15

"You mean the Ministers are all

corrupted?" Viaan exclaimed hotly. He

had expected some people to betray

them. But expectations and reality

were quite different. Betrayals are

hard to deal with. Vidyut was looking

everywhere but at Viaan. They had

regrouped at the secret place again the

next day. It was daytime and also their

day off. Why the day off was given, no

one knew, but they could only guess.

Regardless it was the best day to plan

and scope out every small and big things.

The day also agreed with them and it

was quite sunny. The breeze played

with Viaan's hair and he tried in vain

to tame it. He had again dyed it that

morning to maintain his disguise. He

did not want another Rudra happening.

That memory was too new and very

hopeful but also threatening. Rudra was

standing beside him, back straight and

watching the three of them with keen

eyes. Viaan wondered how his childhood

was. Was he treated well? Did he know

how to read and write? Viaan was up

for teaching him anything. He sensed

that he saw Rudra as someone like

him. It was like he saw his loneliness in

him. Rudra had everything taken away

from him because of money. And Viaan

had everything taken away because of

power. And further Rudra reminded

Viaan of his siblings. He had someone to

coddle now who was younger than him.

He wondered how many servants were

treated unfair. The ones in the royal

palace were treated well, he knew that.

But what about those who worked in

other places? Were they living in their

own personal hell? His thoughts were at

abrupt end when Viaan heard Vidyut's

report. Vidyut was supposed to look at

bank accounts and money transfers.

"How else would you justify huge, I

mean very huge money transfers in the

elite officials' accounts? But only two

of them don't have any transfers and I

think they are loyal to you." "I don't think

they would make this easy. I think this

is something else. We are being led in

different direction. Who are those two?"

Nairiti rose from her sitting position and

moved to where Vidyut had office with

all his notes. "The minister of finance

and agriculture, they are those two."

Nairiti was quiet for a moment and then

she turned towards Viaan. Viaan knew

whatever she thought would be worse

than what Vudyut had said. There was

no change in her expression but Viaan

knew enough to see her eyes lose their

shine. She was going to day something

very disturbing. "I think those two

are responsible for all this. They are

trying to bribe other ministers by using

money. You think about this, something

like this doesn't start with majority but

with minority. They want the other

Ministers to rebel. And if think that all

the Ministers are corrupted, wouldn't

Vivaan be thrown in custody?" Her

words made sense. His brother was for

now, from the officials at least. But they

were ahead of him with their diabolical

plan. Because finance and agriculture

was the backbone of his kingdom.

Without money, the soldiers couldn't

fight and without food, no one could live.

The villain had targeted the life of his

kingdom. This was to kill a kingdom for

its conquering. Viaan had to act fast. He

needed people but no one would believe

him. "We can recruit people!" The three

of them turned towards Rudra who

lowered his eyes when he saw their gaze

on him. And like he remembered what

Viaan had said, he raised his eyes and

met each of their gaze without hesitation.

"The servants, they are all trained to

fight. We can find out if there is anything

happening and act accordingly. We

know how to stop people." "How can

you stop anyone?" Nairiti was in her

interrogative mode. "Its easy. Just add

some herb and they will have stomach

problems. Hard to go anywhere in that

condition." Viaan suppressed a smile

at that. Of course, a servant can do that

without any problem. "And what else

can you get away with?" "Records. We

can find anything, anywhere. We can

delay their plans or alter them if the

situation asks for it." "Great, do you

trust these people you think of?" Viaan

was surprised at this abrupt trust. Of

the three of them, Nairiti was the most

skeptical one about Rudra. And now

she trusted him. She went from zero to

three sixty in a matter of seconds or a

blink of eye in this matter. "Few ones.

I can't tell everyone but there are few

who can tell me information. I won't tell

anything about the returned one. I won't

sell you out." Nairiti nodded, "I'll meet

them too. Tell me when you go asking for

their help." That was decided and Viaan

and Vidyut were looking at the both of

them with slightly open mouths. Viaan

had expected huge fights before one

decision was made. This was becoming

easy. So he moved onto the one which

would cause the biggest disagreement

to test this newfound agreement.

"What about me going undercover in

the royal residence?" "You are mad!"

Echoed in the silence. The words were

silent but Vidyut did have a booming

voice when he was mad. Nairiti had

an incredulous look and Rudra looked

plain uncomfortable. "I know about that

place better than anyone else. Not even

servants know what I know. "Viaan said

calmly with ease. "You must think we

would allow you so easily. But we won't!

Do you think we got you out of there only

to send in unprotected. Those people

are waiting to remove you from the

game and you want to go and stand in

them. "I have a plan you will like, then!"

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