Under the warm hospitality of Mr. Paul’s wife, Wang Guan raised his cup, took a sip of the rich black tea, and then broke into a brilliant smile of approval. As for whether it was truly excellent, that was debatable. In truth, whether it was Wang Guan or Fang Mingsheng and the others, after sampling the desserts and sipping the coffee and tea, everyone offered profuse and unreserved praise.

Naturally, Mr. Paul’s wife was delighted by this. After offering a few words of thanks, she excused herself on some pretext, leaving her husband and friends to converse freely.

Of course, the conversation was less about idle chatter and more about tallying up their acquisitions. At that moment, Mr. Paul brought out the imitation Ge Ware vase with ear handles, a subtle look of pride on his face, and gestured for everyone to admire it.

"Truly impressive."

This time, Wang Guan’s compliment came from the heart.

It was evident that the piece was a meticulously crafted imitation. Both the clay body and the glaze showed extraordinary attention to detail. Especially the crackle pattern, the kaipian, whose fine lines resembled the ancient austerity of iron threads. Coupled with the deep, mellow sheen of the glaze, it possessed an inherent, ineffable beauty.

Wang Guan’s discerning critique, once translated by Yu Wei, made Mr. Paul beam with delight. In turn, he praised Wang Guan for his keen eye, calling him an outstanding young connoisseur.

"My cup and saucer set isn't bad either."

At the same time, Fang Mingsheng presented the gift he intended for his friends. They were custom-made cups adorned with gilded crests, complete with matching saucers—a full porcelain set. Ordinarily, even a single piece would be quite valuable; as a set, the value undoubtedly compounded far beyond the sum of its parts.

"These are for drinking milk tea," Mr. Anderson confirmed. "Imagine rich milk tea held within this pure white porcelain; the red and white hues merge completely. It’s stunning."

"Of course, the most crucial element is the porcelain itself, crafted with superb technique. The fencai gilded decoration is distinctly Eastern, while the letter patterns are Western in style. This fusion of East and West is a magnificent artistic expression, naturally brimming with immense, immense charm."

Mr. Anderson was lavish with his praise, perhaps harboring a slight regret that he hadn't competed with Fang Mingsheng for this particular item.

"Not at all, not at all. In my view, sir, the pieces Mr. Anderson acquired are even better..." As a Chinese man, Fang Mingsheng understood the adage that flattery encourages reciprocity. Having received Mr. Anderson's compliments, it was only natural he should return the favor.

However, Fang Mingsheng wasn't entirely wrong; the items Mr. Anderson had purchased were indeed masterpieces. Especially the oil painting… While Wang Guan couldn't gauge its precise value, Mr. Paul’s look of awe was proof enough that it was a rare treasure.

Yet, while the painting was certainly valuable, when it came to choosing the absolute best piece, both men unanimously favored the Bible.

"A hand-copied Bible—to measure it purely by monetary value seems almost sacrilegious," Yu Wei mused, understanding the profound reverence Westerners held for the Bible. It was no longer just a matter of religious faith, but an established aspect of their daily existence.

If forced to draw a parallel, Yu Wei felt the Bible was akin to the Analects in the Chinese heart. The very source of Confucian culture stemmed from the Analects, just as the universal values of Western nations originate from the Bible.

Seeing Mr. Anderson’s solemn expression as he carefully handled the Bible, Wang Guan knew Yu Wei was correct. Just as Chinese civilization was ingrained in the hearts of the Chinese people, the culture derived from the Bible had seeped into the very blood of Westerners.

However, compared to the Analects, the Bible carried an additional layer of sacred, inviolable aura, almost religious in nature. Only after Mr. Anderson carefully placed the Bible away did the atmosphere finally ease back into relaxation.

At that moment, prompted by a subtle cue from Wang Guan, Yu Wei remembered their primary objective and quickly asked Mr. Paul about the person they were looking for. Upon hearing the query, Mr. Paul immediately rose and walked toward the outer room.

Soon after, Mr. Paul returned, holding a contact book. Unlike typical address books, this one contained remarkably complete information, even including photographs of the contacts.

Mr. Paul flipped through the pages for a moment, stopped abruptly, and turned the book toward Wang Guan and the others for them to see.

"That’s him…"

Upon Yu Wei’s confirmation, Wang Guan scrutinized the photograph. It showed the man’s upper body; his facial features matched Old Master Kong’s description almost perfectly: a full, thick beard and a pair of large, black-framed glasses, lending him a distinct air of academia.

"Martin!"

Just then, Mr. Anderson exclaimed in surprise, as if he recognized the man in the picture.

"What, Mr. Anderson, you know him?"

In an instant, a thought sparked in Wang Guan’s mind, and he pressed the question urgently, a measure of expectation flickering in his gaze.

"Know him? Of course, I know him."

Mr. Anderson chuckled. "I recall telling you about when I acquired that Chenghua doucai chicken cup from a collector in Seattle. You even asked me for his address back then."

