After a while, Xiao Ran and Timothy had selected their own people.
Subsequently, selected company employees and art museum personnel entered the shelter deep underground and launched a cleanup operation.
Following them, a large amount of cleaning equipment, painting tubes, and portable safes were hoisted into the secret passage one by one.
In addition, the Gardner Museum, the FBI Art Crime Unit, and the Philadelphia Police each sent a representative to supervise the underground scene.
Immediately afterwards, the cleanup operation began!
After arranging everything, Xiao Ran returned to the big-screen TV, preparing to watch the cleaning operations in the underground shelter through the video screen.
However, the newly arrived president of Pennsylvania State University and the director of the museum couldn't wait to find him.
When they came closer, the two men immediately went straight to the topic.
"Mr. Sean, Frank just introduced that your company has the right to dispose of all the stolen antiques and art found in this joint operation."
"Through previously leaked video footage, we discovered that in this shelter deep underground, there were two stolen antique artworks that originally belonged to our museum."
"The two stolen antique works of art are a bronze sculpture by the sculptor Pevsner and a painting by the art master Mondrian."
"Along with these two top-notch works of art, there were two other oil paintings stolen, both of which were masterpieces. They may also be in this underground shelter."
"Excuse me, Sean, when can we get these stolen antiques back?"
"After these antique artworks were stolen, we posted a high reward. Now that these treasures are found, we will honor the reward as soon as possible."
The director of the University of Pennsylvania Museum said expectantly, but there was a bit of worry in his eyes, and his eyes were a little erratic!
As an industry insider, he knows very well!
The Chinese guy in front of me is extremely difficult to deal with. He never suffers the slightest loss, and no one can take advantage of him!
Following his words, everyone at the scene turned their heads and looked over.
Because everyone's stance is different, everyone's mood is also different.
David and Frank both had a bit of smile in their eyes, looking like they were just watching the fun and not taking it too seriously!
Several French guys, led by Falgot, wanted to see how Xiao Ran would deal with these problems and what answers he would give!
Based on his response, Falgot and the others can decide what to do next!
As for Elaine, Fang Yufei, and Pierre, their eyes were full of concern!
Xiao Ran looked at the president of the University of Pennsylvania and the director of the museum, pondered for a moment, then nodded with a smile and said:
"Gentlemen, Frank is right. The disposal of all stolen antiques and art found in this joint operation belongs to our company, not the FBI Art Crime Group."
"The reason why this happened is that this joint operation was initiated by us, and all the preliminary investigation and investigation work were done by our company."
"It was through the tireless efforts of our employees that we discovered and targeted Myers and McCann, two of the largest art thieves in American history."
"Then I approached the FBI Art Crime Unit and the Philadelphia Police, as well as the Gardner Museum and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, to cooperate with multiple parties to launch this joint operation."
"At the beginning of the operation, we signed a multi-party cooperation agreement. One of the contents of the agreement stipulated that all stolen antique artworks found would be disposed of by our company."
"Among these stolen antiques and artworks, half of all the stolen antiques and artworks registered by the police belong to our company."
"The remaining antiques and art works that have been stolen without owners are all owned by our company. On this point, our company has reached an agreement with other parties."
"Both the Gardner Museum and the Philadelphia Museum of Art have accepted this cooperation condition, which means that half of the stolen antique art from these two museums now belongs to our company."
"ah!"
The president of the University of Pennsylvania and the director of the museum both exclaimed and froze on the spot, their eyes filled with disbelief.
Not only them, Falgot and others also had their eyes widened with disbelief.
Before they woke up, Xiao Ran continued:
"If you, the University of Pennsylvania Museum, want to get back the stolen antiques and artworks, you can only accept this condition."
"In other words, as long as we find the antiques and artworks stolen from your museum, half of the ownership will belong to our company."
"Of course, I welcome you to trade with our company in exchange for half of the stolen antique art. We can sit down and talk about how to trade."
"For example, I am very interested in two of the Six Horses of Zhaoling collected by your museum and smuggled to the United States by Lu Qinzhai and then sold to your museum."
Before he finished speaking, the president of the University of Pennsylvania and the director of the museum shook their heads.
"This is impossible. We will never accept such conditions. This is simply robbery!"
"Those antique artworks are stolen items. Now that they are found, they should be returned to our museum and we will honor the reward."
