Chapter 5: Council Tension

Chief Chinedu hold the coconut buns plate, stand dey look. The last time wey e shock reach like this na that year for old war, when dem carry am go north as prisoner.

Memory flash quick—prison camp, cold air, hunger pain. This moment feel similar—unknown future, strange environment. Chief Chinedu steady im hand, act calm.

Musa Adigun clap hand. "Chief Chinedu, why we dey do peace talk?"

Clap loud, echo bounce for chamber wall. The suddenness make Chief Chinedu sit up, tension high, but the question still gentle, almost playful.

Chief Chinedu balance himself, no rush, still dey observe.

He lean back, calculate next word. In palace, patience na bulletproof vest. He dey look Musa Adigun eye, search for any sign of old self.

Since the Oba don get him manhood back, maybe e wan leave better kingdom for him pikin. E make sense.

He think, "If true power don return, maybe e wan build legacy. All these palace elders go like am, but me, I know say everybody dey chase own interest."

But e no go work for me o.

Chief Chinedu inside mind dey laugh. "Me, I sabi my way. As Oba dey plan for im pikin, I dey plan my pocket."

If you build correct kingdom, how I go enjoy my power and money?

He quick glance outside window—see the city glow faintly, hear faint laughter from market. "This power sweet, no lie. Make kingdom no too correct, abeg."