Behind the castle gate is a relatively wide courtyard, paved with square stone tiles, a fountain, and several Roman warrior sculptures, which look to be at least several hundred years old.
There were dozens of armed men in the courtyard, standing in different corners and in different positions. Their equipment was all German-made and very sophisticated.
The white young man led Ning Tao through the courtyard, into a very smooth stone corridor, and finally came to the hall of the castle.
The hall is high and wide, with a dozen huge stone pillars supporting the oval dome. A flag hangs on the front wall. The flag is embroidered with the pattern of a heraldic shield. Blue and white prisms are interlaced, covering the entire flag.
Ning Tao glanced at the flag, but didn't know what it symbolized.
The hall was empty and no one was waiting.
"Please wait a moment." The white young man leading the way walked towards the stairs.
Fan Huaying leaned close to Ning Tao's ear and whispered: "Strange, why would such a flag be hoisted?"
Ning Tao asked: "What does it represent?"
Fan Huaying said: "That is the emblem of the Wittelsbach family in the Bavarian era. This family has been powerful for seven hundred years and has ruled Germany, Hungary, Denmark, Greece and Norway, and maybe more. It is very great, that's all I know. "
"That's amazing." Ning Tao was moved. It was unprecedented in the history of China for a family to flourish for seven hundred years and rule so many countries and regions.
"However, the Wittelsbach family declined more than a hundred years ago. With the death of Princess Sissi, the descendants of this family are now living a prosperous life. The famous Swan Castle is their family's private property. They The family also owns many antiques from the Holy Roman period. It is not an exaggeration to describe this family as an invisible empire... But how could Thomas be related to the Wittelsbach family? Could this humble castle be the Wittelsbach family? The Ersbach family's property?" Fan Huaying said to herself, with a look of confusion on her face.
Ning Tao raised his head. Just as he raised his head, a white man in his fifties appeared beside the railing of the circular corridor on the second floor. He was holding a glass of red wine in his hand and looked down at him and Li Li who were standing in the hall. Fan Huaying.
Fan Huaying also saw the white man, and he said to Ning Tao, "He is Thomas."
Ning Tao nodded slightly, quietly awakening the sight and hearing skills of his eyes and nose. Yesterday, he looked away and almost missed Shen Ge, a kind man. He didn't want to make the same mistake again. In addition to distinguishing good from evil, he also has another purpose, which is to confirm whether Thomas has other identities, such as a cultivator or a demon.
Thomas's congenital aura is normal, but there is also bad energy, and it is obvious.
Ning Tao looked at Thomas, and Thomas looked at Ning Tao with sharp eyes.
After a few seconds Thomas left the railing and entered the corridor. A minute later, he walked out of the stairs. Several people followed him into the hall, two tall and burly white men in white suits and ties. Although they did not hold guns in their hands, they had the smell of guns emanating from their bodies. smell. There are two other Chinese, both a bit older, one in his early fifties and the other in his forties. The two of them were well dressed, wore expensive watches, were well maintained, had fair skin and rosy complexions.
These two Chinese seemed to be the "domestic" buyers that Fan Huaying mentioned.
Thomas came to Ning Tao and Fan Huaying. The two bodyguards stepped away and crossed their hands between their legs. The two Chinese men stared at the dusty plastic woven bag in Ning Tao's hand with strange expressions on their faces.
"Mr. Fan, why are you late?" Thomas' first sentence was actually quite standard Chinese. The corner of his eye was also focused on the plastic woven bag in Ning Tao's hand, but there was no expression on his face.
Fan Huaying's words were a bit flashy: "Um... I encountered something, but it has been dealt with and will not affect our transaction. Let me introduce, this is Ning... "
Before he could finish speaking, Thomas interrupted him: "I know who he is, and I also know what happened to you. I thought you would leave Germany immediately after escaping, but I didn't expect you would dare to Come here. Aren't you afraid that the CIA will rush here if I call you? As far as I know, the CIA is offering a reward of five million dollars for clues about you two. I can earn five million dollars with just one phone call. , and what you brought.”
Fan Huaying was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect Thomas's opening remarks to be like this.
Thomas has been observing Ning Tao's face from the corner of his eye.
Ning Tao said calmly: "Mr. Thomas, you are really well-informed. Now that you know who I am and what happened, do you think your people are more powerful than CIA agents?"
Thomas frowned slightly, but then he smiled: "Mr. Ning, I appreciate your courage and courage. Okay, let's get started. Let me take a look at your goods first."
Ning Tao opened the plastic woven bag, took out the four pieces of Yue kiln porcelain in foam boxes one by one, and placed them on the ground. He took the last vase directly from the foam box and handed it to Thomas.
Thomas carefully held the vase for appraisal, and the two Chinese men also came to Thomas' side to look at the vase.
