Out of respect for Lin Wan, Lu Zheng did not deliberately listen to her phone call.
However, Lu Zheng’s hearing was too sharp. Even without trying, the voice from the other end of the phone kept drilling into his ears.
Seeing Lu Zheng’s half-smiling eyebrow raise, Lin Wan felt helpless. “The case of the international illegal artefact smuggling ring is now mine.”
“Going abroad again?”
Lin Wan nodded. “The supplier of this shop’s boss is a Beacon Country company called Allen Artworks, so it has to be handled by us, Interpol.”
“They have a criminal record too?”
“As long as smuggling is involved, there’s definitely a criminal record.” Lin Wan nodded, then smiled. “This mission is finally a bit more interesting than the last one.”
Lu Zheng nodded, sighing. “Chinese artefacts, huh? The bulk of them aren’t in the hands of these smugglers. They’re all in those national-level museums.”
Lin Wan glanced at him. “Are you planning to steal them back or snatch them?”
Lu Zheng let out a cold snort. “I’d love to snatch them.”
Lin Wan shook her head, linking her arm with his to persuade him. “It’s pointless.”
“Hm?”
“As long as they don’t willingly return them, stealing or snatching is meaningless.” Lin Wan said calmly. “Even if you steal them back and give them to the country, do you think our museums would dare display them?”
Lu Zheng frowned. “Why wouldn’t they dare?”
Lin Wan shook her head. “Although those things were taken by them, it’s an established historical fact, meaning we’ve implicitly acknowledged their ownership.”
“Whether you steal or snatch, the methods aren’t legitimate, so public opinion would naturally put you at a disadvantage, even if you’re taking back what’s yours.” Lin Wan looked at Lu Zheng. “It’s like the Polar Bear Regiment’s flag in our military museum. Would you return it to Beacon Country?”
“That’s our war trophy!”
“Exactly, and those artefacts are the same.” Lin Wan’s voice was low, tinged with helplessness.
Lu Zheng said, “I heard that to study our own historical artefacts, we have to make appointments with foreign museums in advance, and sometimes they don’t even let us see them.”
Lin Wan nodded. “I’ve heard that too.”
“But, well, it also has another effect.”
“What effect?”
“Never forget history, unite against the enemy.” Lin Wan’s eyes sharpened. “Artefacts are history, but the present and future are what matter most.
Seeing our ancestors’ treasures still in foreign hands reminds us of that humiliating history.
If you fall behind, you get beaten. Seeing those artefacts abroad shows the fate of backward nations and peoples, indirectly sparking our national cohesion and drive to progress.”
Lin Wan looked at Lu Zheng. “You know, people worldwide, not just us, but also Egypt, the Middle East, Greece, and others, constantly demand that empires return their artefacts, but governments stay silent.
Why? Because even if you speak up, they won’t agree. It’s pointless and humiliating, because, strictly speaking, those items are their war trophies!
So, whenever we think we’re strong enough, feeling smug and inflated, we should ask ourselves: are those countries holding our ancestors’ treasures willing to return them voluntarily?
If not, it means we’re still not strong enough. When we’re truly powerful, even our public voices will force their governments to take notice!”
Lin Wan looked at Lu Zheng. “Until we’re strong enough for them to return things willingly, stealing or snatching is beneath us. Even if the country accepts them, they won’t acknowledge or display them, unless…”
“Unless what?”
Lu Zheng was already convinced by Lin Wan, so why this sudden “unless”?
Lin Wan’s eyes curved, a sly smile on her lips, her eyebrow raised. “Unless you show your true strength. When you’re powerful enough, you’ll have your own voice.”
“Then my every move will be watched by dozens of satellites.” Lu Zheng said irritably.
“Ha!” Lin Wan chuckled, then hooked her arm around his.
“Don’t overthink it. We’re on the right path, and our ancestors’ treasures will come back eventually.” Lin Wan took a deep breath, her voice fierce. “How they took them back then, that’s how they’ll return them to us!”
Lu Zheng patted her hand. “It will happen, and it won’t take long.”
Lin Wan nodded. “I believe it.”
With the heavy topic done, Lin Wan shifted to a lighter one. “Those are the trophies openly held by countries, but private collections, artefact smuggling, those aren’t recognised, so we must recover those items.”
Lu Zheng nodded, emphasizing, “Not only do we take back our own things, but we bring their stuff back too!”
Lin Wan: ⚆_⚆?
“What are you planning?” Lin Wan asked.
Lu Zheng rubbed his chin. “Of course, I’m going with you.”
Looking at Lin Wan, Lu Zheng raised his brow smugly, teasing, “This case, you didn’t discover it. I did.”
Lin Wan: (*°ω°*)ﾉ
“One in the open, one in the shadows.” Lu Zheng leaned close to Lin Wan, whispering, “You work with the Beacon Country police, pass me intel, then I act, taking down their loot in one sweep. Then we split it fifty-fifty.”
“Fifty your head! I need to recover those items legitimately.” Lin Wan pushed him away, half-laughing, half-exasperated. “There’s no one around, no need to act like we’re underground spies.”
“Besides, I don’t care if the case gets solved. The problem is, if I don’t solve it and the items aren’t recovered openly, how do we hand them over to the authorities? Like when you sent that plane last time?” Lin Wan smiled helplessly. “It’s our own stuff. Isn’t that too petty?”
Lu Zheng nodded repeatedly. “Petty? It’s downright stingy!”
“So…”
“So, I’ll help you solve the case first, then steal their other loot.” Lu Zheng declared firmly. “Those artworks will vanish before the Beacon Country police show up, so it’s just black eating black, not a crime, right?
Then, those artworks come back with me. They’re in my storage gourd, and the entry channel isn’t under legal regulation, so it’s not smuggling, right?
Finally, those foreign artworks will appear in our museums’ anonymous donation bins. That’s reasonable, right?
This way, all my actions are legal. No problem, right?”
Lin Wan: “…”
You’re right about everything. Do what you want. I’m tired, have it your way.
