Chapter 421: The First Meeting

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Following that, Duke Somerset looked at the other photos, and by now, his initial smile had disappeared.

With a serious expression, he examined the photos carefully, as if his eyes were fixed on them and wouldn’t budge.

“Zhou, you aren’t suggesting that Victoria’s Parliamentary Scepter, King John’s Crown, and these two masterpieces are part of your collection, are you? You know that these items have been lost for over a century, especially King John’s Crown, which has sunk into the depths of the sea!” Duke Somerset couldn’t believe his eyes.

However, considering the backgrounds of the photos and the undeniable evidence that Zhou Chao possessed these items, he had no choice but to believe, though he still had doubts about their authenticity.

“Duke Somerset, just because something has fallen into the sea doesn’t mean it will remain there forever. There’s always that one in a billion chance, you know!” Zhou Chao smiled faintly at this point, as he held the upper hand.

“Zhou, are these items from your collection? Would you consider selling them to me?” Duke Somerset looked at Zhou Chao expectantly.

He was certain that the items Zhou Chao had displayed were authentic; otherwise, the Chinese embassy in London wouldn’t have extended an invitation to him. If they were proven to be fake, it would damage his reputation significantly.

“Haha, Duke Somerset, I will have to disappoint you,” Zhou Chao responded. “I’m also a collector, and money is not a concern for me. I own more than thirty percent of shares in two of the top three luxury goods conglomerates globally. Money is just a number for me.”

Zhou Chao’s words left both the Duke of Somerset and Guan Ze stunned. Neither of them had expected Zhou Chao’s wealth to be so substantial.

Guan Ze, in particular, was surprised because back in China, he had been told to fully cooperate with Zhou Chao but was not informed about Zhou Chao’s true identity. Learning about Zhou Chao’s immense wealth was unexpected.

As for the Duke of Somerset, he quickly regained his composure. The fact that Abdullah had personally invited Zhou Chao to the Queen’s banquet was evidence enough of Zhou Chao’s extraordinary status. It was likely just the tip of the iceberg.

“What do you mean, Zhou?” the Duke asked, his curiosity piqued. He understood that the evening’s invitation had something to do with these priceless treasures.

“I won’t sell them to you, that’s for sure. But if you have valuable artifacts to exchange, I might consider it,” Zhou Chao replied, his words carrying a hint of meaning.

“Exchange?” Duke Somerset furrowed his brows upon hearing Zhou Chao’s words.

After all, the two paintings alone could be considered national treasures, not to mention Victoria’s Parliamentary Scepter and King John’s Crown. These were priceless treasures and held great significance for their country.

For a moment, the entire private room fell into silence. Zhou Chao continued to enjoy his post-meal fruits and desserts with a calm demeanor. Guan Ze, on the other hand, sat there observing the unfolding drama with an air of detachment. As for the Duke, he had long since adopted a serious and contemplative expression, as if he could crush flies with the tension in his brow.

“Exchanging is definitely on the table, but what would we use for the exchange?”

While the Duke of Somerset was deep in thought, Zhou Chao turned to Guan Ze and said, “Guan Lao, have you ever visited Gallery 33 at the Eagle Museum? 1 recently found out that they have a vast collection of our precious cultural artifacts!”

Guan Ze, who had been caught off guard, quickly understood and wore a regretful expression. He replied, “Your timing couldn’t have been worse. If you had come a little earlier, you would have had the chance to see some precious artifacts, such as the Nine Confucian Classics, Liao Dynasty tri-colored pottery, murals from the Qingliang Temple, and the Double Goat Wine Vessel!” “That’s a pity, but it’s not a big deal. When you return to China, you can visit my collection. The gemstones on King John’s crown are truly exquisite!”

“Then I’ll trouble you with that!” Guan Ze also smiled warmly.

Duke Somerset was not a fool, and the way these two were speaking to each other left no room for doubt. They were openly discussing a trade: Zhou Chao wanted the precious Chinese cultural relics from the Great Eagle Museum in exchange for the items he had shown.

The room fell into silence once again. Zhou Chao and Guan Ze exchanged a knowing glance, both with a subtle smile.

Everyone in the room understood this was a game of wits, but they had to play along. Duke Somerset sighed and said to Zhou Chao and Guan Ze, “I’ll need some time to consider this. Could you provide me with a copy of these photos? I’d like to study them further.”

“Of course, no problem. If you ever want to visit and appreciate them in person, feel free to come with me to China!” Zhou Chao added, his tone carrying a hint of weight.

“Thank you. I have some important matters to attend to now, so I’ll take my leave,” Duke Somerset said as he hurriedly left the room.

Now, only Zhou Chao and Guan Ze remained in the private room.

“Mr. Zhou, do you think Duke Somerset will report this to higher authorities?”

“He probably will, considering the significance of these items. Victoria’s Parliamentary Scepter and King John’s Crown hold great value, not just financially but also in terms of their historical and royal significance. Even if they suspect foul play, they’ll have to reluctantly accept the situation.”

