After a while, Xiao Ran and the others arrived at the safe door of Yamamoto Antique Shop.
During previous investigations, Tokyo police had opened the vault, checked its contents and inventoried the items stored inside.
However, they didn't take anything from the vault.
Except for the vault door being violently cut open, the situation inside has not changed and is still the same as it was before yesterday.
As soon as we reached this point and stood still, the representative of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department couldn't wait to say:
"Mr. Sean, there are a lot of things in this vault. We took a video of the whole process during the cleaning. You can check it at any time!"
"According to the relevant agreement documents, everything in this vault now belongs to you."
“However, Japanese national treasure-level antique artworks that reflect Japanese history and culture are not included in this list!”
Before she finished speaking, Qiangu Mami nodded in agreement.
"That's right, Sean, if you find a Japanese national treasure antique artwork in this vault, we have the right to take it back."
Xiao Ran turned to look at these two guys, then nodded with a smile and said:
"Gentlemen, I know these conditions, and I hope to find one or two Japanese national treasure-level antique artworks here."
"Let's go in and take a look and see what treasures are in this vault."
With that said, he walked into the vault first.
The other people followed and walked in.
The area of the vault is not large, about 40 square meters. It was renovated on the basis of the basement. It was specially reinforced and a strong vault door was installed!
The surrounding walls and roof are covered with thick steel plates, all welded together, tightly wrapping the wall behind.
Even the floor beneath your feet is made of steel plates welded together, making it quite solid.
Since it is an antique store vault, a constant temperature and humidity system is installed here to protect the antique artworks stored here. The internal environment is quite good.
There are a lot of things stored in the vault, stored in various categories.
These include a large number of porcelain, calligraphy and painting artworks, sculptures, bronzes, clocks, stone carvings, etc., as well as many miscellaneous things.
Some of these things are placed on several museum shelves and shelves, some are placed on the ground, some are hung on walls and display shelves, etc.
They come from various sources, mainly Chinese and Japanese antiques, but also some antique artworks from other Asian countries, as well as European and American countries.
Of course, the authenticity of these antique works of art is a matter of opinion and needs to be identified one by one.
In addition to so-called antique works of art, there are also many top-notch watches here, such as Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin.
These famous watches are packed in exquisite watch boxes and fill a whole museum shelf. The number is quite amazing.
The vault at this time was filled with all kinds of items, so dazzling it was dizzying!
Looking at everything in front of them, everyone was somewhat shocked.
"As expected, there are indeed many good things in Yamamoto's antique store. It's a surprise."
Xiao Ran said with a smile.
Hearing this, Qian Guzhenmei and the others all nodded. Everyone's eyes were filled with bitterness and their eyes were a little red.
At this time, they were even secretly complaining about the emperor's special envoy.
It was the emperor's special envoy who made the decision to give Yamamoto Antique Shop to Xiao Ran.
Otherwise, these things will most likely be divided among several top cultural and museum institutions in Japan.
These must include the Tokyo National Museum, the Tokyo Museum of Art, etc.
Unfortunately, it's too late to say anything now.
After a quick glance at the situation in the vault, Xiao Ran walked towards a museum shelf on the right side of the door.
at the same time.
He also took out a pair of gloves and put them on his hands.
The next moment, he came to the museum shelf and glanced at the treasures placed on the museum shelf.
The things on the shelves of this museum are basically antique artworks from China.
There are porcelains, some small bronzes, Buddha statues and so on.
Several rusty bronzes on the museum shelves instantly caught Xiao Ran's attention.
Then, he reached out and took down a small bronze object from the museum shelf and admired it.
This is a bronze Gui, with a diameter of about 15 cm and a height of about 18 cm.
The neck is open, the ears are symmetrical, the belly is slightly bulging, and the bottom is a circle of feet. There is a glutton with angry eyes in front of each ear, which means eating.
There are two symmetrical animal heads between the ears, with a fierce and fierce wind. On both sides of the animal head are several groups of Kui beasts looking back and looking, with wide mouths and short bodies.
In the middle of the abdomen, there is a diamond-shaped grid composed of cloud and thunder patterns. The breast nails dotted between them make this fine geometric pattern full of wildness.
Its overall shape is regular, elegant and generous, and its casting skills are exquisite. It is a rare and important bronze instrument.
More importantly, there are several inscriptions engraved on the inside of this bronze gui, which are covered with a layer of green patina, making it difficult to see clearly for a while!
Due to the fact that it was unearthed not long ago, this bronze gui is densely covered with green patina, and it seems to smell of an earthy smell.
Xiao Ran looked over the bronze gui carefully, focusing on identifying the inscriptions inside.
He even pulled down his mask and got closer to smell the bronze gui.
