Trap

After shaking hands and reaching an agreement, Sanjay led Rajiv to the guest house that had been recently built.

Rajiv's eyes lit up as he took in the sight of the place, the walls freshly painted and the air filled with the scent of new wood. He ran a hand over the soft, inviting bed, its linens smooth and comforting. "This bed," Rajiv said, his voice filled with surprise, "it's softer than mine. Do you think I could take one home with me?"

Sanjay smiled, nodding. "Of course. Consider it yours."

Rajiv stayed in town for a few days, exploring the area at his own pace. He wandered through the marketplace, which impressed him with its orderliness and cleanliness. Flowers lined the sides of the roads, adding splashes of color to the neat rows of shops. It was a stark contrast to the chaos of his own world.

But there were places Sanjay didn't take him—places that held secrets too dangerous to share. The hospital and the mines remained off-limits. Sanjay knew the people of the town would dismiss any strange rumors as nothing more than the work of good healers. But those secrets were too valuable, too fragile to risk. Rajiv wouldn't understand, not yet.

And so far, not many had shown interest in Sanjay's fief. But things were changing. After the show of support for the second prince, Sanjay knew he'd need to step up security. It was a necessary measure, but the truth was, his allegiance to the prince was only a mask. Beneath it lay a much deeper, more calculated plan.

When Rajiv finally left, Sanjay stood by the window, watching the dust trail left by his carriage fade into the distance. The weight of the moment pressed down on him, but his mind was already racing ahead. He took a deep breath, pushing away any lingering thoughts. There was much to do.

Sanjay turned and called out for Lalit. The command was simple, but it carried weight, and within moments, Lalit entered the room. His posture was straight, his presence commanding. Once a General under Navin, Lalit had risen to a more delicate role in the intelligence field due to his exceptional performance in the VR World.

Sanjay gestured for him to sit, and as Lalit settled in, Sanjay wasted no time. "Lalit, how is our intelligence network progressing?"

Lalit's small, confident smile told Sanjay everything he needed to know. "Sir, our agents are well-established throughout the kingdom. With the communication tool you provided, we're receiving real-time updates from every corner. We can issue orders instantly, no matter the distance."

Sanjay felt a surge of satisfaction. This was exactly what he had envisioned—a network of spies and informants that would keep him one step ahead of everyone else. It was the foundation of his power, and it was working.

"Good," he replied, pausing for a moment to consider his next words carefully. Then, lowering his voice slightly, he leaned forward. "Spread the word to the second prince's enemies that he has struck a deal with me—five tons of steel for his forces."

Lalit's brow furrowed in confusion. He didn't quite understand why Sanjay would do this. "Sir, if you don't mind me asking... won't this create problems for us?"

Sanjay's lips curled into a calm smile. "Lalit, let me ask you one thing. What's needed to fast-track the development of a place?"

Lalit thought for a few moments before answering. "Sir, a lot of money and manpower."

"Correct," Sanjay said, his gaze steady. "All of this can be achieved by weakening your enemies and profiting from the war at the same time."

Lalit's sharp eyes gleamed as understanding flickered in his mind. A lesser man might have needed more explanation, but Lalit understood the plan immediately. This wasn't just about leaking information—it was about manipulating the battlefield, setting the stage before the war even began.

"We will make this war more chaotic, sir," Lalit said, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. As the intelligence chief, he couldn't have asked for a better plan.

"Yes," Sanjay agreed, his tone turning serious. "But make sure we remain undetected. If anyone finds out what we're doing, all their swords will turn toward us."

"Yes, sir. I'll keep that in mind," Lalit nodded, his expression resolute.

Sanjay paused, considering his next question carefully. "Did you find out who our neighbor, Viscount Varun, is supporting in the war?"

Lalit didn't hesitate. "Yes, sir. Viscount Varun is supporting the first prince. With his rich agricultural land and a force of 100,000 soldiers, he's become a major player in the prince's camp."

Sanjay's thoughts turned inward as he mulled over this information. "Hmm."

"Hire more spies," he said after a moment, looking up at Lalit. "We'll need them. I'm planning to establish an academy for them to train."

Lalit's eyes sharpened. "Understood, sir."

Sanjay's plan to build the academy was already taking shape in his mind. He had identified an island—uninhabited and remote, just 200 km from the coast. It was the perfect location. The isolation would ensure their activities went unnoticed. The island was a strategic asset, a place to train spies away from prying eyes, and from there, he could easily move people wherever they were needed.

