That "stepmom" call left Hai Wei'er completely baffled. It was the first time Fang Jueyu had reached out to her on his own. Although Hai Wei'er had watched Fang Jueyu grow up, calling her "stepmom" seemed way too familiar, didn't it?
Fang Huai, having undergone potential development, had long surpassed ordinary human limits. Strictly speaking, he was now different from regular humans—an evolved, superior superhuman.
Yet the Creator was fair. The greatest advantage weaker creatures possessed was rapid reproduction, and the higher the creature's level, the more challenging their propagation.
Take mice, for example. As mammals, they can complete a reproductive cycle in 21 days, producing 6 to 8 litters a year, with 5 to 10 offspring each time. Humans, being more advanced, reproduce much slower, and the more advanced the creature, the longer the cycle.
Fang Huai and his women enjoyed long lives, unimaginable power, and capabilities, but at the cost of more difficult reproduction.
It wasn't that Fang Huai's reproductive abilities were impaired; it just took about twenty years to have a high chance of producing a certain quantity of high-quality reproductive cells. Since Cao Lan and Fang Huai were the first couple, their first child naturally belonged to them.
But this didn't affect the other four women's feelings toward Fang Jueyu. They also regarded him as their child, choosing not to appear after he grew up for fear of affecting his development.
This was why when Fang Huai left Earth, he felt comfortable entrusting Fang Jueyu to their care.
"Xiao Yu? What's going on? If you've been wronged, feel free to tell your stepmom!" Hai Wei'er had been entrusted with the important task of watching over Fang Jueyu. If they couldn't even manage this, they'd have no face to meet Fang Huai when he returned to Earth.
"It's no big deal," Fang Jueyu said brazenly, "I just attended Queen Yisha'er's banquet today and was insulted by some prince's son from the Sailuoke Kingdom. I'm part of the Fang Family. We don't bully anyone, but we also can't be bullied by others, right?"
"Someone insulted you? Didn't Zhuang Xinyan arrange bodyguards for you?" Hai Wei'er was immediately furious upon hearing that Fang Jueyu had been bullied. "Why not have someone just flatten that Sailuoke Kingdom prince's residence?"
"No need, no need!" Fang Jueyu broke out in a cold sweat. He never expected his stepmom to have such a fiery temper and murderous intent. If he really did that, wouldn't he make the headlines worldwide the next day?
"We're in a society ruled by law now, no need for all the fighting. Teach them a lesson, isn't that enough?"
"What do you want to do?" Hai Wei'er sensed that Fang Jueyu had his own plans. "Just tell me. If your stepmom can help, I'll definitely make it happen for you!"
"I heard that the Sailuoke Kingdom heavily relies on imported oil every year, is that right?" Fang Jueyu knew about a few oil wells but understood that such an industrial giant consumed an enormous amount of natural resources annually, far more than its domestic production.
"Yes, they used to import from Iran, but now the United States seems to be restricting their oil exports, so over 50% of their imports are from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the remainder dispersed."
"Stepmom, can we control those export shares?" Fang Jueyu asked tentatively.
"Hahaha, Xiao Yu, you have no idea how powerful our family is. In global energy trade, if I say 'no,' not a single deal can go through!" Hai Wei'er spoke with immense confidence.
"You want to control the Sailuoke Kingdom's oil imports?" Hai Wei'er had caught on to Fang Jueyu's intentions.
Truth be told, Hai Wei'er had long been bored with Earth's affairs. She would love to explore other worlds with Fang Huai and the others. She only stayed behind to care for Fang Jueyu and safeguard their Earthly venture. International wars and trade wars seemed like child's play to her.
Influencing a nation's oil exports could trigger a butterfly effect internationally, but Hai Wei'er didn't mind as long as Fang Jueyu was happy.
"I'm currently with the King of Saudi Arabia. Why not tell him directly? I know you Fang-family folks have a magical heirloom that allows you to understand their language, so normal communication shouldn't be an issue."
"You know about that too!" Fang Jueyu was surprised. It seemed like his dad shared everything with his women, even aware of little Yi's existence.
"Mr. Iben, I might need your help with something," Hai Wei'er directly told the King of Saudi Arabia.
"Of course, Miss Hai Wei'er is a distinguished guest in our country. Just let us know what you need, and we'll do our utmost to assist you," the King of Saudi Arabia replied respectfully.
"It's . My husband's son encountered some trouble, so we'd like you to help resolve it," Hai Wei'er said, handing over the phone to him.
Iben's heart skipped a beat. He knew that Hai Wei'er was merely a representative for the true landowner. Her husband was the real authority, so the young person he was about to converse with must hold even more significance than Hai Wei'er.
"Mr. Fang, I am Iben, the King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Is there anything you need me to do?"
"Whoa, this is quite impressive," Fang Jueyu didn't expect that a call to his stepmom would put him directly in touch with the King of Saudi Arabia.
"Er, Mr. Iben, I would like to know if the Sailuoke Kingdom imports its oil from your country?"
"Yes, more than 50% of the Sailote Kingdom's oil is imported from us," Iben replied. Sailote Kingdom was a major import nation; he was well aware of this fact. "Is there an issue you'd like us to address?"
"A prince's son from the Sailote royal family has offended me!" Fang Jueyu stated bluntly.
"Oh, that's easy. Since they have offended Mr. Fang, we will stop exporting oil to their country!" Iben agreed without a moment's hesitation. It was an opportunity to appease the Fang Family, and this small task was unbelievably simple for him.
"You're stopping it entirely?" Fang Jueyu didn't expect Iben to be this ruthless.
The Sailote Kingdom's demand for oil was unquestionable. Losing 50% of their import would likely send them into panic, severely impacting their economic and industrial development.
"No need, we should still earn what we can!" Fang Jueyu grinned slyly. "Let's not give them any reason to blame us, but about the price..."
"Mr. Fang, I understand. I'll increase the export price by 50%. How does that sound?"
"Not enough! Double it!" Fang Jueyu decided to strike hard. "If the Sailote Kingdom asks why, just tell them to ask that fool named Jenas."
"As you wish, Mr. Fang, I'll get someone on it immediately!" Iben promptly agreed.
"Great!" Fang Jueyu was very satisfied. He could already imagine how colorful Jenas's expression would be.
Iben returned the phone to Hai Wei'er, then instructed his subordinate, who nodded and left, presumably to make the necessary arrangements.
"How about it, Xiao Yu, everything sorted?" Hai Wei'er asked.
"Yeah, I've asked Mr. Iben to double the price of oil sold to the Sailote Kingdom. I bet that guy will soon come crying, begging me for forgiveness!" Fang Jueyu chuckled.
"You're just as bad as your dad!" Hai Wei'er said, with a face full of doting affection. "Alright, I might get busy soon. If you're ever free, feel free to drop by. I'm usually in Dubai when I'm not traveling all over. Just contact my assistant."
"Alright, you take care!" Fang Jueyu didn't feel any sense of distance with Hai Wei'er, having no idea how his dad managed to make so many women so loyal to him.
Fang Jueyu's call lasted nearly ten minutes, and Jenas was already starting to get bored. He originally thought Fang Jueyu was going to make a move against him, but it turned out to be just a phone call.
"Monkey of Huaxia, are you crying to your family?" Jenas sneered.
Fang Jueyu raised his glass to the moon and poured another full one, making an arc on the ground toward Jenas, and shot him a look of pity.
"A toast to the moon, and a toast to the prince!"