Inside a spacious office located on the top floor of the 63 Building in Yeouido.
Seok-won sat alone at an L-shaped solid wood desk, carefully reviewing a report before picking up his fountain pen.
The gold-plated nib glided smoothly across the paper, producing a soft scratching sound.
After finishing the signature and closing the leather approval folder, a light knock sounded. Na Seong-mi, dressed in a two-piece suit, opened the door and stepped inside.
"I was just about to call for you. Perfect timing."
Seok-won spoke while gesturing toward the stack of approval documents piled on one side of the desk.
"Understood. Also, Mr. David Sherman has arrived. What would you like me to do?"
"Send him in."
"Yes."
After gathering the approval documents and stepping outside, Na Seong-mi returned a short while later with two foreign men in tow.
"Thank you for making the time to see us."
Of the two, the middle-aged white man with a neat appearance spoke first, his manner polite.
David Sherman, who served as the head of private auctions at the world-renowned auction house Sotheby's, was someone Seok-won had become acquainted with through several art transactions. Seok-won rose from his seat, walked around the desk, and extended his hand in a friendly gesture.
"It's quite a long way from New York to here. I'm surprised you came in person, Mr. Sherman."
Sherman dipped his head slightly, a smile on his face.
"Since this concerns none other than our VVIP, Chairman Park, how could I not come personally?"
"Hahaha. Even if it's just flattery, it doesn't feel bad to hear."
Seok-won lifted one arm and gestured toward the sofa beside the large floor-to-ceiling windows.
It was the perfect spot for conversation, offering a sweeping view of the deep blue Han River below.
"Shall we take a seat first?"
"Thank you."
Seok-won sat down first in the central seat of honor, and Sherman took his place on the sofa to the right, sitting side by side with the staff member who had accompanied him.
"There happens to be some well-roasted civet coffee beans. Would you like to try a cup?"
"As expected, you have a taste for fine coffee."
"Haha. I drink coffee so often that word must have gotten around. I get gifts from all over the place."
"Then I'll be the one benefiting from that."
With a light laugh, Seok-won turned his head and spoke to Na Seong-mi.
"Three coffees, please."
"Understood."
After she replied briefly and stepped out, Seok-won crossed one leg over the other, looked at Sherman, and got straight to the point.
"The Forbes family has put their collection up for sale."
"That's correct."
The Forbes family was a long-established American publishing and media dynasty that owned Forbes magazine, famous worldwide for its lists of the ultra-wealthy.
They had been a highly respected wealthy family in the United States for generations, but in recent years they had struggled with financial difficulties due to a sharp decline in advertising revenue brought on by the downturn in the publishing industry.
In the end, in order to resolve their worsening financial situation, they were forced to put up for auction a number of antique treasures that the family had collected and preserved over many years.
"As I mentioned earlier, these are nine pieces of the Fabergé eggs, treasures of the Tsar's imperial court, created by Carl Fabergé, the master jeweler and metalwork artisan of the Russian Empire."
At a signal from Sherman, the staff member who had accompanied him carefully opened a hardbound photo album wrapped in velvet and set it down in front of Seok-won.
Since it was impossible to bring the actual pieces, the album contained photographs of the Fabergé eggs offered by the Forbes family, taken from various angles.
As Seok-won examined the photos with keen interest, Sherman began his explanation.
"As you may already know, the origin of what are now regarded as masterpieces of jewelry craftsmanship, the Fabergé eggs, dates back to 1885. That year, Alexander III, the Tsar of Imperial Russia, commissioned Fabergé to create a gift for Empress Maria Feodorovna for Easter."
Sherman pointed with his finger to the photo on the first page.
"The one you're looking at now, the First Hen, is the very first egg that Alexander III presented to the Empress."
Perhaps because it was the inaugural piece, at first glance it looked like nothing more than a plain white egg, if not for the gold band encircling it along the middle.
"When you open the egg, there's a golden yolk inside, and within that is a golden hen with ruby-set eyes. It's the most understated in form, but because it marks the very beginning of the collection, it carries special significance."
With antiques like these, the stories behind them and their symbolic meaning had a major impact on value, which was why Sherman emphasized that this was the very first piece.
