Chapter 5

Stern shouts, like thunder from heaven, suddenly rang out.

Over a dozen uniformed, armed police officers surged in like a tide, their dark gun barrels instantly aimed at everyone in the exhibition hall.

The lead officer had eyes like lightning, an imposing presence, and a voice filled with undeniable authority.

The entire world fell silent again.

The police's sudden arrival was like a bucket of ice water dumped over their heads, instantly extinguishing Michelle and Collins's arrogance.

Collins's hand froze in mid-air, the madness on his face fading into confusion and terror.

But Michelle clearly hadn't yet realized the seriousness of the situation.

She only frowned slightly. After a brief moment of panic, she quickly regained her composure. She even adjusted her slightly disheveled collar, assuming her usual arrogant posture, and addressed the lead officer:

"Officer, this is just a misunderstanding."

"My friend was joking with this gentleman and accidentally broke some things. We Hugos will compensate for all losses double—no, ten times over."

She still thought this was a small matter that could be settled with money.

Just then, another series of hurried but steady footsteps came from the entrance.

Our museum's curator, currently covered in sweat and looking panicked, was accompanying a stern-faced, naturally imposing middle-aged man as they quickly walked in.

Seeing that middle-aged man, the arrogance on Michelle's face finally showed a crack, her color changing slightly.

And when I saw who it was, my nerves, taut to the breaking point, finally relaxed a bit. My eyes grew hot, and I nearly shed tears.

I immediately went forward, my voice trembling slightly with emotion:

"Dr. Kane!"

The newcomer was none other than Dr. Kane from the Cultural Affairs Bureau. The person I had called in my last moment of rationality.

Dr. Kane's sharp gaze quickly swept across the chaotic scene, his brow visibly furrowing.

He ignored Michelle's extended hand attempting to shake his, didn't even glance at her, but walked straight to the fragments of the ancient Greek maid sculpture on the ground.

He crouched down, pulled out a pair of white gloves from his pocket, put them on meticulously, then carefully, as if holding a priceless treasure, picked up the largest fragment.

His expression instantly turned ashen.

An emotion mixing heartache, regret, and towering rage condensed around him. The air pressure in the entire exhibition hall seemed to drop several degrees because of his silence.

He slowly stood up, his gaze like two unsheathed swords shooting straight at the now terrified Collins.

"Do you know what you've destroyed?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried tremendous weight. Every word seemed squeezed through clenched teeth, hammering into Collins's heart.

He didn't wait for an answer but turned to me, his voice containing rage and heartache suppressed to the extreme. "Howard, tell me the situation. Every detail. Don't leave out a single word!"

I forced myself to control my emotions, took a deep breath, and recounted everything that had just happened.

After listening, Dr. Kane said nothing.

He only slowly, slowly turned around and looked at Michelle with eyes cold to the extreme.