Deal

Hampi Royal Palace, Emperor's Room

The Emperor's chamber was vast, its walls adorned with intricate carvings and colorful paintings depicting scenes from epic tales and royal hunts, Thick marble pillars, and inlaid with precious stones.

Fragrant incense wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of fresh flowers arranged in gleaming vases. The soft glow of oil lamps cast a warm light, enhancing the rich colors and details of the room.

The Emperor was seated on a plush, gold-trimmed sofa, sipping his wine with a nonchalant expression, his eyes half-closed in contemplation.

Seated before the Emperor was the first prince, Chandra, who had come to report in person.

"So, what is it? Why are you interrupting me at this time?" the Emperor asked, taking a sip from his glass, his voice carrying a hint of annoyance at the interruption.

"Father, I have completed the mission you assigned to me," Chandra replied, bowing respectfully.

The Emperor raised an eyebrow, placing his glass down on the table beside him. "And what of it? Have you achieved the results I expected?"

Chandra straightened, meeting his father's gaze with determination. "Yes,"

Chandra was assigned a mission by the Emperor in person: to create some havoc by funding the rebels in the Qutb Sultanate. The Qutbs have been quite a pain for the Emperor, but an all-out war right now wasn't needed is what the Emperor had thought, so he needed to keep the Qutbs in place by funding the rebels so they don't form alliances and start a war against them.

"Is it going to happen as we expected?" the Emperor asked, laced with both curiosity and the weight of expectation.

"Yes, Father," Chandra replied confidently, standing tall before his father.

"I have funded three separate rebel groups and orchestrated their cooperation, all while disguising our involvement as merchants from the Kasim Sultanate and the Yadava Kingdom." His eyes gleamed with the pride of a well-executed plan, yet he maintained his composure, knowing that his father expected nothing less than excellence.

The Emperor's eyes narrowed slightly, assessing the information. He stroked his beard thoughtfully. "And you've ensured that our tracks are completely covered?" he inquired, his tone sharp and probing.

Chandra nodded. "Absolutely, Father. We took meticulous care to leave no trace. Our agents are skilled, and the rebels believe the support comes from rival factions within the Sultanate. The Qutbs will be too distracted dealing with internal strife to suspect our involvement."

A slow, satisfied smile spread across the Emperor's face. "Hahaha, that's good. That bastard Zafar needs a good beating. We're just restricted by resources; otherwise, I would have personally gone and shut his trap."

Chandra's chest swelled with pride at his father's approval, but he kept his expression humble. "Thank you, Father. This plan will keep the Qutbs occupied for the foreseeable future, preventing them from becoming a threat to our borders."

The Emperor picked up the bottle of wine and poured a drink for Chandra, filling his own glass before taking a sip. "Zafar isn't the main threat from the Qutbs anyway," he remarked, swirling the wine in his glass thoughtfully. "That bastard is subpar compared to his first son."

Chandra accepted the drink with a nod of gratitude, listening intently as his father continued. "He is the real deal out of all the sons he has. If push comes to shove, we could see him assume the throne, which is the least favourable situation for us."

The Emperor's words hung in the air, heavy with the implications of a potential shift in power within the Qutb Sultanate. Chandra's mind raced, considering the ramifications. "Father, should we assign someone to assassinate the prince?" he suggested, his voice low and cautious.

The Emperor took another sip of his wine, his eyes narrowing as he pondered the proposal. "Assassination is a risky move, Chandra. It could backfire and unite their factions against us. However, if done correctly, it could remove the most significant threat to our empire's stability."

Chandra leaned forward, his expression earnest. "We have agents who could carry out the task discreetly. We need to ensure that the blame falls on internal rivalries within the Qutb Sultanate. If we eliminate the first son, it would destabilize their succession plans,"

The Emperor considered his son's words carefully. "It's a dangerous game we're playing, but you're right. The prince's death must appear as an internal power struggle. We need to gather intelligence on his movements, his allies, and his enemies. Only then can we plan an effective strike."

Chandra nodded, determination etched on his face. "I'll put our best spies on it, Father. We'll find a way to weaken their position without exposing ourselves."

