseon, and the ark of the arrangement, which are owned by the French side.”

Deputy Director Raphael’s expression hardened for an instant.

“what….? Are you kidding me? What are you talking about because you came to me out of nowhere? Anyone who works in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be well aware of how rude this is right now.”

There was no significant change in Son Mi-joo’s expression despite the anger of Deputy Director Rafael.

Because it was intended.

“Calm down. Can’t we just ask them to hand it over like robbers?”

Raphael cleared his throat as if he was embarrassed when he realized that he was too emotional.

“Large. I guess this got me a little excited. Well, I fully understand your love for your country’s cultural heritage. However, don’t you know that it is not that easy to say since those cultural assets are clearly national property owned by France?”

A confident smile appeared on Son Mi-joo’s face.

“Sure. That’s why the French side came with an irresistible bargaining proposal. Listen and decide.”

However, Deputy Director Raphael’s expression was still expressionless.

‘It’s obvious that it’s a card to be pulled out from there anyway. Since they don’t even expect a return, they must be asking for an exhibition in Korea in the form of a rental. But that’s hard too.’

In fact, there was a precedent in which cultural assets were sent in the form of loans and then came out in such a way that they were taken out, causing international problems.

“Tell me.”

“France has many cultural heritages that are famous all over the world. Yes?”

I was puzzled by Son Mi-ju, who suddenly raised French culture, but nodded.

“Sure. So, isn’t it one of the most attractive tourist countries in the world?”

“Then, Deputy Director-General, what do you think would be the most attractive tourist destinations when limited to northern France?”

Yvonne answered this question.

“Hmm… There is Notre Dame Cathedral, Etretat is cool, Honfleur is charming, but the best is…”

The mouths of Director Yvonne and Deputy Director Rafael opened at the same time.

“It is also Mont Saint Michel. If you go to the north to play, you must definitely come and see it.”

“Yes. It is famous enough to say that if Egypt has pyramids, France has Mont Saint Michel.”

A slight pride oozes across Raphael’s face.

“hahahahaha, it is a great cultural heritage. But why are you suddenly talking about Mont Saint Michel while talking about the return of cultural properties?”

“It’s all related, so I’m talking about it. Does our deputy director know who made Mont Saint Michel?”

“Then it’s natural. Isn’t that Aubert, Bishop of Avranches at the time? You shouldn’t be in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if you don’t even know the history of how he built a temple on a rocky island under the direction of Archangel Michael.”

“Then, do you have many relics from that era?”

“That… it’s not. It was also 1300 years ago, especially in Normandy, where many wars were fought and many artifacts were damaged and plundered, so it is a reality that there are not many things left.”

“What if we had secured the relics of that era?”

Raphael, who had maintained a sullen posture throughout, straightened his back.

“Yeah? What are you saying all of a sudden…?”

“I can’t tell you the details of the acquisition route right now, but I guarantee it’s not an illegal route. On our side, we have the French cultural heritage of that era. It is even a relic of very high historical value.”

Raphael and Yvonne were taken aback when it suddenly deviated from the expected development.

However, Raphael corrected his stance with the vibe that came from his 20 years in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Hmm… I think you’re suggesting the ‘exchange of equivalent amount’ that was discussed in the Oegyujanggak negotiations… I don’t know what kind of artifact it is, but honestly, with that much…”

“As for the records of Aubert, Archbishop of Avranches?”

“It’s absurd to negotiate with us… Huh?”

Raphael’s eyes froze as he couldn’t understand for a moment.

“What about the 18 records of Archbishop Aubert, who built Mont Saint Michel? Including the bronze statue of Michael, the holy relic. How about that?”

Deputy Director Raphael’s pupils trembled slightly.

“No, you are joking. You have the artifact you just mentioned? her! Are you asking me to believe it now? If you catch a busy person and do this…”

chin

Before Raphael could finish his words, Gyuha brought out a small antique-looking wooden box on the table.

“No, what is this?”

Raphael was confused by the frantic situation.

“This is the first volume of the Records of Archbishop Aubert. As you can see, it’s an old book, so I kept it in a paulownia box. I know that it is not easy to believe, so I only brought one book. First of all, take this and have it appraised by an expert. If it turns out to be genuine, let’s negotiate again with the remaining 17 books and the holy relic. How is it?”

gulp

Raphael swallowed dry saliva and opened the lid of the wooden box with trembling hands.

