The days following the arrival of Veldora were a masterclass in deception and silent preparation. While the world outside my window saw a secluded, four-year-old prince wasting away in a decaying mansion, I was busy weaving a net that would eventually strangle my enemies.
Old Zhu, the man who thought he was the shadow governor of this state, had become bolder than ever. His greed was no longer a hidden fire; it was a raging inferno. Encouraged by my feigned submission and my "supportive" words, he had begun to operate as if he held the legal title to the Secluded State in his own hands. Day by day, he brought more of his clan members into the city—men and women who shared his avarice but lacked his cunning. They were occupying administrative posts, seizing small businesses, and increasin
