Search for Treasure Worldwide Chapter 617: The best of both worlds (please subscribe and reward)
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By the time Ye Tian and the others returned to the Battery Hotel, it was already past four in the afternoon.
After entering the hotel, Ye Tianxian went to the banquet hall to check out the situation, and then returned to the presidential suite upstairs to start preparing for the evening's activities.
David and Anderson also returned to the room, summoned the other paralegals together, and worked intensively to prepare relevant legal documents.
At seven o'clock in the evening, in the banquet hall, Ye Tian will start a series of transactions with many museum directors, famous collectors, and major art insurance companies, bringing the most successful conclusion to this treasure hunt.
In the past four days, various museums and many famous collectors have shipped all the antique artworks for exchange to Boston.
Without exception, these antique artworks all come from China, and each piece is of top quality, including many national treasures.
After these antique artworks arrived in Boston, they were basically stored in the Bartley Hotel, in the guest rooms of museum directors and famous collectors, and could be taken downstairs for trading at any time.
The current security level of the Bartley Hotel is very high. Coupled with the accompanying bodyguards of many museum curators and famous collectors, it can be said that it is very safe and theft is basically impossible.
There are also some antique artworks that are not in the hotel, but are kept in the vault of a bank not far away, which is safer.
On the way back from the FBI Boston branch, Ye Tian asked Jason to notify all museum directors and famous collectors, telling them to conduct transactions tonight.
After receiving the notice, these museum directors and collectors immediately took action and took out the antique artworks for exchange from the bank, took them back to the hotel, and waited for the evening!
The process of taking these Chinese antiques out of the bank vault and transporting them to the Battery Hotel was uneventful and there were no unexpected incidents.
The team escorting these antique works of art is composed of FBI agents and Raytheon armed security personnel. The vehicles used are Bearcat armored vehicles and Chevrolet Suburban bulletproof SUVs. They are very powerful! indestructible!
No art thief or Boston gangster would be stupid enough to cause trouble for such a convoy. It would be no different than seeking death!
These Chinese antiques and artworks shipped from various places are only part of the objects of exchange. The ownerless antiques and artworks from the underground palace of the Old North Church are the main body of the exchange.
In addition, cash transactions are the most important and most convenient method of transaction.
Dinner was enjoyed in the hotel restaurant. Everyone was enjoying themselves and looking forward to it.
The time soon came to seven o'clock in the evening.
When Ye Tian walked into the banquet hall wearing a formal suit and carrying Betty in a formal dress, the place was already bustling with people.
All the museum directors and collectors living in the Bartley Hotel have gathered in the banquet hall, waiting for Ye Tian to appear and announce that the transaction has begun.
Several Boston locals, such as Brandon from the Gardner Museum, Isaac from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and Robert from the Harvard University Museum, also came here, and everyone was full of expectations!
Along with these professionals in the field of antique art collection, there are also a large number of top Chinese antique art, which are basically the essence of Chinese collections in various museums!
The stolen top antique artworks from the underground palace of the Old North Church that were originally arranged in the banquet hall were moved to both sides of the hall, freeing up space in the middle.
Jason led many employees of the Brave and Intrepid Exploration Company to stand beside these stolen top-notch antiques and artworks, guarding these priceless treasures.
Mattis and the FBI Art Crime Team agents were distributed in every corner of the hall. Everyone was fully armed and on high alert.
Seeing Ye Tian and Betty appear, the atmosphere in the banquet hall immediately became more enthusiastic.
"Steven, you finally showed up. Start trading quickly. I can't wait. Our entire museum has been waiting for this day for more than 20 years!
I heard that the transaction was going on tonight, and none of our employees left after get off work. Everyone was waiting at the museum to witness the return of the 13 top antique artworks! "
Brandon, the curator of the Gardner Museum, said loudly, as if Ye Tian couldn't hear him.
The old man was extremely excited, which made people worry about his heart. Don’t pass away all at once, otherwise he would be extremely happy and miserable!
Ye Tian smiled and nodded, then said:
"Good evening, Brandon, it seems that there will be a celebration in your museum, and the scene will be quite big. Don't worry, once the transaction starts, the Gardner Museum will be the first one.
It's night now, and it's about a twenty-minute drive from the Gardner Museum. Isn't it unsafe to transport these top-notch antiques back at night? "
"No problem, the security director of our museum is waiting downstairs with people. Everyone is fully armed and driving a **** vehicle, so safety is not a problem.
Just in case, we also borrowed a team of SWAT officers from the Boston Police Department to assist us in escorting us. Their armored vehicles are also in the parking lot downstairs."
"Hey! The **** force is indeed powerful! But if you are not worried about taking the land route, you can also choose to leave by air. My helicopter is on the roof of the hotel and can take off at any time! Free service!"
