In the long human story of energy and vulnerability, Saudi Arabia offered markets a reminder on Thursday that adaptation, not perfection, is often what separates panic from stability. Brent crude eased to $105.81 a barrel as the kingdom routed crude through ship-to-ship transfers near Oman, improvising around pipeline attacks and an Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The relief was real but conditional — a demonstration of resilience rather than a resolution of the deeper tensions reshaping the Middle East's role in the global economy.