The Understated Dragon Lord novel Chapter 443

"Does it really matter how much I paid for it? What matters is how much this painting is worth. 'The Red Cloud' may not be Piet Mondrian's most famous work, but it's surely among his significant ones," Daniel retorted confidently while holding up his hand, "It's worth at least a billion dollars."

Smart burst into a fit of laughter. After his laughter subsided, he sneered at Daniel, "Farm boy, is your head screwed on right?"

"It's perfectly on straight and clearer than ever!"

"If you were in your right mind, would you seriously claim that thing is worth a billion dollars? Do you seriously think there are no taxes on tall tales?"

At this point, Leo joined the conversation. "Country boy, if what you have is truly 'The Red Cloud,' a genuine Mondrian, indeed it might be worth a billion. But as far as I'm aware, Mondrian's 'The Red Cloud' is in the possession of a wealthy family in New York. How could it possibly end up here?"

Leo's words prompted Smart to ponder, and then it clicked. "Leo, you’re talking about that 'The Red Cloud'? I know the piece. It's in my house; my grandpa bought it over a decade ago for a hefty sum from abroad. It cost us half a billion even back then!"

"Farm boy, you're bold to insinuate my grandpa’s not so sharp."

"If he spent half a billion on a fake, could he be anything but?"