After some observation, he fell into deep thought again.
After a moment, he said with certainty:
"This is a bronze Gui from the middle of the Western Zhou Dynasty, and it is a fine work among Gui. During the Western Zhou Dynasty, the bronze Gui was an important ritual vessel."
"Although I can't make out several inscriptions inside for the time being, I can be sure that only princes are qualified to use such beautifully crafted Gui with such specifications."
"From the green patina on this bronze gui and other unearthed traces, it can be determined that the time when this treasure was unearthed should not exceed two years."
"In China, the buying and selling of bronzes is strictly prohibited, let alone transporting them out of the country. If caught, it is a felony to resell national cultural relics."
"In other words, this is a smuggled antique cultural relic. There is no doubt that this bronze gui is enough to confirm that the Kobe Yamaguchi group is secretly smuggling antique cultural relics."
Regarding this analysis result, everyone present had no objections and nodded.
Looking at Qian Guzhenmei and the others, they all had expressions of pain while nodding.
They had all coveted this bronze gui from the middle of the Western Zhou Dynasty before and wanted to put it in their own museum.
But they also know that this is a genuine smuggled antique cultural relic. Even if it is received in a museum, it cannot be displayed.
Once this thing appears in the exhibition halls of several of their museums, it will definitely cause an uproar and even cause international disputes.
Knowing that this was a smuggled antique cultural relic, the emperor's envoy and the prime minister's envoy both rejected their request and advocated giving this treasure to Xiao Ran.
Qiangu Zhenmei and the others could only accept such a result.
At the same time, they were also very curious about what agreement Xiao Ran and the two special envoys had reached in the hotel lounge before.
While talking, Xiao Ran had finished reading the bronze gui and put it back on the museum shelf.
The next moment, he picked up a bronze bean next to him and examined it.
Just like the bronze bean just now, the inside and outside of this bronze bean are also covered with green patina, covering almost every place.
Moreover, the specifications of this bronze bean are very high, and it is also a bronze vessel that only princes and generals are qualified to use.
He did not find any inscriptions on this bronze bean, only some exquisite back-character patterns, phoenix-bird patterns, etc.
More importantly, this bronze bean also comes from the mid-Western Zhou Dynasty, which is the same age as the bronze Gui.
After confirming this, Xiao Ran sneered and said:
"If I'm not mistaken, this bronze bean and the bronze gui next to it come from the same tomb, and were stolen and smuggled at the same time."
"For the past three thousand years, they have been placed together and quietly buried in a certain Western Zhou tomb in China."
"Until the large tomb was discovered by a group of tomb robbers, it was stolen and dug out, and then smuggled out of the country and fell into the hands of the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi in Japan."
"Fortunately, these two treasures finally fell into my hands again. When I leave Japan, I can take them back with me."
Hearing this, Qian Guzhenmei and the others blushed.
Those bastards from the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi were selling smuggled antiques and cultural relics under their noses, which made them somewhat embarrassed.
The next moment, Zenitani Mami suddenly thought of something, and her eyes suddenly lit up.
Just as he was about to speak, Matthew's voice suddenly came from the intercom.
"Sean, we scanned the utility room and found a hidden compartment, which can also be said to be a secret room. It is not large."
"There are many metal objects hidden in the secret room. Judging from the rough outlines of those metal objects, they should be a large number of guns."
"Since there are guns, there must be a lot of bullets and even other weapons and equipment. You'd better come and take a look."
"ah!"
There was a cry of exclamation at the scene. Qian Guzhenmei and the others were startled, and they all exclaimed in surprise.
Although private individuals can own guns in Japan, gun control is very strict.
Even Japan's largest gang like the Yamaguchi-gumi doesn't have many guns.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the Yamaguchi-gumi even spent huge sums of money to invite Michael Jackson to Tokyo to hold a concert in order to obtain a batch of guns to fight with rival gangs. They took this opportunity to smuggle a batch of guns and ammunition into Japan.
But who would have thought that there would be a large number of guns and ammunition hidden in Yamamoto's antique store.
If this matter is confirmed, it will definitely cause an uproar.
Next, the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi is bound to be hit hard by the Japanese police.
Thinking of this, everyone suddenly understood.
Why was someone willing to pay 200 million US dollars to buy Yamamoto Antiques Store just now? It seems that he wanted to keep this secret!
Before the exclamation could end, Xiao Ran picked up the walkie-talkie and said:
"Copy that, Matthew, I'm going to check out the situation. Don't open that secret compartment rashly."
After saying that, he turned around and walked out of the vault.
Soon after, David and the others followed.
Qian Guzhenmei and the others looked at each other and followed immediately.
Western Zhou Bronze Gui
