coobybook Chapter 137 Reversal
Chapter 137 Reversal
The torrential rains in the Gulf of Siam washed over the glazed tiles of the Green Vine Manor.
The atmosphere in the conference room inside the manor was so heavy it was suffocating.
Smoke swirled in the room, hovering above everyone's heads like a persistent gloom.
"Could this series of recent attacks be the work of the authorities?" An elder frowned and broke the silence first.
“Impossible.” The Third Elder denied it almost without hesitation, his eyes revealing a certainty. “Based on our years of experience dealing with the authorities, I can be sure that this is not an official tactic.”
He paused, then added, "Moreover, my informants, whom I bribed with the authorities, reported that their intelligence sources are not internal to the authorities at all."
Everyone who heard this was shocked.
Indeed, the attacks they have suffered during this period have been too precise, each one hitting the family's weak points. The other party seems to know everything about the family's criminal activities, even knowing the location of every smuggling route and every warehouse.
Such a precise strike was by no means accidental.
But what kind of force could possess such a powerful intelligence network and relentlessly pursue them?
Everyone fell into a brief moment of contemplation.
After a moment, the elder slowly spoke: "Did you notice? The person who came was not greedy for money."
He stroked the warm, smooth thumb ring on his hand, which gleamed with a faint light, while a glint of shrewdness flashed in his cloudy eyes.
Upon hearing this, the other elders present nodded thoughtfully, indicating their agreement.
Looking back at the series of events that had occurred, everyone was well aware that if the other party was greedy for money, once they had access to the Qing Teng family's smuggling network and warehouse information, they could have easily taken possession of those priceless cultural relics and then resold them through their familiar illegal channels to make huge profits.
However, the reality was quite the opposite of what they had imagined.
Not only did the other party not embezzle the cultural relics, but they also cooperated closely with Interpol to completely destroy the smuggling chain that the family had painstakingly built. The mountains of precious cultural relics in the warehouse were all investigated and handed over to the official organization, leaving not a single one behind.
These actions are clearly not something a greedy person would do.
After careful analysis, the general profile of the opposing force gradually became clear.
“In my opinion, the other party is most likely involved in the smuggling industry, just like us,” a relatively young elder said slowly. He narrowed his eyes slightly, revealing a sharp glint in them. “Otherwise, how could they be so familiar with the ins and outs of smuggling, and how could they accurately seize our lifeline every time they make a move?”
“That’s right, and they must be in competition with our family, or have a long-standing grudge, otherwise they wouldn’t have gone to such lengths.” Another person echoed through gritted teeth.
The more everyone analyzed, the clearer their thinking became. What had seemed like a clueless situation became clear, and the scope of the other party seemed to shrink considerably in the process of discussion.
Finally, the Third Elder slowly stood up, his eyes flashing with a cold light, and he made his final decision, word by word: "In that case, let the Nine Dragon Wall Auction become their burial ground."
The Qing Teng family will announce that the auction of the Nine Dragon Wall will feature a very special item – an ancient book that records the Qing Teng family’s unique antique restoration and forgery techniques.
In the antique smuggling industry, these techniques and information are invaluable.
They were convinced that since the external forces that had been targeting them were their peers, they would definitely have a strong interest in this ancient book.
As long as external forces appear at the auction, they will have the opportunity to capture them all. Even if they cannot catch the mastermind on the spot, they can follow this clue, unravel the mystery, and find out the true identity of the other party and the forces behind them.
-------------------------------------
After hearing that the Qing Teng family was about to hold the Nine Dragon Wall auction as scheduled and planned to auction off their antique restoration and forgery techniques, Bai Li was caught in a dilemma.
For the Qing Teng family, the so-called antique restoration and forgery techniques are the core lifeline that has supported their criminal activities for many years.
The Qing Teng family has been able to run rampant in the smuggling industry not only because of their secretive smuggling chains or the sheer size of their illegal business empire, but also because of their exquisite forgery techniques that are so convincing they can fool even the most discerning connoisseurs.
Using this technology, they have swapped countless genuine cultural relics, causing numerous precious historical treasures to be lost overseas and bringing incalculable losses to the country and the nation.
Now, the Qing Teng family is actually willing to put this core technology up for auction in public. It seems that they have really been forced into a corner and have resorted to this desperate measure.
But would the Qing Teng family really sell their core secrets publicly?
Given the cunning and resourcefulness of the Qing Teng family, this is very likely a trap they have carefully set.
On the other hand, this is also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a chance to completely destroy this wicked family.
More importantly, if the Qing Teng family's forgery techniques were actually exposed at the auction, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Those criminals who lurk in the shadows, coveting the enormous profits of the smuggling industry, have long coveted this kind of technology. Once they acquire it, it will be like wolves donning a more concealed camouflage, making the entire smuggling industry even more rampant.
Countless precious cultural relics will be lost and destroyed due to their forgery and resale, and the cultural treasures of the nation and the people will face annihilation.
As a person with a conscience who deeply understands the value of cultural relics, Bai Li felt that she could not sit idly by and had to do something to stop all of this from happening.
In addition, deep down, Bai Li had a strong premonition that Jing Ye might appear at the auction.
Jingye's sudden departure has always been her deepest concern. She doesn't know where Jingye is or what she's been doing during the time she's been gone.
But thanks to their special understanding, Bai Li could sense that Jing Ye was also working hard to fight against the Qing Teng family.
“This time, the roles of the fishermen have been reversed. The Qing Teng family has laid out a tempting bait, just waiting for the right person to take it. Jing Ye is very likely to come as well,” Bai Li thought to herself.
If Jingye can be found at the auction, his safety can be ensured quickly.
After careful consideration, Shirai decided to take the risk and participate in the auction.
This was not a decision she made blindly and impulsively; she was well-prepared and confident.
First, she had an invitation to the auction, which allowed her to enter the venue openly and without worrying about arousing suspicion due to her identity.
Secondly, she also had Ah Hu and his team of professional bodyguards by her side.
Now that they are abroad, the environment is more complex and dangerous, but it also allows Ah Hu and his friends to use dangerous props that are restricted in China.
Therefore, she has the security of "truth".
Most importantly, she was not fighting alone.
After deciding to participate in the auction, Bai Li immediately contacted Interpol and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage in China, explaining her plans and ideas to them.
After in-depth discussions, the three parties reached a consensus on cooperation and formulated a comprehensive and detailed plan.
Interpol and antiquities officials will set up surveillance at and around the auction site in advance, waiting for Bai Li to give a signal. Once the key figures of the Qing Teng family or any evidence of crimes is identified, an arrest operation will be launched immediately.