Hu sat in the interrogation room, his body language relaxed, as if he were the one in control. His hands were cuffed, but his smirk remained, daring them to break him. Steve and Danny entered, each taking a seat across from him.
Danny leaned forward first. "Vincent Hu, you're looking at charges for possession and trafficking of stolen artifacts. That'll get you a cozy cell for the next twenty years if you're lucky."
Hu's smirk grew. "You think twenty years means anything to me? This little operation you've stumbled on, its nothing. There are bigger players with pockets deeper than you can imagine. Locking me up changes nothing."
Steve exchanged a look with Danny, reading between Hu's arrogance. He could tell Hu was loyal to someone higher up. They needed to push harder.
Steve slid a series of photographs across the table, showing images of stolen artifacts recovered from the latest raid. "Recognize these?" he asked calmly. "They were found with your fingerprints all over them."
Hu glanced at the photos, feigning indifference. But his gaze lingered a fraction too long on a specific artifact: a jade amulet engraved with a dragon symbol.
"Interesting piece, isn't it?" Steve pressed, noting Hu's reaction. "This was last seen in a Tokyo museum three years ago. It vanished without a trace…until it showed up here. Care to explain how it got into your hands?"
Hu's smirk faltered for the first time. He shifted uncomfortably. "You think you're the only ones on this? People want these artifacts more than you know – collectors, clients who will pay millions. You couldn't stop it if you tried."
Danny leaned in, pressing the advantage. "We know all about your 'clients,' Hu. We've got records linking your deals to an art dealer in Tokyo and offshore accounts across Asia. It's only a matter of time before we track every payment."
Hu's confidence cracked. He glanced at the door, as if considering his options. "Fine," he said slowly. "There's a collection. They call it the Hoshino Collection."
Steve leaned forward, carefully listening. "The Hoshino Collection. Go on."
"It's an assortment of artifacts, stolen from temples and museums across Asia over the past decade," Hu continued reluctantly. "Priceless relics. The kind of pieces no museum could afford to protect well enough." He smirked again. "They're all held by the man who runs the syndicate, a man you'll never touch."
Danny took out a file and opened it in front of Hu. "You're talking about Akira Nakamura, aren't you? We know he's behind this operation, and we know he's been trafficking stolen artifacts for years."
Hu's eyes flickered with surprise, but he quickly composed himself. "Good luck getting to Nakamura. He's a ghost. Even his closest lieutenants don't see him. He trusts only a select few, those who have proven themselves."
Steve studied Hu, gauging his reluctance. "And you were one of those few, weren't you? That's how you got your hands on the jade amulet and everything else in that warehouse."
Hu's jaw clenched. He seemed to realize he'd already given too much away. After a moment of silence, he sighed. "I wasn't supposed to be running these shipments. Nakamura's people are everywhere,
museums, auction houses, shipping companies. They've got eyes and ears in every port from here to Hong Kong."
Danny raised an eyebrow. "So, Nakamura uses you to move his 'collection' under everyone's noses? And you're okay with risking everything while he keeps his hands clean?"
Hu's expression soured. "Nakamura doesn't care who gets caught, he only cares about the pieces. If you mess up, you're replaceable. That's how he's always operated."
Steve pressed further, sensing an opportunity. "And what about the Hoshino Collection? Where does Nakamura keep his 'masterpieces' hidden?"
Hu hesitated, glancing around the room as if someone might be listening. Finally, he spoke in a low voice, as if the mere mention could bring Nakamura's wrath. "There's a private gallery on Nakamura's estate outside Tokyo. Only his most trusted clients are invited to view it. It's a fortress, you'll never get in."
"Let us worry about that," Steve replied. "You've given us more than you realize."
Hu clenched his fists, realizing he had fallen into their trap. "Nakamura will know it was me who talked," he muttered. "You think this was my choice? They'll come after me next."
Steve met his gaze, unflinching. "You just helped take down Nakamura's operation, Hu. Cooperate fully, and we might keep you alive long enough to see it."
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With Hu's revelations, the team expanded their search. Kono and Chin dove into Nakamura's network, tracing the series of shell companies tied to offshore accounts. Records of large payments matched with the movements of stolen artifacts. Each transaction painted a clearer picture of a criminal empire stretching across continents.
"This guy doesn't just smuggle artifacts," Kono said, astonished. "He launders millions through high-profile art auctions. It's like he's built a black-market empire right in front of us."
"We've got the pieces," Chin agreed. "All we need is proof of Nakamura's involvement in the Hoshino Collection."
International Collaboration with Interpol, MI6, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Police
Realizing they needed more firepower, Steve reached out to Interpol's art theft division, Tokyo's art crime unit, and MI6. Through video conferences, each agency shared their pieces of the puzzle.
Agent Saito from Tokyo nodded thoughtfully. "Nakamura's been a ghost in Japan for years. His family is wealthy, powerful, and well-connected. But this Hoshino Collection – it's legendary. Rumor has it he keeps it locked away on his estate, guarded like a personal shrine."
MI6's Agent Kendall added, "Nakamura has a web of contacts in London's art world. We've seen signs of his influence in underground auctions. With Hu's testimony, we can justify a joint international operation."
Saito smiled grimly. "This may be our only chance to stop him. Nakamura has friends in high places; we'll have to move quickly."
Agent Dupont laid out a plan. "We need to move on three fronts: Nakamura's estate in Tokyo, his primary shipping hub in Hong Kong, and the auction house he frequents in London. A synchronized takedown will cut off every major limb of his operation."
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Mi6- Agent Kendall
Interpol- Agent Dupont
Agent Saito from Tokyo