"It really is him…"

Receiving Mr. Anderson’s affirmation, Wang Guan’s mood became rather complex, a mixture of elation and apprehension.

The joy was self-evident: combining the various pieces of evidence, they could now confirm this man was indeed Mr. Zhu, or at the very least, a key figure among Mr. Zhu’s associates. However, the man was elusive; they couldn't locate him in Seattle last year, only for him to turn up here in England. The worry was that they were once again a step behind, having lost his trail in London.

Seeing Wang Guan’s troubled expression, Mr. Anderson grew curious. "Wang, why are you looking for him?"

"He has many fine items in his possession that we are very interested in acquiring," Wang Guan lied without batting an eyelid, his expression perfectly calm and forthright. "But we lack the fortune; we’ve missed the opportunity once again."

This was the prepared excuse they had concocted to use with Mr. Paul, which now served perfectly to satisfy Mr. Anderson.

"I see."

Mr. Anderson harbored no suspicion and instead smiled. "Martin is quite the wanderer. His daughter was studying in Seattle, which is why he settled there for half a year. After that, perhaps he couldn't suppress his longing for travel and set off around the world again…"

"He has a daughter?" Wang Guan immediately latched onto the key detail, a surge of surprise mixed with hope. "Mr. Anderson, is his daughter still in Seattle?"

"That…" Mr. Anderson shook his head. "I'm not entirely sure. Perhaps she is; she still needs to attend school. As for which school… I don't know. That’s personal information; it wouldn't be proper to inquire."

"Oh."

Wang Guan naturally felt disappointed, but immediately rallied, sensing that Mr. Zhu, who had been as elusive as the wind, was finally beginning to surface, leaving ripples behind—a major breakthrough worthy of celebration.

They had made the right choice coming to London.

Slowly, Wang Guan calmed down, suppressing the urge to immediately call Elder Qian and suggest he continue his investigation in Seattle by focusing on the daughter of the man they suspected. Instead, he offered timely thanks to Mr. Anderson for providing such crucial information.

The rest of the gathering proceeded smoothly. After another half hour of admiring a few more pieces, Wang Guan and his companions rose to bid farewell to Mr. Paul, who offered no objection and saw them out.

As soon as they stepped outside, Wang Guan and his group faced another parting: saying goodbye to Mr. Anderson.

Wang Guan had intended to invite Mr. Anderson to dinner as a gesture of thanks for his help. However, Mr. Anderson seemed to have an urgent matter requiring him to leave London immediately. Despite attempts to persuade him to stay, they parted ways amicably.

After exchanging goodbyes, and navigating through various transfers, everyone returned to the hotel, each bearing a degree of quiet satisfaction. Seeing how late it was, they opted for an early dinner and ordered a bottle of red wine to celebrate.

Today’s gains were substantial; a celebration was certainly in order.

Never mind Wang Guan’s Jinsheng Yuzhen or Fang Mingsheng’s Da Vinci Cipher Tube; the mere lead on Mr. Zhu was enough to fill them with immense joy. Furthermore, Yu Wei had reached an agreement with Mr. Paul to convene a porcelain seminar for the London members in a few days, a perfect opportunity to inquire if anyone else knew Mr. Zhu's whereabouts.

"Speaking of which, Mr. Yu,"

Taking advantage of the occasion, Fang Mingsheng said with a smile, "Tomorrow, Wang Guan and I need to visit a friend and will have to be away for two or three days. Assisting Mr. Paul with the meeting arrangements will have to be left entirely to you."

"Where are you going?" Yu Wei naturally expressed curiosity. "Which friend are you visiting?"

"A friend of mine. It’s been a long time since I last saw him, and since I'm in England, I definitely must pay him a call," Fang Mingsheng chuckled. "His home isn't far, actually, just in the southeastern region. The transport is excellent; it only takes a few hours. We’ll stay there for a couple of days and then return."

Fang Mingsheng’s words were deliberately vague, and Yu Wei, understanding the implication, wisely refrained from probing further. Time passed quickly, dinner concluded, and everyone retreated to their respective rooms to attend to their own matters.

Wang Guan certainly reported the day’s events to Elder Qian, suggesting he focus his investigation in Seattle on the daughter of the suspected Mr. Zhu, as this might provide a direct route to tracing the man's movements.

Elder Qian agreed with this assessment. After a brief further discussion, the communication ended.

At that very moment, Wang Guan heard a light knock on his door. He opened it to find Fang Mingsheng standing there, beaming, holding the Da Vinci Cipher Tube. It was clear; he could no longer contain his eagerness and had come to seek Wang Guan’s help in deciphering the lock.

"No need to be so rushed,"

Despite his words, Wang Guan accepted the tube and examined it closely. The object resembled a rather long, cylindrical canister, yet its shape was exceptionally elegant. It had a noticeable weight when he lifted it. Most importantly, there was a faint rattling sound from within, confirming the auctioneer’s claim that something was sealed inside.

However, the tube was hermetically sealed, featuring five dials, each marked with twenty-six letters. Determining the final combination would indeed be quite a complex task…