318: Chapter 318 Death Signs in Bangkok

"Army Lieutenant General Songki (retired due to illness) died on the spot this afternoon in a serious car accident on the Kanchanaburi Highway while traveling to the countryside to relax. The vehicle caught fire. The cause of the accident is suspected to be speeding and fatigued driving, and an investigation is underway."

The two core planners of 'Operation Guardian' died on the same day in such 'natural' and 'accidental' ways!

Phanu's back was instantly drenched in cold sweat. He jerked his head up to look at the still calm-as-water Li Lanzhi opposite him, a chill rushing from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Was it a coincidence? No! Absolutely impossible! This was clearly the sharpest warning! The other side had not only crushed them on the front lines but had also silently extended their reach into the deepest parts of Bangkok! Those clamoring to continue the war or even plotting a coup didn't even know how they died!

The 'severe punishment of war criminals' proposed at the negotiating table and the 'accidental eliminations' happening outside formed a spine-chilling resonance. Phanu had no doubt that if his side continued to resist stubbornly or tried to play any tricks, who the next 'accident' would befall.

He looked into Li Lanzhi's eyes, which seemed to see through everything, and his last bit of bargaining courage and hope melted away like snow under the sun. He knew there was little room for maneuver in the conditions offered; acceptance meant a humiliating peace, while refusal could mean a complete national disaster, or even their own personal doom.

"I... I need to consult with my government." Phanu's voice was extremely dry, and he could no longer maintain his outward composure.

"Please do." Li Lanzhi nodded slightly and made a gesturing motion. "But please note, our patience is limited. Delays will only further complicate the situation and might lead to... more unnecessary complications."

This implicitly threatening remark caused Phanu's heart to sink again.

The meeting was temporarily adjourned. The Thai delegation retreated to the lounge to urgently contact Bangkok. However, the news from Bangkok was even more chaotic and pessimistic: the sudden deaths of two key figures had triggered high-level shock and speculation, the stock market had fallen again, anti-war protests were expanding, and some military factions that had originally taken a hardline stance suddenly became silent and evasive after Lieutenant General Songki's 'accidental' death...

When the negotiations resumed, Phanu looked as if he had aged ten years. He no longer mentioned words like 'harsh' or 'internal affairs' but instead began difficult and seemingly hopeless consultations on relatively secondary issues such as specific wording, compensation payment methods, and details of demilitarized zone supervision. He did not dare to directly challenge the core terms anymore.

Li Lanzhi keenly managed the rhythm, refusing to yield an inch on matters of principle while being slightly more flexible on secondary points, firmly maintaining control over the negotiations.

She knew the President's 'gift' had been delivered and was beginning to take effect. The outcome of these peace talks had actually been decided the moment Erica's team successfully completed their mission.

The weather in Bangkok was sweltering and humid, but the King's bedchamber deep within the Grand Palace remained cool with constant temperature and humidity. However, His Majesty Rama X, Maha Vajiralongkorn, felt an inexplicable irritability and weakness that clung to him like a maggot on a bone.

At first, it was just a loss of appetite and mental fatigue. The royal physician diagnosed it as 'heatstroke-induced irritability combined with fatigue from state affairs' and prescribed some clearing and calming herbal decoctions. But the situation did not improve. Detailed battle reports of the northern front's collapse, ugly economic indicators, diplomatic pressure from all sides, and the news of the consecutive mysterious deaths of two high-ranking officials (Advisor Tan Long and Lieutenant General Songki)... all of these weighed on his heart like heavy stones.

He felt dizzy and occasionally nauseous. During a simple Privy Council meeting, he even experienced brief blurred vision and cold sweats, forcing him to end it early. This made the attendants nervous.

"Your Majesty, you must undergo a comprehensive examination. Siriraj Hospital has prepared the quietest and best-equipped special care area." The Chief Royal Physician, a white-haired old man, knelt before the bed, speaking earnestly, though deep in his eyes lay an imperceptible resolve driven by higher orders—he had been influenced by a team infiltrated by Death Soldiers and believed that admitting the King for 'recuperation' was the best choice for royal stability.

The King of Thailand waved his hand exhaustedly; he hated the smell of hospitals, but his physical discomfort and growing anxiety made it impossible to refuse. "Go then... do not make a scene."

The admission process was extremely secretive. The King took an inconspicuous vehicle from the Grand Palace's secret passage directly into Siriraj Hospital's underground exclusive passage, going straight to the Royal Medical Center's special care ward area on the top floor with its independent security system. This place was less a ward and more a fully equipped mini-palace suite, but the smell of disinfectant in the air still reminded people of its nature.

The initial test results were somewhat vague: slight fluctuations in blood pressure and heart rate, several non-specific abnormalities in blood indicators, and gastroscopy showing some signs of inflammation. After a consultation, experts were inclined to believe it was 'severe viral gastroenteritis combined with dysfunction, possibly related to decreased immunity caused by recent immense mental stress.' The treatment plan included anti-virals, supportive therapy, strict isolation to avoid cross-infection, and most importantly—absolute rest, avoiding any form of disturbance.

The King underwent treatment, but his condition fluctuated strangely. It was good and bad; when it was good, he seemed to recover some spirit, but when it was bad, he suffered from vomiting and diarrhea, becoming so weak he could hardly get out of bed. What annoyed him even more was that information was strictly controlled. The Bureau of the Royal Household issued statements cautiously, only stating that 'His Majesty is hospitalized for treatment and rest due to sudden severe gastroenteritis and overwork, suspending all public activities,' but specific details of the illness and recovery time were all vague. Those who came to 'visit' were only a few core royal family members and Privy Council ministers, and their time was strictly limited, with conversations being monitored or even guided by the medical team under the pretext of 'avoiding emotional agitation for His Majesty.'

The King of Thailand was not without suspicion. Once, when he was slightly clearer, he noticed a middle-aged nurse responsible for preparing his oral nutritional supplements whose movements were exceptionally steady and precise, and whose eyes were too calm for a regular medical worker. There was also the new assistant physician, supposedly recommended by an authority in Thai medicine, whose herbal fumigation seemed to smell slightly different than usual, after which his sleep was always exceptionally deep...

But he had no evidence, let alone the energy to investigate further. The illness sapped his strength, the effects of the medication often left his mind foggy, and the filtered news from the outside world remained clichés like 'difficult peace talks,' 'domestic pressure,' and 'international concern,' leaving him feeling powerless and anxious.

What he didn't know was that in his daily food and water, and even through fumigation and seemingly routine intravenous infusions, trace amounts of a special 'Weakness Potion' from the system were being continuously and precisely injected into his body. This potion was not a poison; it simulated symptoms of severe infection and functional disorder, interfering with modern medical test indicators to show non-specific abnormalities while making it difficult to find a specific pathogen or organic lesion. Its core function was to continuously deplete the host's physical strength and energy, create real sensations of pain, and intensify sensitivity to sedative drugs.