According to Qingyi's understanding, this antique thief organization had been entrenched in the outer ring for years, committing numerous crimes while remaining at large.
There were definitely more than just the three people in front of them.
And the antiques they had weren't limited to the few bottles and jars on the table.
They had to lure out the rest—both the people and the stolen goods—before signaling Zhu Yan, who was lying in ambush, to take them down in one sweep.
Qingyi shot Sam Li a look, silently telling him to stay quiet and let her handle the negotiation.
"I've heard all about your extensive connections and the countless rare treasures in your possession. And now you want to fool my master with just a few bottles and jars? Looks to me like you're just after an empty reputation."
She deliberately put on a look of disdain.
The old man wasn't that easy to trick. He didn't fall for it in the slightest.
He merely glanced at Qingyi before turning to Sam Li and saying, "Young friend, you do have an impressive appearance, but in this line of work, there are rules! Since you claim to be a master appraiser, I must ask you to evaluate this antique before we proceed with any transactions…"
A smile lingered on his face as he spoke, but there was a sharp glint in his eyes.
As a seasoned fox who had been in the trade for years, he wasn't about to lower his guard just because of Sam Li's looks or the birdcage he carried. Instead, he was probing further to verify Sam Li's authenticity.
Things were veering off course.
This wasn't what Qingyi had planned.
She hadn't expected the other party to be this cautious.
"Is this how you treat your guests?"
"What's the matter? Could it be that the famous appraiser of New Eridu is afraid of appraising treasures? Or perhaps… you're a fraud?" The man in chains and the one with a center parting stepped in closer, looking ready to make a move.
Seeing this, Qingyi coughed lightly before putting on an air of nonchalance.
"No need for an appraisal. My master will take everything. If you have more stock, bring it out now."
The old man refused without hesitation. "No! That's the rule."
Qingyi was speechless.
This wasn't how their deal had been set up when they discussed it online.
Had she known there would be an appraisal involved, she wouldn't have asked Sam Li to pose as an expert—she would've just grabbed a real one from an auction house.
Things had already come this far. There was no turning back now.
They had no choice but to go through with it.
Qingyi herself was an antiques enthusiast. She loved collecting artifacts, had a passion for old poetry, and knew a thing or two about appraisals…
With her help, she could guide Sam Li in determining the authenticity of the antiques.
She gave Sam Li a subtle signal, telling him not to worry.
Sam Li caught on instantly and walked over to the table with her, carefully examining the antiques displayed there.
The first piece was an ancient jade, about the size of a palm.
Jade had always been a hotspot for counterfeits. Most of the ancient jade circulating in New Eridu's market these days were post-disaster, New Era imitations.
And the quality of these imitations varied wildly—so much so that even an ordinary person could often tell real from fake at a glance.
But this piece was different.
Its surface had a warm, lustrous sheen, and when held, it felt as smooth and delicate as a young girl's skin.
A very high-quality forgery.
Qingyi picked it up and examined it as well, her brows furrowing.
It looked like a rare and valuable antique, but something about it felt off in her hands.
Her instincts screamed that it was a fake, yet she couldn't pinpoint exactly why.
Before she could figure it out, the old man spoke up.
"A long, long time ago, in an ancient period known as the Western Zhou Dynasty, this jade was passed down as a relic from that era."
At those words, Qingyi's frown deepened.
As an antique enthusiast, she was more than familiar with the Western Zhou Dynasty.
It was an ancient era from an ancient era—so far removed from the present that it had become a legend in the world of antiques.
There was no way this jade came from that time.
She quickly glanced at Sam Li, giving him a subtle signal to indicate that the jade was fake.
But Sam Li remained fixated on the jade, completely ignoring her hint.
She could only sigh inwardly.
You couldn't count on Sam Li.
Qingyi had no choice but to step in. "This jade is quite good, but it's been preserved too perfectly—too pristine to be from the Western Zhou Dynasty. If I had to guess, it's at most a few hundred years…"
Before she could finish, Sam Li suddenly interjected, "At most, it was made last week."
She was stunned for a moment, then turned to Sam Li with an incredulous expression. What nonsense was he spouting?
Even if this jade wasn't from the Western Zhou Dynasty, it was still from an older era. How could it possibly be from last week?
At this moment, Qingyi had only two thoughts.
First, they were doomed. Their fake treasure appraiser had just been exposed.
Second, she had to act fast—whoever struck first would have the advantage. Quietly, she reached behind her back, gripping her weapon tightly.
Something unexpected happened.
Instead of getting suspicious, the old man nodded in satisfaction. "How did you figure that out?"
Sam Li picked up the jade again and explained calmly, "The texture is warm and smooth, the color soft and natural. At first glance, it looks no different from authentic ancient jade. But you overlooked one crucial detail."
"What detail?" the old man asked, puzzled.
"You used Ether to artificially age this jade—but you forgot to clear out the residual Ether inside," Sam Li answered.
The moment he said this, realization dawned on Qingyi.
By using Ether as a catalyst, one could infuse an object with a deep sense of history, making brand-new jade appear ancient in an instant.
No wonder there were no visible flaws—this was how they pulled it off.
Why did Sam Li, a professional agent from Cunning Rabbit House, know so much about this?
There was no time to dwell on that now.
Qingyi shot Sam Li a look of approval before turning to the old man with a smirk. "If this is the level of forgery we're dealing with, my master doesn't even need to step in. I can handle the appraisal myself."
With that, she followed Sam Li's method.
Taking each antique in her hands, she carefully examined them, focusing on their internal properties. Sure enough, traces of residual Ether were present in every single one.
And they had all been forged using the same technique.
They had passed all of the old man's tests.
A satisfied grin appeared on Qingyi's face. "Traces of the past are everywhere, as are clues to the truth. But it's a shame—all of these antiques are counterfeits. Now then, isn't it time to bring out the real treasures?"
At this, the old man finally lowered his guard.
He gestured to the man in chains and the man with the center-parted hair. "Bring them out."
Before long, the two men reappeared, followed by four or five more thieves in strange attire, all carrying a large chest.
This had to be the full roster of the Antique Thief Organization.
It was time to signal Zhu Yan and the Security Bureau to move in.