The Tycoon's Odyssey

"This ant has grown so big that this is too suspicious. We need to start controlling him or get rid of him soon, or else…"

As the final words of the briefing echoed through the room, Pratap Rajput's jaw tightened, and a flicker of unease crossed his usually stoic face.

Beneath his composed exterior, a storm of emotions was brewing. For decades, he had held an unyielding grip over Indra's intricate web, managing both the visible forces and those that thrived in the shadows.

But now, Evan's rapid advancements had become a threat that seemed to grow bolder by the day and Pratap could feel the certainty of his control slipping. Worse yet, if word of Evan's armor and technology reached the global stage, it wouldn't just threaten Indra's stability; the world itself could be sent into a frenzy.

He cursed Evan inwardly for revealing such a weapon. The mere concept of an indestructible armor would inspire envy, fear, and desperation among powerful nations, all of them eager to replicate or seize such technology. And that ambition could be the spark to ignite another world war. It was better that something like this didn't exist at all than appear out of nowhere and fuel global tensions on such a scale.

A grim premonition settled over Pratap. He could sense the chill of an approaching storm, a war that could shake the very foundations of the world.

The previous night, all the heads of other families had met, a gathering that had ended with a big farce.

"Yesterday…"

Turning away from the others, he walked out of the room and down the corridor, where he found Jagesh. The young man seemed to have grown quite disciplined in recent days, his previous rashness had decreased by a great degree and he also seemed to have learned to control himself more firmly.

The two exchanged a knowing glance, and without words, they slipped into a secluded office, far from prying eyes and ears.

"Did you feel it too, Jagesh?" Pratap began, his voice was low and heavy with meaning. "This threat—it's unlike anything we've ever faced before. Evan… he isn't just a rogue player anymore. He is now a catalyst, and if we're not careful, he'll drag us all into the fire."

Jagesh nodded, his face grim. "If word of his armor goes public, it'll spread like wildfire. There will be factions everywhere—some wanting the technology for themselves, others who'll rally against it in fear. Civil unrest, political leverage—it'll tear us apart from within."

Pratap exhaled sharply, his mind racing through contingency plans. "We can't let it come to that," he said.

"We have assets—operatives and informants planted in key nations. It's time we set them in motion. They'll control the flow of information, contain any leaks, and monitor communications. Evan's armor must be kept a ghost, nothing more than a whispered rumor."

Jagesh's eyes gleamed with understanding as he leaned forward. "Our spies have networks reaching every major nation. We'll intercept any transmissions, scramble files, and silence anyone who speaks out about it. If anyone catches wind of Evan's technology, they'll be met with dead ends or disappear altogether. And we'll use our allies in the media to keep things quiet on the home front. Controlled articles, fabricated reports, 'leaks' that lead nowhere."

Pratap nodded. "Exactly. And with the government under our thumb, we can divert attention as needed. State-sponsored announcements, controlled public speeches—whatever we need to ensure that no one is any the wiser. Any intelligence leaks will be smothered before they can reach the surface."

"We might not be able to completely block it, but we can certainly delay it and utilize the time wisely."

A shadow of ruthlessness crept into Pratap's expression as he continued. "Deploy my elite troops in civilian disguise if necessary. They'll infiltrate places where unrest might spark—universities, media outlets, even diplomatic sectors. They'll keep tabs on anyone who gets suspected of learning too much about Evan's operations, and neutralize any potential uprisings before they even begin."

Jagesh grinned, his tone laced with approval. "With Indra's reach, we'll smother this like smoke. If Evan's technology becomes a threat, we'll isolate him completely—and turn him into a ghost in the system. No allies, no voice, no leverage."

Pratap paused, considering the larger implications of their plans. "It won't just be about hiding this technology. We need to make a statement—quietly, but effectively. If anyone steps out of line or dares question the secrecy surrounding this, they'll learn the cost of stirring the waters. This… disruption, this madness—it has to end before it can even begin."

Jagesh gave a curt nod. "Our teams will move immediately. With this level of containment, we can keep Evan's influence from spreading. But if we're to ensure complete control, there's one more measure we should consider: framing the story ourselves. If rumors begin to leak, we'll spin them into myths, and distort the truth until Evan's work is discredited entirely. The more outlandish the story claims, the less people will believe it."

A flicker of satisfaction passed over Pratap's face. "Then it's settled. We'll paint a picture so hazy, so distorted, that Evan's technology will become nothing more than a ghost story. By the time anyone uncovers a fragment of the truth, it will be far too late. We'll have kept the peace and our control."

"But before all this, we need to take over Evan. And I want the Rajputs to personally oversee things. Send Vishal to corner him—use threats, use everything at our disposal. Go after his friends, family, and anything he has but just get this job done," Pratap commanded with firm resolve.

With steely determination, Pratap and Jagesh finalized their plans, ready to orchestrate one of the most covert and far-reaching containment operations Indra had ever undertaken. As they parted, Pratap felt the familiar weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders yet again. He would see to it that no one, not even Evan, could disrupt the world order he'd worked so hard to build.