Artifact Reading Inspector

Chapter 124: Visitor from the Desert (3)

Haejin was confused. He didn’t know what to think. Was he supposed to deny and say he didn’t know it? Or was he supposed to admit it? Princess Hassena calmly waited.

“You, you’ve been waiting for what?”

He asked without admitting or denying. However, the answer that came back was straightforward.

“You.”

“Me? Why?”

“You really don’t know?”

She asked as if she really wanted to know. Her eyes said she wasn’t joking at all.

“I have no idea, I don’t know what you are talking about.”

Haejin denied it, but Hassena remained calm.

“I understand. You must hide who you are, but you don’t have to worry. I’m on your side.”

“What? I don’t understand…”

She grasped her necklace and continued.

“I got this necklace when I was a kid. It was from a site near Abu Dhabi, but no one could find out what this exactly was. After I started to wear this, I had a strange dream.”

Cold sweat started to run down Haejin’s back.

“A weird woman spoke in a language which I had never heard before, but somehow, I understood what she was saying.”

“What did she say?”

“She said I had to wait for the prophet.”

“Did she tell you why?”

Actually, Haejin had been wondering about that for a long time. Why did the woman in the dream grant him the power of magic to him?

Additionally, how did Lee Shian’s organization survive until now? And, what did they want from him?

And for last, what was their final goal?

“Because the lost land must be regained.”

“What? The lost land?”

What was she talking about?

“The ancient civilization that was forgotten long ago, we must find its remnants. I don’t know more. I thought I would get to find out when I meet you.”

Now, Haejin couldn’t deny it anymore.

“How did you know it was me?”

Hassena touched her necklace again and smiled.

“I got a shock when I first saw you. I only understood after you left that you are the prophet… I can just feel it.”

“Then, why did you come to the US? If you wanted to meet me, you could have come to Korea.”

Hassena put a catalog on the table. It was a catalog of Sotheby’s auction that would take place in a few days.

She went through it and showed Haejin a page.

“This is…”

It was a golden brooch, about 14cm long. It showed a brave soldier fighting a beast.

Even his helm and shield were engraved down to every detail. The catalog said it was assumed to have been made in 300~200 B.C.

“It looks like an ordinary brooch but look at the symbol under the shield.”

“Yes, it is the symbol of the forgotten civilization.”

Hassena laughed.

“Symbol of the forgotten civilization… that’s kind of funny.”

“Then, how do you call it?”

“Vestigium. It means trace in Latin. We must search for the traces of the ancient civilizations. Artifacts with this vestigium have an unknown power. Do you know that?”

Haejin had found that out thanks to Lee Shian and nodded.

“I see. After I got this necklace, I tried to find other vestigiums. That’s how I got interested in antiques. Word spread, and many art dealers came to Abu Dhabi. And fortunately, I was able to get a few vestigiums.”

“What kind of powers did you get from them?”

Hassena looked into Haejin’s eyes and slowly spoke.

“I gained a lot, but I also gained nothing.”

“What?”

“It would be accurate to say I only got a glimpse of that power. I’m not the prophet. That power is not for me.”

For a second, Haejin felt greedy. If only he could get the power of all those artifacts…

Hassena could also see that, but she grimly shook her head.

“Not all of them. Even you cannot take it all, you will suffer. Most of the vestigiums that have been touched by humans have been spoiled. You must be careful.”

“What does that mean?”

“You’ll find out in time. Anyway, this artifact was found in Pompeii, Italy, so it was scarcely touched by humans. And judging from its symbol, it is not a lead about the lost land. It must be an artifact that can give another power to the prophet. You should have it. And…”

Hassena slowly undid her necklace and gave it to Haejin.

“But, it is yours.”

“No, it belongs to you. I’ve already taken the power allowed to me. You should get the rest.”

The vestigium was too tempting to decline. Haejin carefully took it, and that moment, the world went black.

Haejin’s legs lost strength, and he collapsed. Hassena quickly supported him in surprise. She opened her mouth to call someone, but then she dismissed that idea. She slowly put Haejin on the sofa.

In the meantime, Haejin was having the same meeting which he had in his first dream.

Her legs and arms were not covered. They had strange tattoos, and her hair was in a mess. It was ominous.

The first time, she had grabbed Haejin’s head and chanted the spells to torment him, but this time, it was different.

The witch carefully gathered twigs and lighted a fire as if one mistake would snuff the fire out and it could be never rekindled…

The fire soon got bigger. And… Haejin started to see strange things in the flame.

“Uh!”

