...

  "Chirayu and Amogh are both here... So why did you come?"

  "To settle the score for their old sins?"

  Major Shaurya looked at Sangharsh with an equally intense gaze.

  "Perhaps."

  Sangharsh leaned back into the sofa, and the Major mirrored the movement.

  "Whatever the case, just stay away from my plans."

  Looking at Sangharsh, the Major's eyes narrowed immediately. He had known the man sitting across from him for years, but their temperaments were different. Neither the Major was like Sangharsh, nor the Sangharsh was like Major.

  "Only as long as no innocent person gets caught in the crossfire."

  Sangharsh wanted to say something. He wanted to respond, even if it was unnecessary.

  But a phone call diverted his attention.

  He picked it up. At first, his brow furrowed, but it slowly subsided after a while. He didn't say yes or no.

  There was something about the man with the slanted mark on his eyes, and his smile spread just as slanted.

  "So, Mr. Major... what if an innocent is the very one determined to flop all my plans? What then?"

  And Major Shaurya knew that the matter was more complicated than he had anticipated. He could sense that Sangharsh already had someone’s life caught between his fingers.

  ?°?°?°?°?

  The office of the manager of this tower. The meaning is simple.. Pranali's.

  Three people, three chairs. A massive table where everything was laid bare.

  Raghav stood at the front with Pranali, while Tushar and Ketaki were present behind him. The blue-gold butterfly sat on his shoulder, radiating a soft, rhythmic light.

  To Raghav’s left stood Ansh, Sameer, and Randheer.

  "Bhai, there's going to be a riot today."

  "Shut up!"

  Sameer elbowed Ansh, who was muttering, to silence him. They both didn't want to disturb the so-called riot here. Their intentions were pure.

  "Chhaya, from the Navjyoti Guild. Anuvrat, from the Pralay Guild. And Kalpana, from the Swashakti Guild."

  The sharp gazes of the three fighters fell on Raghav as he called out their names one by one.

  "Miss Chhaya, you possess Shadow powers. Mr. Anuvrat, you have the power of Invisibility. And Miss Kalpana, Illusory powers. Am I right?"

  All three nodded their heads in agreement. It was true. Raghav took a step toward the table to begin the interrogation when a sudden, thunderous shouting echoed from the hallway.

  "Where is that son of a bi*ch?! Today, I’ll show him what I am! If I don't break every bone in his body, my name isn't Amogh!!"

  "Get out of my way!"

  There was a roar, a crash, and the sound of something falling. Then the office door was kicked clean off its hinges. Because if someone, especially someone of the Supreme level, kicked this wooden structure with such force, what else could be expected?

  Pranali’s brow snapped down in anger.

  "Amogh!! How dare you?"

  "Shut it! How dare YOU haul my daughter in here like a criminal?!"

  Raghav and his team had a singular reaction, wide eyes and dropped jaws in disbelief.

  No one had imagined anyone would have the audacity to speak to Pranali with such blatant disrespect.

  "If she hasn't done anything wrong, then what’s the problem?!"

  Raghav stepped directly in front of the table, Randheer moving up behind him. Raghav could see Amogh’s rising temper. He didn't want to add fuel to the fire.

  "You shut up, you idiot! Don't give me a lecture! My daughter didn't do anything. Do you hear me?!"

  But when the fire is already raging, what can be done? Raghav nodded, showing he was listening. But the other person should listen too. One hand can't clap. Communication is a two-way street.

  "I haven't made any accusations. I am simply questioning—"

  "I’ll burn you and your questioning to ash! I’m taking my daughter and leaving. Do whatever you want!"

  Chhaya rose with a devious smile directed at Raghav, dusting her hands as if she had just touched something filthy, which they hadn't.

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  "What's the harm in one or two questions?"

  Raghav couldn't stop himself from speaking and neither could Amogh. Amogh’s boiling gaze snapped to him, and for a second, Raghav felt he should have kept his mouth shut.

  "Who are you to explain things to me? Don't open your rotten mouth again! Otherwise..."

  "Amogh! You are crossing the line. This boy is not at fault!"

  Pranali took Raghav's side, giving him a moment of relief. Temporary relief...

  "You're snapping at me for this pup? Fine, I’ll just finish him off right now!"

  Before Raghav could blink, flames erupted around Amogh. The slowly growing cold vanished, replaced by a scorching heat that turned Raghav's wide chocolate coloured eyes into gold reflections of the fire.

  A massive, triangular structure of flame formed. The butterfly on Raghav’s shoulder stood alert.

  And before Raghav could do anything, Amogha threw it straight towards Raghav.

  "RAGHAV!!"

  For a moment, Pranali’s heart skipped a beat. Thanks to Randheer, who showed incredible agility, grabbing Raghav by the arm and shoving him out of the way.

