British Museum, London, UK. 2:30 a.m.
Passing through the bronze doors of the museum, Song Jie and Eva Herzog, led by Ms. Smith, were immediately struck by the grandeur of the museum's central courtyard. Encircled by a majestic ring of neoclassical grey Portland limestone buildings, the courtyard stretches approximately 100 meters in length and 70 meters in width, about the size of a football field.
At the heart of the courtyard stands another neoclassical structure, a solitary cylindrical building encircled by two ribbon-like staircases—this is the museum's iconic circular library. The circular building and the surrounding architecture are seamlessly connected by a glass dome supported by a steel framework. The glass dome, resembling a vast transparent curtain, drapes over the entire courtyard.
Around the eaves of the circular library, where it meets the glass dome, a ring of white lights has been installed, as if placing a radiant crown atop the central library. The soft yellow light reflects off the courtyard's pale yellow Italian limestone floor, creating a warm glow. At this moment, in the silence and emptiness of the deserted museum, the scene exudes an air of mystery and quiet allure.
Director Horden stood quietly, his black figure reflected on the polished floor, resembling a dark statue.
Just as Song Jie and Eva Herzog came to a halt in front of him, before anyone else could speak, Eva Herzog couldn't hold back and fired the first shot, "What on earth is going on? What kind of game are you playing here? First, you throw us out, and now you call us back—what's this all about?"
Seeing Eva Herzog's agitation, Director Horden had to calm her down first. Smiling, she said, "I apologize, Officer Herzog. We had no intention of keeping you in the dark. But this matter is of great significance, and we don't want too many people to know about it—especially not the London police. I'm not entirely sure they can be trusted. That's why we initially turned you away before calling you back, mainly to give you a chance to shake off those two officers."
Before Herzog could react, Song Jie added, "This whole scheme was actually my idea. Officer Herzog, I've known director Horden for a long time. But this situation arose suddenly. When I heard the injured auctioneer at the Lindau Auction mention 'the Britsh Museum,' I immediately called Director Horden. From that moment, I knew she wasn't the mysterious client."
Eva Herzog, as if lost in a dense fog, asked in confusion, "So if it wasn't the British Museum, was the auctioneer lying?"
"He probably lied, but I don't know why. However, after I told Director Horden about it over the phone, she still advised me to come to London—there were things she didn't want to discuss over the phone."
"Why?" Eva Herzog asked.
"Because the Buddha head in question does indeed belong to the British Museum," Song Jie replied.
This statement left Herzog feeling like the fog in front of her had turned into a web, leaving her not only blind but also immobilized.
"Dr. Song, I need to correct you to prevent further misunderstanding from Officer Herzog. This Buddha head used to be part of our collection," Director Horden said.
Completely baffled by their cryptic back-and-forth, Herzog, now frustrated, decisively said, "What exactly is going on? Stop fooling me around and get straight to the point."
Her sharp remark caught Song Jie off guard, while Director Horden maintained her composure, smiling gracefully. She said, "Dr. Song, it seems you haven't shared any information with this young lady. Very well, Officer Herzog, please follow me."
With that, she turned slightly and made a gesture of invitation, then led them across the courtyard, around the back of the library staircase. Eva Herzog followed, with Song Jie and Ms. Smith trailing behind.
Passing through a wooden door, they entered a vast exhibition hall filled with numerous glass display cases showcasing various artifacts rich in South American style. In the center stood a massive black stone statue over two meters tall. Its large, elongated head, prominent brow ridge, straight nose, thin and tightly closed lips exuded a solemn and dignified aura.
Upon seeing the colossal statue, Eva Herzog stopped in her tracks and remarked, "This enormous statue looks so much like the famous Easter Island statues, but it's somehow different—more refined, more striking."
Director Horden also paused, turned back with a smile, and said, "You're right, Officer Herzog. This giant basalt statue is indeed from Easter Island. Such statues are known locally as moai. Each one represents a deceased and revered ancestor of a local tribe, created as a way to seek their protection and blessings. That's why there are many similar but slightly different statues on Easter Island. The one in our collection is named Hoa Hakananai'a, and it's considered one of the most iconic and best-preserved statues from the island."
