chapter 49 Assassination King Wang Jiuguang

"President Jin, are you trying to shame me for no reason?" Emma Shen's attractive eyes narrowed slightly. She was a woman, naturally gentle like water, but now she found herself forced to fight back. Some people and situations pushed her into a corner where she had no choice but to stand up for herself! And if she had to fight, Emma Shen would not be weak! This woman, sweet as spring blossom, was now radiating an icy and formidable aura, displaying the sternness and authority expected of the owner of the Jade Pot Antiques Company! Their eyes met briefly, and Leonardo Jin felt a slight tremor in his heart, subconsciously stepping back half a step, intimidated by her presence! Damn it! Just a woman! With a gloomy face, Leonardo Jin snorted coldly and said, "Miss Shen, I'm just telling the truth!" "Passing off fakes as real, twisting, and deceiving, isn't that despicable?" "Which item is a fake? Please, make it clear!" Despite the sinking feeling in her heart, Emma Shen's demeanor remained as imposing as ever. Leonardo Jin, almost intimidated by her aura again, pointed at the knife sold to her by Allen Chen and said coldly, "This knife is fake!" "Everyone, look at this Japanese sword's handle. Although it looks old, like an antique, the material is wrong." Emma Shen's face changed slightly, "How can you tell the material is wrong?" "Hmph! As far as I know, the direct descendants of the Kikumaru family use Fusang wood, which is produced locally in Japan. It's hard yet flexible, slightly lightweight, and especially the color, which turns black over time," Leonardo Jin sneered. "But the handle of this Japanese sword is reddish in color, the wood grain is clearly visible, and it's too hard, lacking flexibility. It's definitely not Fusang wood!" "So, if that's the case, what else could it be but a fake?" "Ah!" The crowd gasped, many looking toward Emma Shen with uncertain eyes. Oscar Fang sneered, "Miss Shen, fooling the audience, treating us all like fools, what do you have to say?" "I…" Emma Shen's face turned pale, realizing the trouble she was in. Most of the people present were insiders, some even having business dealings with Emma Shen. Business is all about trust. Now, by displaying a fake, whether intentionally or by mistake, her credibility would indeed be questioned by these people! Moreover, people like Oscar Fang would not sit idle. They would spread rumors and create public opinion. If she didn't handle this well, she wouldn't be able to stand in the Bin City antiques circle anymore. Seeing the growing skepticism on people's faces, Emma Shen became increasingly anxious, sweat breaking out on her smooth forehead. Oscar Fang looked at her several times, saying in a low voice, "Miss Shen, in a tough spot, aren't you?" "Heh, it's okay, you know. Just agree to sleep with me, and I can make President Jin admit he was mistaken and even call the fake a real. How about it?" "You shameless!" Emma Shen clenched her teeth in anger, glaring at him. Oscar Fang snorted, "Don't be ungrateful! If it weren't for your good looks, I wouldn't even offer you this chance." "I'm counting to three. If you don't agree, I assure you, your reputation will be ruined. Don't regret it later!" "Trying to scare people?" Allen Chen grabbed Emma Shen's hand reassuringly, "Don't be afraid. This is a real piece. No matter how persuasive they are, they can't turn white into black." "You want to make a fool of yourself?" Oscar Fang said in annoyance. Leonardo Jin sneered, nose in the air, and disdainfully said, "Kid, you're saying this is the real deal?" "Yes, it's genuine!" Allen Chen stepped forward, lifting his smartphone. "Everyone here, please go online and look up the period when the Wokou pirates invaded, focusing on the legitimate line of the Kikumaru family, Kikumaru Masa." "What?" "Kid, are you trying to mystify us?" Leonardo Jin scoffed. Allen Chen glanced at him and said, "Just look it up on your phone. Back in the day, Shanghai was full of changes and notable figures. The Tiger Head Gang's boss, Wang Jiuguang, the 'King of Assassins' of the Republic era, bravely killed a high-ranking Japanese officer alone. At that time, Kikumaru Masa was right there." Everyone was stunned, recognizing Wang Jiuguang, a true hero known for his extraordinary skill with an axe and unmatched marksmanship. Even Du Yuesheng, a top figure in Shanghai at the time, had to give him a thumbs up in admiration! Seeing he had everyone's attention, Allen Chen continued vividly. "That year, when Wang Jiuguang stormed into the club and assassinated the Japanese officer, he fired two shots: one killed the officer, and the other was aimed at Kikumaru Masa as he was leaving." "But that guy was lucky; he happened to block the bullet with the hilt of his sword. However, even if he didn't die then, the hilt would have needed replacing." "Nonsense!" Leonardo Jin yelled in anger. Allen Chen smiled and said, "Whether I'm talking nonsense, I think many here have already checked the information, right?" "Indeed, there's similar information." The crowd nodded, but their findings only mentioned Wang Jiuguang's successful assassination, not as much detail as Allen Chen had provided. Allen Chen smiled and said, "Everyone, Shanghai was an important economic hub at the time, a melting pot of cultures, people, and all sorts of things from all over." "The damage to Kikumaru Masa's sword hilt and the need to replace it with different wood is entirely plausible, right?" "That makes sense." Everyone nodded, beginning to believe his words. Allen Chen smiled, "So if the material of the hilt was replaced, it actually confirms it’s a genuine artifact! If it weren't replaced, that would be suspicious, right?" "Right, this gentleman is absolutely correct." Some people, friendly towards Emma Shen, started clapping in admiration. Joy flickered across Emma Shen's face. "Mr. Chen is indeed an expert in appraising treasures. Your explanation has been enlightening. I admire you!" "Miss Shen flatters me, it's just common knowledge." Allen Chen smiled and turned to Leonardo Jin, "I think President Jin, if you think about it carefully, you should understand too." "It's just that you were too hasty earlier and missed the mark, right?" "I... Heh, you're right, I was just careless." Leonardo Jin felt reluctant but couldn’t argue against Allen Chen's point since everyone agreed with him. Seeing Allen Chen offering him a way out, he had no choice but to accept it gracefully. Otherwise, he couldn’t explain his mistake and would lose face! Oscar Fang looked unhappy, "President Jin, shall we look further?" "What else is there to look for!" Leonardo Jin glared at him angrily. A mistake once could be overlooked, but twice would be too embarrassing. His prestige as President of the Appraisal Association was at stake! "Miss Shen, Mr. Chen, today has been quite an eye-opener. I hope you'll visit our association sometime." "Let's go!"