The only photograph ever taken of most of them was their posthumous portrait. "This is a true depiction of the lives of the vast majority of Swazis."

Yet, even such a photograph, intended as a final memento, was something people desperately longed for but could never attain. Only foreigners visiting the country for interviews or humanitarian aid could afford the "luxury" of taking a free picture for those struggling just to survive.

How could such a poor nation tolerate a monarch living in opulent selection rituals, purchasing luxury cars and helicopters, indulging in fine food and silks within his palace with countless consorts, while remaining utterly indifferent to the suffering of his people? This escalating internal conflict begs the question: if this regime doesn't collapse, what will?

Doesn't that sound eerily similar to late Qing Dynasty China? In fact, almost every regime's downfall replicates this very trajectory! If you observe any regime gradually developing in this direction, and that trend has become irreversible, then its overthrow is not far off!

Didn't the Soviet Union collapse this way? Countless similar examples exist! It matters little what your ideological structure is—be it feudalism, capitalism, or socialism—whether you are the advanced Soviet Union or the underdeveloped North Korea. Who collapses first has nothing to do with these labels; it is always the most corrupt and decadent one that goes under!

Only when faced with a major crisis do people truly realize the extent of the power they possess, or lack.

This time, facing the situation, Wang Zhuo understood precisely how much power he commanded!

In a nation of one million people, the most coveted job for ordinary citizens is working at a Coca-Cola plant, earning a single dollar a day. For most, the greatest desire is simply to have enough food every day so their families don't starve. For the imposing Wang Zhuo, influencing such a nation was incredibly easy.

Reality is this "realistic": a single Enhanced Ship generates a net profit of ninety million USD monthly, not even counting the income from "personal shopping" arrangements—that's equivalent to three million USD in net income daily. Meanwhile, the entire employed population of Swaziland, 54% of the citizenry, collectively earns less than one million USD per day. If Wang Zhuo were to dedicate the earnings from just one Enhanced Ship to fund this nation, every person in the country could immediately eat their fill!

After a series of complicated procedures, the Xiangyun Hao sliced through the sky on a golden, brilliant evening, heading for Johannesburg, South Africa.

Johannesburg is the usual transit point for tourists traveling to Swaziland; two flights depart there daily for the small nation, and cheaper long-haul buses are also available. However, since the coup began, the airport in Manzini, Swaziland's largest city, has been under rebel control, and all flights have been canceled.

It was Wang Zhuo’s first time setting foot on the "hot soil" of Africa. Fortunately, it was winter, so the temperature in South Africa’s largest city—nicknamed the "City of Gold"—was not high. Although it is closer to the equator geographically than Jiangzhou, it is actually an inland plateau city; in this season, the climate is very similar to Jiangzhou's—the same temperature, equally dry and arid.

This is South Africa’s largest city, yet unlike other great global metropolises, it is not situated near vital waterways or transportation hubs. Instead, it exists solely because of the dozens of gold mines surrounding it, a metropolis built entirely upon gold extraction.

But this place is also a "City of Unemployment." An unemployment rate reaching forty percent has made it a hotspot for crime, where robberies, sexual assaults, and murders occur ceaselessly. Thus, Wang Zhuo strictly forbade his people from going out sightseeing or exploring without guaranteed security, to prevent any unforeseen complications.

Wang Zhuo was greeted at the airport by the Mayor of Johannesburg, Finer. This level of reception seemed quite high, but Wang Zhuo had long since attained such status; recall that when Gates visited China, he was received by the paramount leader.

In fact, if Wang Zhuo deemed it necessary, or if he were conducting an official state visit, the vast majority of nations worldwide would arrange for their heads of state to meet him—and that would certainly include the President of the United States!

Mayor Finer was a short, stout man of mixed Black and White heritage, cunning and shrewd. To welcome the King of Wealth from the East, he had hastily organized a team comprising political dignitaries, business magnates, and representatives of local power brokers, all eager to strike commercial deals with Wang Zhuo—a way to add a significant feather to his political cap while simultaneously benefiting the populace.

Wang Zhuo spent three days engaging with him. Mayor Finer walked away with four substantial commercial cooperation agreements, returning satisfied. After these pleasantries, Wang Zhuo transitioned to recreation, mingling with a kaleidoscope of influential figures.

South Africa certainly had no shortage of major stars—athletes, actors, singers. Through Maimeng’s connections, the leader of the Swaziland opposition forces was quietly smuggled in among the entourage of a certain singer and met with Wang Zhuo at the Hilton Hotel where he was staying.

In contrast, An Qi’s sisters, Siyuan, and Bailu, who accompanied Wang Zhuo as "guests," seemed far more interested in the Black rock singer known as the "Genius Girl." Yang Ru and Qu Jingyou, also present as "guests," were more drawn to these political machinations, acting as Wang Zhuo's chief strategists.

