Shadows of a Phantom Empire

The Hall of Divine Dominion was eerily silent—too silent. The remnants of the Day of Divine Veneration had dissipated, leaving only the faint scent of incense hanging in the air like spectral remnants of the prayers that had been offered. Yet, the atmosphere within the grand chamber had grown heavier, laden with something far more perilous than reverence.

Politics.

Seated upon his obsidian throne, Emperor Yadav of the Indiana Empire allowed the silence to linger. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the golden armrest, a subtle yet deliberate cadence. Below him, his ministers and generals stood rigid, their faces obscured by the flickering light of the crystal lamps. At the center of attention stood the officer from the Imperial Intelligence Department, his head bowed in deference as he awaited the emperor's response to his report.

Yadav's voice, when it finally broke the silence, was soft but razor-sharp.

"A hidden empire?"