The Emperor nodded getting up and walking to the window, swirling his wine as he stared out the window. "Just gather information for now. If he becomes a threat, report to me first. Only then will we consider taking action."

"Understood, Father," declared the first prince.

The Emperor turned back, a curious glint in his eyes. "That's not the only reason you came to report to me, is it?"

"No, Father," Chandra replied.

The Emperor smiled slightly. "So, I shall grant you a reward for your contribution. Ask away."

"But know this," the Emperor continued, his tone turning serious, "I won't endorse or support you for the throne directly if that's what you're thinking of asking. Bhairava is also a worthy candidate, just like you."

"Only Bhairava?" Chandra's voice carried a hint of surprise.

"The others are not up to par with you both right now," the Emperor stated plainly.

Chandra took a deep breath, considering his next words carefully. "Father, I understand your position. I seek not a direct endorsement, but perhaps resources that could help me strengthen my standing."

The Emperor, still holding his wine glass, inquired, "What resource do you need?"

Chandra replied with a steely determination, "Lend me the 'Yamaduts' for a mission in the future."

The Emperor raised an eyebrow, impressed by the bold request. "That's a hefty request. Are you sure about that?"

"Yes, Father," Chandra affirmed confidently.

"Very well then," the Emperor agreed, nodding slowly. "You may have the Yamaduts under your control for a single mission anytime. I will inform them."

"Thank you, Father," Chandra said, bowing deeply in gratitude.

The Emperor took another sip of his wine, watching Chandra closely. "Remember, the Yamaduts are a powerful asset. Use them wisely."

"I will, Father," Chandra replied.

Yamaduts were the Emperor's personal squad, composed of the best spies and assassins in the whole empire. They only moved at the direct order of the Emperor, utilized during major wars or when it was inevitable.

Chandra, satisfied with the result, now had a powerful trump card by his side—a resource that Bhairava lacked. With the Yamaduts under his command for a single mission, Chandra possessed a force potent enough to alter the odds on the battlefield with a flick of his wrist if necessary. He knew that having such an asset would significantly bolster his position in the complex game of power and succession.

Chandra nodded solemnly and left the chamber, his mind racing with plans for the future. Neelakanta was waiting outside the royal complex for the prince to finish the meeting.

"Your Highness, we have gained some leads on 'that' situation," Neelakanta reported with a slight bow greeting Chandra.

"What did you find?" Chandra asked curiously walking towards the Northern complex.

"We investigated the border villages near the Kasim Sultanate and discovered fifteen rotten corpses with swords bearing the Kasim Sultanate's crest," Neelakanta replied following along with Chandra.

"So they did send assassins to infiltrate our borders?" Chandra mused.

"Not only that, the villagers mentioned that a small group of four lodged there for a night but vanished in the middle of the night as if they were never there," Neelakanta continued.

"Did they see their faces?" Chandra inquired stroking his chin.

"Yes, but only one man's face. However, the villagers couldn't discern the features clearly in the dark, so we don't have any solid leads on that group," Neelakanta explained with a sigh of disappointment.

"So this group is targeted by the Kasim sultanate assassins, is that what you're saying?" Chandra asked, his expression turning contemplative.

"Yes, Your Highness. It seems likely," Neelakanta confirmed.

"Did you find any traces on the corpses?" Chandra asked, his eyes narrowing.

Neelakanta nodded. "Clean cuts, mostly. Except for one corpse, which was dismembered very badly into a few different pieces. It was a gruesome sight."

Chandra speculated with a frown. "It seems the group left in a hurry, either due to time constraints or because they had injured members and needed to get to safety quickly."

"Should we conduct a more thorough investigation into this matter?" Neelakanta inquired, his tone serious.

"Yes, absolutely," Chandra affirmed. "We need to understand why did they send assassins into our empire. If they are targeting someone within our borders, that means the person is an important figure, they pose a significant threat. Investigate every lead, no matter how small. We must be prepared for any future incursions."

Neelakanta bowed with an determined expression. "Understood, Your Highness. We will leave no stone unturned."