The Tycoon's Odyssey

While all this happened, Jagesh glanced uneasily between Vishal and the furious faces of his family, and decided to stay quiet. He shifted uncomfortably, lowering his head, unwilling to add fuel to the fire.

Evan watched the scene unfold and raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a faint, mocking smile. "Well, well," he said, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "Vishal, what a clever little suggestion. You're the smartest person here, it seems. Followed closely by Jagesh."

He turned to the rest of the Rajputs, his eyes glinting with amusement as he addressed them. "And as for the rest of you? It's obvious that you don't have much interest in staying alive. Such a shame, really. But…" His smile widened. "I'm feeling generous today."

The room fell into stunned silence as Evan began pacing slowly. "I'll give you all a chance," he said, his tone calm but laced with menace.

"A… chance?" Arjun murmured, breaking his silence for the first time.

Evan nodded, stopping in front of Vishal. His icy gaze bore into the younger man. "Clean him up," he ordered, clapping his hands to summon a guard. "Take Vishal out of here. Feed him, let him rest. He has earned a little comfort."

The guards moved quickly, unlocking Vishal's chains. As they pulled him to his feet, Evan's voice turned sharp again. "And Vishal," he added, his eyes narrowing, "their lives are now in your hands. If you prove useful to me, maybe—just maybe—I'll consider letting them live."

Vishal's face tightened, a mix of fear and resolve flashing in his eyes as he was led out of the cell.

Evan turned back to the remaining Rajputs, his expression cold and unreadable. "Let this be a lesson," he said. "The world doesn't care about your pride or your name. Adapt, or be crushed. It's really that simple."

"You can't always be the one to rule. Even you have dethroned many to sit on the throne." Explore more stories with empire

With that, he walked out, leaving the cell in suffocating silence.

Pratap sat in the dark room, trembling with fury, and Rudra cursed under his breath. Arjun closed his eyes, his face etched with despair.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

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As Evan stepped out of the dimly lit corridor, his face remained composed, though a faint smirk tugged at his lips as he greeted Suri, who had been waiting for him in the grand hall. Her sharp eyes narrowed as she studied him for a moment before asking, "So, did you already kill everyone in there?"

Evan froze mid-step, his smirk faltering into a stiff expression. "Do you really think I'm that cold of a demon?" he asked, feigning innocence, his voice light but carrying a subtle edge.

Suri snorted, crossing her arms. "Stop pretending. Who are you even trying to fool with that act? Certainly not me."

Evan's lips twitched at her remark but he quickly recovered before letting out a resigned chuckle. "Fine, fine," he muttered, gesturing for them to take a seat in the regal hall.

The two settled into lavish chairs, and the room was filled with quiet tension. An array of servants shuffled around them cautiously, their nervous glances betraying their fear of the two after the grim events that had unfolded. The faint clinking of glasses and soft footsteps was the only sound breaking the silence.

Moments later, Vishal appeared. He was clean and dressed in fresh clothes, but his face was pale, his eyes heavy with exhaustion and conflicted emotions. As he walked into the room, the weight of everything that had transpired seemed to press down on him like an invisible force.

Vishal hesitated for a moment before taking a seat opposite Evan and Suri. His movements were stiff, his hands trembling slightly as he tried to mask the raging turmoil within. The humiliation of being branded a coward by his family and the uncertainty of what lay ahead gnawed at his resolve.

Suri watched him in silence for a moment before sighing. "At least you know where to stop yourself," she said, her tone firm yet oddly sympathetic. "Better that than clinging to your pride and ending up like the rest of them."

Vishal forced a bitter smile, though her words cut deeper than he let on. Turning to Evan, he asked, his voice low but steady. "What do you need me to do? And… will you really let us live?"

Evan leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable. Letting them live wasn't the issue—it was about ensuring their loyalty. Tweaking their minds through neural rewiring was always an option, but something about Vishal made him hesitate. Perhaps it was a shred of respect for the man's pragmatism, or perhaps he simply wanted someone willing to work for him without being reduced to a puppet.

But that doesn't mean he trusted him. Vishal would be forced to sign a contract after which there won't be a problem of loyalty. Even if he turned out to be disloyal, there would be nothing he could do.

Evan's eyes narrowed thoughtfully before he spoke. "I need you to take over the Rajputs and make sure they do what Rajputs do best."

Vishal's eyes widened in shock, his gaze flickering between Evan and Suri as if searching for some sign that this was a cruel joke. When neither of them spoke further, he turned back to Evan, his voice laced with disbelief. "You… you want me to lead the Rajputs? After all this?"

Evan nodded, his expression calm but serious. "The Rajputs have been one of the founding pillars of Indra. Without them, Indra's rise might have never been possible. They've played a crucial role in shaping the nation. But lately? They've become a liability, dragging it down."

Evan's voice grew colder as he continued. "It's time someone ensured their actions align with the country's future. That someone is you, you will be the one to make it happen."

Vishal swallowed hard, his throat dry. His hands gripped the chair's armrests tightly. "Is… is that all you want from me?"

Evan paused for a moment, then intertwined his fingers and rested them on his lap before leaning forward slightly. His posture was relaxed, but his piercing gaze demanded attention. "How much do you know about the Federation?"

The question hung in the air, heavy and ominous, landing like a thunderclap. As Vishal processed the shift in conversation, he could feel the weight of Evan's expectations bearing down on him. Whatever answer he gave, he knew his life and his family's would depend on it.