  Even if he hadn't pushed, Raghav was about to jump in that direction. He had no intention of becoming human-barbecue.

  He clutched the butterfly in his hand, as if shielding it. It was a narrow escape. And now, it was someone else’s turn to be angry...

  "What the hell is this, Amogh?! You almost killed this boy!"

  Pranali slammed her hand on the table. The other two fighters flinched, but the one she spoke to didn't seem to care. He was just scratching his ear.

  "He didn't die, did he? That’s enough."

  Now, Pranali’s rage hit the ceiling.

  "Amogh! There is a limit to stupidity, and you’ve crossed it. I am sentencing you. Your powers will be blocked for three hours!"

  As she spoke, a green light enveloped Amogh, which began to rapidly and violently drain his inner strength. Raghav could tell just by looking at it that it must be such a painful feeling, when even a supreme-level fighter was brought to his knees.

  "Pranali! You aren't doing the right thing!"

  "I will decide what is right for me. Not you! Now get out of my sight."

  Leaning on Chhaya’s shoulder, Amogh limped toward the door. While the girl glared at Raghav before leaving...

  with a lot of disgust,

  lot of hatred.

  The butterfly sitting on Raghav's shoulders placed its wings on his head, as if expressing some sympathy, and he also started caressing it.

  "So... Mr. Anuvrat? Shall we start with you? Or do you have a problem as well?"

  Anuvrat might have shaken his head in denial but his eyes were also not falling properly on Raghav.

  "Then... where were you when the Kaalay Dagger disappeared?"

  ?°?°?°?°?

  "Just wait for the right time. If I don't destroy them both, my name isn't Amogh!"

  Amogh was muttering as he walked away with Chhaya. Chirayu was standing outside.

  "See? Was I right or not?!"

  Amogha nodded.

  Chhaya too.

  Chirayu was absolutely right, and both knew it.

  "There’s still time. Join hands with me."

  Amogh took a long breath and exhaled slowly.

  "Fine."

  Chirayu pulled something from his pocket and extended his hand towards Amogh. After thinking for a while, Amogh also extended his hand, and whatever he found in his hand was a deep red envelope, sealed with a square and flower motif at the corners.

  Amogh was looking at this envelope carefully, but his concentration was interrupted when a voice came from behind.

  "What kind of deal is being finalized here?"

  A brown trench coat and a scar over his eyes...

  Amogh immediately stuffed the envelope into his pocket and stared at him. But he wasn't fast enough for those sharp eyes.

  Sangharsh had already seen it, and now he wanted to know what it was.

  "This piece of sh*t—"

  "Oh! Cursing as soon as we meet?"

  When Sangharsh said this with a smirk, Chirayu suddenly left.

  Amogh too.

  Chhaya too.

  Away from those sharp eyes...

  『One minute... why couldn't I feel Amogh's power?』

  His eyes followed Amogh's and narrowed. He didn't sense any power from Amogh. And he had a theory about it.

  Not just a thought, but he was also certain what the cause was.

  『O-ho! So that’s how it is...』

  His fists clenched. His jaw tightened. Some old thoughts.

  Some suppressed emotions.

  And an old grudge...

  『Should I just end him?』

  His hands were raised toward Amogh, his powers about to settle scores for an old sin, when his phone rang. He knew who it was. He slowly lowered his hand, his eyes still fixed on Amogh like a hungry wolf.

  "What?"

  "You need to come to the Manager’s office, Boss!"

  "Sigh... I’m coming."

  ?°?°?°?°?

  "I was right where the Boss told me to be."

  And Raghav just rolled his eyes. The guy was answering as if he'd read it. Every single detail was artificial, Raghav knew that much.

  "And where did the Boss tell you to be? Near the Vault?!"

  "You're making baseless accusations! Why would I go near the Vault? I was on the third floor."

  Anuvrat said this in a tone of anger and sternness, and Raghav signaled to Sameer, who turned on the smart board on the office wall and played the recorded CCTV footage from the time when Kaalay dagger had disappeared.

  Raghav pointed at the screen and turned to Anuvrat.

  "Then show me. Where are you?"

  But only if Anuvrat's eyes were on the board! His narrowed, hateful eyes remained locked on Raghav.

  "Why bother the team member, when the Team Leader is here?"

  A brown trench coat fluttered in the air. A slanted smile that perfectly matched the scar on his face appeared.

  For Anuvrat, Sangharsh’s arrival was a relief. But not everyone's perspective is the same.

  Raghav's was different.

  Quite different.

  In his eyes, this wasn't a good thing at all.

  As Sangharsh stepped forward, Raghav involuntarily swallowed hard. Ansh and Sameer noticed the sudden shift in Raghav’s demeanor.

  "We meet again... Mr. Raghav!"

  To be continued...