Ning Tao simply took out another vase and two plates and placed them on the foam box.
"Compared with the vase and the plate, this is a treasure of the Tang Dynasty royal family. It is a miracle that it is so well preserved." A Chinese man's eyes were shining and he was full of praise.
Fan Huaying said: "There is nothing wrong with the things. Four pieces of porcelain, one billion Chinese dollars. After the transfer, these four pieces of porcelain will belong to you."
Thomas didn't say anything. He handed the vase to a Chinese buyer, then squatted in front of three other pieces of porcelain, looking at them one after another. Although he tried his best to control his emotions, his eyes still betrayed him. His eyes were full of excitement and greed.
How can those European antiques be compared with the precious porcelain from the prosperous Tang Dynasty? Looking at the four pieces of Yue kiln porcelain in front of me, I'm afraid I can't find anything comparable to them in the whole of Europe.
"Mr. Fan, isn't one billion too expensive?" a Chinese buyer said, observing the reactions of Ning Tao and Fan Huaying out of the corner of his eye.
Fan Huaying said: "Not long ago, a Chenghua color chicken cup was sold for more than 200 million. These four pieces of Yue kiln porcelain are more precious than the chicken cup. The price is already very reasonable. If you don't want it, Let’s take it away and I’ll look for a buyer again. There will definitely be people clamoring for the billion Chinese dollars.”
Thomas had finished appraising the other three pieces of porcelain. He stood up and said, "One million, I want your stuff."
Fan Huaying exclaimed: "One million? Thomas, are you kidding?"
Thomas said: "One million, this is the best price I can give you. Keep the porcelain and go with one million."
The young white man who led the way also came out of the stairwell, holding a lockbox in his hand. It seemed that the box was a box for money.
A lockbox obviously cannot hold one billion, and one million is barely enough.
Fan Huaying was anxious. He reached for the vase in the hand of the Chinese buyer, but the Chinese buyer took a step back. A bodyguard followed and blocked Fan Huaying's way.
Fan Huaying said angrily: "What do you want to do? Do you want to rob me?"
Thomas sneered: "People from the CIA are looking for you all over the world. I have made it very clear just now. If I make a phone call, I can easily earn five million US dollars, and there is also a big favor from the CIA. I didn't think about it. If I take your life, I will give you one million. Be content and don’t be too greedy. If you are too greedy, be careful and risk your life.”
Fan Huaying wanted to say something else, but Ning Tao pulled him back: "Brother Huaying, there's no need to say any more. Leave it to me to handle it."
Fan Huaying felt angry and unwilling, but still nodded. This situation now makes him feel shameless and ashamed of Ning Tao. He had set up so many scams, but this was the first time he was scammed, and he was the one who was deceived.
Ning Tao looked at Thomas and said calmly: "Mr. Thomas, are you sure you want to spend one million to buy my four pieces of porcelain?"
Thomas grinned and his eyes were cold: "I will give you one last chance to get one million and leave here, otherwise you will stay here forever."
A smile appeared on the corner of Ning Tao's mouth: "Originally, I just wanted to sell it for one billion, take the money and leave, but you made the matter so complicated, you made me feel cheated, and then you threatened me. I am What I hate most is to be deceived and threatened. Now I will give you a chance. Let’s do this. The price of one billion remains unchanged, but you have to pay me two hundred million in mental damages.”
"Hahaha!" A Chinese buyer laughed loudly, "Do you really think of yourself as a lone hero? Do you know where this place is?"
Ning Tao said calmly: "I was threatened again, add another 100 million."
The Chinese buyer holding the vase sneered: "You guy, are you crazy about money?"
Ning Tao said: "Screen me and add another 100 million."
The Chinese buyer holding the vase wanted to say something else, but Thomas glared at him and then he shut his mouth. With such a reaction, these two Chinese buyers were not buyers from China at all, but more like Thomas's men.
Thomas said coldly: "Boy, I've given you a chance, but you didn't cherish it. No one in this land can go against my wishes. Do you really want to die?"
The smile on Ning Tao's lips became even more obvious: "Add another 100 million."
When he added the price of one billion, it instantly became 1.5 billion.
One hundred million, this is probably the most expensive fine in the world.
Thomas smiled, slowly raised his hand, and clapped his palms.
Bang bang!
This is a signal to take action.
Along the way, Ning Tao could see dozens of armed men with extremely sophisticated equipment. It could be said that they were like a dragon in a tiger's den.
However, Thomas typed out the code, but no armed man rushed in at the door.
Thomas frowned slightly and patted again.
Bang bang bang!
This time he clapped a little more and louder.
But…
The door was still empty, not to mention the well-equipped armed men, not even a dog appeared.
What's happening here
Thomas was stunned.