CHAPTER 436: CHAPTER 436: LU ZHENG IS MOVING OUT TOO

Out of respect for Lin Wan, Lu Zheng didn’t specifically listen to Lin Wan’s phone call.

But...

Lu Zheng’s hearing was just too good; even though he wasn’t specifically trying to listen, the voice from the other end of the line kept drilling into his ears.

Seeing Lu Zheng raise an eyebrow with a half-smile, Lin Wan was helpless, "This case about the international illegal artifacts smuggling group is now assigned to me."

"Going abroad again?"

Lin Wan nodded, "The supplier behind this store owner is a Lighthouse Country enterprise called Allen Art Company, so our Interpol has to step in."

"Do they also have a criminal record?"

"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 and sighed, "Huaxia’s artifacts... The bulk isn’t in the hands of these smugglers but in those national-level museums."

Lin Wan glanced at Lu Zheng, "Do you want to steal or snatch them out?"

Lu Zheng couldn’t help but snort, "I really would like to snatch them."

Lin Wan shook her head, hooked Lu Zheng’s arm, and advised, "It’s meaningless."

"Hmm?"

"Unless they voluntarily return them, stealing or snatching is pointless," Lin Wan said flatly, "Even if you stole them and gave them to the country, do you think our museums would dare to exhibit them?"

Lu Zheng frowned, "Why wouldn’t they dare?"

Lin Wan shook her head, "Although these things were also grabbed by them, it’s a historical fait accompli, and we’ve basically accepted their ownership of these items."

"No matter if you steal or snatch, your methods are incorrect, and public opinion would naturally be against you, even if you’re taking back your own things." Lin Wan looked at Lu Zheng, "It’s like the flag of the Arctic Bear Regiment is in our military museum; would you return it to the Lighthouse Country?"

"That’s our war trophy!"

"So are those things," Lin Wan’s voice was very solemn, with a hint of helplessness.

Lu Zheng said, "I’ve heard that we need to schedule a visit with foreign museums to study our own historical artifacts, and sometimes they don’t even let us see them."

Lin Wan nodded, "I’ve heard that too."

"However, this also brings about another effect."

"What effect?"

"Never forget history, unite against a common enemy." Lin Wan’s eyes sharpened, "Artifacts, after all, are history; the present and the future are what matter most.

As long as we see our ancestor’s artifacts still in the hands of outsiders, it reminds us of that humiliating history.

Backwardness means being beaten. Looking at those artifacts in foreign lands, we understand the fate of backward nations and people, and it also indirectly fuels our national cohesion and determination to advance."

Lin Wan looked at Lu Zheng, "You should know that there’s always been a clamor among the people of various countries for those empires to return their artifacts. It’s not just us; there’s also Egypt, the Middle East, Greece, etc., but the authorities never voice this.

Why? Because even if they speak out, others won’t agree. It’s pointless and self-humiliating, because technically, those things are war trophies of each country!

So, every time we feel like we’ve become strong enough, and when we are complacent and arrogant, we can ask ourselves: will those nations holding our ancestor’s artifacts voluntarily give them back to us?

If not, it means we are still not strong enough. When we are strong enough, even the enemy’s official channels won’t dare to ignore our people’s voices!"

Lin Wan looked at Lu Zheng, "And before we are strong enough for them to voluntarily return them, whether we steal or snatch, it’s still a low move. Even if the state received them, it would never acknowledge it or exhibit it, unless..."

"Unless what?"

Lu Zheng was already convinced by Lin Wan, so why did she throw in an "unless"?

Lin Wan’s eyes curved, she chuckled slyly, and raised her brows, "Unless you reveal your skills, when you’re strong enough, you’ll have your own voice."

"And then I’ll have dozens of satellites tracking my every move," Lu Zheng said grumpily.

"Hehe!" Lin Wan chuckled slyly, then hugged Lu Zheng’s arm tightly.

"Don’t think about it, we’re on the right path, those ancestor’s items will definitely come back one day." Lin Wan took a deep breath, her voice fierce, "They took them back then, and they’ll return them to us in the same way!"

Lu Zheng patted Lin Wan’s hand, "They definitely will, and it won’t be long."

Lin Wan nodded, "I believe it."

After finishing the heavy topic, Lin Wan returned to a lighter subject, "But those are the spoils of various countries on the surface, and there are also some private collections, smuggled artifacts, etc., which are not recognized, so we must recover these items."

Lu Zheng nodded, emphasizing, "Not only do we need to recover our things, but we also need to bring their stuff back with us!"

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 proudly raised an eyebrow and teased, "This case wasn’t discovered by you, but by me."

Lin Wan:

"We go about it openly and covertly," Lu Zheng leaned in close to Lin Wan and whispered, "You follow the action of the Lighthouse Country police, feed me information, and then I’ll step in and net all their stolen goods. Then we’ll split fifty-fifty."

"Fifty-fifty, my foot! I have to rightly retrieve the items," Lin Wan pushed Lu Zheng away, half laughing and crying, "There’s no one around, there’s no need to act like we’re in an underground cell meet-up."

"Besides, I don’t care if the case is solved or not. The problem is if my case isn’t solved and the items aren’t officially recovered, how can we hand these artifacts to the authorities? Or are we going to do it like when you donated the plane last time?" Lin Wan laughed helplessly, "They’re our own things; doing it this way feels a bit petty!"

Lu Zheng nodded repeatedly, "It’s more than just petty, it’s downright petty!"

"So..."

"So, I’ll help you crack the case, and then I’ll steal their other spoils," Lu Zheng said decisively, "These artworks will disappear before the Lighthouse Country police show up, so it’s just blacking out black, not a crime, right?

Then these artworks will follow me back home, they’re all in my Storage Gourd, and the entry channel isn’t within the scope of legal regulations, so it’s not smuggling, right?

Finally, these foreign artworks will appear in the anonymous donation section of domestic museums, which is perfectly reasonable, right?

In this way, all my actions are legal, right?"

Lin Wan, "..."

You’re right about everything, do whatever you want, I’m tired, suit yourself.