"When Empress Maria was delighted with the gift, Alexander III appointed Fabergé as the Imperial Court's special goldsmith and commissioned him to create an imperial Easter egg every year. That was how the masterpiece collection known as the Fabergé eggs came into being. Even after Alexander III's death, production continued under the next emperor, Nicholas II. According to records, exactly fifty eggs were made."
"They're incredibly intricate and lavish. They really do deserve to be called treasures of the Russian imperial family."
With a smile lingering at the corners of his mouth, Sherman continued.
"From the First Hen to the tenth piece, including the Renaissance Egg, the Rosebud, the Coronation Egg with its astonishingly intricate imperial carriage, and the Lily of the Valley, a total of nine pieces are scheduled to go up for auction this time."
Seok-won slowly turned the pages of the album, taking his time to appreciate each work of art, every one of them beautiful enough to draw admiration on its own.
In the meantime, Na Seong-mi quietly entered and set the coffee on the table.
Neither Sherman nor his accompanying staff touched their cups, waiting patiently until Seok-won had finished examining all the pieces up for auction.
After some more time had passed, Seok-won turned the final page, closed the album, and offered a brief impression.
"All nine pieces are truly exquisite works of art."
Seeing how pleased he looked, Sherman's eyes lit up as he responded.
"In about a month, we plan to put all nine Fabergé eggs offered by the Forbes family up for auction. It will be a private auction open only to select members."
Seok-won leaned back slightly, rubbed his cleanly shaven chin with one hand, and took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking again.
"What kind of expected winning bid are you estimating for the collection?"
Meeting his gaze, Sherman answered without hesitation.
"Given that they are not only artistically exceptional but also carry immense historical value, we're estimating a minimum of ninety million to one hundred and twenty million dollars."
Converted to won, it was a staggering sum well over one trillion.
Even so, Seok-won felt the valuation was more than justified, and a look of agreement crossed his face.
'Considering their historical significance as artifacts of the Russian imperial family, along with the rarity factor now that some have been lost and only forty-four remain worldwide, their value will only continue to rise over time.'
Moreover, those remaining forty-four were not identical pieces but entirely distinct works, each one a one-of-a-kind artwork existing nowhere else in the world.
'If you factor in how unlikely it is for them to reappear at auction once they're acquired by a museum or a private collector, you could even argue the price is cheap.'
If the Forbes family had not fallen into such serious financial difficulty, they would never have put the Fabergé eggs up for auction in the first place.
On top of that, the chance to acquire all nine pieces of the collection at once was an opportunity that came along even less often.
Having made up his mind, Seok-won looked at Sherman, who was quietly waiting for his response, and asked,
"From what I understand, if an agreement can be reached with the owner, it's possible to purchase them through a private sale without putting them up for auction. Is that correct?"
Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Sherman showed a brief flicker of surprise before quickly composing himself and replying in a calm tone.
"If an agreement can be reached at a price the owner finds satisfactory, we can broker a private sale directly without going through an auction, just as you said."
"Then please convey my intention to purchase them immediately to the Forbes family."
Sherman studied his expression with a cautious look.
"However, the Forbes family wants to sell the collection for as high a price as possible. You'll need to offer a sum large enough to make them reconsider."
"Of course. That's only to be expected. What kind of figure are we talking about?"
"As I mentioned earlier, the minimum expected winning bid was one hundred and twenty million dollars, so you'd need to go higher than that."
"Hm."
Seok-won tapped the sofa's armrest lightly with his fingertips, pondering for a moment before naming his price.
"I'll buy all nine pieces for one hundred and fifty million dollars."
At once, naming a figure a full thirty million dollars higher than the expected price, Sherman's eyes gleamed with surprise.
Since Sotheby's structure involved taking a fixed percentage of the sale as commission, a price like this meant there was nothing to lose even if the deal went through without an auction.
Of course, it was a shame not to put such a headline-grabbing item like the Fabergé eggs up for auction, something that would have drawn massive attention and boosted prestige.
But if, in exchange, Sotheby's could build a strong relationship through this deal with Seok-won, the world's wealthiest man and a major player in the art world, that was an even greater gain.
After rapidly running the numbers in his head, Sherman replied with a smile.
"I'll relay your offer to the Forbes family."
Not wanting to waste time haggling back and forth over a matter like this, Seok-won decided to add one more condition that would be extremely difficult for the other side to refuse.
