Chapter 297: What’s the Worst That Can Happen?
The Saudi King gathered the attention of his guests by clanging his spoon against a glass of wine. This was a very cliche scene, one that Alex expected was part of the manga he was living in, and not an actual Saudi custom for several obvious reasons.
Nevertheless, Alex shifted his attention over to the man in charge. Who began to speak once everyone had properly silenced themselves so that they may hear his words.
“Thank you all for attending my beloved daughter’s eighteenth birthday. There is some news I would like to announce to you all. But first... Where is my daughter? Where is my beloved Aisha?”
Immediately Aisha’s attention was shifted from Alex who she was standing beside, having previously been enjoying her time with the man whose life was something straight out of a movie as far as she was concerned. And instead her focus set upon her father, as the guests instinctively cleared out of the way to allow the Suadi King to see his daughter.
Aisha had no idea what was happening, as this was not part of the schedule that she was given in advance of the party. She pointed at herself, confused by everything that was going on, and her father chuckled before confirming he was indeed talking about her.
“Yes you, who else would I be speaking of, you silly girl? Come here. I have an important announcement to make...”
Aisha gave Alex a longing glance as she begrudgingly left his side and walked over to her father. Once she had done so, she gazed upon the crowd, where she saw the Heir to Oman wearing a smug smirk.
Something she did not quite understand. But nevertheless, she waited for her father to speak his thoughts, which he did while placing his hand on her shoulder.
“It is with great pride that I hereby announce an alliance that has been settled between Saudi Arabia and Oman. An alliance that, like in the days of old, shall be sealed with matrimony. My daughter, Aisha, shall marry Prince Ali of Oman, the date of which shall be set six months from now.
As witnesses to this engagement, I hereby extend an invitation to all of you present so that you may experience my beloved daughter’s wedding day first hand!”
The entire audience broke out into applause. That is, of course, with the exception of one man, who stared at the Crown Prince of Oman from behind with a look of bitter hatred on his face. Alex quickly drank the contents of his glass and set it down, making a silent escape as he did so.
He knew well enough that making a scene here and no would make his attempts to undermine this engagement all the more vain. And because of this, he decided to make a tactical withdrawal so that he could reorganize his assets to make a decisive counterattack in this game of love.
Alex left so quickly that he did not even witness the scene that followed. Aisha was so stunned by this news that it took her several seconds to realize what had just been announced, and when she did finally understand that she had been sold away to the Prince of Oman in exchange for his father’s armies. The glass in her hand completely slipped. Causing quite the scene.
Her first instinct was to look where Alex was standing, in a desperate attempt to rush towards the man and try to convince him that she had no idea this was happening, nor did she approve of it. After all, her affection had risen enough with Alex from their brief time together that she had grown quite attached to him.
From 0/100, to 15/100, and finally when they began openly flirting after returning from the walk, to 25/100. Alex had, in one night, achieved a quarter of his goals with the Saudi Princess. But it was all for nought, as she was handed off to another man, at least formally, before he could make any more progress.
Thus there was outrage in his tone as he spoke to Alex, trying his best not to scream his lungs out, and wake up his wife in the process.
“Listen you little motherfucker, I don’t know how you got this number, but I’m warning you... Contact me again, and I will have your head. Do you understand me!?!”
Alex did not fear the long arm of the IRGC, and instead scoffed as he spoke to its leading general with a smug tone in his voice.
“That would be a huge mistake. Because without me, your proxies in Yemen are going to get fucked on hard by the Saudis and their new allies...”
This statement immediately caught the IRGC General’s attention, and because of this, he immediately shifted his tune. The man bit down on the urge to curse Alex out and immediately played along.
“I’m listening....”
Alex then spent a significant amount of time telling the IRGC General exactly what was happening, and why he wanted to disrupt the alliance between Saudi Arabia and Oman. In the end, the Iranian General just broke out into a fit of laughter. It was simply an absurd story.
“So let me get this straight... After getting caught trying to fuck my daughter and deported from my country, you go to Saudi Arabia and try to shack up with their princess instead? You have more balls than I thought, kid...
So for the sake of getting some royal pussy, you are quite literally going to walk into the line of fire, making yourself an enemy of the Saudis and Oman? I’m questioning whether you’re the boldest man I have ever had the misfortune of meeting, or the dumbest.”
Alex was impatient, and rightfully so. Thus, he addressed the Iranian General with a sharp tongue as he demanded an answer.
“Cut the shit. Are you in or out?”
A wicked smile appeared on the old man’s face as he spoke into his phone and agreed to give Alex all the help he could provide.
“Sure kid, if you can really pull this off, then it won’t just be the Iranians who owe you a debt, but the Houthis as well. I’ll have my people provide you with everything we know about who you are dealing with. But breaking this engagement, and by extension this alliance, that’s going to be up to you. I hope you know what you are getting yourself into.”
Alex stamped out his cigarette and began walking back to the hotel as he said one last thing before hanging up on the old man.
“What’s the worst that can happen?”