...
[A while ago]
All the expensive cars with tinted windows were moving towards the Indrasan mountain. Behind them, a truck carried the AHSF soldiers, who were tasked with safely escorting them to the gates of Kaalminar.
But they remembered that growl.
The growl...
The one they had left their comrades behind to face.
One of them was particularly agitated.
"I don't understand why these supposed Supreme-Level Fighters didn't step out of their cars?! They could have finished the job in a snap, but no. It would ruin the dignity of the Sahibs, wouldn't it? What do they care if the public dies, or if a soldier gives his life? @#%!! They are Fighters in name only."
Although his thoughts were shared by the rest of the soldiers, not everyone's views aligned with his.
Everyone was angry that the situation was ignored despite having the capability to handle it. But this was the soldier's perspective, not that of the Supreme-Level Fighters.
"It's easy for you to say that, Randheer! If you look at it from their perspective, their entire Guild could be at stake."
"And is this Guild more important than the lives of those innocent people, Jagat?"
Jagat fell silent. Such a direct yet difficult question had never been asked of him before.
He realized how passionate and emotional the new batch of AHSF was this time.
Guild...
A Guild is a group of Fighters, and their strongest leader becomes the Guild Master.
Everyone knew this.
But if everyone thought like Randheer, what difference would there be between heaven and earth?
"Look, Randheer. I understand what you're saying. But this world isn't so simple. Have you heard the name Ojasutra?"
Hearing Jagat's words, Randheer looked around, and one of the others sat down in the empty seat next to him.
"Randheer! You are right in your place. Listen, I'll explain what the matter is. Jagat doesn't know how to explain."
And Jagat immediately elbowed him. Jagat wanted to convey that he wasn't that bad at explaining.
The snow scattered everywhere, the narrow road, and the gradual ascent of the mountain paths continued. But these captivating scenes were lost in the deep conversation.
"The Ojasutra Gem is made from the body of a rare Power-Level monster. It is said that it can triple the power of the one who possesses it. This is the main subject of today's auction, and the Guild Masters are certainly not short of money, so you tell me, what will happen?"
When people listen carefully, it doesn't take them long to figure out where the speaker is coming from or where they are headed.
They just need to listen attentively and understand the pattern of the speech.
The history and future...
The probable events of both can be estimated.
Randheer also paid attention and made an estimate. And the first thought that came to his mind was,
"Some cunning plan or a fight...?"
Jagat nodded in agreement. The kids in the new batch are sharp... he realized that.
"Cunning plan... absolutely. They carry three or four plans in advance. But the main issue is war. If any one of those Supreme-Level Fighters spends even an ounce of their power fighting that beast, another Supreme-Level Fighter will immediately overpower them. That's all there is to it."
Jagat explained everything to Randheer in a simple and fluent manner, but could the soldier sitting nearby not add his own point? Impossible.
"Five years ago, there was a war between two Supreme-Level Fighters. That sight is unforgettable. Although their battles are very destructive, the win or loss depends on just one small thing. The one who won, won, and in exchange for the prize of victory, the other Supreme-Level Fighter had to lose his life."
No matter how cold the white velvety snow scattered outside was, it couldn't produce the shiver Randheer felt upon hearing their words.
Now he understood that he had only seen his own perspective. In the perspective of others, things can be different, opposite, or even life-threatening...
Randheer let out a long breath and looked away towards the ditch on the other side of the narrow road.
The ditch was very deep, just like his emotions.
In the distance, the sun's light had now climbed directly overhead, and a huge peak had also risen.
Covered in a blanket of snow, the peak of Indrasan mountain seemed to want to touch the clouds high above.
After coming a little closer, the truck stopped. Everyone got out.
Jagat and Randheer too...
Now, from here, it's a direct climb up the mountain, and the destination is...
... the same! The Kaalminar nestled in the lap of the Indrasan mountain.
Those in the expensive cars also had to get out. After comfortably coming this far, now they also had to walk.
They will have to walk.
This mountain will force everyone to walk.
The mountains of the Himalayas have a unique majesty. They stand so high and steadfastly that those who climb feel honored upon reaching the peak.
So, how much pride must those cloud-touching peaks feel, which make people feel so honored?
Who can guess?
The AHSF soldiers showed the way and escorted everyone up, forming a security perimeter.
Not that up... but up the mountain.
