141: Half of the Great Encyclopedia

Burton never expected that the person coming would be Virgil, the manager from headquarters.

As the Person in Charge of a Christies Auction House in such a small city, he was not on the same level as a manager from headquarters at all.

Burton wanted to bow and never get back up; he couldn't imagine how much Virgil cared about Qin Yun to rush all the way to Augusta.

He wondered how severe a punishment he would have to endure to put this matter behind him.

"You are the Person in Charge of Christies, you represent the face of Christies. What is there to be afraid of?"

Boer was a bit curious about who exactly had scared Burton so much that he was trembling all over and didn't even have the courage to stand up.

If Boer backed down, he would be the only one left to face the pressure of the big shot, so he encouraged Burton, trying to trick him into taking action directly.

Burton was furious; the one coming was a high-level executive from Christies, while a small fry like him wasn't even considered an ant in the eyes of headquarters.

Bowen was clearly harboring ill intentions, trying to send him to his death.

Burton stood up angrily and slapped Bowen twice across the face.

"Shut up, you idiot!"

"This is Manager Virgil from headquarters. You're not even fit to lick his heels. If you dare disrespect Mr. Virgil again, I'll ruin you!"

Using this as a pretext, after hitting Bowen, Burton walked up to Virgil with a face full of smiles, moving very cautiously.

"You... why would you come to such a small place? If you have any requests, just give me a call, and I will definitely go all out to complete whatever you command."

Burton implicitly asked about his confusion.

"If it weren't for the mess you've made, would I come to this dump?"

"You even dared to offend Mr. Qin. It seems you have quite a lot of nerve, don't you?"

Virgil sized Burton up carefully and spoke in a cold voice.

Burton was scared to death: "I wouldn't dare. I really didn't know that Qin Yun knew you?"

"He's just a Treasure Hunter, he only makes some money through Warehouse Auctions. But Warehouse Auctions and our Auction House's formal auctions are not on the same level at all. Why are you so polite to Qin Yun?"

"Besides, Bowen provided us with a batch of good goods. Selling them through promotion would also benefit the Auction House, wouldn't it?"

Burton felt very wronged; he worked hard for the Auction House, so why should he be slapped by Virgil?

Virgil shook his head in anger: "You bastard, your eyes are only fixed on petty profits. Mr. Qin is a VIP of the Auction House. How can he be measured by a few measly treasures? What you obtained was something Mr. Qin lost; it will only bring trouble to our Auction House!"

"Furthermore, Qin Yun is now the initiator of large-scale Warehouse Auctions in Bolton City. His network alone is something a small-city Person in Charge like you can't even imagine."

"As for his strength, he now holds a twenty percent stake in a large Silver Mine. That asset alone is something you couldn't earn in a lifetime!"

"His ability is even more outstanding. He's been doing warehouse treasure hunting for less than four months and has found so many treasures. If your ability to find treasures were even one percent of his, you wouldn't be stuck in this small city!"

"Tell me, is this the kind of person you can afford to offend?"

Virgil finished speaking angrily, glared at Burton, shook his head, and ignored the short-sighted fellow.

If this person weren't from Christies and doing things under the name of Christies, he wouldn't have wanted to come to this dump at all.

With Qin Yun's strength and network, he could have easily found someone to handle Burton and make him submissive.

He was afraid that Burton and Qin Yun would clash and involve Christies once the matter escalated, which was why he had rushed here so urgently.

Hearing Virgil say these things, Burton was both shocked and terrified.

How could Qin Yun be so powerful? Aren't Treasure Hunters supposed to be running all over the place following abandoned warehouses?

If it was really as Virgil said, Qin Yun was a genuine big shot, a major figure he wouldn't usually even get to meet.

Why did he have to provoke this great deity?

"I was wrong. I shouldn't have said such unreasonable and shallow things. I truly wouldn't dare to take what belongs to you."

