Who is King Midas with in the world of the book?

Many aspects of the Midas myth remain the same. Midas is a king whose touch can turn anything into gold. He lives in a large house with extensive security, presumably to protect all his riches. Although Midas can simply make more gold, his reverence for the metal means that he would not be able to abide anyone stealing it. He fits into the modern world by advertising how gold is a great investment, even in troubled times.