New Deal [1]

General Barnabas was in the Royal Palace of Vijayanagara. The interior of the huge palace always surprised him. It was the show of the vast wealth possessed by the Empire. 

'I can understand why every European wants a part of the Empire.' 

Portuguese and Dutch were in a constant tussle to get on the good graces of the Empire. It was a key to their expansion into the subcontinent. 

Both the Dutch and Portuguese had managed to get a small part of the subcontinent. The Dutch controlled a part of Lanka while the Portuguese had control over Daman. 

They had already experienced the firsthand taste of wealth in the land. They longed for more—the greed to take control of such a wealthy land was too much to resist. 

"General, I am so curious. How come the Empire is so wealthy despite their subpar naval strength?" 

Barnabas glanced back.