Arjun's POV:

The tension was palpable as I walked through the camp, the air thick with the preparations for what was coming. Every step I took was measured, every breath sharp. The team was ready, but I knew we couldn’t afford to slip up. Not when the mafia’s empire was so close, and every move had to be calculated.

I gathered my team near the center of the camp, the men and women who had fought beside me countless times. Their faces were hard, focused, but there was a quiet sense of urgency hanging in the air. Today, we had more than just the mission at hand—we had to make sure we understood everything about this village, its people, and the land surrounding it. Knowledge was power, and we couldn’t afford any surprises.

"Listen up," I began, my voice cutting through the air like steel. "We need intel. We’ve got to know everything about this village—who's who, the location of the key places, and how the locals interact with the mafia. I want to know who can help us and who can’t. And don't forget, the mafia doesn’t only work in the shadows of their own empire; they have their eyes everywhere, even in this village."

My second-in-command, Karan, nodded, already scribbling down notes. He had a sharp mind for details, which made him invaluable. "Got it, sir. We’ll have the local informants working double-time. I’ll also talk to the key villagers who might know more about the routes the mafia uses."

I turned to another member of the team, Vikram, who was tasked with logistics. "Vikram, I need you to get the food supplies ready for the next two days. Make sure everything’s sorted for the camp. No mistakes."

Vikram nodded, then hesitated before speaking. "Arjun, there’s something strange. A couple of times, we’ve found that one or two buckets of food have just... vanished along the way when we’re transporting it. No one knows how or why it happens."

I narrowed my eyes, my suspicion rising. "Vanished? How?"

Vikram shook his head, confusion still on his face. "The workers don’t know. It's been happening sporadically. They think it’s just bad luck or something... but it doesn't sit right with me."

My mind started piecing things together. It wasn’t just coincidence. This wasn’t the first time something odd had happened, and it wouldn’t be the last if I didn’t take care of it now. I had to make sure everything was under control. The mafia was too good at playing games, and if there was an insider involved, I needed to find them.

I stepped closer to the group, my tone sharp. "Tell the information dealer to set up a tracker in the next food delivery. I want a GPS tracker hidden on the truck—no exceptions. I need to know where that food goes. If anyone is taking it, I will find them."

Vikram’s eyes widened slightly, but he quickly nodded. "Understood, Arjun. I’ll make sure it’s done."

“Good,” I replied, my mind already running through the possibilities. "This could be an inside job, or it could just be careless handling. Either way, we’ll know the truth soon enough."

I turned my attention back to the villagers, who were watching us from a distance. They had seen the team set up, and I couldn’t help but notice the way some of them looked at us—curious, cautious. A few of them might be on our side, but I wasn’t going to trust anyone here completely until I had concrete evidence.

One of the older villagers, a man named Gopal, approached me. He had a grizzled face, the kind of person who had lived through hard times. He spoke with a low, gravelly voice. "Arjun, the forest, it can be tricky. There are paths no one talks about. Dangerous paths, places where even the mafia don’t go."

I looked at him closely. "What do you mean? Are there safe places for us to go?"

He nodded. "Safe, but hidden. You’ll need to ask the right people for the path. The mafia, they’ve been moving through there, but they’re always looking over their shoulders. You can use that to your advantage."

I made a mental note of his words. Gopal seemed to know more than he was letting on, and it wasn’t lost on me that there were hidden routes no one dared to speak about. This village had its secrets—secrets that I was going to uncover.

“Thank you, Gopal. I’ll keep that in mind,” I said, acknowledging his input without giving away too much.

With the meeting concluded, I felt the weight of the mission pressing down on me even more. There was a lot to prepare for. The mafia had more power here than I had originally anticipated, and it wasn’t just about the fight anymore. It was about strategy, intelligence, and control.

I turned back to my team, my mind already shifting gears. "Stay sharp. We’ll move out soon, but we need everything ready. If that tracker catches someone slipping, we’ll take action, and we’ll take it fast."

They nodded, and with that, I made my way to my tent. It was time to focus on what mattered: taking down the mafia, getting the job done—and making sure no one in this village was playing us for fools.