137: Thief's actions
"Mr. Qin, I've found the person you're looking for. His name is Commons-Hubert. He just arrived in Augusta, Maine. Do you need us to have our colleagues there arrest him?"
Hearing the words from the other end of the phone, Qin Yun hesitated for a moment.
"No need. Just send me his location. I can handle it myself."
"Thank you for your help. I'll buy you a drink when I have time."
After hanging up the phone, Qin Yun started the vehicle and drove toward Augusta.
Augusta is a small city bordering Canada. It seems the thief chose a good location—if things go wrong, he can immediately flee across the border.
But he never expected to be precisely located by the relevant authorities so quickly.
Augusta is only a little over three hours' drive from here. He didn't want the other party to intervene because it involves the relevant authorities and is a cross-jurisdiction case.
Going through procedures would take a long time. The yongle encyclopedia is extremely precious and can't withstand such delays.
He would only feel at ease if he handled it personally.
"Qin, how did you know the information could be found so quickly? Aren't the relevant authorities usually the slowest?"
Julia looked at Qin Yun with confusion and asked.
After staying in the U.S. for a long time, one learns that the relevant authorities in most cities are the most incompetent and inefficient.
She didn't expect them to find the thief's whereabouts so quickly this time. Moreover, Qin Yun seemed to have anticipated it, which made her feel a bit strange.
"The thief probably isn't an experienced one. The container only stayed at the port for one night, and the news about the treasure inside the container only spread a day ago. This person must have acted on impulse without a detailed plan."
"Such people have no connections and will definitely try to sell the stolen treasure in another city. If the relevant authorities can't even catch a small-time thief like this, there's no need for them to exist."
Qin Yun casually outlined the thief's actions.
He hated this kind of clueless thief to death.
How dare he steal from me? More importantly, he didn't know how well the yongle encyclopedia was protected.
Ancient texts are very fragile. If there's even the slightest damage, he would definitely make that person pay.
Hearing it was just a small-time thief, Julia immediately felt much more relieved.
She had been worried about not recovering the yongle encyclopedia earlier, and just now, she was worried that even if they found the thief,
what if the criminal gang was ruthless and dangerous? What if something went wrong if Qin Yun rashly went with her to confront them?
In Hollywood and TV dramas,
such master thieves are always very dangerous.
"I feel relieved hearing you say that. Hubert actually dared to steal from you. I'll definitely make sure he serves the longest sentence and gets the heaviest punishment."
Julia was very angry at the thief, gritting her teeth as she spoke word by word.
What should have been a perfectly concluded auction was tarnished by a greedy, foolish thief.
Such a person must pay the price they deserve!
Four hours later, the two arrived at the hotel where the thief Hubert was staying.
Qin Yun couldn't be bothered to talk to the hotel front desk and went directly to the room where the person was—Room 1808.
Without knocking, he kicked the door in anger.
The solid wood door fell with a crash, and even the door frame was kicked off the wall.
The cleaning lady initially wanted to stop the stranger, but seeing even the door frame kicked off,
she immediately understood that this young man wasn't as simple as he looked—he was a formidable and dangerous person, not someone she could afford to provoke.
She turned around and went downstairs as if she hadn't seen anything.
Hubert was sleeping in bed.
After pulling off such a big heist and making a huge profit from selling the treasure, he was so excited he felt like he was floating.
He had just calmed down and was about to fall asleep when he saw the door kicked open.
He immediately got up, about to demand who dared to do this.
Seeing Qin Yun had come for him, he was stunned.
"What, what are you doing? Don't you know breaking into someone's home is illegal? Leave now, or I'll call the police."
Hubert shouted with a threatening but weak tone.
"You know exactly why I'm here. Return what belongs to me, and I'll spare your miserable life. Otherwise..."
Qin Yun threatened coldly.
Hubert's face changed, showing a panicked expression, then he pretended to be tough: "I don't know what you're talking about, and I don't know you."
"You'd better leave now, or I won't be polite."
As he spoke, Hubert looked around, wanting to grab something to boost his courage.
"You don't know? I'll make you remember everything you've done."
Seeing Hubert looking around, Qin Yun kicked him.
Hubert was thin and small, and was directly kicked onto the bed by Qin Yun.
Even with the bed cushioning the fall, he was still dazed.
He knew this matter couldn't be resolved peacefully. The two had found him here, and Qin Yun was acting so fiercely.
They must have solid evidence. He didn't want to be sent to prison.
He reached for the spring knife at his waist, planning to fight his way out and flee to Canada.
How could such a small movement escape Qin Yun's notice? When Hubert avoided eye contact and his right hand subtly moved toward his waist, Qin Yun sensed something was off.
As soon as Hubert touched the spring knife, Qin Yun kicked him again.
With a "clang," Hubert crashed into the wall and bounced back onto the bed, the spring knife falling to the floor.
Hubert was hurt even worse this time. It took him a long time to recover. His bones felt broken, and his whole body ached terribly.
"I, I really didn't do anything. I'm just an unemployed youth. I don't have anything valuable on me. You can search if you don't believe me."
Hubert twitched in pain but still refused to admit to the theft.
He knew that admitting it would mean everything was over. Only by stubbornly denying it would he have a slim chance of survival.
"You'd better cooperate honestly. If you don't confess, I'll make sure you're locked up for life!"
Julia threatened coldly.
Hubert raised his head, acting like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water.
Qin Yun sneered, dragged Hubert by one leg to the balcony.
He lifted Hubert and held him outside the window, raising and lowering him three times.
"You should know how important that container is to me. If you don't talk, I'll let go."
Qin Yun said calmly, but to Hubert, it sounded like a thunderous threat.
Hubert, upside down, looked at the surrounding skyscrapers, especially the ground over thirty meters below.
His legs went weak with fear. He felt powerless, dizzy, and couldn't feel any sensation in his legs.
He lost all reason and judgment. Hearing Qin Yun's words, he thought if he didn't agree quickly, he'd be thrown down.
Even someone planning to jump off a building would lose the courage to approach the window after being shaken like this three or four times, let alone a coward like Hubert. He admitted it on the spot.
"I'll talk, I'll talk. I stole the things from the container."
"Pull me up quickly. I'll confess everything."
Hubert, with snot and saliva all over his face, cried and admitted his mistake.
All of this was within Qin Yun's expectations. Thieves are never tough; they confess everything with a little interrogation.
He lifted Hubert and casually threw him on the ground.
Hubert took a while to recover, then stood up unsteadily. He didn't dare to look Qin Yun in the eye and timidly confessed everything.
"Someone told me there were good things in the container and that security was lax. He said he'd give me five hundred thousand dollars if I stole it. After I stole it, he told me to go to Augusta for the transaction."
"The bank card and business card he gave me are in my wallet. I'll get them for you now."
"I knew such people aren't reliable, so I secretly took a photo."