Quentin sat in the control room, feeling like he might faint. He wished he had passed out like Ethan earlier, which would have saved him from the ensuing chaos.
He recognized Gilberto Gardner; the goods were sourced from The Craftsman’s Guild under Gilberto’s name!
Damn Leo!
How could he know Gilberto?
Quentin broke out in a cold sweat, dreading Ethan’s reaction when he woke up at home and learned about the mess Quentin had caused at Spring Dawn Garden.
“Yes, it’s Bonham Auction House. They ordered not just one item but thousands of high-quality replicas from me. They’re a major client.”
“Thousands?” Leo felt like he had accidentally uncovered a massive conspiracy.
Their conversation was broadcasted on the big screen.
Paul and the tall man turned pale, losing their forced composure and trembling like leaves.
Most of the crowd were antique enthusiasts. Hearing that an auction house had ordered a thousand replicas, they immediately understood the shady dealings behind it.
Whispers filled the room.
Christine frowned, shocked that Bonham Auction House was selling modified replicas as genuine items.
Ethan had brought disgrace to the family!
Quentin slumped in his chair like a pile of mud, staring helplessly at the surveillance screen, muttering, “It’s over! It’s over!”
“Bonham Auction House sells fake goods?”
“And uses their own fakes to frame competitors!”
“Bonham Auction House, tsk tsk! Oh no, I bought a gemstone today for ten thousand dollars. Could it be fake too?”
The man hurriedly took out his jade and inspected it closely.
“Good thing The Dragon Pearl didn’t sell. If someone had spent eighty-two million dollars on a fake, they would have been furious!”
The crowd grew louder. Paul and the tall man huddled together, looking for an escape route but were surrounded by people glaring at them.
“Mr. Bloomer, we’re sorry. We were just following orders. It’s not our fault,” Paul and the tall man cried loudly, lying on the ground.
The crowd’s eyes seemed ready to tear the two scammers apart.
“It was Ethan who instructed you, wasn’t it?” Leo could guess who was behind this with his eyes closed.
“Huh? No, it was Quentin.”
This answer surprised Leo. He remembered meeting Quentin at the Golden Eagle Plaza auction.
“Where is he now? Take me to him.”
Paul and the tall man got up, relieved, and led Leo to the control room to find Quentin.
Leo turned back and loudly announced to the crowd, “The misunderstanding is cleared up. Please continue shopping with confidence.”
Cheers erupted.
Arlene looked at Leo with joy and gratitude on her face.
David sighed, “Limitless potential, limitless potential…”
Leo added, “If anyone bought fake goods from Bonham Auction House, you can come to Spirit Moon Antiques for an exchange. As long as the value matches, you can exchange it for a Western Xia Treasury artifact.”
The cheers grew even louder.
Those worried about having bought fakes from Bonham Auction House flocked to Spirit Moon Antiques’ booth.
Leo followed Paul and the tall man to the control room.
The control room door was open, but it was empty. The surveillance screen still showed the bustling scene at Spirit Moon Antiques’ booth in Area E.
“Mr. Bloomer, you see, he ran away. Should we…”
“You did well. I’ll inform your master,” Leo said.
Paul and the tall man exchanged glances, each thinking Leo was talking to the other. Suspicious of each other, they walked away separately.
Leo watched the lively scene on the surveillance screen, smiling as it became even busier than before.
Around five in the afternoon, Leo said goodbye to Arlene and her sister and left early to pick up Sophia from work at Henley’s Corp.
After the Spring Dawn Garden auction, business at Spirit Moon Antiques improved immediately.
Leo’s father-in-law Martin, a seasoned antique enthusiast, was among the first to hear about Western Xia Treasury.
At seven-thirty, he tuned his TV to the city channel on time.
Langstel City News had a special program on Western Xia Treasury called “Explore Western Xia Treasury.”
After reporting the news in the morning, Domingo took a helicopter straight to Black Tiger Mountain as the first on-site reporter and host.
On TV, Domingo walked down a long, deep corridor, with only a spotlight casting a bright spot on the dark floor ahead.
If not for Domingo’s occasional voice, it could have been mistaken for a paranormal show.
The camera stabilized in a narrow stone chamber.
The chamber could only fit three people standing side by side. The walls were intricately carved with reliefs, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship that remained intact after all these years.
A cool female voice narrated off-screen: “This is the entrance to the inner vault, originally used for transporting soil and as a resting place for workers. Now it’s the first stop into the inner vault.”
Leo recognized Chloe’s voice.
The camera shifted to Chloe’s delicate face.
Chloe’s hair was styled in two ancient cloud buns, adding a unique charm.
Though she wore no makeup, her washed face looked fresh like a lotus after rain.
Her classical appearance made her seem like a fairy stepping out of Western Xia Treasury’s ancient tomb.
Even Sophia was momentarily stunned and remarked, “This museum expert is not only elegant but also quite beautiful.”
“Miss Chloe, how far has the excavation of Western Xia Treasury progressed?” Domingo asked.
“The outer vault is completely sorted out. We’re cataloging and packing up artifacts for transport back to Langstel.”
“The inner vault is only one-third excavated. There’s still a core inner chamber whose condition is unknown. We need more equipment before continuing. So viewers will have to wait a bit longer.”
“Aren’t all paths cleared?” Domingo peered ahead. The spotlight formed a beam that reached deep into the passage without obstruction.
“Further ahead are areas where traps haven’t been fully cleared. It’s dangerous to go in directly. Only I and some experts are allowed in for now,” Chloe explained.
“What kind of traps?” Domingo asked on behalf of curious viewers.
“Nothing special-just hidden crossbows and quicksand traps. The only unique one is Sky Treasure Dragonfire Top.”