"This is absolutely stunning. I've seen pictures of these statues in books and online, but only by standing in front of it do I realize how enormous it really is. It's truly breathtaking. " Eva Herzog said.
"If you find this impressive, the next object might interest you even more," Horden replied with a smile. She then led the group around the statue and through a door on the other side of the hall. Herzog and Song Jie followed closely behind.
On the other side of the door was a staircase hall featuring a massive spiral staircase that connected four floors, wrapping around a central atrium four stories high. Director Horden walked into the middle of the atrium, turned around, and, with a smile, asked Herzog, "If that Easter Island statue amazed you, Officer Herzog, how do you feel about this one?"
It was at that moment, prompted by Horden's words, that Herzog noticed the towering Buddha statue standing in the center of the atrium. The colossal figure stretched up two full stories. Her eyes widened in astonishment, her mouth slightly agape, unable to utter a single word. She tried to get a better view of the upper half of the statue by craning her neck, but it was in vain—the sheer size of the statue made it impossible to see all of it at once from where she stood.
"Officer Herzog?" Song Jie lightly tapped the stunned Herzog on the shoulder, jolting her out of her trance-like state, and gestured toward Curator Horden, who was already ascending the staircase. Realizing she had fallen behind, Eva Herzog quickly caught up with the others.
At the platform where the staircase curved, Director Horden paused. From this vantage point, they had a perfect view of the Buddha statue. By slightly raising their heads, they could see the serene face and intricately carved hair bun of the statue. Looking down, they could admire the flowing robes and the delicately sculpted lotus pedestal upon which the statue stood.
Once all four had gathered at the platform, Director Horden turned to Song Jie and asked, "Dr. Song, would you like to do the honors, or should I?"
Song Jie quickly replied, "Since it concerns the case, Director Horden, I think it's best if you explain."
Director Horden said, "Alright. Officer Herzog, the giant statue you see before you is called the Amitābha Marble Standing Buddha. It comes from China and was carved in the 5th year of the Kaihuang era during the Sui dynasty in 585 AD . Originally, it was housed in Chongguang Temple in Hancui Village, Hebei Province. Standing a full six meters tall, it is one of the largest and most magnificent statues in our collection."
"Amazing. That Easter Island statue already left me stunned, but this Chinese Buddha statue truly leaves me in awe," Eva Herzog said, her eyes still fixed on the towering figure, immersed in a mix of astonishment and admiration.
Song Jie took a step closer and whispered teasingly, "This isn't just a random stone sitting by your garden pond anymore, is it?"
Herzog's cheeks flushed slightly, but she pretended not to hear. Instead, she abruptly turned to Curator Horden with a feigned serious expression and asked, "What does this Buddha statue have to do with our case?"
Director Horden replied, "In the early 1930s, the Republic of China organized a grand Chinese art exhibition in Britain, and our very own British Museum was the host of this event. At that time, China sent 1,000 cultural relics all the way to the UK for the exhibition. After the event concluded, only a portion of the items were returned to China. For various reasons, some of the exhibits remained in Europe after the exhibition, either through donations or sales, and ended up scattered across the continent. Some became part of museum collections, such as this Sui dynasty Amitābha statue before you. Others, however, fell into private hands—like the Northern Qi Buddha head you've been tracking."
"So, you're saying that the Northern Qi Buddha head was brought to the UK from China, exhibited here, and then sold off to a private collector? If we can find the buyer from back then, that person is likely the mysterious consignor behind this auction?" Eva Herzog quickly caught onto the key point.
"It's not that simple. The Buddha head was sold to a German collector at the time. After that, it virtually vanished for nearly a century, only to resurface recently due to the auction's publicity. The entire cultural heritage community, myself included, was thrilled when we heard the news. But we never expected that, in front of a crowd at the auction, the Buddha head would be stolen in such a dramatic and bizarre fashion. So, when Dr. Song called me that day, I immediately told him my doubts," Director Horden continued.
