Chapter : 15 ; Corporation with the Garha Kingdom (1)
Ayush remained calm.
"What if I told you that I have a way for 100 soldiers to fight against 1,000 without being harmed?" Ayush smiled, pulling a scroll from his system storage and holding it in his hand.
"What… do you mean by 100 soldiers fighting against 1,000? And what do you mean they will not be injured?" Queen Durgawati asked, sitting cross-legged.
As Ayush heard her question, he checked her trust level in him using the system. Just by mentioning his father's and mother's names, her trust had already reached more than 40%. And when he suggested that there was a way to help the soldiers, it increased even further. Ayush wasn't sure how much more would rise if he revealed his full plan.
"Your Majesty, you can take a look at this. If this is made, the chances of winning will increase by another 50%. But in return, I also want something." Ayush held the scroll in his hand, playing with it as he spoke.
"What… is that?" she asked, looking at him.
"Bring it!" she commanded.
A servant approached Ayush, who handed over the scroll and waited for them to read it before making a decision.
10 Minutes Later
"Is Your Majesty satisfied with the blueprint of the weapon I have given you?" Ayush asked seriously.
Beside him, Kalyani was surprised by what was happening. She didn't know what her son intended, but she trusted that it wouldn't be harmful to them. Except for Ayush, only Vikram and Gaurav knew what was going on.
The blueprint Ayush had provided was actually a design for a weapon from the 20th century, the Mk2 Marksman Sniper Rifle. Though it was a downgraded version of the real Mk2, the original required advanced production capabilities. Ayush had purchased this version from the system store for 2,500 points.
Ayush, Gaurav, Maan Singh, and Vikram had already discussed the plan. If negotiations failed, they were prepared to threaten Queen Durgawati with the gun.
Queen Durgawati and her ministers examined the blueprint carefully before one of the ministers turned to Ayush and asked,
"What does the prince want in exchange for this gun blueprint?"
Without even glancing at the minister, Ayush looked directly at Queen Durgawati and replied,
"Your Majesty, what I want is for the ongoing war with the Bijapur Sultanate to turn into a full-scale invasion. If you win the war using the gun I provide, I want half of the Bijapur Sultanate."
"You want half of the Bijapur Sultanate?" Queen Durgawati's sharp eyes lingered on Ayush, searching for any flaws in his words. But all she saw was his unwavering determination.
She weighed the weight of his demand in her heart and remained silent for a while.
Ayush leaned forward and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. With the blueprint I have provided, your army will suffer minimal losses. But I will not offer it for free."
As soon as Ayush said this, one of the ministers yelled at him.
"Presumptuous…! A mere blueprint does not warrant such a demand. Even if your weapon is effective, why should we grant you half of the Sultanate?"
Ayush turned to the minister and secretly checked his details using the system. To his shock, he discovered that this minister was actually a spy from the Bijapur Sultanate.
Wow… what a good game. Looks like I need to play even better. Ayush smirked inwardly before replying.
"Because without my weapon, this war will be long and bloody. Even if you win, the cost will be severe. You will lose tens of thousands of men, your borders will weaken, and most importantly, the Mughals will seize the opportunity to annex both you and Bijapur. Are you saying you don't care about that?"
Ayush was now certain that he needed to reveal his trump card; otherwise, a proper negotiation would be impossible.
"Now… the choice is yours." His final words hung in the air.
A tense silence filled the hall as everyone turned their attention to Ayush and Queen Durgawati.
Queen Durgawati rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought. She had no doubt that Ayush was ambitious and bold, but she also knew he wasn't reckless. Then, her gaze shifted to Kalyani. Although Kalyani's face and body showed the wear of stress for over a month, she was still standing strong.
After a long pause, Durgawati finally spoke.
"What if I don't cooperate with you?" she asked.
"Hehe… I don't think Your Highness is foolish enough to let such an opportunity slip away," Ayush chuckled before replying.