Haejin bolted up. He quickly looked around. There was no one there except for Princess Hassena who was looking at him. She was worried. Haejin then touched his neck.

“Are you okay?”

Haejin wiped off the sweat on his neck, and Hassena offered him her handkerchief. It looked expensive.

Haejin took it and wiped his forehead and neck.

“I’m okay. But… did you see it, too?”

Hassena shook her head.

“I don’t know what you are talking about. What did you see?”

“Oh… it’s…”

Haejin tried to answer, but he soon found out that he didn’t remember anything. He was surprised. It had been just a moment ago, and he couldn’t remember…

“I can’t remember. Really… it’s gone as if I’m suffering from amnesia.”

Haejin thought it made no sense while he was speaking, but Hassena nodded and accepted the excuse.

“I see. That’s too bad.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, it might be something I cannot know. I think you will recall what you saw when you need it. Now is not the time, so the memory will be in your subconscious.”

“Then, what are you going to do now?”

“We should go to that auction, buy this brooch, and go to Korea. Oh, and before we leave, we should help Eric Holton.”

“And when we are in Korea?”

“Haha! Well, I don’t know.”

She smiled and spoke vaguely. Haejin realized he had been missing the most important thing.

“Wait, I heard that me getting in your car had a significant meaning. What was that about?”

Hassena shrugged as if it was clear.

“I am a woman from the desert. According to the Islamic rules, there is only one way for an adult woman to be next to an adult man.”

“Who do you think you are to make that decision? Is marriage that easy to you?”

Haejin felt dizzy at the unexpected bomb.

“It wasn’t easy for me, either. However, I cannot live without you now. You are the prophet, and I am your follower.”

That was even worse. She said she was Haejin’s follower, it meant she was about to convert.

“Do, do you know what you just said means? If you say that out loud again…”

“I know, I will surely meet death… I am no fool. I will pretend to be a devoted Muslim, so don’t worry. That’s also why you cannot avoid marrying me.”

That was unexpected. Hassena was beautiful, but Eunhae was waiting for Haejin back in Korea. He thought this was wrong.

He and Eunhae were not in a relationship or anything, but he didn’t want to get married against his own will.

“However, this isn’t right.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have any other choice. If you have a lover, you can marry her. The Islamic laws allow having two wives.”

It might be okay in the Islamic world, but people would throw stones at Haejin in Korea.

“Let’s stop talking about that. I need time to think, so let’s meet later. I should call your secretary, right?”

Hassena wrote her phone number on a piece of paper.

“Call this number. It’s my personal phone number.”

“Shouldn’t you not be giving this to me?”

“We have been alone in this room already. That is enough to get us married. Or I will have to die or rot in my father’s palace forever. Are you going to condemn me to that fate?”

Hassena smiled. She was relaxed as if she thought Haejin would never let her down.

“Haa… anyway, I’ll call you.”

Haejin left Hassena's room and went to his room. He lay down on the bed.

He could just go his own way without caring about what would happen to her, but Hassena was the daughter of Prince Sahmadi who was most likely to ascend the throne later. Marrying her meant getting immense wealth and power.

The Korean Diplomatic Service would be the first to stop him from refusing that. However, to accept it, Haejin would feel too sorry for Eunhae who trusted him enough to leave Saeyeon Gallery.

Even if there was nothing between them yet, he knew Eunhae liked him. So, getting married so suddenly would make him look blind for money and power.

So, the best scenario was to not get married to Hassena but make her stay alive and stay as his friend… but Haejin couldn’t figure out how.

However, he was feeling too tired as if he had been working out all day. He didn’t feel that tired ever since he learned magic…

He soon fell asleep.

Buzzzzz…

Haejin’s phone buzzed, and it woke him up. He was surprised to know that he had fallen into such a deep sleep. He answered the call.

“Eric?”

“Where are you?”

“In my room, of course.”

“Come to the restaurant. Let’s eat together.”

His voice was grim. He wasn’t calling just to have a meal with Haejin.

Haejin took a quick shower and went down to the restaurant. Eric’s girlfriend smiled brightly at him and led him to a quiet room. However, there were bodyguards in front of it, and Hassena was there as well.

“You took a nap? You’re enjoying your life.”

Eric and Hassena were sitting around a huge table while Saliyah was standing behind her princess.

She looked grave.

“I am, but it looks like you have something to say?”

Eric took a sip of wine and looked at Hassena. Then, he turned to Haejin again.

“Actually, we’ve been talking about something and called you. Her Highness here insisted you had to be here, too.”

“Me?”

Haejin looked at Hassena. She then spoke calmly.

“I think we must get the painting Mr. Holton is after.”