This statement, by completely shifting the responsibility to the back office, meaning the Heavenly King's Mansion, absolved him of any personal risk.
However, upon hearing Zhao Dong's words, Elder Lei let out a dismissive snort. "Does the mere Heavenly Treasure Pavilion have so many rules? I am quite surprised. But as I've made clear, as long as your Heavenly Treasure Pavilion continues to do business in Jiangnan City, you must accept our inspection. Otherwise, I will immediately send people to seal your Heavenly Treasure Pavilion. Do you, Boss Zhao, wish to bear that consequence?"
Threats, naked threats. The situation had reached this point, and Elder Lei had made his stance clear: if you don't cooperate, I'll seal your shop.
Zhao Dong, never expecting Elder Lei to be so overbearing today, felt a surge of anger and gasped for air.
"Fine, the Antique Association is so domineering. Zhao, I've truly witnessed it today. But I state beforehand, if you find no issues in the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion today, do not blame me for reporting to higher authorities. By then, your Antique Association will have to compensate."
With no way to stop Elder Lei, he could only allow him to enter the warehouse. However, there were some things he had to say first. Firstly, to save face for himself, and secondly, if Elder Lei truly found nothing wrong, he would have grounds for his actions. After all, as one of the largest antique shops in Jiangnan City, matters of reputation could not be taken lightly.
Hearing Zhao Dong's words, Elder Lei snorted coldly. "What? Boss Zhao, are you threatening us?"
As he spoke, his expression grew even more somber. "Open the door immediately, do not delay our time."
Seeing that Elder Lei was determined to inspect the warehouse, Zhao Dong reluctantly ordered his men to open it.
Although he desperately did not want Elder Lei to enter the warehouse, as it contained many secrets, he had no other option at the moment.
Beneath the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion was a spacious underground chamber, which served as their warehouse.
It had to be said that the wisdom to place the warehouse beneath the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion was truly admirable.
Even Ye Fan couldn't help but give them a thumbs-up in his heart.
However, this was nothing. In his previous life, Ye Fan had seen similar situations.
As a door on the ground was opened, it revealed stairs leading underground.
They extended downwards, shrouded in darkness, giving off an eerie and terrifying aura.
Zhao Dong stood by the door and said to Elder Lei, "If you wish to go, Elder Lei, please proceed."
The implication was that if any danger arose below, he would not be held responsible.
Elder Lei frowned, looking at the passage before him, and couldn't help but chuckle. "What? Boss Zhao, do you think I'm afraid?"
It had to be said that with Elder Lei's years of experience, he didn't take such risks to heart.
Moreover, if there were truly dangers below, Zhao Dong wouldn't dare to put himself at risk.
After all, as the Vice President of the Antique Association, if anything happened to him in the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, the entire Heavenly Treasure Pavilion would likely be implicated.
Therefore, Elder Lei firmly believed that Zhao Dong wouldn't act recklessly, and this was merely an attempt to scare him.
"Let's go, let's go down and take a look. This is the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion's warehouse. If not for this inspection, perhaps we would never have the chance to see so many treasures."
Elder Lei's words carried a sarcastic undertone, as it was unlikely that the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, having existed in Jiangnan for so many years, would be without treasures.
Ye Fan's lips curved into a smile, his expression placid. "Elder Lei is absolutely right. I have long looked forward to seeing the inventory of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, and today my wish is finally granted, making me inevitably excited. Boss Zhao, you must watch me closely. Once I get excited, I can't control myself. If I break some treasures, it would be a loss. If Boss Zhao asks me to compensate for a Ming Dynasty Chenghua porcelain, I'm afraid my financial standing would not be enough."
If Elder Lei's words were insidious, then Ye Fan's words at this moment were simply soul-piercing.
Previously, it was precisely because of that so-called Chenghua porcelain vase that Ye Fan had severely humiliated Zhao Dong. Bringing it up again was tantamount to rubbing salt into the wound.
Hearing Ye Fan's words, Zhao Dong's body began to tremble. Since he entered the antique industry, everything had gone smoothly, and he had never encountered any major setbacks.
Let alone being humiliated, but Ye Fan's actions truly angered him.
"Hmph, if you break anything in the warehouse, you will pay with your life," Zhao Dong said coldly, his words laced with frost.
At this moment, Zhao Dong seemed to be on the verge of madness.
His eyes were filled with frost, radiating a chilling coldness.
Even Ye Fan and Elder Lei could feel this terrifying chill.
However, in front of Ye Fan, the power of this chill was somewhat lacking.
"I am looking forward to it."
Smiling at Zhao Dong, he then supported Elder Lei, and the group descended.
The staircase was spiral-shaped. Although the entrance was within the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, the actual underground warehouse was located beneath the hall behind it. Thus, after walking for quite some time, they saw another gate ahead.
This gate was much thicker than the door at the previous entrance, entirely made of marble, and secured with a lock. With this level of stone door, brute force might not be enough to chisel it open even in several days.
And in these few days, someone would undoubtedly discover it.
It had to be said that such anti-theft measures were, even to Ye Fan, admirable.
"Boss Zhao, please open the door," Ye Fan turned to look at Zhao Dong.
Zhao Dong's face darkened, and he took the key from his subordinate and unlocked it.
As the heavy stone door was slowly pushed open, a gust of cold air immediately swept out.
Ye Fan, with quick reflexes, yanked Elder Lei aside.
"To ensure the items are not damaged by the natural environment, this warehouse is filled with liquid nitrogen. If the body comes into contact with liquid nitrogen, there is a risk of frostbite."
Saying this, Ye Fan turned to look at Boss Zhao.
"What does Boss Zhao mean by this? Knowing that the interior is filled with liquid nitrogen, yet you failed to mention it. Do you intend for us to get injured?"
Ye Fan's face was now extremely grim. If it weren't for his quick action in pulling Elder Lei aside just now, the spraying cold air would have instantly injured Elder Lei.
And Elder Lei was old. Although his body was well-maintained, being enveloped by liquid nitrogen could cause irreparable damage.
Zhao Dong's intentions were truly insidious.
Hearing Ye Fan's questioning, Zhao Dong let out a dismissive snort.
"As I said, even I am not allowed to enter this underground warehouse, so I am equally unaware of the situation inside."
Zhao Dong once again began to shirk responsibility. After all, this matter involved too much. If something went wrong, the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion might also be implicated. If higher authorities were to blame, he wouldn't be able to bear it.