**Chapter 1372: The Emir of Florence**
"Your Highness, no matter how eloquently you phrase it, two facts remain unchangeable," Huang He said calmly. "First, these islands hold no real value for me."
"With a total land area of less than 10 square kilometers—not even one-tenth the size of our Jiangnan Industrial Park—what use do I have for such an archipelago?"
"I anticipated this question!" The bearded prince chuckled knowingly. "First, you must understand the legal status of the Emir of Florence in our kingdom."
"Under the traditional laws of the Great Food Kingdom, the Emir of Florence holds absolute authority over their territory. Aside from religion and foreign affairs, everything—land, governance, taxation, judiciary, even military affairs—falls entirely under the Emir's control."
"In other words, as long as you don’t seek independence, you wield complete sovereignty over these islands. You could legally build any non-offensive military installations you desire. These are your inherent rights."
"Why would I need a military?" Huang He laughed. "A place this small can’t even station two or three hundred people. Who would I even fight?"
"You don’t need to fight anyone. The point is, *you* control everything here. You could build the world’s most impregnable fortress—layered with meters-thick steel, stocked with years of supplies."
"This would be your personal stronghold, a place where you enjoy absolute security. Even if the world’s most powerful nation dropped a nuclear bomb here, it wouldn’t touch you."
"These are privileges even your homeland couldn’t offer." The prince’s words struck a chord.
"But it’s still too small," Huang He shook his head. "Ten square kilometers isn’t enough for what I envision."
"Oh, but it’s far from small!" The prince grinned. "The *land* area is 10 square kilometers, but the maritime territory spans 5,200 square kilometers—equivalent to one-twelfth the size of Tongliao!"
"All this belongs to the Emir. Moreover, the seabed around the Florence Archipelago is shallow. Our geological surveys show that with land reclamation, centering on Little Florence Island and connecting its 13 satellite islets, you could create over 100 square kilometers of new land—for less than $30 billion. A trivial sum for you, no?"
"So, the more you invest, the more land you gain. A sovereign territory entirely your own—isn’t that tempting?" The prince’s pitch was masterful.
"Compelling. But here’s my concern: if I spend billions reclaiming this land, how do I ensure *you* won’t later seize it?"
"I can’t guarantee that," the prince admitted. "But consider this: no rational leader would sabotage such a lucrative arrangement. My heirs and I would only act against our own interests if the payoff outweighed the cost."
"Fair enough. One last issue: you’re still just a prince, not the king."
"I *will* be king—once I bring the Pandora’s Home back," the prince declared firmly.
"Then here’s my proposal," he continued. "I’ll purchase the Pandora’s Home for $4 billion upfront—but publicly, it must appear as a gift. The funds will reach you through discreet channels."
"Once I’m crowned, you can ‘donate’ the $4 billion to my nation. In return, I’ll formally grant you the Emirate and the archipelago. With $4 billion justifying the deal, my people won’t object."
"Ten square kilometers for $4 billion? They’d celebrate it! Of course, if you prefer, you could keep the money and forgo the land."
The plan was pragmatic enough to earn Huang He’s trust.
"But I’m a foreigner—and my family will *never* renounce Chinese citizenship," Huang He added abruptly.
"That... complicates things." The prince frowned. "Would you consider having one of your children naturalized? They could inherit the Emirate."
"No. My family’s allegiance is non-negotiable. In life or death, we remain Chinese."
"Remarkable." The prince sighed. "What a nation, to inspire such loyalty! But just as you refuse to compromise, my people would never accept a foreign-born Emir."
"Then I suppose—" Huang He began to withdraw.
Before he could finish, the prince interjected: "I have a sister..."
————
"Just perfect! Not only did you sell the Pandora’s Home for $4 billion, you even bagged a princess as a bonus wife. What a haul!" Back at headquarters, Leng Zhimeng’s voice dripped with sarcasm as Huang He recounted the deal to her and Leng Zhiruo.
The prince’s final proposal? A political marriage.
Since Huang’s family wouldn’t naturalize, the Emirate’s heir needed royal blood. The solution: Huang weds a Great Food princess. Their child—half-Chinese, half-royal—would be the ideal successor.
The prince, warming to the idea, even touted his 16-year-old sister as "the kingdom’s most beautiful maiden."
Huang fled the negotiations—but not before securing the $4 billion sale.
The next day, headlines announced Jiangnan Group’s "donation" of Pandora’s Home to the Great Food Kingdom, alongside a $200 million "charitable gift" for Chinese rural education.
Few knew the truth: the prince had paid dearly for his trophy.
And so, the Pandora’s Home—once an amusement ride—ascended to the status of a national treasure.