"Priceless?"
Lin Xiaoyu was confused. "Wasn't Princess Diana's crown also auctioned off? I remember it only went for a few million pounds."
"That's different," Ding Kaifang countered excitedly. "That was just a modern piece of craftsmanship. Even with the princess's name attached, it held no political significance for any country, nor did it symbolize any power. At best, it was high-end jewelry."
"But this one..." Ding Kaifang pointed at the crown in his hands, his eyes fervent. "This is a true cultural artifact, an antique from several hundred years ago."
Li Xu leaned in and asked, "Then how do you know this one has political significance? Do you know which country it's from?"
Ding Kaifang shook his head. "This part of Southeast Asia was historically home to a multitude of small kingdoms—the Sultanate of Sulu, the nation of Boni... There are too many. I can't be sure which one it belonged to."