"It's ridiculous that we should give up half of the ownership of those antiques that were stolen!"
Not only the two from Penn, but also Falgot and the others shook their heads firmly.
Peggy and Timothy, who were also at the scene, first smiled bitterly, and then showed a bit of gloating in their eyes!
In their view, no matter whether it is the Penn Museum, several top French museums, or other museums and collectors, they cannot escape the tragic fate of being looted by Xiao Ran!
Alone Better Together!
Thinking of this, they suddenly felt less painful!
Looking at Xiao Ran again, he looked at the president of the University of Pennsylvania and the director of the museum, and then said with a sneer:
"When it comes to stolen antiques and artworks, I believe you also know very well that two of the Six Horses of Zhaoling collected in your museum were smuggled out of China by Lu Qinzhai, and they are also stolen antiques and artworks."
"Decades have passed, when did your museum ever think of returning these two important pieces of antique art to China? Never, right?"
"As far as I know, your museum still has many stolen antiques and artworks that Lu Qinzhai smuggled from China to the United States and then sold them to you. You have not returned any of them."
"In addition to Chinese antiques, your museum also has many stolen antiques from Egypt, ancient Babylon, Greece and other regions, and you have not returned any of them."
The president of the University of Pennsylvania and the director of the museum were completely dumbfounded. Their faces instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot. They were very ugly and extremely embarrassed!
They knew better than anyone else that what Xiao Ran said was absolutely correct.
Of the millions of items in the University of Pennsylvania Museum's collection, more than half have questionable origins and are stolen antiques.
These include many stolen antiques and artworks from China, many of which are national treasures.
Most of these stolen antiques and artworks from China were smuggled to the United States by the traitor Lu Qinzhai, including national treasures like two of the Six Horses of Zhaoling.
As Xiao Ran said, the University of Pennsylvania Museum has never thought of returning any of the stolen antiques.
Now that this matter is raised by Xiao Ran in public, can the president and museum director of the University of Pennsylvania not be embarrassed?
Not only them, but several other museum curators at the scene also felt their faces burning!
The situation in their respective museums is similar. Which museum has not had antiques and art stolen?
Which museum has ever thought of returning those treasures? Not one!
Elaine and David, who were also present, snickered secretly.
But they couldn't laugh out loud, they could only endure it, and they endured so much misery!
Xiao Ran did not give the president of Penn University and the others a chance to refute, and quickly continued:
"One thing everyone must understand is that we are a treasure hunting company and have always been profit-oriented."
"According to the rules of the American treasure hunting industry, as long as we find a treasure, at least half of it belongs to us."
"These antiques and artworks stolen by Miles and McCann were found by us, and of course they must be dealt with in this way."
"If you have any objections to this approach, I'm very sorry, but I'm afraid you won't be able to get half of the stolen antique art back soon."
"ah!"
The scene was filled with exclamations again.
This time, not only the president of the University of Pennsylvania and the director of the museum, but also Falgot and the others exclaimed.
At the same time, their faces became even more ugly.
It was only then that they seemed to realize.
Xiao Ran's company is a treasure hunting company, not a government department.
According to the rules of the American treasure hunting industry, they would not win even if they wanted to sue.
Thinking of this, they all realized.
The possibility of getting all the stolen antique art back by yourself seems very low!
This result made the president of the University of Pennsylvania and others very frustrated and froze in place again.
Xiao Ran looked at these guys, then turned to look at the TV screen.
At this time, in the shelter located deep underground, Nick and the others have launched a cleanup operation.
The cleanup operation went very smoothly without any accidents!
The stolen antique artworks hidden in the underground shelter were removed and dismantled one by one by Nick and others.
Then put them into painting tubes, painting bags, and boxes, and seal them.
Soon, the first batch of packaged stolen antiques and artworks were transported out of the underground shelter and onto the surface.
The first person to come up from the secret passage was Nick.
He was carrying a black painting bag carefully in his hand.
As soon as he came up, he handed the painting bag to Xiao Ran.
"Sean, inside this painting bag is Raphael's "Portrait of a Young Man"..."
Before he finished speaking, everyone on the scene brushed the floor and looked at the painting bag.
Everyone's eyes turned red instantly, and their eyes became extremely hot!
You know, what’s in that painting bag is a priceless treasure worth over 2 billion US dollars!
The Fist of the Six Horses of Zhaoling, Mao Quan
