"At the Berlin conference of 1884, the world's colonial powers took it upon themselves to divide up the African Congo. King Leopold of Belgium claimed the vast Congo basin, rich in ivory and minerals. Five years later he had run up high debts in his ambition to exploit his new colony. Desperate for funds and running out of money to pay his army, he sent his most trusted servant, Leon Rom, to the Congo to source the legendary diamonds of Opar."