The Tycoon's Odyssey

Upon hearing Richard's words, the agent remained quiet for a moment before he replied curtly, "Understood. We'll verify. But if this turns out to be a false alarm, Richard, you'll have to answer for it. The President won't be pleased."

Richard nodded, even though he knew that the agent couldn't see him. "I'll take full responsibility. Just make sure you verify before it's too late."

As he hung up, Richard couldn't shake the feeling that the world was teetering on the edge of something far bigger than anyone realized. If the reports were accurate, Evan's technology had the potential to shift the global power dynamics. The coming days would be crucial—he just hoped that they wouldn't be too late.

_____

The atmosphere in the Prime Minister's office was tense, weighed down by rising tensions.

Rajesh Patel sat at the head of the polished table, his face cast in shadow from the flickering overhead lights. Across from him, Amit Sharma's face was flushed with anger, his fury barely contained.

Gripping the edge of the table Amit broke the silence, his tone edged with venom.

"This is exactly what I warned you about, Rajesh!" he exploded, rising from his chair. "This isn't just some petty criminal we're dealing with! Evan is amassing an arsenal beyond anything we have, and now he has developed an armor that could stand against even our best-trained soldiers! We've let this dog off the leash, and now he's coming back to bite us. How much longer are we going to let him slip through our fingers?"

Rajesh Patel's gaze shifted coldly to Amit. "Sit down, Amit," he said, his voice level but authoritative.

"Your theatrics aren't helping. We need solutions, not another round of warnings."

Amit clenched his fists, clearly wanting to argue, but he held his tongue, sinking back into his seat.

Rajesh then turned to Minister Anand Rao, the Minister of Defense, who was observing the exchange with a grim look on his face. "Anand," Rajesh continued, "what's the real scope of this situation? We need a clear assessment of our options—and the potential fallout."

Anand nodded, his expression grave. "We're dealing with a full-blown threat, sir. Evan's technology…What he has now—it no longer is about espionage or corporate rivalries. This is weaponry that could destabilise us entirely. From what our intel suggests, he has developed high-calibre armour that's practically impenetrable, and he is rumoured to be in the process of enhancing its capabilities even further."

Anand paused, his tone growing even darker. "If we let this escalate, Evan won't just be a rival; he'll be a direct threat to national security."

Rajesh's fingers tapped rhythmically against the table as he processed this. "And the worst-case scenario?" he asked, his voice steady.

Anand drew a deep breath. "If Evan refuses to hand over the technology and continues on this path, we're looking at the potential for armed conflict on our own soil. We might need to consider extreme measures to neutralize him. Negotiating won't be enough if he sees us weak or incapable."

Amit leaned forward, unable to contain his frustration anymore. "Negotiations? We shouldn't even be considering negotiations! The man has made a mockery of our efforts, and you're talking about negotiations? I say we go in with everything we have and take him down before he gets a chance to strike us."

Rajesh raised a hand, silencing Amit. "I won't risk an all-out conflict unless it is absolutely necessary," he said coolly. "If we provoke Evan without a due cause, he could retaliate in ways we aren't prepared for. But…" He turned back to Anand, his gaze piercing. "If it comes to that, we need to be ready. So, what's our backup plan?"

Anand's expression hardened. "We already have agents tracking his every move, but if he refuses to cooperate, we can tighten the net. We need to make it clear that if he doesn't hand over this technology, there will be immediate and severe repercussions. And if he tests our resolve, we can deploy advanced units—teams trained specifically for engagements of this caliber. If necessary, we will mobilize the Rajputs and the superhuman assets they've been working with. We can't afford to show weakness here."

Amit's eyes gleamed with fierce satisfaction at the mention of superhuman assets. "Good," he spat. "For too long, we've been shackled by hesitation. It's about time we put those resources to use."

Rajesh, however, remained stoic. "It won't be as simple as you think, Amit. Evan isn't one to bow down easily to some threats, and he has built a network of supporters and resources. But…" His voice trailed off as he contemplated the scenario, his mind considering the potential outcomes.

"If we strike, it must be swift and decisive. There can be no room for error."

Anand nodded in agreement. "We need to weigh every option, every possible reaction he might have. If we miscalculate, Evan could retaliate in ways we haven't yet foreseen. But if we apply enough pressure, he may realise resistance is futile."

Rajesh's gaze swept around the table, taking in the determined faces of his ministers and advisors. "Then let it be clear," he declared, his voice ringing with finality. "If Evan refuses to comply, we'll use every asset at our disposal but…"

"Let's not break things on our end. The situation is quite delicate and it's best if we avoid fallout as much as possible. Don't forget that other countries might also be watching us. If he escapes, others might provide him a chance and make a move to bound him so let's have the Rajputs handle this initially."

"Hmm!" Anand paused and rubbed his chin thoughtfully while concluding.

"You are right about that. Rajput might already be on it. They can't see their empire falling in. Evan's actions might offset the balance."

"With the Rajputs' full support, we're prepared to dispatch superhuman forces if it comes to that," Anand concluded.

The tension in the room solidified as every official braced themselves for the conflict that loomed on the horizon.

"Whatever it takes," Rajesh said firmly, "this threat can no longer be tolerated."