88: Silk Road
A large estate in New York.
A stage covered in red carpet was set up in front of the entrance.
On the stage was a display stand with several flamboyant signatures on it, looking as though a very grand ceremony had just taken place.
"Qin Yun, sign your name on the display stand, I'll have the Staff Member take some photos, and then you just need to sign one more document to complete your registration!"
"This is a bit too simple; I really feel bad for not holding a grand signing ceremony for you."
Arnold looked at Qin Yun with an apologetic expression as he spoke.
Qin Yun finally understood why Arnold had made such a big deal out of picking him up at the airport.
It turned out he wanted to compensate him, fearing he might feel slighted because he hadn't participated in the signing ceremony with the others.
"It's nothing. Rather than facing a crowd of reporters and spectators, I prefer being alone."
Qin Yun shook his head, completely indifferent to the grand signing ceremony Arnold mentioned.
Being late was his own doing, and he felt very grateful that Arnold had gone to such lengths.
Arnold laughed a few times, and after the process was finished, he stepped forward to give some instructions.
"Qin Yun, there's a party being held inside the manor. You and Julia can go in and have a look around. It's full of wealthy people who are very interested in warehouse treasure hunting. Many of them even participate in or organize Warehouse Auctions privately."
"You've found many treasures recently, so you'll definitely be very popular. If you don't like it, I've booked a room for you, and you can go straight to the manor to rest."
"I have some business to attend to, so I'll be going first."
After saying goodbye to Qin Yun, Arnold took the signed documents and left hurriedly with his company staff.
Qin Yun ran a Secondhand Store, so meeting some Tycoons would be helpful for his business.
After handing his luggage to the butler, he and Julia walked toward the party area.
The party was being held in the manor's back garden.
It covered over a thousand square meters, with a swimming pool on the left, a green lawn in the middle, and a veranda built of flowers and plants on the right.
Most of the people by the pool were young people, with many beautiful women in skimpy outfits playing in the water.
An orchestra was playing melodious music on a stage, and many people who looked like they had high status were chatting and laughing about business.
Many waiters in formal wear moved through the crowd carrying fruit platters and fine wine.
When Qin Yun walked into the party, he immediately attracted the attention of quite a few people.
"The Eastern Kid is actually here."
"He really is an amazing Treasure Hunter. I heard he found the yongle encyclopedia again."
"Qin Yun is such a lucky guy; his luck is practically explosive!"
"Exactly. Although he hasn't been participating in auctions for long, his track record puts many veteran Treasure Hunters to shame!"
"If only I had that kind of luck."
...Most of the people here were somewhat connected to warehouse treasure hunting and were quite familiar with this rising star, so they began to whisper among themselves when they saw Qin Yun appear.
Quite a few people stood up and raised their glasses to welcome Qin Yun.
Qin Yun hadn't expected to be so popular; he took a glass of champagne from a server and thanked everyone.
Many people on the field laughed happily, drained their glasses, and then sat back down.
Unfamiliar with the people present, Qin Yun found an empty table, intending to observe for a bit before taking action.
The two of them ate some fruit, and at that moment, a middle-aged man dressed magnificently and accompanied by many attendants approached Qin Yun.
"I am Bruno. I've been following you since you found Blackbeard's flintlock. I'm a loyal fan of yours. May I sit at your table and chat with you?"
Bruno had his attendants wait to the side and asked Qin Yun very politely.
"Um, of course you can."
Qin Yun agreed after considering it for a moment.
The reason he attended the party was to build connections.
He hadn't known where to start, so since Bruno had approached him voluntarily and claimed to be a fan, how could he refuse?
"Thank you. It's truly an honor to be able to sit with my idol."
Bruno felt he was being too enthusiastic, so he gave a sheepish laugh and began to explain.
"I've been a fan of yours since I was a child—no, of course not, I'm just joking."
"After I heard your nickname, the miraculous Eastern Kid, I knew you would certainly make a name for yourself in Warehouse Auctions. Those auctions rely so much on luck, and your nickname is a good omen."
"But I didn't expect you to achieve such success. This isn't just about luck; it's a display of true strength."
After making a joke, Bruno looked at Qin Yun with a face full of admiration and spoke with some excitement.
Qin Yun smiled politely.
He thought to himself that this influential Bruno was quite humorous.
His massive success in Warehouse Auctions did have a little bit to do with his strength.
But it was mostly due to the Profound Vision Treasure Eye.
Being complimented like this by a big shot twenty or thirty years older than him made Qin Yun feel a bit embarrassed.
"You're joking. I just rely on a little bit of strength plus some luck; it's nothing worth mentioning, nothing at all."
"I see you are full of energy; you must be very successful in your career."
Not knowing Bruno's background, Qin Yun complimented him in return.
"I just inherited a bit of the family business and made some achievements in the internet industry. It's nothing compared to the career you've built with your own hands."
Bruno's words were very humble, but there was a hint of pride on his face; he was clearly very proud of his achievements.
"Is there something you wanted to see me about?"
Hearing about the internet industry, Qin Yun knew this man must be a major Tycoon.
He was curious about the man's intentions and why he was acting so warmly.
"It's nothing much. I just wanted to invite you to my home for a meal, and I have a Chinese treasure I'd like to give to you."
Bruno smiled, and instead of answering Qin Yun's question, he threw out his bait.
A Chinese treasure?
Hearing those words, Qin Yun was immediately interested.
As long as it was a Chinese treasure, no matter what the man's plans were, he had to go and take a look.
"Alright then, I'll thank you in advance for your kindness."
Qin Yun always felt he had a mission to recover significant Chinese antiques that had been lost abroad.
As long as it didn't violate his principles, he had to keep the appointment.
After agreeing, he first paid Bruno a high compliment to prevent the man from making any unreasonable demands.
Hearing Qin Yun agree, Bruno's face lit up with joy, and he quickly gestured for his attendants to prepare the car.
"Wonderful! This way, please. My home isn't far from here, less than a twenty-minute drive."
Under Bruno's enthusiastic guidance, Qin Yun and Julia stood up and walked out together.
The three of them got into a stretch Lincoln, and about fifteen minutes later, they stopped inside a luxurious estate.
Looking around, Qin Yun found this place to be even more extravagant than the manor where the party was held.
He felt more certain about Bruno's status.
With an estate like this, the man certainly wasn't a fraud.
"Please have some tea first. I'll go get the treasure right now; you'll definitely be interested."
Bruno settled the two of them in the drawing room and then left in a hurry.
"Qin Yun, don't you think this person is a bit too strange?"
Julia was still completely confused and couldn't understand Bruno's motives.
"It's fine. Let's just wait and see what happens."
Qin Yun wasn't worried about Bruno playing tricks and gave a calm word of reassurance.
In less than a minute, Bruno returned with the gift.
It was a weather-beaten wooden staff with many heads of grain hanging from it.
Qin Yun recognized it at a glance; this was a token or credential used by ancient emissaries when entering or leaving border gates.
It was also known as a tally stick or a fujie.
He was curious—whose was it?
He stepped forward to look, and there were actually two characters carved on it: Zhang Qian.