Prisha POV

I bounded down the stairs with a spring in my step, my energy levels at their peak after a good night’s sleep.

“Prisha! Walk properly! Do you want to roll down the stairs and break your bones?” Maa’s voice came from the dining hall. I grinned, unfazed by her scolding. She always worried too much.

“I’m perfectly fine, Maa!” I called back, stepping onto the floor with a little twirl before heading towards the breakfast table.

Ketan and Papa were already there, eating with the usual calmness that came with their morning routine. I plopped down on the chair across from them, grabbing a piece of toast from the platter.

Ketan glanced at me with a raised brow. “Someone is in a good mood.”

“Of course! I’m back home, had a great sleep, and now I have an entire day to annoy you. What could be better?” I smirked, taking a bite.

Papa chuckled, shaking his head. “Let’s hope your energy is used for something productive.”

Before I could respond, the door opened, and a familiar figure walked in—Bali Kaka.

“Bali Kaka!” I jumped up from my seat and ran toward him, throwing my arms around him.

He let out a deep chuckle, patting my head. “Look at you, all grown up. You’ve forgotten your old Bali Kaka, haven’t you?”

I pulled back, pretending to be offended. “Never! You just disappear too much!”

“I have work, little one. Unlike you, some of us actually do something useful,” he teased, making Ketan laugh.

I rolled my eyes and went back to my seat, enjoying the playful atmosphere. However, my ears perked up when Ketan spoke next.

“Papa, I want to go with Vedant for the Amresh mission.”

Papa, who had just taken a sip of his tea, looked at Ketan with mild curiosity. “And why is that?”

“I want to keep an eye on him,” Ketan replied simply.

That caught my attention. Vedant? So, the beast had arrived recently. He hadn’t been around for too long. That was… interesting. A slow smirk crept onto my lips as I finished the last bite of my toast.

“Well, I’ll leave you all to your business,” I announced, pushing my chair back. “I’m heading to Siya’s house.”

Maa sighed. “At least finish your tea.”

“I’ll drink it there,” I grinned, already walking away.

“Be careful,” Papa said in his usual composed manner.

I waved over my shoulder. “I always am!”

With that, I stepped out of the house, excitement bubbling in my chest. It was time to meet Siya—and maybe gather some more interesting details.

(Vedant Pov)

I sat inside the meeting room, my gaze sweeping over the men seated before me. They were the ones Ketan had introduced earlier—the team responsible for handling tech, weapons, and logistics. They weren’t just soldiers; they were specialists, trained to execute plans with precision.

A man in a black shirt stepped forward and placed a file on the table. “This is Amresh Pal’s daily routine,” he stated, flipping through the pages. “He barely leaves his residence. His security is tight. He stays inside his penthouse, and all his meals are delivered. No unnecessary movements, no public appearances. He’s locked himself in a goddamn fortress.”

I leaned forward, my fingers tapping against the table as I analyzed the information. “There has to be a pattern,” I muttered, scanning the details. My eyes halted at one particular entry.

“He comes out of his room once a day,” the man continued, “when he needs to bathe. He swims in his private pool.”

I smirked. “Tell me about this pool.”

The man nodded, flipping a few pages. “It’s an infinity pool, set up on his balcony. The entire outer wall is made of reinforced glass. The balcony is on the tenth floor of his building.”

My smirk deepened. “Good.”

I leaned back in my chair and exhaled slowly, my mind piecing together the plan. “I need a bullet,” I stated, turning my gaze to the weapons specialist. “One that can break through that glass. Can you make that happen?”

The man met my eyes, understanding my intent without further explanation. He gave me a firm nod. “Consider it done.”

I stepped out of the meeting hall, my mind was still processing the details of Amresh Pal’s routine. Before I could take another step, a man blocked my path. He was well-dressed, his shirt tucked in neatly, a watch gleaming on his wrist. His demeanor was composed, but his eyes held curiosity.

“Vedant, right?” he asked, offering a polite nod. “I’m Harsh.”

I raised a brow. “And?”

Harsh smirked, unfazed by my cold tone. “I work here in the Solanki empire as an account manager. Been doing this for years.”

I didn’t reply, just stared at him, waiting for him to get to the point.

“I’ve been watching you since you entered the empire,” Harsh continued. “You know, people talk. And right now, all they talk about is you.”

I folded my arms. “That so?”

Harsh chuckled. “You’re making waves, Vedant. Everyone is talking about you. It’s rare for someone to enter this empire and catch Jitendra Solanki’s interest so quickly. And Ketan... he doesn't trust easily, but he’s keeping you close. That’s interesting.”

I remained silent, letting him continue.

Harsh took a step closer, lowering his voice. “This Amresh Pal mission? It’s not just about eliminating a dealer. This matter is highly sensitive to the Solankis. Amresh isn’t just any supplier—he’s an old one. He’s been running business with them for years. Cutting him off means cutting off a significant stream of power. That’s why they won’t just want you to kill him.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Then what else do they want?”

“His HDD.”

Something in the way he said it made my senses sharpen. “What kind of HDD?” I asked carefully.

Harsh smirked. “The one that holds every financial transaction he has ever made. Every dirty deal, every bribe, every offshore account linked to the Solankis. If you can get your hands on that, you’ll be doing more than just taking out a man—you’ll be holding leverage. That’s why I’m telling you this. They’ll ask you to retrieve it, but they won’t tell you why it’s important. Now you know.”

I held his gaze, considering his words. “And why are you telling me this?”

His smirk widened slightly. “Because I like knowing powerful people before they become powerful.”

Interesting. I had suspected this wasn’t just about killing Amresh, but this confirmed it.

I nodded. “Good to know.”

Harsh grinned. “Consider that a free tip.” He then extended his hand. “You seem like someone worth knowing, Vedant. What do you say? Friends?”

I looked at his hand for a moment, then shook it. “Why not?”

“Good,” he said, clapping me on the shoulder before stepping back. “I’ll be around. If you need anything, you know where to find me.”

As Harsh walked away, I remained in place, my mind already shifting gears. An HDD containing all of Amresh Pal’s financial secrets. That was more valuable than just his life. And if I played this right, it could be my key to unraveling the Solanki empire from within.

A slow smirk tugged at my lips. This mission just got a whole lot more interesting.