I still wake up sweating in the middle of the night, even now that the wicked king is dead. Sometimes it’s the screams I hear—those sharp, broken sounds that used to echo from the palace at midnight. Other times, it’s the silence. That awful silence after the screams stopped, when we all knew another soul had left this world in pain. But what haunts me the most… is his laughter. You never forget that sound. It was not loud. It wasn’t wild or mad. No, it was quiet—low and slow, like hot oil bubbling gently before it burns your skin. It made your stomach twist. It made your legs weak. That laugh didn’t come from a man. It came from something darker. That was King Agbako—the ruler of Mosafewa for twenty years. He didn’t wear his wickedness like armor. He wore it like skin. It was part of him. It was who he was. People ask me how we survived under him. The truth is, many didn’t. Many vanished. Many were taken at night. Many were never seen again. And those of us who lived? We didn’t survive. We endured.

I still remember the scream. It was sharp like a knife cutting through the night. A sound that stopped the heart. The voice belonged to Prince Olawale, the third son of our late king. It echoed from deep inside the Igboro forest, and when it came, every bird flew from the trees, and the wind died. That scream was the last we ever heard from him. But let me not start from the middle. You must understand how it began. My name is Abeni. I was only a young girl when it happened, but I saw everything. Not with my eyes alone—but with my spirit. Some say I was gifted. Others say I was cursed. All I know is that what I saw, I will never forget until I join my ancestors. I come from the village of Aiyeragbaye, a place surrounded by strong magic, old secrets, and sacred laws. In our land, the king does not leave his crown behind when he dies. No. The moment the breath leaves his body, the Crown of Kings vanishes. It disappears into the Igboro forest, where the spirits live. Only one way exists to get the crown back: A prince must go into the forest alone and return with the crown in seven days. If he does, he becomes king. If he fails, he joins the spirits forever. When our king, Oba Aderoju, died suddenly, the crown was lost like always. And that was when the five princes were called. They were all strong. All proud. All hungry for the throne. But only one returned. And not as a king. Let me tell you what happened.

Chapter 1: Meeting in Lagos • Morning Lagos hustle: Vivid sensory description of Lagos — smoky suya stalls, okadas weaving through traffic, impatient honking, chaotic energy. • Narrator’s first day: Young engineer (name: Tunde) arrives at the auto company. Nervous, determined, carrying an old notebook with his mother's prayers scribbled on the first page. • First sight of Azeez: Azeez working calmly on an engine others have failed to fix. He hums to himself, jokes with apprentices. • Lunch scene: Tunde and Azeez share akara and soft drinks; Azeez reveals his beginnings — started fixing bicycles as a child, moved to car engines, turned down “big man” garages because of corruption. • Tunde’s growing admiration: Tunde sees how Azeez refuses extra payments for unnecessary work. • After-work reflections: Tunde writes in his journal, beginning to question his own ideas about success and honesty. • Tunde feels lost but begins to find direction. • Azeez appears as an unexpected mentor figure. Chapter 2: Life Moves On • Azeez’s struggles: Late-night scenes with Azeez and his wife, arguing about money, school fees. • Tunde’s promotions: Tunde slowly moves up — field supervisor, then assistant manager. • Weekend hangouts: The two share suya and stories under flickering streetlights. Tunde offers Azeez a management job in his new department; Azeez refuses to avoid conflicts of interest. • Azeez’s moral test: A rich politician offers to set him up in a big garage if he joins a scheme to fake repairs. Azeez turns it down. • Tunde’s doubts: In a big meeting, Tunde is told to "play along" to get ahead; he starts feeling disillusioned. • Farewell moment: Tunde is offered a government job in Abuja. Azeez helps him pack; final hugs, tears, promises to visit each other. Chapter 3: Dreams and Destiny • New life in Abuja: Tunde adjusting to the polished but corrupt government halls. • Azeez’s deeper struggles: Customers abandon him for faster, cheaper mechanics; his children question his integrity. • Parallel loneliness: Both men feel alone, think of each other often. • Loss of contact: Phones calls become rare, Tunde buries himself in work. • Tunde’s slow rise: Works on small policy changes, finally becomes Minister of Transportation after years of sacrifice. • Reflection: Tunde looks at an old picture of Azeez, wonders if he made it. Chapter 4: Fate’s Plan • Major contract announcement: Nigeria to import new buses, massive budget at stake. • Tunde’s fears: Remembers all past betrayals; sleepless nights. • Discovery of Azeez’s consultancy: During a transport summit, he sees Azeez’s name on a small stall. • Emotional reunion: Hugs, tears; Azeez older, beard gray, hands calloused. • Dinner catch-up: Tunde learns Azeez runs a small but respected consultancy. • Proposal: Tunde asks Azeez to help evaluate bids honestly; Azeez initially hesitates, then agrees. Chapter 5: The Test of Integrity • Pressure from above: Politicians threaten Tunde; companies offer bribes. • Azeez’s guidance: "This is your chance to prove we are not like them." • Investigations: Azeez exposes hidden faults in bidders' proposals; they receive threats. • Crisis point: Azeez’s family is harassed; Tunde considers stepping down. • Bond strengthening: Late-night rooftop scene, Tunde and Azeez share fears and memories from Lagos. • Decision: Tunde publicly rejects corrupt companies, risking his career. Chapter 6: A New Beginning • Transparent contract awarded: Buses arrive, press covers the event widely. • Public ceremony: Azeez officially named chief consultant; his wife and children attend proudly. • Celebration dinner: Music, toasts; apprentices from Lagos come to celebrate Azeez. • Narrator’s internal victory: Feels he finally honored his mother’s prayers. • City response: Commuters slowly trust public transport again. Chapter 7: Legacy of Honesty • Years pass: Buses in service, safer roads, economic boost. • Azeez’s family growth: Children become engineers, community leaders. • Tunde’s campus speeches: Visits universities to tell story of Azeez, encourages students to resist corruption. • Documentary filming: Media begins creating a documentary on "The Honest Mechanic". • Young mechanics' reaction: Inspired; new apprentices flood to Azeez's center. • Nation begins small reforms. Chapter 8: Storms Return • Change of government: New officials hungry for revenge, call previous reforms "fake". • Accusations surface: Mismanagement, hidden deals. • Azeez’s reaction: Feels betrayed by system, considers leaving Nigeria. • Tunde’s fight: Determined to defend legacy; begins preparing evidence. • Public fear and media noise: Old friends turn silent.