"I still have some influence in Augusta. Mr. Qin, whatever you command, I will do my best to complete it. As for this little swindler Bowen, just say the word and I'll beat him half to death!"

Burton ran to Qin Yun with a flattering look, seeking forgiveness.

He was scared to death now; his future and his life were in Qin Yun's hands.

Having said so many outrageous things before, he could only do everything in his power to satisfy Qin Yun.

Qin Yun stood up and gave a cold laugh.

"Not so arrogant now?"

"You haven't done anything too excessive, your mouth is just a bit foul. Slap yourself fifty times, and we'll let this matter pass."

Hearing Qin Yun's words, Burton glanced at Virgil again, only to see Virgil nodding.

He knew he had no room for bargaining.

He raised his arm and began to slap his own face.

He counted the numbers as he hit himself.

Burton gritted his teeth, not daring to show even a hint of resentment in his eyes.

Virgil frowned: "Haven't you eaten? Use more strength."

Burton increased his strength significantly. Blood flowed from the corners of his mouth and nose, but he didn't dare to pause for a second.

Because of the intense pain and extreme humiliation, low screams of agony kept coming from his mouth.

"Sir, do you think this is acceptable?"

After the fifty slaps were finished, Burton bowed respectfully to Qin Yun.

"Hmm, you're being honest enough."

"Then stand aside and watch quietly. It's time to deal with Bowen, the culprit."

Qin Yun said coldly, staring at Bowen.

Bowen saw that everyone's attention was focused on him.

With the precedent of Burton slapping himself, his heart was filled with terror. His whole body went limp, and he knelt directly on the ground.

"I was wrong. I shouldn't have taken what belongs to you."

"Please forgive me this once. I won't dare do it again. I will return everything that belongs to you."

Bowen was trembling all over, not knowing what punishment awaited him. Fear amplified infinitely in his heart.

He even felt like dying.

He was seeking death; why did he have to provoke a major figure like Qin Yun?

Bowen's profession was inherently shady. Once exposed to the light, going to prison would be the least of his worries; he might very well be beaten to death by those he had swindled!

"If I don't forgive you, are you saying you won't return what belongs to me?"

Qin Yun said expressionlessly.

"I, I..." Bowen couldn't speak and collapsed directly onto the floor.

Burton had long since lost his patience. It was all because of this blind fool that he had been forced to slap himself so many times.

"Didn't you hear Mr. Qin asking you a question? Answer him right now!"

Burton stepped forward and gave Bowen two hard kicks.

"I'll give it back, I'll give it back."

"How could I dare keep Mr. Qin's things."

Bowen didn't dare to resist, cowering on the ground and answering in a low voice.

Burton looked at Qin Yun with the expression of a sycophant: "Mr. Qin, how do you want to punish this culprit?"

Qin Yun pondered for a moment: "I see his strength isn't much. Just give him a hundred slaps."

"Understood."

Burton agreed happily. He grabbed Bowen's hair with his left hand and slapped Bowen's face hard with his right hand.

After more than fifty slaps, the left side of Bowen's face was a bloody mess, so Burton switched to the other side and continued hitting.

After the hundred slaps were finished, Bowen lay on the ground wailing like a dead dog.

"Mr. Qin, what do you think of my slapping? Do you want another hundred?"

Burton walked up to Qin Yun and asked respectfully.

Qin Yun shook his head: "No need."

"If you're not satisfied, feel free to come find me. Why are you still lying there? Hurry up and hand over my things."

Qin Yun walked over to Bowen and shouted coldly.

"I'm satisfied, I'm satisfied."

"I'll get your things for you right now."

Bowen had to push himself up three times before he could stand. He dragged his body outside and moved the items he had taken from the thief into the office.

Qin Yun couldn't wait and walked over to the box.

Putting on white gloves, he picked up the yongle encyclopedia to examine it.

It was preserved fairly well, with no obvious damage.

However, even adding the page he had obtained, it still wasn't a complete volume.