Empire of India: Rise of the Ruthless Prince

Chapter 86: Price of Betrayal

Bidar, Vijayanagara Empire.

Rahul Shetty, stationed indefinitely at Bidar with the imposter prince, was having a large feast at the expense of the second prince. He was allowed some money for the mission, and Rahul being a higher-up in a royal army meant that he didn't really need that much money to keep the imposter under wraps.

For the past week, Rahul was spending the money on luxurious goods, alcohol, and women. He was living an extravagant lifestyle at the expense of the prince. These expenses would fly under the radar as mission funds.

"That dumb bastard should be dead. How dare he look at me like that?" He muttered, chugging a large glass of alcohol.

Rahul Shetty despised the way the prince looked at him. He felt inferior in his presence, and those cold eyes of his made him cower in fear before him.

Little did he know what was in store for him for colluding with the assassins targeting the youngest prince, Harsha.

Several men had already entered Bidar; Karna leading the group made their way through the tunnel managed by the base in Bidar. He was in Bidar to complete the mission entrusted to him.

Karna, despite being under the prince for a while, wasn't given a huge opportunity to display his skill. Mithun's skill was evident in his work of managing the finances and creating businesses from scratch.

Meanwhile, he was just following the plans of the Viswa and Mithun, expanding the bases throughout the empire. He never had a chance to show his worth to the prince.

He initially didn't acknowledge the prince in his mind. Karna knew that the prince was stronger, but he was skeptical when he said that he could achieve the dream revenge. But things quickly changed as he saw Mithun's revenge coming to fruition.

The squad that Karna took for the mission was the base members that traveled from Bidar to ensure the safety of the prince. He figured that local members would be the best choice for a mission inside the city.

"Leader, we have found their location. It is that inn at the end of the road."

"So how many guards are there?"

"There should be around a hundred guards and another two hundred stationed away from the inn at the guard station of the city."

"Why are they stationed away from the inn?" Karna asked, furrowing his brows.

"According to sources, they are probably the guards that didn't know of the assassination yet."

"How do we confirm it? We don't leave anyone who has colluded alive. That's the order."

Sanjay, the regional leader, came to Bidar along with Karna.

"There is a reason for this distinction in guards, Leader."

Rahul Shetty had his personal squad of people who followed his words. They eventually formed a sort of group. This group of his contained almost hundred people.

"That is?"

"They are the personal squad of Rahul Shetty. So it's pretty much concluded all those involved will be close by to protect their secret."

"Hooo.. I see. Prepare for battle. We will strike at midnight."

The moon rose high in the sky. The full moon light was illuminated on the cold earth from the midnight breeze. The oil lamps dimmed as the night went on. Faint sounds of gentle footsteps were heard in the distance as the hunt had begun.

At the inn. Rahul Shetty was having a large feast along with his close associates with alcohol, indulging in the pleasure of the night. Guards were stationed around the perimeter as usual for lookout.

The two guards were speaking as they walked around the perimeter, looking out for anyone equipped with an oil lamp.

"When will our shift end? I also feel hungry from smelling the food." A guard complained, resting his spear on his shoulder.

"It will end soon. HAHAHA Thanks to that talentless prince, we can at least have some good food and alcohol for the coming months." another responded.

*Clank*

They heard a noise of something clattering in the alleyway. They both turned their heads at the sound in unison.

"Who is there?"

Nothing. They began to approach to see a sword lay bare on the ground.

"Who left their sword here?" asked the guard to his mate.

No reply.

"Hey, why are you not replying?" He turned around to see his fellow mate disappear.

In the next moment, a man dressed in black dropped from the low roof down into the alleyway and twisted the guard's neck in a swift motion, instantly killing him.

Later, another man emerged from the shadows, wiping his dagger clean; behind him was the corpse of another guard.

"We got two." The man let out a shrill whistle, indicating the kill.

The men were killing one after the other in quick succession with ease. Corpses started piling up as the men stealthily sent each guard back to the creator.

Rahul Shetty, who was having a feast not knowing what was happening around him, eventually retired to his room after a heavy drinking session.

A man broke into his room, which jolted Rahul awake, seeing a man standing with a sword in his room.

Rahul still groggy from the alcohol grabbed his sword close to him and took a stance.

"Who are you?" he asked.

No reply. The man just kept walking towards him as Rahul backed up more towards the wall.

"DIE." He screamed and charged at the man.

Sidestepping the swing of Rahul. He cleaved the wrist off Rahul, spraying blood all over his clothes and body.

"AAHHHHHHH"

The bloodcurdling screams of Rahul echoed through the inn.

"WHY!" He asked. His face was covered in tears and sweat from the excruciating pain.

The man suddenly closed in and grabbed his head, pulled out his tongue, and with a dagger, cut it off cleanly.

Rahul was on the wooden floor, bleeding profusely from his wrist and mouth. He couldn't utter a single word as he saw his death. He didn't know the reason for the attack. He was confused and powerlessly lying on the floor, curled up.

The man grabbed him by the hair and began slamming him on the hard wooden bed multiple times. Multiple of his teeth were bloodied and on the floor. The nose was askew at an unnatural angle. The whole face covered in blood.

The man finally spoke, driving his blade into Rahul's throat.

"You should have never betrayed the prince."

Those were the last words Rahul heard before his lifeless body hit the ground.