176: Obstacles to returning to China

At two or three in the morning, Kelly was leisurely drinking coffee on the sofa.

When her phone rang, she slowly took a sip of coffee before picking up the call.

"How did it go? Did you get that bowl?"

Kelly couldn't hide the smile on her face, yet she forced herself to ask calmly.

"Sorry, we messed up. We were about to open the safe but were discovered by someone in the shop."

Hearing the dejected words on the other end of the line, Kelly was startled, then she erupted in curses.

"What a bunch of useless fools! Didn't you guarantee a hundred percent success? How could you screw up like this? If someone discovered you, just kill them!"

"Truly a bunch of good-for-nothings, can't even handle such a small matter..."

The yao-bian tenmoku tea bowl, which she thought would be easily obtained, had slipped through her fingers. Kelly was absolutely furious.

This was the supreme treasure that rightfully belonged to her, something that could be passed down for generations. No matter the cost, she had to get her hands on it.

"However, we weren't completely empty-handed. We found two tickets to Xia Country and a promotional brochure for the Xia Country Kyoto Museum in Qin Yun's warehouse."

Only after Kelly finished her tirade did the person on the phone dare to speak up weakly.

Kelly's heart leaped with joy, and she quickly guessed Qin Yun's plan.

"This information is very useful. You guys go lay low outside for now. As long as the information doesn't get exposed, I'll pay you the remaining commission."

After hanging up, Kelly immediately contacted people she knew.

Clenching her fist tightly, she muttered to herself, "No one can take what belongs to me!"

...The earliest flight from Borton City to Kyoto was at 5:30 AM.

Qin Yun carefully wrapped the artifact he intended to donate and placed it in a suitcase. Julia carried another suitcase with their daily necessities.

At four o'clock, they drove to the airport.

They successfully bought their tickets, but when going through security, they were surrounded by a group of uniformed officials.

"We are the Customs Inspection Team. Someone reported you for illegally smuggling American treasures. You must come with us to the Inspection Room!"

A middle-aged man in a sharp suit flashed his credentials in front of Qin Yun and ordered his subordinates to take both of them and their suitcases away!

Even though it was the dead of night at five AM, and Qin Yun had decided on the spur of the moment to take the earliest flight, the Customs Inspection Team personnel were here.

There was definitely something fishy about this!

Julia and Qin Yun exchanged a glance and quickly realized the problem.

Their tickets and information had been stolen by the criminals that night.

It must be Kelly, the mastermind behind those criminals, who learned of their plan and had the Customs Inspection Team intercept them.

Judging by the aggressive demeanor of these team members, they likely intended to pin the crime of smuggling American treasures on them by force.

Qin Yun felt a pang of anxiety. He hadn't expected his swift action to leave a trail for others to follow so quickly.

The Customs Inspection Team were government officials; he couldn't directly confront them.

He was momentarily stumped, unsure how to resolve this situation.

Julia gave Qin Yun a reassuring look and walked up to the Captain of the Inspection Team with a serious expression.

"I am a lawyer, representing Qin Yun in this matter."

"May I ask if you have an arrest warrant and a search warrant? If not, you have no right to touch Qin Yun's belongings, nor can you restrict his personal freedom!"

Julia was well-versed in the various official procedures for arrests. She was certain these people couldn't have completed the procedures and obtained the necessary documents in the middle of the night.

Thus, she fearlessly challenged the Captain.

The Captain of the Inspection Team's expression darkened. He hadn't expected one of the two thieves smuggling American treasures to be a troublesome lawyer.

Seeing his team members looking at him with doubtful and dissatisfied eyes, the Captain grew angry.

"I have received a critical tip-off that you are smuggling American cultural relics. The situation is urgent. To prevent the outflow of American antiques, I have the authority to detain you."

"As for the search and arrest warrants, the director has already signed them. They will be delivered once office hours begin."

This operation was to apprehend criminals; minor procedural issues were nothing. Although the Captain was acting first and reporting later, he believed it would be very easy to rectify afterward.

Doing Kelly a favor while also earning himself a major merit—this was a win-win situation.

As for the grumbling he might get from waking his team members in the middle of the night...

He didn't care about such minor troubles in the slightest.

Seeing that Julia had found a loophole in the Customs Inspection Team's actions,

Qin Yun felt a surge of hope.

"Who knows if what you're saying is true or false? You have no right to do anything to us right now."

"I don't care where you got your information. I advise you to step aside, or you won't be able to bear the consequences of offending me?"

Not wanting to waste too much time at the airport, Qin Yun directly threatened the Captain of the Inspection Team.

He gave Julia a look, took the suitcase, and prepared to leave.

The Captain hadn't expected this criminal to be not afraid but so brazen instead.

His face fell, and he directly blocked Qin Yun's path.

"I am acting on behalf of Customs to apprehend criminals. Is there anyone I can't afford to offend?"

"You are smuggling American treasures. Although I can't formally arrest you right now, as the Captain of Customs, I have the authority to detain you. Once the arrest documents arrive, I will definitely make you pay the price!"

After speaking, the Captain turned and ordered his subordinates to carry out the command.

When the Captain insisted on exercising his authority, even Qin Yun was powerless.

He gave Julia a look, asking if what this person said was actually true.

Seeing Julia nod helplessly,

Qin Yun grew very anxious. The suitcase contained Xia Country's rare and precious treasure.

If anything went wrong, he would never forgive himself.

The two were "escorted" by the Customs Inspection Team members to a VIP room, where they were even politely served two cups of hot coffee.

Qin Yun was in no mood for coffee.

He was thinking about how to resolve this matter during this period when they weren't yet fully restricted.

"Bang!"

The glass door was forcefully pushed open, and a voice full of sarcasm came from outside.

"Well, well, if it isn't Qin Yun, who was so brave and lawless at the hotel before. Why are you so docile now, even detained by Customs?"

Qin Yun stood up and looked towards the door. The speaker was none other than that Councilman from Wilmington.

The very official who coveted the blade of his nine dragons precious sword but ended up being blackmailed by him instead.

"Where I am is none of your damn business. Haven't you learned your lesson enough from me?"

Qin Yun's mind was on how to protect the treasure in his possession.

He had no desire to engage with this smug, gloating petty man.

He coldly retorted at the Councilman.

"Oh, I'm so scared. But the situation is different now."

"Hand over what's in the suitcase to me, and I'll have them let you go. Otherwise, you two might be rotting in prison for life!"

The Councilman sneered, not taking Qin Yun's words seriously at all.

Instead, he threatened Qin Yun with an expression of absolute certainty.

Thinking of all the treasures Qin Yun had obtained at the Warehouse Auction,

the Councilman's heart burned with desire, his eyes occasionally revealing a greedy glint.

Qin Yun laughed in extreme anger, "You're dreaming!"

The Councilman glared fiercely at Qin Yun and said coldly, "You brought this upon yourself!"

After speaking, he knocked on the glass door, and the Captain of the Customs Inspection Team walked in.

"This matter must be dealt with strictly. You must ensure the criminals receive their due punishment!"

"No matter who contacts you, I'll take full responsibility!"

Just as the Councilman was instructing the Captain, they heard commotion from the people outside.

The door was kicked open, followed by a stern, authoritative reprimand.

"Who is so impressive? You can't take responsibility for shit!"