Secrets and Strategies

Krishna Deva Raya stepped into the newly acquired office building, a monumental structure he had purchased with plans that stretched far beyond the walls. The building was quiet today, still echoing with the potential of what it could become. He glanced around, then turned to his secretary, Priya, who had followed him inside.

"Wait here, Priya," Krishna instructed, his tone calm yet authoritative. "I'll be upstairs. And bring me 30 million Varaha in cash."

Priya nodded, but a hint of concern flickered in her eyes. The task was unusual, even for Krishna. As she waited, she couldn't help but wonder what he was up to this time.

Krishna didn't share much, and Priya was accustomed to this. He often ventured into matters that seemed out of reach, decisions that no one else would dare contemplate. However, she couldn't shake the feeling that today was different.

Upstairs, the floor was eerily empty. Krishna moved through the hall with purpose, ensuring no one was around to overhear or see what was coming next. There were no cameras, no witnesses—he couldn't risk anyone knowing about the System. Not even the most loyal of his summoned talents could learn its secrets. If anyone found out, it would be disastrous for him. His survival depended on the secrecy of his plans.

Alone in the center of the floor, Krishna whispered softly, "Maternalize."

A moment later, the space around him seemed to shimmer, and a group of 300 individuals materialized. They were a highly specialized film and TV production team, their faces immediately lighting up as they greeted Krishna.

"Hello, Master," one of them said, his voice deep and respectful.

Krishna nodded, his expression thoughtful as he surveyed the team. "Can you make an animated movie?" he asked, the question heavy with intent.

"Yes, Master," the leader of the group replied. "We can complete it in about two months, but with current technology, it may take three months to finish."

Krishna blinked in surprise. He had expected the process to take longer, especially given how demanding the animation industry was. The leader's response was promising. "It usually takes more than six months to complete a project like this, so your timeline is quite ambitious," Krishna remarked.

The leader, a man named Venkatesh Teja, stepped forward, his gaze sincere. "This is truly a beautiful devotional story, Master. We will complete it as quickly as possible. You can count on us."

Krishna smiled slightly, impressed by their confidence. "I'm counting on you, Venkatesh." With that, he left them to begin their work and moved to another floor.

There, he stood still for a moment, deep in thought, before speaking again. "System, how do I recruit talents?"

The need for skilled individuals had grown urgent. Krishna now had not just the Magic Pesticide Formula but also breast augmentation drugs and food gene pesticides—all powerful, transformative resources. But they needed to be controlled, locked away in the right hands, or they could be leaked at any time.

He needed death soldiers—ones who would remain loyal no matter what. Not just loyal, but devoted, able to protect his empire and his secrets. He envisioned replacing the senior generals with death soldiers over time, but only once the foundation was secure.

The system's response was quick:

"Ding, back to the host. To recruit, silently recite the type and number of talents you wish to recruit."

Krishna took a deep breath, preparing for the task ahead. He began to recite the words under his breath: "15 top medical research experts, 5 top biological and pesticide medical experts."

The system responded instantly:

"Recruitment successful. Congratulations to the host for obtaining 15 top medical research experts and 5 top biological and pesticide medical experts."

Moments later, 20 experts appeared before him, seven or eight of them women. Krishna noted with a subtle smile how few people understood that these women were no mere vases; they were highly trained professionals in their fields.

Krishna glanced at his system account. It showed that 2 million points had been deducted—100,000 points per expert. It seemed like a steep price, but after reviewing their credentials, Krishna realized it was worth it. These were world-class talents, capable of accelerating his research and development at an unprecedented pace.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Krishna handed over the Super-Effective Weight Loss Medicine Formula, the Female Traceless Breast Augmentation Formula, and the Magical Gene Pesticide Formula. He instructed them to make a detailed list of the equipment and materials they would need for their work. At the same time, he appointed Varun Chatirbedi as the head of the new research institute that would oversee their projects.

Once the details were settled, Krishna asked Venkatesh and Varun to accompany him downstairs. Priya was still waiting at the entrance, her worry clear on her face as she caught sight of Krishna emerging from the building. She had been anxious, especially since he had entered the building alone.

"Your Highness, you're finally down!" Priya exclaimed, the relief in her voice evident. "If you hadn't come down soon, I would have had to bring people up to find you."

Krishna chuckled lightly, a touch of warmth in his eyes. He didn't like to make her worry. "Hahaha, sorry to have kept you waiting," he said, his voice carrying an apologetic tone. "Did you bring what I asked for?"

Priya nodded and handed him the 30 million Varaha in cash.

Krishna took the cash and turned to introduce Venkatesh and Varun properly. "Priya, these are my new associates. Keep their contact details handy," he said, before turning to the two men. "Also, here's the list of items to be purchased. I'll leave it to you to arrange for them."

As they left, Priya stood quietly for a moment, contemplating the depth of the situation. Krishna had always been enigmatic, but today's actions had been especially cryptic. Yet, she trusted him. No one else could carry the weight of an empire and still make such bold decisions with confidence.

⸻

The next day, just past midnight, the system alerted Krishna that the two oil resource points he had activated were now fully refreshed and ready.

Without hesitation, Krishna made his way to the palace where his father, Sriranga Deva Raya, was spending his evening. The emperor was sitting by the artificial lake in the palace gardens, fishing lazily under the moonlight.

Krishna approached, his expression tense. "What happened?" His father's voice was calm, but the concern was apparent in his eyes.

Sriranga Deva Raya was unlike other monarchs. While most kings were consumed with the workings of their realms, Sriranga preferred a more hands-off approach. Much of the empire's governance was carried out by the cabinet—a group of department heads and consultants. This arrangement left the emperor with little to worry about.

However, when something urgent arose, Krishna knew his father would always make time.

"What's wrong, son?" the emperor repeated, his voice laced with curiosity.

Krishna stood silently for a moment, then spoke with purpose. The weight of his plans and the secrets of the future hung heavy on his words.