After discussing a few more details, Lalit stood to leave, ready to begin the mission. This was their first major task together, and Sanjay knew nothing could afford to go wrong. Lalit would make sure of that.

As Lalit left for the intelligence office, Sanjay stood by the window, deep in thought. The wheels were in motion, and the game was about to begin in earnest.

In the capital city, deep within one of the royal mansions, chaos reigned. The first prince stood at the center of the room, his fists clenched in fury. Everything around him was thrown carelessly to the ground—furniture, papers, and delicate objects lay scattered, reflecting his inner turmoil. His angry shouts echoed off the walls, and his advisors stood in tense silence, their eyes cast down, not daring to meet his gaze.

"That piece of shit!" the first prince bellowed, his voice sharp with rage. "How dare he do that? I am the rightful heir to the throne! What he's doing is pure treason!"

His eyes flicked to the room's occupants, and the tension thickened. Without warning, he grabbed a man by the hair and yanked him toward him, his face twisted in fury.

"You," the prince hissed, his voice dangerously low. "You're my advisor, right? Tell me, what should I do now, huh? My brother makes a deal with the kingdom's biggest steel merchant, and what are you doing? Huh? Just standing there while he undermines me?"

The advisor winced, his body trembling both from fear and the pain of the prince's grip. "Majesty, no, we'll think of something," he stammered, trying to hold onto his composure. His words were barely audible, laced with both fear and desperation.

The prince sneered, his rage building. "You can't do anything!" With a swift motion, he tossed the advisor to the floor. The man's body hit the ground with a thud, but the prince wasn't done. He drew his sword, his eyes wild with anger. "I will do whatever it takes, starting with your head."

Before anyone could react, the prince's sword cut through the air, cleanly severing the advisor's head from his body. The room fell into stunned silence as the severed head rolled across the floor, blood pooling beneath it.

The prince stood over the lifeless body, his chest heaving with rage. He held his sword aloft, showing it to the remaining courtiers.

"Listen closely," he said, his voice cold and threatening. "Whoever can bring me steel will take this man's place. Otherwise..." His eyes scanned the room, and a chill ran down everyone's spine. "I will cut all your heads off."

The courtiers nodded quickly, fear clear in their eyes, and rushed out of the room without a word. The prince watched them leave, his mind still clouded with anger. The steel deal had thrown him into a frenzy, and he could not think clearly. But one thing was certain—he would not let his younger brother gain the upper hand.

Hours later, a knock came at the prince's door. His anger still simmering, the first prince barked, "What is it?"

The man who entered was unshaken, his eyes bright with the promise of good news. "Sir, I've connected with a merchant who can supply us with five tons of steel every month."

The first prince froze, disbelief flickering across his face. No merchant in the kingdom could move that much steel in such a short time—at least, not without being deeply connected to powerful figures. He narrowed his eyes, unsure of whether to trust the man. "Speak," he demanded.

"The steel will be the same quality as the second prince's, Majesty," the man continued, his voice steady. "But the merchant is asking for a higher price and won't negotiate. He says if you aren't interested, he will go to the third prince."

The first prince's eyes flared with anger. "How dare he?" he growled, standing abruptly, but he quickly composed himself. "How much is he asking?"

"100,000 gold coins per ton, Majesty," the man replied, his voice unwavering.

The first prince's teeth ground together. He could feel the rage rising in his chest. That was double what Sanjay, charged the royal family. It was outrageous, but what choice did he have? He couldn't let his younger brother grow stronger.

The prince took a slow, deep breath, trying to keep his emotions in check. "Tell him I accept," he said, his voice steady but filled with a cold fury. "But the steel must be delivered on time, every month. And if either you or the merchant fail to deliver, both of your heads will roll."

"Understood, Majesty." The man bowed and left the room, a smile playing at the corners of his lips, though his eyes revealed a deep understanding of the prince's anger.

Meanwhile, similar scenes were unfolding in the mansions of the other princes. Secret deals and negotiations were taking place behind closed doors, each one trying to secure steel for the coming war. Across the empire, merchants and traders were working in the shadows, preparing for the chaos that was sure to come.

As the first shipment of steel arrived by ship, it was secretly unloaded at multiple ports around the kingdom. From there, it would be smuggled into the heart of the nation, ready for the conflict that loomed ever closer.