The corporation with the Garha Dynasty

Chapter : 16; The corporation with the Garha Dynasty

Ayush steadied the rifle against his shoulder. The ministers and generals watched with skepticism, their expressions betraying disbelief.

A 300-meter shot? Impossible.

Ayush exhaled slowly, feeling the rifle's weight press against his palm. The iron sights aligned perfectly with the distant wooden target.

Then—BANG!

The rifle's deafening crack echoed across the palace walls. The smell of gunpowder filled the air.

A split second later

A clean hole pierced through the wooden target, right in the center.

Gasps erupted among the gathered ministers and officers.

Fortunately, before the sniping practice, Ayush had obtained basic sniper skills from the system storage. Otherwise, for a beginner, hitting a 300-meter target with just iron sights would have been nearly impossible, even for a professional sniper.

The rifle's stability was also due to the system's blueprint, which, despite being downgraded, had proven to be effective.

One of the high-ranking ministers of the Garha Kingdom looked at the target, his hands trembling. He walked closer and inspected the wooden board that had been destroyed by the bullet. As his fingers traced the bullet hole, his face turned as pale as paper, as if he had seen a lion standing before him.

"Unbelievable...! Such precision at this distance?" he muttered to himself.

While Ayush and the others stood at another vantage point, another minister turned to him and asked,

"Was that a fluke?"

Hearing the question, Ayush's expression darkened.

He chuckled, reloaded the gun with a handcrafted bullet, and said,

"Shall I prove it again?"

Before anyone could respond, Ayush adjusted his aim toward a clay pot sitting atop the fort wall, nearly 400 meters away.

He took a deep breath.

Another BANG!

The clay pot shattered instantly.

As soon as the shot landed, shock was visible on everyone's face. Even Queen Durgawati, his mother Kalyani, Vikram, Gaurav, Maan Singh, and Priya, who had just entered the fort, were stunned.

Earlier, some had believed the first shot was luck, but now? There was no doubt.

Ayush placed the gun on the table beside him, turned to the queen, and said,

"Your Majesty, with this gun, I can guarantee that within 500 meters, accuracy is not an issue. However, skill still plays a role, and that is something I cannot guarantee."

Queen Durgawati gazed at Ayush, carefully weighing the pros and cons of cooperation with him. He was right, the gun's effectiveness was undeniable within 500 meters, but accuracy would depend on the shooter's skill. If she wanted to maximize its potential, she would need proper training for her soldiers.

After a long pause, she turned to her ministers and discussed the matter in a separate corner.

Meanwhile, as Ayush stood there waiting, a sudden system notification rang in his mind.

"Ding!"

"Congratulations, host, for cooperating with the Garha Kingdom and completing the side task.

You have been awarded 5,000 system points and 50 drone batteries."

Huh...? A system reward? But why drone batteries? I haven't even used drones a single time.

Ayush checked his rewards, mumbling to himself.

"System, do you think I can fly a drone without radio signals? And where will I get a screen to view its feed?" he asked.

The system responded instantly.

"Host, the drone and its remote can emit their own radio signals for operation, and a built-in screen is provided. This is not an ordinary drone but a futuristic one. You can check its functions."

Ayush realized that he hadn't even checked his previous rewards, especially the ones from when he escaped the Mughals.

Before he could explore further, Queen Durgawati returned to him, her gaze serious.

"Well, Prince Ayush, as Queen of the Garha Kingdom, I officially announce that we are willing to cooperate with you. However, before proceeding, I want all the details of this partnership, including timelines and agreements."

Her sharp eyes focused on Ayush. From the beginning, he had been the only one speaking. Now, she wanted clear terms.

Ayush nodded slightly and turned to Gaurav and Maan Singh.

"You two, handle the negotiations. Make sure everything is laid out clearly, terms, timelines, and conditions. I don't want any misunderstandings later," he instructed.

Gaurav smirked. "Understood, Your Highness."

Maan Singh nodded. "We'll take care of it, Your Highness."

Then, Ayush left with his mother, while Priya followed closely behind.

Ayush trusted them completely. Gaurav Rajput was a man of sharp wit and keen intelligence. His well-groomed mustache and piercing eyes gave him an aura of confidence, making him a natural diplomat. Ayush was sure he would handle it well. Gaurav had inherited both strategic brilliance and a silver tongue. Unlike Ayush, who preferred bold action, Gaurav specialized in subtle manipulation, persuasion, and long-term planning.

Meanwhile, Maan Singh, on the other hand, was a warrior at heart. Broad-shouldered and tall, with a deep scar running down his left cheek from a past battle, he was a man feared on the battlefield and respected in council. Unlike Gaurav, who dealt in words, Maan Singh spoke through sheer presence and unwavering resolve. A veteran of many wars, he had a practical and ruthless approach. He believed in power dictating terms, and his reputation as a fearless commander preceded him.

So when it came to this cooperation, Ayush had nothing to worry about.

The Next Day

Queen Durgawati sat upon her grand throne, her expression unreadable. Beside her stood her ministers, some still uncertain about Ayush's claims. While the demonstration of the sniper rifle had left them speechless, there was still one major questio, was Ayush worth the risk?

Gaurav stepped forward first, his voice calm and confident, each word deliberate.

"Your Majesty, let's be clear about what we are offering and what we expect in return."

One of the ministers, Duryodhan Singh, scoffed. "A single weapon does not warrant half of Bijapur, no matter how effective."

Gaurav smiled slightly, as if amused.

"You misunderstand, minister. We are not offering a single weapon; we are offering an advantage that could turn the tide of history. This is a revolution in weaponry on our continent. As you saw yesterday, its effectiveness is undeniable."

The ministers hesitated, but before anyone could argue further, Maan Singh stepped forward.

"But let me be clear," he said, his eyes scanning the gathered ministers. "We are not begging for cooperation. If Garha refuses, we will take our offer elsewhere, perhaps to Bijapur itself. They may be your enemies now, but if we arm them, the situation will be reversed."

A few ministers exchanged nervous glances. They had witnessed Ayush's confidence firsthand and knew he wasn't bluffing.

Queen Durgawati studied both men carefully.

"You are bold. But tell me, how do we know you won't turn on us after we win?" she asked, her gaze lingering on Maan Singh.

Gaurav stepped in again, smoothly picking up the conversation.

"Because, Your Majesty," he said, "Ayush Chandra Mourya is not a mercenary, he is a ruler in the making. He seeks alliances, not temporary gains. If he wanted to betray you, he could have done so before presenting the weapon. Instead, he chose to negotiate openly."

Maan Singh folded his arms. "And even if we were destroyed by the Mughals, we do not deal in cowardly backstabbing. We deal in power and honor."

Durgawati leaned back in thought. She was a seasoned ruler who had faced betrayal before, but something about these men felt different.

She turned to her ministers. "Discuss."

A heated discussion broke out among the ministers. Some still doubted Ayush's ambitions, while others recognized the potential of the alliance.

One of the older ministers, a man with graying hair, stood up and faced Gaurav.

"You speak well, but words are cheap," he said.