Guan Ze fell silent for a moment before expressing his concern, “I’m worried they might act desperately and pose a threat to you.”

“Don’t worry, everything is under control. I’ve made arrangements. I’ll fly to Monte Carlo overnight. It will give them more reason to hurry, and 1 believe they’ll be more anxious than we are. By the way, Guan Ze, can you spread some rumors, something ambiguous, to keep them on the defensive?”

“Haha, you can trust me on that. I’ll handle it discreetly and make sure they remain off balance.”

They exchanged a knowing glance and shared a smile.

After leaving the hotel, Zhou Chao boarded Todd’s private Mercedes-Benz, and the three cars made their way to the airport. Before long, Zhou Chao’s private jet took off from London Airport, heading for Monte Carlo, Morocco.

Meanwhile, Duke Somerset had just received news of Zhou Chao and his group leaving the Eagle Kingdom. His expression changed several times during the journey back, and he could only let out a sigh.

“It seems they’ve prepared for the worst.” Upon returning, Duke Somerset made a phone call to Buckingham Palace and also initiated an investigation into Zhou Chao. He soon discovered that Zhou Chao held significant shares in both the Lei Du Group and the Lifeng Group, which further solidified his suspicions.

By the time Zhou Chao landed in Monte Carlo, it was nearly dawn. He headed straight to the pre-arranged hotel.

“How did you know I was in Monte Carlo?” Zhou Chao asked, puzzled, holding his phone.

“I saw your plane parked at the private airstrip when I flew in. I had a hunch you might be here, so I decided to give you a call and check!” Abdullah, whom Zhou Chao hadn’t seen for a few days, was on the other end of the line.

“Oh, you’re in Monte Carlo too? Have you finished your business in London?”

“No, you didn’t have to mention it. Now that you brought it up, I feel like 1 have a headache. These past few days, it’s been nothing but discussions and arguments, and I needed a break!” Abdul complained.

“Sure thing. What are you planning to do?” Zhou Chao asked.

“Deep-sea fishing, care to join?”

“Alright, let’s meet at the pier later!” Zhou Chao hung up the phone, jumped out of bed, and got ready.

After freshening up and putting on a casual sportswear outfit, he left the hotel, bringing Lin Wu and Todd along. They drove straight to the pier.

Upon arriving at the pier, they spotted Abdul, standing on the bridge of a large yacht. The sea breeze blew freely, and the air carried a distinct salty scent.

Once Zhou Chao and his companions boarded the yacht, Abdullah instructed the captain to set sail from the dock. Zhou Chao noticed that the large yacht was towing two smaller boats behind it.

Sitting next to Abdullah with a glass of red wine in hand, Zhou Chao asked, “Why hasn’t the acquisition been finalized yet? It’s been several days.”

“Well, it’s a long story.”

Abdul sighed and began to explain the situation to Zhou Chao.

There didn’t seem to be any problems on the surface, but there were complications behind the scenes. The club’s top management wasn’t particularly fond of their Saudi consortium. Abdullah hinted at some undisclosed issues, which Zhou Chao understood.

“Why continue negotiations then? Why not explore other options?”

“We want to give it another shot. Anyway, let’s not dwell on that. Cheers!”

Abdullah raised his glass, and Zhou Chao clinked his in response. They sat on the yacht’s bridge, drinking and chatting, until the boat came to a stop not long after.

Meanwhile, Lin Wu and Todd were busy at the stern, holding fishing rods.

“I wonder if we’ll catch a Bluefin Tuna today!” Zhou Chao mused as he gazed at the calm Mediterranean Sea.

Abdullah burst into laughter beside him.

“Zhou, forget about it. Bluefin Tuna is an endangered species. In most places, it’s illegal to catch them for consumption. In some areas, eating it might even get you in trouble with the authorities. Even if you want to fish for Bluefin, you’d need to find a boat with the proper quota. Our yacht is most suitable for catching other fish.”

Hearing all this, Zhou Chao didn’t feel too disappointed. After all, he only wanted to experience the thrill of catching a Bluefin Tuna. He had plenty of Bluefin Tuna in his warehouse. He didn’t even consider hiring a special boat for fishing.

With his abilities, catching one alive wouldn’t be a problem. As long as he spotted a Bluefin Tuna and used his animal affinity, wouldn’t it come to him willingly?

The two of them went fishing mainly to pass the time. They weren’t too concerned about whether they’d actually catch anything. Of course, if they did manage to hook a big fish, it would be quite an achievement.

As the sun began to set, Zhou Chao and Abdullah had already packed up their fishing gear. They lay on deck chairs on the yacht, chatting casually.

“It’s getting late; let’s head back,” Abdullah suggested.

“Sure.”

The yacht soon started its journey back towards the dock.

Upon their return to the shore, Zhou Chao and Abdullah went to the same restaurant they had been to before for dinner. Abdullah had initially invited Zhou Chao to join him for a night out on the town, but he gracefully declined. “Take care of yourself and don’t stay out too late!”

“Got it!” Abdullah waved his hand and, without looking back, walked away with a big grin, accompanied by his two bodyguards..