"I've heard that the Forbes family is also looking to sell Laucala Island. Please let them know that if they accept the proposal, I'm willing to purchase it as a package deal together with the Fabergé eggs."
Caught completely off guard, Sherman's eyes widened as he asked again to be sure.
"You're saying you'd buy Laucala Island as well?"
"That's right."
Laucala Island is a small island with an area of about twelve square kilometers, located east of Taveuni Island in Fiji.
It was purchased in its entirety in 1972 by Malcolm Forbes, the founder of Forbes magazine, who built a small airstrip and a private villa there and used it as his personal estate ever since.
It was the place Malcolm Forbes cherished most during his lifetime, to the point that he was even buried there after his death.
However, driven by severe financial difficulties, the family had put even Laucala Island up for sale.
That said, because it was a remote island sitting in the middle of the South Pacific, there were hardly any interested buyers.
"I'll buy it for ten million dollars."
Leaning forward in his seat, Sherman quickly ran the numbers in his head.
"Then you're offering one hundred and sixty million dollars in total for the Fabergé eggs and Laucala Island combined."
At his confirming question, Seok-won nodded without hesitation.
"That's right. If they accept the offer, I'll pay the full amount in cash immediately."
"...!"
If they could dispose of Laucala Island, which had been a constant headache due to the lack of buyers, and secure one hundred and sixty million dollars, the Forbes family would be able to resolve a large part of their financial difficulties.
From their perspective, there was no reason to refuse. In fact, it was an offer they would welcome with open arms.
From Sotheby's side as well, not only would they earn commission on the Fabergé eggs, but they would also collect brokerage fees from the sale of Laucala Island. Naturally, they would be eager to see the deal go through.
Sure enough, Sherman promptly nodded and said.
"Understood. I'll personally convey your proposal to the Forbes family."
"I'll look forward to hearing good news."
"I'll do everything I can to make sure the deal goes through, so please don't worry."
Picking up the coffee cup in front of him, Seok-won took an unhurried sip. He then reopened the photo album and slowly admired the Fabergé eggs that would soon become his own.
TL/n -
Forbes was founded in 1917 by B. C. Forbes, a Scottish-born financial journalist, along with his business partner Walter Drey. It was launched in New York as a magazine focused on business, finance, and entrepreneurship.
From the beginning, the idea was simple: cover capitalism, industry leaders, and wealth in a way that was accessible but serious.
++
After B. C. Forbes passed away in 1954, his son Malcolm Forbes took over. Malcolm turned the magazine into a high-profile brand. He was known for his larger-than-life personality, global events, and strong editorial voice.
Later, Malcolm's son Steve Forbes became chairman and editor-in-chief. He also ran for U.S. president in the 1990s as a Republican candidate, which brought additional attention to the brand.
++
Forbes became especially well known for its rankings, including:
The "Forbes 400" (richest Americans)
The "World's Billionaires" list
"30 Under 30"
Global company rankings
These lists became a major part of its identity and global influence.
++
Malcolm Forbes, the publisher, spent decades assembling one of the largest private collections of Fabergé works in the world, including nine Fabergé Imperial Easter Eggs and about 180 other objects by the House of Fabergé. This was widely regarded as the most significant private holding of these Russian masterpieces outside of Russia.
In early 2004, the heirs to the Forbes family announced plans to auction the collection at Sotheby's in New York, with expectations the combined pieces could fetch tens of millions of dollars and attract global attention due to the rarity and craftsmanship of the imperial eggs.
Before the scheduled Sotheby's auction, however, the entire collection was sold privately to Russian industrialist Viktor Vekselberg for an undisclosed sum reported to be around US $100 million. That private deal was brokered through Sotheby's rather than dispersing the pieces lot by lot at auction.
Vekselberg's purchase returned these imperial treasures to Russia and later became the core of the Fabergé Museum in Saint Petersburg.
+++
Laucala Island is a luxury private island in Fiji, known for ultra-high-end, all-inclusive stays and total privacy.
The island was once owned by the publishing magnate Malcolm Forbes. He bought it in the 1970s and developed it as a private retreat, adding residences and hosting exclusive gatherings there.
After Malcolm Forbes passed away, the island was eventually sold in 2003 to Dietrich Mateschitz, co-founder of Red Bull.