Inside the box, a book that looked like an antique to anyone was placed in a lofty posture.

The smell of moldy dust and the yellowed paper made me feel the depth of those years.

The overall state of preservation seemed very good.

“This, is this really… the records of Bishop Aubert?”

It was hard to believe, but it was given to me by none other than the hero of Bataclan, Song Gyu-ha.

He who has public confidence wouldn’t do something like this just to play around with his busy time.

In Raphael’s heart, a spark of ‘no way’ bloomed.

“good. Let’s start with emotions first. By any chance, if this is really Bishop Aubert’s record… Let’s talk about it again then. However, if it turns out to be fake… you will have to take some responsibility for it.”

“good. Then, I will leave for today.”

dripping

After the four of you go back.

Rafael and Yvonne looked at the old wooden box on the table with mixed eyes.

“Deputy Director… isn’t it?”

“Of course not. Do you think it makes sense for a foreigner to bring Archbishop Aubert’s records out of the blue?”

“Of course it makes no sense. However, it took me a while to say that the person from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea and Mr. Song Kyu-ha came together, not with anyone else. If this is a fake, they won’t have to do this.”

“I don’t understand that either, but… oh i don’t know If you think about it, what comes out? Let’s leave it to the emotions first. Then the answer will come. No matter how much I think about it, it makes no sense.”

It was Raphael who changed his mind from ‘just in case’ to ‘no possibility’.

***

A few days later.

“Deputy Director! Deputy Director!”

I’m just about to take a nap at the office due to hunger after eating a full lunch.

Annoyance appeared between Raphael’s brows at the loud call of Chief Yvonne.

“what’s the matter. I couldn’t sleep last night, so I need to get some sleep…”

“Gee, it’s real!”

“Yes, it is real. It must be insomnia these days.”

“no! It’s not that, that, that book is real.”

“What a book! uh?”

Raphael’s eyes, which had been filled with annoyance, widened and jumped up from his seat.

It was because I suddenly remembered what had happened a few days ago.

“Yvonne, is today April Fool’s Day?”

As if frustrated by Raphael’s words, he weakly pounded his chest with his fist.

“Are you still awake? The old book that Mr. Song Gyu-ha brought is true to the record of Archbishop Aubert. So, it seems that the research institute there is also in an uproar right now.”

Raphael, who had slumped down in his chair as if his legs were weak, murmured with a dazed expression.

“That, is that real? Nonsense.”

“The research center is begging us to come quickly. You have a lot to talk about?”

“Heh heh, then there is a high possibility that the rest of the records and the holy relics are real…?”

“ah! Deputy Director! Because we have to go quickly.”

Only then did Raphael come to his senses and hurriedly packed his coat.

“That, yes. Let’s go. Prepare yourself, Yvonne.”

“I’ve been preparing for a while.”

So the two hurriedly left the office.

Cultural Heritage Institute of the French Ministry of Culture

“Doctor, is this really real? Could it be an error…?”

At Raphael’s question, Cole, acting research director, shook his head resolutely.

“There is not. Unlike humans, machines don’t lie. Significant values were obtained for typeface similarity, radiocarbon dating, and handwritten dating. It’s fair to say it’s genuine. Besides, the content is more unusual.”

“The contents?”

“That’s right. Starting with the revelations Bishop Aubert received from Michael at the time, site selection, building materials, manpower selection, and religious background at the time are described in detail like a diary. There, the state of preservation is excellent. I want to ask you again. Where did you get this amazing thing?”

“My God… Huh!”

“If you look at this record, there will surely be other records that continue.”

“Yeah. He said there were eighteen books in total.”

At those words, the head of Cole Lab’s mouth fell open.

“Hey, eighteen books? Oh My God. This is not only of relic value, but also of great academic value. You must secure it.”

“So you mean that’s real…?”

“What else?”

“They said that there is also a bronze statue of a holy relic that the archangel Michael himself bestowed on him. It is also described in the records.”

“Huup.”

A heavy silence settled in the meeting room of the Cultural Heritage Research Institute.