Chapter 87: The First Glimpse of the Conspiracy

Soon, the plane landed in Rome, and everyone disembarked to handle immigration procedures. Entering the VIP lounge, Shadi arranged for everyone to sit and rest, then turned to Awari and said, "I'm going to the restroom. Come with me."

"Master Shadi, I don't need to go to the restroom," Awari replied.

"I'm not comfortable leaving you here alone. Come with me," Shadi insisted, pulling Awari along toward the restroom. Liu Yunfei felt his nerves tighten—is Shadi planning to make a move here in Rome?

Sure enough, as soon as they entered, several tall, burly white men were already waiting inside. Without a word, they pounced, twisting Awari’s arm before he could react. One man swiftly pulled out a prepared chloroform cloth and pressed it over Awari’s nose. Awari didn’t struggle; instead, he fixed Shadi with a gaze full of disappointment and rage, clearly understanding this was Shadi’s doing.

Once Awari was unconscious, Shadi patted his back and murmured, "Don't blame your master. One day, you will be worshipped by millions, hailed as the ruler of the world."

He then raised his head and called out toward the small stalls, "Come out, Prince Awari."

Liu Yunfei was baffled—wasn’t Awari just drugged? At that moment, a stall door opened, and out stepped an Arab boy identical to Awari. Liu Yunfei circled him twice, scrutinizing his height, build, face, and demeanor—all remarkably similar. Anyone unfamiliar would never know the difference. He had thought himself clever for considering a switch, but they had anticipated this method too. Indeed, magic tricks abound, each with its own ingenuity.

"What’s your name?" Shadi tested the counterfeit.

"Prince Awari bin Abdul, descendant of the great Saudi Aziz Rahman Faisal Shad," replied the impostor, his rebellious expression matching Awari’s perfectly.

"Good, that’s the right look. Your training hasn’t been wasted. Remember, from now on, you are Prince Awari, the only grandson of the current king. Wear high-collared clothing to conceal the artificial skin’s seams. Don’t soak too long when you bathe," Shadi instructed, then threw his head back and laughed, "Ha ha ha! After decades, I am finally this close to success. In just over seventy hours, the world will be mine."

Watching Shadi lead the fake Awari away, Liu Yunfei paid no attention to the rest, assuming everything would proceed as planned. He followed the unconscious Awari, escorted by the white men, out of the restroom into another waiting lounge, this one for ordinary passengers, mostly those flying economy. A stretcher was already set up, and several Arab men in robes waited. The white men laid Awari flat on the stretcher and departed.

The Arab men wrapped Awari tightly in blankets, hung a saline drip for show, and Liu Yunfei observed that this was indeed the flight bound for Riyadh, even the same plane as Shadi’s group. Such elaborate planning—who would guess that the real Prince Awari would travel alongside the impostor back to Riyadh?

By evening, the massive Airbus 380 descended with a roar at Riyadh International Airport. Liu Yunfei followed the stretcher-bearers out the small economy cabin door, through the passageway, and outside where an ambulance awaited, emblazoned with a snake-entwined staff.

In fact, only China and a few other countries use the Red Cross for ambulances and medical institutions. Internationally, the Red Cross is the symbol of the Red Cross Society, while most medical facilities use the snake-entwined staff. This originated from Greek myth, where the legendary healer Asclepius, son of Apollo, wandered the world curing the sick, wielding a staff entwined with a sacred serpent. His excellence and kindness made him revered as the god of medicine. His fame so alarmed the underworld lord Hades, who feared that immortality might be granted, that he complained to Zeus, who struck Asclepius down with thunderbolts. To commemorate this selfless healer, his staff became the emblem for medical institutions, including the World Health Organization.

Liu Yunfei followed the ambulance through city streets, over bridges, and down alleys, finally arriving at a white building in Riyadh’s southern suburbs. It was no hospital, but a mosque. The Arab men hurriedly carried Awari into a concealed room—more like a cell than a bedroom, with only a bed, a tiny washroom, no windows or furniture except a wall lamp and two books tossed on the bed, likely not the Quran but the teachings of the Solar Temple.

They dumped Awari on the bed and locked the crude iron-barred door. After the long journey, Awari was nearly awake, groggily sitting at the bedside. He neither cried out nor threw himself at the iron bars, nor inflicted harm upon himself. Liu Yunfei admired Awari for this restraint—perhaps he’d been kidnapped too many times. He merely glared at the floor, his eyes filled with hatred.

Aside from restricting Awari’s freedom, the Arab men did not mistreat him. They even showed a touch of respect, bringing water, food, a prayer mat, and fresh clothes at regular intervals.

The next day, Liu Yunfei slipped out and phoned the old prince, who reported that dignitaries from various countries had begun arriving, and security measures were proceeding smoothly with no suspicious individuals detected. Liu Yunfei reassured him that Awari was safe and mentioned that the old butler Shadi was likely the “old master” Hadi spoke of, advising the prince not to expose the fake Awari.

Returning to Awari’s cell, Liu Yunfei found Shadi waiting outside the iron-barred door, still wearing a gentle smile. But Awari was restless, perhaps because he realized his trusted master was the mastermind behind his kidnapping. Pointing at Shadi, he shouted, “I trusted you completely. How foolish I was! You despicable, shameless heretic!”

His words tumbled out in agitation, but Shadi remained kindly, gazing at him. “Perhaps you still hate me now, unable to understand my intentions. I want you to have everything.”

“Don’t lie to me! I’ve suffered enough from your deception. You’ll face God’s punishment.”

“Yes, I deceived you. I served your family for decades, waiting for this day. To be honest, I killed your father. I wanted to give him everything, but he refused and tried to kill me. So I endured another ten years, waiting for you to master resurrection. You will never die. One day, you’ll be grateful. Do you know how many envy you? If it weren’t necessary for the bloodline of Aziz Shad, I’d never give you this chance!”

“You murderer—grateful? I’d skin you alive if I could. Immortality? The price is selling my body and soul to the devil, isn’t it?” Awari suddenly reached through the bars and grabbed Shadi’s collar.

“Ha ha ha, clever. You are indeed clever.” Shadi laughed, then his expression twisted into a sinister snarl, his eyes gleaming like a wolf’s. “What’s wrong with selling to the devil? You have no idea how many would do so. You call it the devil, but that’s the master of our faith, the true god. The master gives us everything! We will become rulers of the world! Ha ha ha!”

Liu Yunfei wondered—are they really planning to trap the world’s leaders at the OPEC summit? But even so, how could that make them rulers of the world?

Shadi finished by locking Awari’s wrist in a grip—Liu Yunfei realized he was testing whether this was the real Awari. Shadi was a shrewd opponent. After confirming, he released Awari’s wrist, saying, “Don’t dream of escaping or opposing me. You’re still too inexperienced. That fake Awahid you value so highly—he fled, didn’t he? Let me tell you, Awari, he’s just a fool. He probably still thinks that poor Chinese woman is the traitor, but it was me who overheard their conversation—such fools!” With that, he left, laughing.

“Awahid was sent by God to save us. You will be cast into hell by God for your evil plots!” Awari rattled the iron bars fiercely.

Liu Yunfei felt a pang in his heart, as if witnessing the tear-streaked woman, wronged and speechless, dragging her heavy suitcase under the sun, bearing the broken base and shattered heart. He’d always known the old butler was no good, often eavesdropping, so why hadn’t he realized it? Why had he only suspected Yuqing?