The Tycoon's Odyssey

The atmosphere was heavy with tension, almost suffocating. The kind that gripped the soul and refused to let go.

The castle stood like a bastion of defiance, its walls towering against the horizon, a proud testament to the pride and might of Rajputs.

Outside, elite forces patrolled the grounds with an intensity that mirrored the stakes of the moment. These were not just any ordinary guards but the highly trained operatives, their movements sharp and calculated.

Drones hummed in the sky, scanning for threats relentlessly, while superhuman commanders directed a vast network of soldiers stationed strategically at intervals all around the perimeter. Every corner of the fortress was fortified, every soldier combat-ready.

Inside, the grand hall of the castle mirrored the tension outside. Its vastness, with walls adorned by centuries-old tapestries depicting victories of the long past. Yet, despite its grandeur, an oppressive silence filled the air, one that couldn't be dispelled. At the head of a long oak table sat Pratap Rajput, his once-proud shoulders slumped under the weight of the ongoing crisis. Beside him sat his two sons, Arjun and Rudra.

Arjun, the elder of the two, exuded an air of quiet authority, his face set in a grim expression as he exchanged occasional glances with his father. Rudra, slightly younger but the more tactical of the two, looked troubled. He had been in charge of fortifying their cyber defenses, and now his mind was a whirlwind of unanswered questions as the country's networks faced unprecedented siege.

At the far end of the table, their sons, Jagesh and Vishal, sat in uneasy silence. Jagesh's expression was stern, his gaze sharp betraying a simmering frustration. Vishal, on the other hand, looked pale. His hands trembled slightly as he gripped the edge of the table, his mind racing with thoughts of their recent defeat.

He had never imagined that such a thing was possible—their mighty naval fleet decimated, no it wasn't just decimated, rather it was defeated and taken away for Evan's use.

This was unbelievable.

"How did it come to this?" Vishal muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. The only thing keeping him from spiraling into despair was a fragile hope: Evan may have struck hard, but the fight wasn't over, they still had a chance. He repeated it in his mind like a mantra: This isn't over.

Pratap broke the silence, his deep voice cutting through the room. "Rudra," he said, turning to his younger son. "Do you have any records of how this happened? Any news at all about the fleet's defeat?"

Rudra shook his head slowly, his face etched with frustration. "No, Father. The broadcast networks are fully controlled by the Prime Minister and his staff. I've been trying to get access, but it's no use. If I had known sooner, I might have been able to intercept something. But now… now it's impossible."

Pratap's brows furrowed. "And the fleet? Is it possible that this is a false alarm?"

"It's not," Jagesh interjected, his voice sharp. "I've heard rumors from the surviving officers. They're scattered and confused. Whatever happened out there wasn't ordinary."

Pratap leaned back, closing his eyes for a moment as he absorbed the grim news. "Call Rajesh," he finally said. "See if he answers. If he doesn't… one of you will have to go there in person."

For hours, they had been trying to contact Rajesh, the commander stationed in the capital, but every attempt had ended in silence. Arjun signaled to one of the guards stationed by the door. "Dial him again. Put it on the main screen."

The room fell into an uneasy quiet as they waited for the call to connect. Breaking the silence, Arjun spoke, his tone clipped. "This is unprecedented. How could they strike so decisively? Was there an insider?"

"It doesn't add up," Rudra agreed. "Our forces are the best in the world. Whatever they used to overpower us, it wasn't conventional."

Jagesh exhaled sharply, his patience wearing thin. "What's taking so long? Why hasn't anyone been able to give us a proper report?"

Jagesh spoke in annoyance, making the people trying to contact Dilli flinch.

"It connected," one of them finally announced.

Suddenly, the screen flickered, and the call connected.

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Every eye in the room turned toward the monitor. But instead of Rajesh's familiar face, someone else appeared. The man leaned casually in his chair, a faint smile playing on his lips. It took a moment for the Rajputs to register who they were looking at.

"It's… Evan," Vishal whispered, his voice trembling.

Pratap's face turned pale. "WHATTT!" he roared, his shock so great that it sent him into a violent coughing fit.

Arjun narrowed his eyes, his voice cutting through the commotion. "Where is Rajesh? And who are you?"

"Father, it's Evan!" Jagesh snapped, frustration boiling over. "You don't even recognize him? How could you not know his face?"

Arjun stiffened, though he quickly masked it. The truth was, he had never given Evan a second thought, dismissing him as an insignificant figure. He had believed there was nothing the man could do to pose a real threat.

A low, mocking laugh echoed through the speakers. Evan leaned forward, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement. "Surprise," he drawled, his tone dripping with arrogance. "Are you all surprised?"

Pratap regained his composure, his voice turning icy. "What are you doing in Dilli?"

Evan tilted his head, his smirk widening. "You're mistaken," he said smoothly. "I'm not in Dilli…" He paused, letting the silence grow unbearable. Then, with a glint of malice, he continued, delivering the final blow.

"The Dilli has already fallen. It's under my command."

The words hit the people in the room like an explosion. No one spoke, the weight of the revelation rendering them momentarily frozen. Even the ever-composed Arjun felt his breath hitch as the realization sank in.

Pratap gripped the table so tightly that his knuckles turned white with tension. For the first time in years, the Rajputs felt the sting of true fear. And on the screen, Evan leaned back, his smile never wavering, as if daring them to respond.