In recent years, oil consumption has entered a growth phase. Not only Country Hua, but the world’s major energy countries have shifted from net exporters to importers, increasingly reliant on oil imports. The world’s largest oil exporting country is Lais Country, located in the Middle East. This country, abundant in oil and rich in wealth, is also famed as the Golden City, a city built of gold, the world’s top oil giant, and the most prosperous city.

Lais Country once signed an agreement with Country Q, which is why other oil-rich countries are engulfed in wars, while Lais Country enjoys peace and prosperity. King Mileden of Lais annually opens doors wide for Country Q, treating his nation like a backyard, allowing anyone to come and go as they please. Though he is the ruler of a nation, he is manipulated, forced to nod and bow, simmering with resentment deep within. The citizens are used to a stable life; the nation cannot endure warfare. Apart from money, his country lacks everything, especially military strength. Challenging Country Q is like an ant trying to shake a large tree. He himself has become like a pig, growing fatter, willingly degrading into a puppet...

"Your Majesty, the anniversary of Prince Emil’s death is approaching. The people from the church want to discuss how to handle it this year."

Inside the magnificent castle, Butler Hans respectfully asked.

King Mileden of Lais, in his fifties or sixties, dressed in dazzling gold, corpulent, sitting on the throne like a two-hundred-kilogram pig, so fat his eyes were barely visible, greasy beyond measure.

Upon hearing the butler’s words, the king rubbed his brow in frustration: "Let it pass quietly this year."

"Yes." The butler was about to leave when the queen ran in, crying: "King, our prince died so horribly, you must avenge him..."

The queen appeared even older than the king, her complexion sallow and haggard, clearly burdened with long illness, sobbing pitifully as she entered...

The king’s expression darkened, he sternly rebuked: "What nonsense? Our prince died in an accident. What do women know? Go back immediately."

"I won’t go back; do you really take me for a fool? Don’t you have any idea how our son died?" The queen gasped between words, and the butler quickly walked over to support her: "Queen..."

She pushed Hans away, stepped forward, and pointed at the king’s nose: "You are a coward, bullied to the point of defecation and urination on your head without a word. Our prince was assassinated, and you pretend nothing happened. Do you deserve your son’s spirit in heaven?"

The queen’s words lamented with blood and tears, each touching the king’s heart. The king clenched his fists, quickly walked over, and slapped the queen. Her frail body fell to the ground. She laughed manically, pointing at the king: "Just wait, when your existence holds no value, none of you, including this nation’s people, will escape it. I’ll have you all accompany my prince to the grave."

"Guards, take her away for now. Without my order, she’s not to step out of the room." The king coldly commanded.

Hans hurriedly called for people to take the queen away, and she kept shouting: "You just wait, none of you will escape... all will accompany my prince to the grave..."

The king shook with anger: "Cover her mouth."

The cries stopped abruptly.

The king’s body swayed, holding onto the chair to keep from falling.

He understood the bitter truth; Emil was his legitimate son, his favorite child, and the rightful heir to the throne. To die so obscurely, how could he not be angry and hateful? Yet what could he do? Not only had he to pretend ignorance, but he also had to show respect to the murderer...

Closing his eyes, he sighed deeply. Being a king is difficult.

"Sister, you know the Crown Prince is forbidden to speak of before His Majesty. You often remind him, but who is to blame now?" A woman in her thirties, well-maintained, looking no older than twenty, especially with a charming and alluring aura, like a water snake fairy, irresistible to men.

Gunara, the king’s favored lady, mothered one son and one daughter. Her son, Eleventh Prince Agunara, intelligent and studious, courageous and unmatched. At twenty, he won the king’s favor even before Emil’s death. There were rumors the king intended to depose Emil for Agunara as Crown Prince. After Emil’s death, these rumors flourished unchecked. Among the royal family’s twenty-one princes, Agunara was the strongest contender for the crown. From mother to child’s merit, Gunara had a stable position in the royal court. The queen was bedridden post-Emil’s death, making Gunara the real power behind the scenes. Soon, when her son becomes Crown Prince, she will be queen.

"When did it come to you, a tramp, to flaunt in front of me?" The queen sneered defiantly, overpowering Gunara with her presence.

Gunara was once the queen’s maid, climbed onto the king’s bed by chance, used her charm to secure a spot. A debased beginning, despite her high position, how could she rival the queen, who hailed from noble birth? Even ill, she surpassed Gunara.

Gunara’s expression shifted slightly, before sneering: "Enjoy your arrogance for a few days; soon you’ll join your son underground."

With that, she swept away.

Taking a deep breath, the queen calmed herself slowly. "Treasure Bead."

Her maid, Treasure Bead, quickly entered, whispered in her ear: "Queen, tonight’s affair was executed beautifully."

The queen rubbed her brow: "May I meet her?"

Treasure Bead shook her head: "Queen, keep your composure. To avenge the prince, patience is essential."

"I don’t know if this is right... or wrong."

To avenge her son, risking the lives of the clan and nation’s people, was it worth it?

"Queen, your thinking is incorrect. Even if you don’t act, Lais Country will not last. At least you’re giving them a fighting chance while avenging the prince, gaining both objectives." Treasure Bead looked down, quickly masked her eyes with a glint.

"You’re right; if it weren’t for the benefactor finding a doctor for surgery, I might have joined my son long ago. She saved my life, can avenge my prince. Besides that, nothing matters to me now."

The queen tightened her fist, her gaze firmed.

"And that tramp Gunara, hoping to topple me and become queen, dreaming she can make her son the Crown Prince. She’s dreaming."

Treasure Bead’s eyes glinted: "Gunara is insignificant, but this Eleventh Prince is not to be underestimated. We must deliberate this, and above all, be patient."

——

"Where is everyone? Have they died somewhere?" The king awoke, thirsting terribly, saw no servants, and shouted.

His voice echoed in the empty palace, increasingly desolate.

The lights flickered, suddenly dimming collectively, frightening him, yet soon resumed normally, as if it were mere illusion.

He stepped forward, unexpectedly lifted his gaze, noticing a figure standing by the window, dim and shadowy, resembling a ghost...

"Help..." The king began to call out, then the shadow suddenly moved.