"What… do you mean by this?" Queen Durgawati raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing Ayush.
"Haha… Your Majesty, have you considered what would happen if I cooperated with the Bijapur Sultanate instead? I think they would be more than willing to accept this offer. To them, half of the Garha Dynasty is nothing."
"You are shortsighted if you can't see beyond mere profit. This is about securing the future," Ayush said, shaking his head.
"Are you threatening me and my dynasty?" Queen Durgawati narrowed her eyes in anger.
"Haha… Your Majesty, why would I threaten a dynasty?" Ayush replied, still calm.
"Then do you think you can just walk out of here and negotiate with the Bijapur Sultanate?" she asked.
At her signal, the palace guards stepped forward, surrounding Ayush.
Ayush scanned his surroundings, his face darkening. Clenching his fists, he spoke with a calmness that sent chills down the spines of those present.
"Your Majesty, even if we die here, I have already entrusted my closest allies with the blueprint and instructions to produce the gun. If we do not return by the day after tomorrow, they will go directly to the Bijapur Sultanate."
As soon as Ayush said this, the expressions of the ministers and Queen Durgawati darkened. They hadn't expected him to be this prepared.
"So, Your Majesty, how about we cooperate?" Ayush smirked, noticing that the trust level had now risen to 65%. That was good enough, he no longer needed to threaten her.
"Fine," Queen Durgawati finally said after a long silence.
After a pause, she spoke again.
"Before I give you an answer, I need proof," she said. "A blueprint alone does not convince me. Show me this weapon in action."
Ayush had expected this. A smirk played at the corner of his lips. "Very well. Give me a forge and skilled craftsmen, and in a few days, I will present you with a working model."
Queen Durgawati nodded. "You will have access to the best blacksmiths in Garha. But remember, if this is a trick, there will be consequences."
Ayush stood up and bowed slightly. "I would expect nothing less, Your Majesty."
Three Days Later
Garha Palace's Weapon Forge
Ayush stood before the roaring forge, watching as blacksmiths hammered the final components of the rifle.
The weapon was nearly complete.
Vikram and Gaurav stood beside him, their eyes fixed on the nearly completed weapon.
Maan Singh, ever the strategist, watched the process carefully, analyzing every detail.
"It's almost done," one of the blacksmiths said, wiping sweat from his forehead.
Ayush stepped forward and carefully examined the rifle. The design was cruder than the system's original blueprint, given the technological limitations of this era, but it was functional.
"This will work," Ayush muttered.
A few minutes later, the final piece was secured in place. The first ever Mk2 Marksman Sniper Rifle of this era was complete.
Ayush picked it up, feeling the weight in his hands. It wasn't as refined as the modern versions, but it was more than enough to change the tide of battle.
Vikram smirked. "And now comes the real test."
After all Vikram has seen, how the Ayush has killed that Abdul with the dessert eagle pistol. So he still believes in Ayush's weapon.
Ayush nodded. "Prepare the demonstration."
Queen Durgawati, her ministers, and several high-ranking officers stood in a designated testing ground, waiting for Ayush. The tension was thick in the air.
The queen had been skeptical but had given Ayush a chance. Now, she would see if his claims were true.
Ayush arrived, accompanied by Vikram, Gaurav, and Maan Singh. He held the newly crafted sniper rifle in his hands.
A wooden target was placed 300 meters away, while the people Ayush and others were at the top of the Garha borders wall.
One of the ministers scoffed. "Is this a joke? No bow or musket can accurately hit a target from this distance."
Ayush smirked but said nothing. Instead, he moved to a designated firing position and knelt down, stabilizing the rifle.
Vikram handed him a single bullet, handcrafted under Ayush's strict instructions.
Ayush took a deep breath, adjusting his aim. His heart was steady, his grip firm. Through the iron sights, he aligned the crosshairs with the target's center.
[A/N : Hope you have enjoyed the chapter.]