Leopold II

Constantine was taken aback at the mention of Leopold's name.

In the original timeline, it was King Leopold II of Belgium who had enlisted Stanley to explore the Ganguo River Basin after the 1884 Berlin International Conference, which designated the Congo as Leopold's private domain.

Notably, Leopold's ties to Greece were also intriguing. Hailing from the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha family in Germany, Leopold II's father was Leopold I.

Speaking of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, the surname held significant historical weight. Until the 21st century, the British royal family traced its lineage to the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha family. However, during World War I, due to anti-German sentiments, the family name was changed to Windsor.

The history of Greece intersects with Leopold I, who briefly served as the king of Greece in 1830. Despite being from a noble European family, Leopold I's connection with Greece faced challenges due to Greece's recent independence from Ottoman Turkish rule.

In contrast, Belgium, strategically located in Europe and rich in resources, had industrialized early and invested in railways, even during the Republic of China era.

Leopold I left a substantial inheritance of 15 million francs to his son, Leopold II. Managing such wealth, however, proved challenging due to low returns on investments in Belgium.

To address this, Leopold II initiated an ambitious project, creating the "International African Association" to advance European interests in Africa. This initiative aimed to end the Arab slave trade and open up new markets and sources of raw materials for European nations.

When Constantine engaged Stanley for the Congo River Basin exploration, he leveraged Leopold's influence. Constantine, driven by a sense of justice, formed the "Congo Commission" under the guise of the "International African Association."

However, upon learning about a Belgian-supported Cameron expedition in Tanzania, Constantine and Stanley realized the potential trouble it could cause.

Despite his youth, Constantine understood the need for decisive action. He offered military support and additional funds to Stanley, showcasing his commitment to the African project.

Stanley, previously underestimating Constantine, now appreciated the Crown Prince's determination. With 500 Royal Guards and an extra 1 million francs, the expedition received crucial support.

The pressure on Stanley intensified as he realized the weight of the responsibility entrusted to him by Constantine.