The Tycoon's Odyssey

Rajesh sighed and shook his head, gesturing for Amit to sit down. His face showed a mix of frustration and weariness. "Amit," he began firmly, "calm down. This isn't about foreign influence."

Amit looked at Rajesh, his eagerness dimming but not fading entirely, as if he desperately wanted to cling to any explanation that offered him some understanding behind Evan's actions. But Rajesh's tone was resolute.

"Even if other countries wanted to strike us, they wouldn't go about it this way," Rajesh continued, his voice steady.

"No nation would risk exposing itself by turning the system upside down like this. The way these background forces operate, they thrive on the illusion of stability. If one country's secrets are exposed, others will inevitably be dragged into the open. This isn't just about Indra—it would crumble the entire federation if our's were to fall. It will be a domino effect, not just ours but every alliance that depends on secrecy to survive will be unraveled."

His gaze shifted to Pratap, whose sharp eyes were watching him intently, understanding dawning in them. "If the Rajputs fall," Rajesh went on, "it won't end with us. The entire balance is at risk. And trust me," he added, a flicker of cold steel in his voice, "we aren't going to go down alone after all we aren't the only country who has such a deep, tangled net of interest."

Pratap nodded slowly, his face hardening with grim determination. "Of course," he said quietly, his tone laced with menace. "If I fall, I'll drag everyone else down with me. Those who think they can watch from the sidelines, thinking that they're safe while we struggle, are in for a surprise. This federation was built on alliances of convenience, and if I have to break every one of them to save our place, I'll do it."

His voice dropped, venomous and resolute as his eyes turned bloody. "If I take a hit then I will make sure that the entire world is going down with me."

Rajesh's eyes narrowed as he considered Pratap's words, his voice dropping to a murmur as he spoke. "Perhaps… Evan doesn't even care about power or control. Perhaps his only goal is to dismantle everything we've built."

Pratap's face turned pale, the gravity of that possibility sinking in. His mind raced. For years, he had dealt with rivals, controlled politicians, and outplayed agents, each one playing their own selfish angle, each one hungry for a piece of the pie.

But Evan?

The man seemed to want nothing at all—except for tearing down the entire system they had spent their lives fortifying.

"I don't believe this," Amit scoffed, though his voice lacked conviction.

The men around the table exchanged uneasy glances. An enemy without a clear motive, an enemy who defied every usual pattern they knew of, was more dangerous than anything they had ever faced. They were cornered, up against someone who went against every rule, every strategy they could think of.

Pratap took a deep, steadying breath, his eyes flickering with a dangerous glint. "Amit, you're right," he said slowly, his voice carrying a weight of finality. "We can't tolerate this any longer. We can't accept his existence—not as he is. His mind, his skill… it's too much of a threat to everything. If we can't bring him to our side, then we will have to eliminate him. If he slips through our fingers, he could spell disaster for everything we have built."

Rajesh's eyes met Pratap's, his gaze searching. "So… what's our plan?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. There was tension, an urgency in his tone as he waited for Pratap's response.

Pratap's jaw tightened, his mind rapidly calculating the risks and the necessary steps. "First," he began, his voice cold and sharp, "we start by cutting off every avenue of support he might have. We isolate him and destabilize his connections. We turn every alliance he has against him. Strip him of every resource."

He leaned forward, his voice lowering. "Then, we strike. Not with half-measures or hesitation. We take him down with everything we've got. No second thought, no mercy."

Amit's face twisted with a sinister grin, his eagerness returning. "Now that's a plan I can get behind."

Your journey continues with empire

Rajesh nodded slowly, taking in Pratap's strategy, realizing the weight of what they were committing to. This was no longer a rivalry for power, nor was it about maintaining control; this was a fight for survival.

The men around the table steeled themselves, each one committing silently to the course they'd chosen, not like they had any choice.

Pratap's face twisted in concentration as he outlined the following course of their plan in his mind and then spoke aloud to Rajesh and the others.

"Let's trap him in Nicobar for real this time," he said with cold precision. "We will isolate him. We need to make sure that Evan is completely cut off—no allies, no resources, no access to communication or support. He'll have nowhere to turn."

Amit nodded, his eyes alight with grim determination. "And while he's isolated, we'll slowly start clearing out civilians from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands," he added. "No sudden movements. We'll replace them with soldiers, disguised as locals. He won't suspect a thing—at least not until it's too late."

Rajesh leaned back, tapping his fingers thoughtfully on the table.

"We must ensure that there are no leaks," he said, his voice measured but firm. "Every single person stationed in that area must be loyal, discreet, and ready to act. If Evan even gets a hint of what we're going to do, he might adjust his plans—or worse, use the civilians against us."

His eyes swept the room, locking with each man seated in the room.

"Understood?"

A low murmur of agreement rippled through the room.

Pratap leaned forward, his tone darkening as he continued. "Once we've replaced the civilians with soldiers and have enough forces positioned, we'll send Evan one final warning. He will be given one chance to surrender—one chance to walk out willingly."

A bitter laugh escaped Amit. "As if he'd ever surrender. He's too arrogant for that. He'll dig in, thinking that he can outsmart us, that his so-called technology is superior and can overpower our strength.So,lets bombard and wipe up out his bases."