Swaziland has two official languages: the local SiSwati and the internationally used English. Among the four representatives who came to meet Wang Zhuo secretly, three were fluent in English; the fourth could understand about half but could not speak it.

As for Wang Zhuo’s side, he, Yang Ru, and Qu Jingyou were all fluent in English, so communication between the parties was entirely unimpeded.

The four from Swaziland were dressed as the bodyguards and attendants of the Black female singer, appearing quite convincing. In reality, Wang Zhuo’s sudden, seemingly random visit to Johannesburg amid the Swazi coup was inherently suspicious, so his meeting with these four individuals could not be hidden from those who were watching.

He didn't intend to hide it, though; wasn't this the perfect opportunity to send a signal to certain factions?

In the living room of the presidential suite, Wang Zhuo, accompanied by Yang Ru and Qu Jingyou, received Mann and his delegation.

On the very day of their arrival, Wang Zhuo had discovered two listening devices and one pinhole camera secretly planted in the room by some unknown faction. Though these three items were extremely well-concealed, his X-ray vision located them effortlessly.

Without hesitation, he dismantled these valuable gadgets and tossed them to Siyuan; no similar devices were found after that.

"King of China, your youth astonishes me!" Mann expressed his admiration and surprise to Wang Zhuo, his tone laced with flattery.

Mann was a twenty-eight-year-old rebel general, commanding only a little over a thousand men and a few hundred rifles—but in Swaziland, this constituted a significant military force. Although the rebel situation looked good currently, they faced internal and external crises. Internally, factions were numerous, scheming against one another. Externally, the King was in exile and could return at any moment with "peacekeeping forces" if he secured American backing. Restoring internal order before addressing external threats—an age-old maxim in Chinese history—seemed understood by the rebel leader. Therefore, their most pressing need was international support to acquire weapons and supplies quickly, allowing the nation to return to normal order and win broad popular support.

"General Mann is also quite young. I am merely a businessman, while you are engaged in actions that will be recorded in history textbooks," Wang Zhuo said with a faint smile. "I greatly admire you for that."

Though Mann commanded only a thousand men and a few hundred guns, he was considered a general level commander domestically—it was a time of chaos. Back when Qin Jingzhong was with Yang Jingyu, he led merely a small guerrilla unit, yet Old Yang was still hailed as "General Jingyu."

Who doesn't enjoy hearing compliments? Especially compliments from the King of Wealth! Mann immediately broke into a broad smile; the affability of the King of Wealth made him feel elated, increasing his anticipation for this meeting.

Among the three who accompanied Mann, twenty-five-year-old Shiweini represented another faction, maintaining a delicate relationship with Mann. McCathy, who could only listen to English but not speak it, was the joint representative of several indigenous factions; although he was present to supervise and offer advice, his limited vision and status meant he was merely a bystander. The last member was Mann's deputy, who followed his lead implicitly.

The complexity of why the rebels sent Mann to deal with Wang Zhuo involved two factors: one related to the intermediary who had contacted Maimeng, and the other due to the severe internal strife within the rebel ranks over power, with the leaders of major factions being too preoccupied to attend.

"General Mann, I believe my friend has already informed you of my purpose," Wang Zhuo said with a smooth, smiling English accent. "So now, I wish to hear directly from you what kind of assistance your nation currently needs most."

Did that even need asking? The most crucial need had to be military supplies! The four men exchanged a brief glance; the King of Wealth’s question was exactly what they had anticipated.

However, before coming, the rebels had done significant research on Wang Zhuo and his affairs. They knew Wang Zhuo "could not provide munitions," so they were aiming for his money. Put plainly, if Wang Zhuo were capable of supplying arms, Mann, a second-echelon leader, would never be the one meeting him; the top three leaders would have fought tooth and nail for the opportunity.

"We are in dire need of food," Mann stated with a grave expression. "The country is currently in a state of unrest, and all channels for importing grain have been cut off. If we don't receive effective aid soon, it will quickly lead to widespread famine."

Wang Zhuo looked at him with a half-smile. The Black general’s expression appeared sincere, but under the penetrating gaze of the X-ray vision, Wang Zhuo clearly saw four characters: insincere words.

He nodded slightly and deliberately asked, "I can help you with that. Which would be more convenient for you, US dollars or grain?"

"Dollars, of course!" Shiweini’s eyes lit up, and he blurted out the answer for Mann.

Yang Ru and Qu Jingyou’s calm expressions subtly betrayed playful smiles. This Shiweini was clearly less astute than Mann. To ask for dollars instead of food—who didn't know they intended to buy weapons?