Hearing Ye Tian's words, Brandon's eyes suddenly lit up, and then he continued:
"That's great! Returning to the museum from the air is undoubtedly safer. Let me think about it. The top priority now is to complete the transaction as soon as possible. I can't wait any longer!"
After dealing with Brandon, Ye Tian continued to move forward with Betty.
Next, many museum directors and collectors greeted them.
"Good evening, Steven, we have the check ready, just waiting for you to announce the start"
"Good evening, Mr. Frank, what I like to hear most is your words! Full of temptation and extremely beautiful!"
"Steven, we have shipped all the Chinese antiques and artworks you named to this hotel. There are quite a few of them. We hope to get back two masterpieces by Master Utagawa Hiroshige as soon as possible!"
"Don't worry, Mr. Suzuki, as long as those Chinese antiques and artworks are placed in front of me and are confirmed to be genuine, then you will get your wish in no time!"
While nodding and saying hello to everyone, Ye Tian and Betty walked towards the front of the banquet hall. They were neither hurried nor slow, their responses were very appropriate, and their demeanor was quite comfortable.
Soon, the two came to the front of the banquet hall.
But Ye Tian did not immediately climb onto the half-meter-high platform in front of him and start the transaction. Instead, he led Betty towards a couple standing not far away with a smile on his face.
This is Matthew and Evelin, the future father-in-law and mother-in-law, and Ye Tian naturally does not dare to neglect them.
This is the third time they have come to this banquet hall. They came to appreciate these top-notch antiques and art. Today happened to be the opportunity, so they stayed.
The next night after the arrest, Ye Tiancai told Matthew the details of the entire incident.
After listening to his introduction, Matthew and the others were naturally stunned and could hardly believe what they heard.
Although they did not know Thompson, they had all heard of his name and knew that he was a very good Anglican priest with a good reputation and respect from people!
But this pastor turned out to be the craziest art thief in the history of the United States. How could they not be shocked? It is simply incredible!
And this guy was actually the robber who looted the Gardner Museum back then, and was the culprit who left painful memories for himself. This made Matthew and the others not only shocked, but also filled with resentment!
On the second day after Ye Tian explained the situation, the old couple came back to their senses and accepted this fact that sounded a bit unbelievable!
Afterwards, the old couple came here to appreciate top-notch antiques and art. They came here once a day to have a meal after work and didn’t leave until late at night. They couldn’t wait to live here!
The same goes for brother-in-law Logan. He came twice before, but he didn’t come today because he had something to do.
After walking closer and chatting for a few words, Matthew then lowered his voice and asked:
"Steven, what's going on with those extra Chinese antiques? It doesn't seem like they were stolen antiques from the underground palace of the Old North Church, right?"
There is nothing to hide, Ye Tian immediately gave the answer.
"Indeed not! According to the practice of the treasure hunting industry, as the discoverer of the stolen top-notch antique artworks hidden in the underground palace of the Old North Church, I can get a considerable share.
How could museums and collectors be willing to give up these top-notch antiques? I also like Chinese antiques very much, so I came up with a solution that everyone can accept.
Use Chinese antique artworks and cash to replace those top Western antique artworks. The Chinese antique artworks you see in front of you are what they use to trade! "
"Ouch——! This is too much!"
Matthew took a sharp breath and exclaimed in a low voice.
Ye Tian chuckled, and then explained in a low voice:
“This barter replacement method is based on the principle of equal exchange. Although Chinese antique art has been very popular in recent years, the market value is still far behind the top Western art.
The current auction record for Chinese antique art is a Qianlong pastel hollowed-out ‘Ji Qing Yu Yu’ revolving vase sold by Bainbridge Auction House in the UK, with a hammer price of 43 million pounds.
But even at this price, the transaction was not completed in the end, and the buyer did not pay! This is priced in pounds. If it is priced in gold, there has been a higher record before, which does not exceed 100 million US dollars.
The market value of top Western antique artworks is different. Antique artworks with sky-high prices exceeding 100 million US dollars are everywhere. Not to mention other people, several pieces have flowed out of my hands alone."
"I know this. You sold several top-notch works of art worth over 100 million, or even 200 to 300 million at the New York Autumn Auction."
Matthew answered with envy in his eyes!
Ye Tian nodded and continued:
“Because of this, there are so many Chinese antique works of art here. Often the combined value of several Chinese antique works of art is worth as much as one top Western antique work of art.
This is just the market value. In terms of artistic value, any top Chinese antique artwork here is extraordinary and in no way inferior to these top Western antique artworks.
From this point of view, I should be considered to have taken advantage of it. Naturally, I will not refuse this replacement method, but am very happy to accept it. The other people are just the opposite! "
“So, this is obviously a way to get the best of both worlds!”
Matthew said suddenly, fully understanding Ye Tian's intention.
"That's right!"
Ye Tian nodded in response.
After chatting for a few more words, Ye Tian turned around and boarded the table next to him, ready to start trading.