As Liu Yong stepped into the vast warehouse, his eyes were immediately drawn to the two imposing, large boxes positioned prominently at the centre of the space. Through the transparent window glass, he could discern their considerable size.
These boxes were far from negligible; they resembled two miniature containers, their robust presence commanding attention. As the car stopped, Liu Yong swiftly emerged from the vehicle as Kang Zheng opened the door for him. Eagerly, he approached the two boxes, a contented expression gracing his face.
Observing objects from proximity offers a vastly different experience than merely glimpsing them through the lens of a third-party perspective. The sense of realism intensifies, accompanied by a surge of excitement within Liu Yong's heart.
The craftsmanship exhibited in these two sizable boxes was genuinely exquisite, impressing Liu Yong and piquing the curiosity of Ding Wen, Kang Zhenggang, and He Qiang, who joined him moments later.
Kang Zhenggang remarked with admiration, [ " The workmanship of these two large aluminum alloy boxes is truly remarkable. They are beautiful, and the combination locks add an additional touch of sophistication. " ]
He Qiang said, [ " Boss, you specifically asked us to bring lockpicking tools. Are you implying that we should open these two boxes? " ]
With a glimmer of understanding, Ding Wen surmised that Liu Yong had gathered them all here to unveil the contents of the boxes. Eager to satisfy his curiosity, he couldn't help but inquire, [ " Brother Yong, what treasures lie within these boxes? They appear exceptionally high-end. " ]
Liu Yong beamed with delight as he responded, [ " These are indeed high-end items, to be precise, they are invaluable cultural relics of great significance. " ]
Ding Wen's eyes lit up with excitement. His fascination didn't lie in women, fancy cars, or luxurious watches but in antiques. Antiques were, after all, cultural relics.
Could these two imposing boxes contain a trove of such treasures? He pondered fervently, envisioning the myriad possibilities.
Liu Yong gestured to Kang Zhenggang and He Qiang, assigning them the task of unlocking the boxes. With their skills, he entrusted them with the responsibility of unveiling the precious contents concealed within.
Eager to showcase their abilities, Kang Zhenggang and He Qiang could have spent more time. Their previous service had provided them with professional training in this domain. Now, they skillfully get the necessary tools and immediately set to work.
Meanwhile, Liu Yong and Ding Wen stood nearby, patiently awaiting the revelation. Curiosity got the better of Ding Wen, and he couldn't resist inquiring, [ " Brother Yong, could you perhaps give us a glimpse of the treasures within? " ]
Though uncertain of the exact nature of the contents, Liu Yong was aware that the boxes housed a collection of YD's precious cultural relics, some of which were rumoured to include Buddhist ones. Grinning, he replied, [ " These foreign cultural relics are unlike anything you have ever seen. " ]
Ding Wen's admiration for Brother Yong soared at the prospect.
Moments later, Kang Zhenggang and He Qiang unlocked the boxes, signalled by a series of soft clicks. Excitement danced across their faces as they exchanged glances, knowing the time had come to unveil the first box.
Liu Yong and Ding Wen approached in unison, their eyes drawn to the neatly arranged interior of the opened box. Inside lay a collection of wooden boxes, each varying in size and exhibiting exquisite craftsmanship, resembling delicate works of art.
These wooden boxes, almost akin to handcrafted masterpieces, amplified Liu Yong's anticipation for the treasures they housed. Furthermore, the sturdy aluminium alloy box preserved the contents perfectly, not allowing a single droplet of water to intrude.
With delight, Liu Yong gingerly extracted a slender wooden box measuring over a meter in length from the aluminium alloy container. To his delight, upon opening it, a stunning painting was revealed.
As Ding Wen carefully unfolded the painting, his eyes widened with recognition. As someone well-versed in the field, he immediately identified it as a famous artwork by YD. Although Ding Wen had only heard of it and never looked at it before, he was astounded to find it in Liu Yong's possession.
Liu Yong was taken aback. The painting had garnered such widespread acclaim that even seasoned collector Ding Wen was familiar with it. Ding Wen might only have known its existence if it had been an ordinary renowned artwork. This realization and the fact that it was among YD's celebrated pieces suggested that it held immense value and historical significance.
Aware of its significance, Liu Yong carefully rolled up the painting, securing it within the slender wooden box, before extracting another from the large aluminium alloy container.
This particular wooden box measured about one and a half feet in length, a foot in width, and a foot in height. With great anticipation, Liu Yong unveiled its contents before the attentive audience.
To their amazement, a majestic Buddha statue graced their eyes. Standing at less than a foot in height, it was difficult to determine whether it was gilded or made entirely of pure gold. Its weight hinted at the latter, while the lifelike craftsmanship and the intricate gemstone inlays turned it into an artistic treasure.
Even though Liu Yong was no connoisseur, he realized this Buddha statue held extraordinary significance. It could be one of YD's national treasures.
Ding Wen's excitement bubbled over as he exclaimed, [ " My God, this is YD's national treasure Buddha statue! I've seen pictures and read descriptions of it. Brother Yong, how did you come to possess it? " ]
Liu Yong's happiness radiated from his smile, declining to divulge the details of its acquisition. He securely resealed the box containing the Buddha statue, maintaining its sanctity.
Eager to explore further, Liu Yong proceeded to open several more boxes, one after another. Each unveiling brought forth treasures of extraordinary value, some even classified as national treasures.
Even Ding Wen, an avid collector, struggled to contain his excitement. He recognized several pieces, and their provenance as YD's national treasures left him awe-struck.
The second aluminium alloy box followed suit, offering a similar sight. Due to its exceptional water tightness, no trace of moisture had infiltrated the box, preserving the contents in pristine condition. Neatly arranged within were elegant wooden boxes, awaiting their turn to reveal their hidden treasures.
Upon examining several pieces, Liu Yong finally comprehended why the YD National Search and Rescue Center had offered a reward of 100 million US dollars. The value of these artifacts exceeded any monetary measurement—they were beyond priceless.
Ding Wen's excitement remained palpable throughout the process, repeatedly expressing his jubilation, [ " Brother Yong, you've struck gold! This is a fortune! " ]
Liu Yong meticulously counted a total of 27 wooden boxes of varying sizes. Assuming each box contained a cultural relic, the total was 27 magnificent pieces.
Although the expedition to the "Blue Whale" had seemingly yielded no results, Liu Yong had managed to secure a significant gain for himself.
Promptly, Liu Yong commanded, [ " Seal the two aluminium alloy boxes again and load them into the car. " ]
Without a word, Kang Zhenggang and He Qiang efficiently executed the task, carefully maneuvering the aluminium alloy boxes into the back of the van. Liu Yong had explicitly chosen a small truck for this operation, well aware of the cargo's magnitude.
Once the boxes were securely stowed and the doors closed, Liu Yong gestured for them to depart. They embarked on their journey, leaving the scene behind. After travelling a certain distance, Ding Wen proposed, [ " Brother Yong, let's store these treasures at my place. We have a professional vault, ensuring their utmost security. " ]
Having complete trust in Ding Wen, Liu Yong readily agreed without hesitation, [ " No problem, let's do that. " ]
Delighted, Ding Wen beamed with joy.
The two vehicles diverged from the route leading back to the Global Shipping Group, instead heading towards Ding Wen's Hanhai Culture Company.
Meanwhile, at the YD National Search and Rescue Center, officials convened in a sad and oppressive meeting room. The protracted search and rescue operation had yet to yield satisfactory results. However, what troubled them most was the disappearance of the two boxes containing invaluable cultural relics.
A total of 27 artifacts had vanished without a trace, adding to the mounting pressure on their shoulders.
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