"Ha, it’s not that easy to settle down." Hank gently shook his head, indicating he disagreed with Professor Yajima’s viewpoint: "Most professional painters have their art styles and technique levels pretty much set, if they could improve, they would have already."

"So are you planning to sign or not?" Ichiro asked.

Hank rubbed his chin and looked at Uncle Sakai.

This agent suddenly displayed a somewhat sly smile: "If Mr. Sakai needs Ma Shi Gallery to sign him, I would be very happy to do this favor for you."

His implication was simple.

Ma Shi Gallery could sign him, but it was out of respect for Professor Yajima, as a favor to Uncle Sakai.

That was indeed the case.

A peerless beauty like Sophie Marceau playing the leading role was a matter of course, but beautiful cheerleaders were everywhere, and it was hard for them to even show their faces in a major production.

If one wanted to get even a speaking role as the third or fourth female lead, either their father was powerful, or their godfather was powerful.

Just from this photo,

Hank estimated that this painter’s level was in the lower-middle range among Ma Shi Gallery’s 193 represented artists, only slightly better than some creators who were into avant-garde painting and didn’t require much technique.

It was the type that you could sign, or not—it was a bit of a toss-up.

However, the art style was quite striking.

Overall,

in fact, Hank internally wanted to sign him.

After all, with the backing of Ma Shi Gallery, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that such works could easily sell for a few thousand dollars, and someone would certainly be interested; it could fill a niche in the low-end market for urban middle-class consumers.

But,

he wasn’t foolish and could hear that there seemed to be some intimate personal relationship between this guy and Uncle Sakai, and it would be stupid not to do a favor.

Hank originally thought it was a simple matter of going with the flow.

Who would have thought, Professor Yakai Ichiro actually refused.

"No, I can introduce this painter to you, but it isn’t you doing me a favor, it’s you owing me one."

Uncle Sakai shook his head with a serious expression: "I’m not begging you to sign him, you’re asking me to introduce him, this needs to be made clear."

Then I won’t sign!

This thought was on the tip of Hank’s tongue, but he came to his senses, not daring to speak so harshly to an artist like Professor Yajima.

"Oh... then, I’ll go back and think about it."

He changed to a more tactful expression, but the refusal was already quite clear.

Hank was quite unhappy inside.

I’m a person with dignity too, okay!

Even though he was a professional sycophant, he only catered to big artists who were worth it.

Hank was fawning in front of Uncle Sakai.

For the vast majority of mid-tier painters, it would be the other party cautiously flattering him instead.

Even if Ma Shi Gallery had its downfalls, it was still a top gallery, the kind that getting a collaboration offer from could make excellent art students from the world’s top four art academies faint with excitement.

Chasing after signing Ichiro was nothing to be ashamed of, but chasing after signing an unknown small-time painter, what was that about?

Wait?

Hank suddenly thought of a possibility.

He looked up, gazing at Uncle Sakai for a few seconds, and his facial expression suddenly switched to a smiling mode again.

And even more sincere and brilliant.

"Professor Yajima, is your daughter’s cooperation with Tokyo Gallery not going well? If so, Ma Shi Gallery is very, no, extremely interested in collaborating with such a young and talented prodigy. We’d be honored to pay the breach of contract fee of a few million dollars for you."

"She’s not even eighteen yet, and her technique is indeed remarkable."

Hank’s tone had a slight hesitation amidst the enthusiasm.

"But I haven’t heard that Miss Sakai has ventured into the field of Chinese Painting?"