"I'm very interested in that antique. If it's really because the auction price was too low, and the owner of the box doesn't want to sell it to me, I'm wondering, Mr. Duke, if you could tell me who the owner of this antique is. I'd like to negotiate privately with them, even if it means raising the bid."
Fujiwara Seiho believed the excuse the staff made up on the spot, because he knew very well that the item was smuggled out of Huaxia Country, and the owner of that Classic of Mountains and Seas was very likely a Huaxia person. If they found out it was purchased by a Dongyang person, it wouldn't be surprising if they changed their mind.
However, Fujiwara Seiho absolutely did not want to give up on this piece so easily, because he knew what the Classic of Mountains and Seas represented. Letting it slip away before his eyes would be something he'd regret endlessly. No way would he allow that to happen.
