Empire of India: Rise of the Ruthless Prince

Chapter 43: Test

Silence settled heavily over the room as both Mithun and Karna mulled over Harsha's question. The flickering candlelight cast uneasy shadows, adding to the tension that seemed to suffuse the air.

Karna was the first to break the silence. His voice was hoarse edged with the bitterness of his past. "I want to kill the prince of the Kasim Sultanate who executed my family," he said, his eyes blazing with anger. The memory of his family hanging from trees witnessed upon his return from hunting, was still vivid in his mind.

"I vowed to take his life with my own hands, even if I have to sell my soul to do it."

Harsha leaned back in his chair, a mischievous smile creeping onto his lips. "So you want to kill him instantly?" he asked.

"Yes, Your Highness," Karna replied filled with determination.

Harsha chuckled, shaking his head. "That's no fun," he said, his smile widening. "Why would you give your enemy a quick death?"

Karna looked puzzled. "Pardon?"

Harsha's eyes twinkled with dark amusement. "The best way to take revenge is to make them suffer to the extreme until they beg you to end their misery. That's where the true satisfaction lies."

He leaned forward, his gaze intense. "Just killing him is boring. I'd much prefer watching him suffer," Harsha added, smirking with a sadistic expression. "That's the kind of revenge that truly entertains me."

Harsha, his eyes locking onto Karna's with a predatory gleam. "Your revenge is easy to accomplish," he began, his words taking on a hypnotic quality.

He extended his hand toward Karna in a gesture of promise. "Sell me your soul," Harsha continued, his voice chillingly calm. "Be my loyal hunting dog for the rest of your life."

Karna's eyes widened slightly, but he remained silent, absorbing the gravity of the proposal.

Harsha's smile grew as he spoke. "In return, I will give you the chance to kill the prince in the most satisfying way possible. I will ensure that your thirst for vengeance is quenched, and you will have the pleasure of seeing him suffer before he meets his end."

Karna's mind raced as he considered Harsha's offer. He had researched Harsha extensively, using every resource at his disposal. He knew the prince was a lesser candidate for the throne, and Harsha's promises could easily be empty.

Yet, as he stared at Harsha, he felt an inexplicable pull. It was as if he were looking into an abyss, a dark void that attracted him. The prince's presence was overwhelming, commanding a mix of fear and fascination.

Karna took a deep breath, fighting against the unsettling allure of Harsha's offer. He had always been driven by a singular purpose—to avenge his family. And now, faced with the prince's chilling gaze, he felt compelled to accept.

"I agree," Karna finally said, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "I will serve you. I'll be your loyal hunting dog, as you say. And in return, I trust you'll make sure I get my revenge most satisfyingly."

Harsha's smile widened. "Excellent," he said, extending his hand further. "Welcome to the hunt, Karna. That said, you have to complete a task to prove your ability,"

As Karna clasped Harsha's hand, he felt a shiver run down his spine—dreading the path that lay ahead.

"Understood, Your Highness," Karna replied.

Harsha turned to Mithun. "And what about you? What do you desire?"

Mithun, still visibly tense, took a deep breath before speaking. "My goals are similar to Karna's," he said, nodding towards Karna. "I want to destroy the Reddy family."

Harsha's eyes lit up with amusement. "Destroy the Reddy family, you say? HAHA, both of you are driven by destruction. I quite like this. Destruction is fun, don't you agree?"

A heavy silence followed his statement. No one spoke; the room seemed to grow colder in the stillness.

Harsha broke the silence with a smirk. "Wiping out the Reddy family entirely is a considerable feat. If I can secure the throne, it's doable. But tell me, Mithun, do you want to annihilate them completely or would you prefer a more... elaborate approach? For instance, killing them inch by inch, coaxing them into traps, and shutting them in until the entire family is under your control?"

Mithun hesitated, clearly weighing the implications of Harsha's words. His face was a mask of concentration as he tried to grasp the full extent of what was being proposed.

"What do you mean by that?" Mithun asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

Harsha's eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward slightly, "Are you slow to understand?" he replied.

Mithun's expression turned into confusion. "Pardon, Your Highness?"

Harsha sighed and continued. "I mean, make them dance to your tune. Slowly crush them, savouring each moment as you watch them squirm and struggle to escape your trap,"

He added at the end, "Give them a glimmer of hope, only to snatch it away at the last moment, watching as everything they've built crumbles into dust. The satisfaction of seeing their despair and destruction unfold before your eyes—that's what I'm suggesting."

Mithun's eyes widened as he absorbed the full weight of Harsha's proposal. The image of methodically dismantling the Reddy family's power, coupled with the cruel pleasure of watching them suffer, seemed to resonate with the desires he harboured. He could feel the allure of such a plan, and despite his initial hesitation, the idea began to take root in his mind.

"Very well," Mithun said.

Harsha turned his attention to Karna. "Complete these tasks to prove your abilities. Karna, your mission is to find these two criminals and eliminate them." He tossed a piece of paper onto the table. It detailed the crimes committed by the individuals and their last known locations. Karna's eyes darkened with anger as he scanned the paper.

His knuckles clenched into tight fists as he read about the heinous acts. "I will do it," he said firmly.

Harsha then turned to Mithun. "As for you, Mithun, here's a small pouch of coins." He placed a pouch on the table with a casual flick of his wrist. "Use this to buy various goods and ensure you quadruple the amount."

Mithun's eyes widened slightly at the challenge. "Understood, Your Highness."

"You have a week to complete these tasks," Harsha said, rising from his chair. "I expect good results." he left the room with Viswa silently following him behind.