Crossing over to the modern era.
“How amusing,” Lin Wan said with a laugh. “We are in no hurry, the netizens are in no hurry, even the victims are in no hurry, yet museums around the world received the news early and have already reserved spaces for the new exhibits.”
Lin Wan held up her phone and showed Lu Zheng a photo. It depicted an empty display stand with a string of Arabic script that Lu Zheng could not read.
“What does it say?” Lu Zheng asked. “Which country is this?”
Though he had learned many foreign languages, Arabic was not among them.
“Pharaoh Country,” Lin Wan replied. “The Pyramid Museum.”
“Fair enough,” Lu Zheng nodded.
That nation… it felt as though it was declining more and more. Seeking a sense of presence and national cohesion through such matters was perhaps inevitable.
“It seems everyone is rather eager,” Lu Zheng said, shaking his head with a smile. “Then let us find a time to return these items.”
This was not the first time he had accompanied Lin Wan on a mission and taken artefacts from the Lighthouse Country. Back then, to avoid suspicion falling on them, they had needed to wait a while.
The Artefact Thief’s two previous operations had seen the items returned swiftly to their respective places.
“That will have to wait until the weekend,” Lin Wan said. “The Artefact Thief does not have the capability to deliver globally with such safety and speed, especially with the CIA watching.”
“What, the CIA in Pharaoh Country?”
“Not just Pharaoh Country, but every nation to which the collections belong,” Lin Wan said.
“Even Hua Country?” Lu Zheng asked curiously.
Lin Wan gave a cold huff. “Officially, of course not. But guess whether they have peripheral hires stationed outside the museums?”
“Tsk tsk!” Lu Zheng shook his head. Yet it made sense. The location of the Lighthouse Country’s embassy in Hua Country was essentially a distribution base. Who knew how many operatives were embedded there.
Whenever something happened domestically, a crowd would appear holding candles and white flowers, complete with ritualistic flair.
Unfortunately, it clashed terribly with the domestic atmosphere, showing their professional skills were hardly impressive.
Hearing Lu Zheng’s sigh, Lin Wan rolled her eyes. “The crowd coordinators take their cut too. Do you think these so-called outer peripherals get much money?
The coordinators skim ten percent, then layer upon layer of deductions here. By the time it reaches the small fry, probably only ten percent remains.”
Lu Zheng was speechless. “That bad? How do you know?”
“Of course we know,” Lin Wan said matter-of-factly. “Because we have colleagues undercover among them!”
“Tsk tsk. Is that money even enough for meals?” Lu Zheng shook his head, then added, “But the ones watching the museums surely are not these people…”
“Naturally not. They would be somewhat more elite,” Lin Wan nodded.
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow with a smile. “Shall I help root them out?”
“Absolutely not!” Lin Wan refused quickly. “Everything is under National Security’s control. Either it is unnecessary, or it is a long-line operation. Do not interfere.”
Lu Zheng was speechless. “Really?”
“Really!” Lin Wan nodded. “You must trust the power of the state.”
“Really? I do not believe it,” Lu Zheng said, glancing sideways at her. “Look at Certain Blog, look at Certain Sound.”
Lin Wan, “…”
Lin Wan said helplessly, “Because there is no need. The very top levels certainly will not be influenced. Influence at middle and lower levels simply shows insufficient ability, and reforms are underway. They have even added IP addresses now.
After all, it remains a channel for expression. Addressing urgent needs of the people, we cannot throw out the baby with the bathwater. Just like national policy in the past, we cannot abandon all benefits because of some drawbacks. That would be lazy one-size-fits-all governance.
Those truly capable of discerning right from wrong naturally will not be swayed by the online chaos.”
Lu Zheng pursed his lips. “But some people still get led astray.”
Lin Wan shrugged. “As long as real life keeps improving, the haters will remain a minority. Those 1450s cannot stir much trouble. Even if occasionally someone is in a bad mood or genuinely foolish… that is simply their misfortune… after all… everything has its price…
Besides, it might even expose some hidden internal enemies. Those accustomed to concealed privileges might accidentally reveal themselves and get caught, which is possible too.”
Lu Zheng shrugged. What could he say? Only that she was right about everything.
“Fine. A trip this weekend. Are you coming?” Lu Zheng asked.
“I will pass. You know the routine well anyway,” Lin Wan said. “And Xiao Ying has asked me to go shopping this weekend.”
“I see…”
Lu Zheng suddenly understood. “So I am not needed this weekend?”
Lin Wan laughed. “You want to come? You can! Help carry the bags.”
“Forget it!” Lu Zheng waved his hand. “I will maintain the Artefact Thief persona instead.”
…
Lin Wan was going shopping at the weekend, and Lu Zheng planned to deliver abroad then too. Today was only Wednesday, so the two naturally had time that evening for other activities.
…
Early Saturday morning, Lin Wan drove off to meet Li Ying, while Lu Zheng concealed himself, rode the clouds, and, trailed by pursuing sunlight, flew straight to Pharaoh Country.
This time he had truly taken many fine pieces from the Lighthouse Country, especially from Pharaoh Country, which accounted for half the haul.
Pharaoh Country was one of the most ancient civilisations, with countless artefacts. Having declined for a full millennium, it was also one of the nations that had lost the most top-tier artefacts.
The destinations of Pharaoh Country’s lost artefacts were, of course, Europe and the Lighthouse Country.
Lu Zheng flew to Pharaoh Country, casually collected some cardboard boxes and foam from a transport company, carefully packed all the items, and quietly placed them in an unmanned area of the Cairo Pyramid Museum. He then set up a sign beside them.
One had to admit, Lu Zheng liked places without surveillance. They were exceedingly friendly to him.
The museum had many visitors today. Soon a staff member spotted the sign, followed the arrow into a storage room, and saw piles of wrapped boxes. On top of the outermost box sat a bronze statue of Sobek.
Then…
The museum erupted in chaos. Staff and tourists who heard the news crowded the doorway, craning their necks. Journalists and influencers who arrived rushed in, phones raised, snapping photos and starting livestreams regardless.
…
In a single day, Lu Zheng visited Pharaoh Country, the Aegean coast, and Husky, returning every artefact. On his way back, he conveniently delivered the remaining few pieces to the Northern Capital’s Forbidden City Museum.
He arrived home at eight in the evening. When Lin Wan opened the door and returned, Lu Zheng had just finished showering and was browsing the headlines he had created today.
[Global Museums See Surge in Visitors]
[10th Century BC Horus Sculpture Appears in Pyramid Museum]
[Exquisite Athenian Silver Coins Spark Heated Discussion]
Hua Country remained low-key. After all, few of this batch were Hua treasures, which also dispelled previous suspicions that the Artefact Thief was Hua, sparked by the serpent-head statue and the Eden Cult theft.
“So now, as the prime suspect for the Artefact Thief, suspicion has fallen on people from Pharaoh Country,” Lu Zheng said with a laugh. “We are perfectly safe!”
