Chapter Twelve: Would That I Be Called a God

Millions of netizens who saw this suddenly pinned news item fell into a brief silence.

What had they just witnessed?

At such a delicate moment, the Shangxia Cultural Relics Bureau actually announced receiving an anonymous donation—and the donation consisted of cultural relics!

Moreover, the number was exactly twelve thousand and sixty-eight pieces!

This caused people to exchange bewildered glances.

Because this number was precisely the same as the total count of relics stolen from the Little Eagle Museum and two private collectors!

Could this be a coincidence?

Everyone’s minds instantly conjured the same thought.

If it was a coincidence, it was too strikingly coincidental to be believable.

But if it wasn’t, then how could this sudden occurrence be explained?

The relics stolen from the Little Eagle Museum and the two private collectors amounted to twelve thousand and sixty-eight pieces in total.

Now, the announced donation was exactly twelve thousand and sixty-eight pieces!

It was impossible not to wonder if there was a connection between the two events.

Then, after the brief silence, an unprecedented frenzy erupted online in an instant.

“Holy crap! What did I just see? The Cultural Relics Bureau said what? They received overseas donations—cultural relic donations at that—and the number is exactly twelve thousand and sixty-eight pieces?!”

“Oh my God, am I hallucinating? Somebody please tell me this isn’t real!”

“Shocking! Stunning! The Little Eagle Museum just lost twelve thousand and sixty-eight relics, and here we are announcing receiving exactly twelve thousand and sixty-eight pieces in donation. If there’s no connection, I don’t believe it!”

“Tears streaming down my face—this is unbelievable! This must be the handiwork of our Shangxia big shot; otherwise, there’s no way such a coincidence could happen!”

“Exactly! They just lost the relics, and we immediately received that exact amount in donations, and the timing is perfect. No doubt about it—our Shangxia big shot is behind this!”

“Folks, can you believe it? I’m so moved I’m crying. I never imagined in my lifetime I’d see these relics come home, and now I’m witnessing history!”

“Hahaha, I’m crying too! All I want to say to the generous donor is: please accept my deepest respect!”

“I call him a god!”

“Wow, I’m picturing it now: our Shangxia thief—no, the saint of thieves—sneaking into the Little Eagle Museum and the collectors’ homes alone, taking every relic from Shangxia just to bring them home. Thinking about it gives me chills and fills me with passion!”

“Upstairs, you said it! I’m about to cry too; that image is so vivid and touching... sob sob…”

At that moment, all netizens were aflame with excitement.

Though some remained puzzled about how it was accomplished, no one cared to dwell on it.

All that mattered was that the treasures left by their ancestors were now finally coming home!

Amid the excitement, some netizens couldn’t help but voice concerns.

“At such a sensitive time, with the Little Eagle Museum announcing a theft and us immediately announcing a donation, won’t this affect diplomatic relations?”

“Yeah, honestly, I thought it’d be great if it were our people, but I never imagined the officials would publicize it so openly.”

“Right? I assumed that if it was our people, the officials would quietly accept the relics without making a fuss to avoid diplomatic strain. But I never expected such boldness, with zero regard for the Little Eagle Museum’s feelings!”

“Haha, I feel great about it. When those guys stole from us centuries ago, did they care about our feelings? Not at all!”

“True, and besides, the Shangxia of today isn’t the Shangxia of centuries ago. The government’s direct announcement shows we now have the confidence to stand up to the West. That’s what a great power should do!”

“Exactly. If we had to hide even the return of our ancestors’ relics, it would be a disgrace to our forebears!”

“A great announcement! Our mighty Shangxia fears nothing!”

“Yeah, even if the Little Eagle Museum lacks evidence, so what? These relics are ours, and their shameless occupation for centuries must end!”

“I think the government’s timing is deliberate—to provoke the Little Eagle Museum. No matter how much they protest, there’s nothing they can do!”

“Haha, I’m really curious about the expressions on those folks’ faces over there—I bet it’s priceless!”

“Hehe, whatever the diplomatic implications, I’m just a commoner who knows I feel fantastic today!”

“Right! To celebrate, our company just gave us a day off—we’re going drinking and barbecuing!”

“Our company let us off early too! Count me in…”

“…”

At that moment, “Relics Return Home” became the hottest trending topic.

Many companies, big and small, gave employees early leave to celebrate the homecoming of the relics!

The entire nation felt like it was in celebration!

Inside the Alien Affairs Bureau, Ye Guhong’s face flushed with excitement.

He truly hadn’t expected the relics to be transported back so swiftly!

For three days, he had been consumed with worry—what if the shipment was intercepted or discovered?

He had barely slept a full night.

Just minutes before receiving the report, he was pondering the possibility of some mishap, since three days had passed with no news.

But as soon as that thought crossed his mind, customs immediately detected the incoming relics!

Thanks to their constant preparation, they promptly completed the reception and inventory.

Twelve thousand and sixty-eight pieces in total, every single one accounted for and perfectly intact!

Looking at the high-definition photos sent over from the Cultural Relics Bureau, Ye Guhong’s eyes grew moist.

These relics, which should have returned long ago, had been lost in the West for centuries before finally coming home.

It was impossible not to be moved.

Not only Ye Guhong, but the other heads of the Alien Affairs Bureau were equally stirred.

They kept scrolling through the images as if trying to imprint the sight of these relics deep into their memory.

“That person... truly did it.”

Ye Guhong steadied his emotions and lightly tapped the desk.

“Yes, Director Ye. He really did it!” Several officials looked at Ye Guhong with deep admiration.

“It’s unbelievable. Even now, seeing it with my own eyes, I still can’t fathom how he accomplished this!”

Having witnessed countless major events, Ye Guhong was no stranger to astonishment, yet his own shock was no less profound than that of the netizens.

“We can’t imagine either. It’s just a pity—we thought he might have returned with the relics, but apparently, he didn’t.”

Deputy Director Tang Wensheng spoke with a hint of concern.

His words cast a somber shadow over the room once again.