"I can return the jade disc to Miss Bao, but I hope Miss Bao can give me some compensation."
Director Qi remained silent for a moment, finally compromising. "Otherwise, even if the police are involved, I wouldn't mind."
"In any case, I gain nothing. But if the police are brought in, Miss Bao might take much longer to get this jade disc."
"How much do you want?" Bao Baoli asked, her brow furrowed slightly.
"One hundred million."
Director Qi held up a finger. "That's not unreasonable, is it?"
"This," Bao Baoli hesitated.
One hundred million was not a small sum for their Bao family, though not insurmountable. Moreover, this jade disc was their family heirloom. To have it stolen and then have to pay to get it back was indeed difficult for her to accept.
However, if she refused, Director Qi would resort to extreme measures. If the police were involved, while Director Qi might face some trouble, she also worried about the Nine Dragon Jade Disc being damaged in the process.
Director Qi stared at her. "Miss Bao, whether you call the police or not, this is my domain now."
"If you don't agree, I can have you all escorted out right now. I can also tell you that the surveillance equipment here will soon malfunction, and then this Nine Dragon Jade Disc will naturally be stolen or lost."
"Or accidentally smashed."
"You!" Bao Baoli's expression changed drastically.
Lu Fang shouted, "Despicable! Is this how a person in the antique trade behaves?"
"Hmph, what antique trade person or not, let me tell you, I opened this museum for money and fame. Don't talk to me about the morals or rules of the antique community. Compared to money and fame, those things are less than dog shit!"
Director Qi sneered. "Miss Bao, after I've said this, you should understand what kind of person I am."
"I'll give you one more minute to consider. Are you going to pay this one hundred million compensation fee or not?"
"I," Bao Baoli felt she had no other choice.
But at this moment, Li Yang smiled and said, "If it were just a single Nine Dragon Jade Disc with an unknown origin, let alone asking for one hundred million, even ten billion wouldn't give Miss Bao any other choice but to agree to your terms."
"However, Director Qi, would you really choose to burn all bridges?"
"What do you mean, kid?" Director Qi's heart sank, and he stared at Li Yang coldly.
Li Yang pointed at several items in the museum's display cabinets. "These few, and these few, all have questionable origins, don't they?"
"Do you think if the police were called, they would only investigate this one Nine Dragon Jade Disc?"
"You, don't talk nonsense! The origins of my items are all normal and legal!" Director Qi's face turned pale.
Li Yang smiled. "Alright then, let's go out and call the police. Director Qi, if you want to smash this jade disc, that's your freedom."
"However, I'd advise you to think carefully. Is it worth smashing at least one-sixth of the antiques in the museum for one Nine Dragon Jade Disc?"
"Miss Bao, Mr. Lu, let's go."
"Mr. Li..." Bao Baoli hesitated.
Li Yang glanced at her. "Trust me."
"Okay." Bao Baoli was still hesitant, but seeing his determined expression, she couldn't help but trust him for some reason.
She nodded, and she and Lu Fang walked towards the museum exit.
One step, two steps.
Director Qi clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and shouted, "Wait!"
"Has Director Qi come to his senses?" Li Yang asked with a smile.
Director Qi gritted his teeth. "You win, kid! Take the jade disc!"
"But I hope today's events don't happen again, otherwise, I really don't mind going all out!"
"Don't worry, I'm not someone who forces others to a dead end, as long as they are willing to repent." Li Yang smiled and looked at Bao Baoli. "Miss Bao, have someone come to pack and transport the jade disc."
"Thank you, Mr. Li. This is your reward." Bao Baoli, overjoyed, handed him a check for tens of millions.
Li Yang was stunned for a moment. "This seems to be quite a bit more than the reward you mentioned earlier."
"This is what you deserve, Mr. Li." Bao Baoli smiled.
Lu Fang also said, "Yes, Boss Li. If you hadn't intervened, it would have been very difficult for this jade disc to be returned to its rightful owner."
"Then I'll accept it." Li Yang smiled and took the check.
Director Qi was burning with anger, gritting his teeth. "You'd better be quick and not delay my museum's work!"
"Director Qi, don't worry, my people will transport the jade disc within half an hour at most." Bao Baoli said with a smile.
"Hmph!"
Director Qi let out a muffled grunt, turned around angrily, and left. The people who had been following him also followed closely.
"Director Qi, we can't just let this matter go, can we?" A sharp-mouthed, monkey-faced fellow, who clearly looked like trouble, said sinisterly.
Director Qi's face was cold. "What else can we do? Didn't you hear what that kid said?"
"He saw through it, that I have a lot of items with questionable origins in my museum!"
"Director Qi, please calm your anger. Although that kid saw through it, we can just get rid of him." The sharp-mouthed, monkey-faced fellow said.
Director Qi's expression changed. "What do you mean by that? I don't want to be charged with murder."
"Old Hou, what kind of bad deed are you doing to get yourself in trouble and try to drag me down with you!"
"Director Qi, you need to understand clearly. This kid saw the problem with the items in the museum. If he takes the jade disc and then calls the police to sell you out, what will be the consequence?" Old Hou said with a cold smile. "Do you really think that in the face of such a large quantity of stolen goods, the police will believe you bought them by accident?"
"You, what exactly do you want?" Director Qi's face turned a little pale.
Old Hou said, "You pay the money, and I'll find someone to take care of him before tonight. From then on, we won't have to worry about people reporting the items in the museum, and we can continue our business."
"Otherwise, if this kid is alive, I won't feel at ease."
"This is too cruel, isn't it?" Director Qi clenched his fists, finding it difficult to do such a thing.
Although he was very annoyed with Li Yang, he wouldn't go so far as to kill someone at the drop of a hat.
Old Hou said, "Director Qi, indecision leads to trouble. If you hesitate any longer, our relationship will be over."
"You, how much do you want me to pay?"