The Tycoon's Odyssey

Their conversation then gradually shifted to lighter topics, and after a few more exchanges, Evan added, "If you face any more challenges or need support, don\'t hesitate to reach out."

"I will remember that, Evan," Suri replied, feeling reassured by his encouragement. After exchanging a few more goodbyes, they ended the call, promising to reconnect soon.

Just as the call ended, Ava, Suri\'s AI assistant, interjected. [Miss Suri, things might get dangerous from now on. You should be prepared and stay alert.]

"Looks like the market crash is just the beginning of our discussions," Suri mused, her excitement building at the thought of returning to the competitive arena.

[Yes, it appears that way,] Ava confirmed.

"This time, things will be different," Suri said with a determined smile as she turned her focus back to her work.

"I am aware of those behind this and I am sure they couldn\'t swallow this loss so easily. All in all, they might be planning to somehow deal with Evan and make up for it," she added, her expression darkening.

[…]

Ava just gave a brief hum of acknowledgement.

Suri looked back at things and started to sort through both bitter and sweet memories.

"It seems he has already grown well and become self-sufficient. In that case, it\'s time for me to retire and start preparing to focus on building a very healthy relationship with the man in earnest and… give birth to a few sweet dumplings for him."

Suri\'s eyes lit up with tenderness thinking about the life that might lay ahead for them.

But little did she know, a big hurdle was looming between them.

_____

The royal chamber was thick with the scent of aged wood and a faint wisp of smoke rising from the hookah in Pratap Rajput\'s hand.

Years of burden weighed heavily on his shoulders as his tired eyes scanned the report that Jagesh had brought. The market crash, the leaks, the betrayal—it was all too much to bear.

Yet, beneath the weariness, anger simmered—a cold fury restrained only by the knowledge that Jagesh wasn\'t to blame.

Pratap took a long, deliberate drag from the hookah, its embers glowing softly as he inhaled. A cloud of smoke drifted into the air, its scent carrying a strange sense of nostalgia—one that reminded him that sometimes, one needed to be cruel and deceptive.

Exhaling slowly, Pratap\'s gaze remained fixed on the papers before him, detailing unimaginable profits alongside the troubling scandals that were spreading like wildfire through the media.

Though his son was untouched by the scandal directly, he was now entangled in a mess far greater than he had anticipated.

"This—" Pratap growled, his voice a low rumble. "This was bound to happen. Too much greed on one side, too much ambition on the other."

Jagesh, standing nearby with arms crossed, nodded solemnly. His expression was hard, laced with frustration and a barely contained thirst for revenge. "We need to act. He might come for us next. We can\'t just sit by and watch while they profit off our misery."

Pratap took another slow pull from the hookah, smoke curling in lazy tendrils around his head. He knew Jagesh was right. But recklessness would only escalate the situation—something he couldn\'t afford at this point.

"Jagesh," Pratap finally said, his voice gravelly but steady. "This isn\'t just about the money. It\'s about power, survival. If we don\'t act now, we\'ll lose control over everything we\'ve built. If what you say is true, I fear he might have already taken over Indra\'s web."

Jagesh\'s dark eyes gleamed. "I know. But we still aren\'t out of options. Also, it still isn\'t set in stone."

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"Grandfather, let me handle it. Give me access to the special guards. With their help, we can resolve this, quietly or otherwise."

Pratap\'s grip tightened around the hookah\'s stem. For a moment, he said nothing, lost in thought. He was too old to fight every battle himself, but Jagesh was young, capable, and hungry for vengeance. Perhaps too hungry. Pratap couldn\'t deny that giving him control might be the only way to protect their interests, even if it was a dangerous gamble.

After a long pause, Pratap leaned back, releasing the tension from his shoulders, and decided to call his right-hand man to relay a message to his son.

"I want you to delegate Jagesh the command of the secret guards. Let him handle this."

Jagesh\'s expression brightened, but Pratap raised a hand, silencing him before he could speak. "But no unnecessary bloodshed. We strike smart, not wild. Use the guards to neutralize threats, not to wage war. We can\'t afford the fallout if this goes public."

Jagesh grinned, a dangerous gleam in his eye. "You have my word, Grandfather."

Pratap shook his head. "Your words mean nothing if you let anger cloud your judgment."

Jagesh\'s grin faltered for a moment, but he nodded nonetheless.

Pratap took one last pull from the hookah, exhaling slowly as he muttered, "This mess will either strengthen us or destroy us. It all depends on how carefully you tread."

Jagesh gave a short bow before turning on his heel, already formulating a plan in his mind. As he exited the room, Pratap remained seated, staring into the haze of smoke swirling before him…

"Old bones have no place in battles," he whispered to himself. "It\'s their world now. All I can do is hope that they don\'t burn it to ashes."

He leaned back in his chair, weary but resigned, watching the smoke slowly fade into the darkened room—much like his control over the world outside.

Thinking about this, his memories made him think about the past.

AI…Robots…Just how much technological advancement can the human world leap into?

And was it enough to fend off those terrestrial beasts?