"What doubts?" Eva Herzog interjected.
"Due to the 'Wanbi Project' I became acquainted with Dr. Song two years ago. Under his leadership, we engaged in a productive collaboration. On behalf of the museum, I oversaw the return of a batch of Chinese artifacts, and in the process, developed a strong friendship with Dr. Song," Horden said, nodding respectfully at Song Jie before continuing. "Even though I am the director of the British Museum, I support the 'Wanbi Project.' After the 'Second Great Pollution' incident, Britain's dire economic and environmental situation has left many public museums in a precarious state. They lack both government funding and visitors, driving them to the brink of bankruptcy. In this context, some institutions have secretly resorted to selling off artifacts to the black market. Despite numerous attempts to curb this practice, it continues unchecked. Among the most sought-after items on the black market are Chinese artifacts from major museums. I regret to say that our museum has also faced serious issues in this regard. As director, I've conducted long-term investigations and even sought help from the British police, but they've been unhelpful—delaying, shirking responsibility, and in some cases, even protecting certain transactions. This has made me feel utterly powerless to pursue the matter further."
"Director Horden was even subjected to personal threats during the investigation and nearly lost her life." Ms. Smith pointed to the long scar on Director Houghton's neck and said.
""So when the 'Wanbi Project' and Dr. Song approached me, I quickly agreed to collaborate. On one hand, rather than letting these artifacts vanish into the black market, it's better to return them to their rightful homeland. On the other hand, the 'Wanbi Project' and the Chinese government offered generous compensation terms, which gave our museum a chance to avoid closure. I saw no reason to refuse. I believe this initiative is a win-win solution."
"However, for a long time, I've felt that there's a powerful dark force in the European antiquities market, as if someone is competing directly with the 'Wanbi Project.' Whenever any Chinese artifact appears on the market and falls into the black market, it quickly disappears. It's like a voracious mouth, constantly devouring every Chinese artifact that becomes available. That's why I suspect that the theft of the Buddha head is connected to this force," Director Horden said, his brows furrowed and his expression serious.
"A dark force?" Herzog asked.
"Yes. From the rampant trade in Chinese artifacts on the European black market, to the ongoing insider thefts in major museums, and now the brazen robbery during the auction—I believe there's a common mastermind orchestrating all of this. So when Dr. Song called me, I proposed meeting with him for a detailed discussion, but we had to avoid involving the British police. My request was urgent enough that Dr. Song couldn't refuse. I believe that, for whatever reason, the auctioneer pointing the finger at our British Museum was a twist of fate, giving me the opportunity to meet with you and discuss this."
"If that's the case, do you have any suggestions?" Eva Herzog asked.
"Go to the Paris antiquities black market—Go immediately," Horden replied.
"Paris? The black market?" Herzog repeated.
"Yes. Over the years I've tracked down the whereabouts of several Chinese artifacts that have leaked from our museum. They've all ended up in the Paris antiquities black market. That market has become the central hub of the entire European black market network. I believe you'll find more information about the Buddha head there. If my guess is correct, it will be traded there within the next 20 hours."
"In that case, let's set off right away," Herzog said eagerly, turning to Song Jie, ready to leave.
"Wait a moment," Horden quickly stopped them. "Dr. Song has another crucial mission, and that's this." He handed Song Jie a gold coin and said, "Go to the Musée Guimet. This coin is the key to unlocking that underground world."
"Thank you so much for your help, Director Horden," Song Jie said, feeling moved as he gave Horden a light hug.
Horden gently patted Song Jie on the back and said softly, "No need to thank me, Dr. Song. I owe you a favor, and this is my way of repaying it."
Then, turning to Herzog, Horden added, "But please, be very careful. Don't trust anyone—not even the police. That's why I didn't want anyone else present besides you two."
"What do you mean?" Song Jie and Herzog asked in unison.
"Because it seems you're not the only ones looking for the Buddha head. Let's hope my intuition is wrong."