At a high altitude, slightly below the peak, stood the Kaalminar, standing strongly!
Kaalminar...
Respectfully, the Kaalminar Auction House...
This 10-story building was an 'A' shaped structure made of black basalt stone and high-level glass. It took ten years to build. Erecting a ten-story building in the lap of a mountain was no easy task.
One tower of the building contained the main auction house, which was open to the public, while the other part was dedicated to secret research, of which no one had knowledge.
Along with this, the Scientific Guild also carried out the work of creating priceless items there. Entry to this part of the tower was strictly prohibited.
On the upper platform of Kaalminar were two rotating hollow tungsten spheres...
Leaving a space empty in the middle for something to be placed.
However, no one paid much attention to the top; everyone's attention was on the giant door decorated with flowers.
The mixture of red Buransh flowers from Uttarakhand, cherry blossoms from Meghalaya, and blue poppies blooming in the lap of the Himalayas was so beautiful that once seen, one would just keep looking.
And that's what happened.
Everyone paused.
No one went inside without taking a selfie or a photo.
But permission to enter is not granted just like that to anyone. Except for the four Supreme-Level Fighters, everyone had to go through a tough biometric authentication.
And those whose thumbprint did not match their Aadhar card...
...they had to go straight down thousands of feet.
No, no... not into the ditch.
But to get their biometric updated again.
Meanwhile, those who succeeded in entering found that the beauty inside was many times greater than the outside.
Glittering, colorful glass chandeliers everywhere made it feel luxurious. All AHSF soldiers went inside and took up their positions.
Jagat, Randheer,
and their comrades too.
Tushar, dressed in a suit and adjusting his glasses, approached the four Supreme-Level Fighters.
Behind him was a girl who was wearing the traditional Himachal Ghagra Choli... to showcase the beautiful heritage of the place.
Tushar extended his hand for a handshake... but no one even looked at him, as if he wasn't there...
Grinding his teeth inwardly, he forced a smile from ear to ear.
"Welcome, Sir! Please come inside. Our Manager is also inside."
And the four of them walked from the main hall towards the VIP Meeting Room.
Even though Tushar was smiling, he did not like their behavior one bit.
Not at all....
•°•°•°•°•°•
The meeting room inside was no different from the outside. The ceiling was decorated with five ring-style LED lights, as if entangled with each other, illuminating the meeting room just as much as was needed.
The sunlight coming from outside touched the white curtains, creating slanted golden stripes on the floor.
Geometric patterns were carved on the cream-colored Italian marble floor, on the edges of which swaying blue flowers seemed to be running to catch the sunlight.
In the middle of the room, on the huge table, whose wood was the color of dark walnut, the pride of Uttaranchal, the 'Brahma Kamal' flower, was spinning in the air.
On its smooth, polished surface were papers, glasses of water, and Gulab Jamun[1] placed on plates.
It is said that seeing the Brahma Kamal flower is a symbol of good fortune.
And everyone knew this.
The four who just entered this room, too.
Tushar too.
The girl following him too.
And the strict-looking Manager too...
"I heard there was a time when lines of boys followed you. You are just as beautiful today, Pranali Ma'am!"
"You are no less beautiful yourself, Ukti ji."
Both women smiled at each other. Pranali, the Manager of Kaalminar Auction House, still in her 40s, remains as strict and mannerly as she was before. Meanwhile, Ukti had just stepped into her youth.
Adjusting her saree, Pranali extended her hand towards the one among them who was the only female Supreme-Level Fighter.
"Ukti ji[2], please come and sit."
Pranali pointed Ukti towards her seat. Ukti was still wearing a long smile. But Pranali's face—no, the strictness had returned to her face, because in her eyes, constantly wearing a fake smile was nothing short of looking foolish.
But this was her perspective, not Ukti's.
The long-smiling girl was now in her seat, and Pranali now extended her hands towards the tallest person among them, who had a mark near his right eye, as if someone had cut it diagonally with a knife.
"How are you, Ma'am?"
"The same as before, Sangharsh."
"Haha! Just as I thought. Still like a sword, aren't you, tough and sharp."
Sangharsh's smirk matched the diagonal mark on his eye, but Pranali didn't care about this, nor did she bother to show him his seat.
Because she knew Sangharsh well.
This man wearing a brown trench coat was not at all what he looked like on the outside.
When Pranali's eyes fell on the next man, she let out a long sigh, as if she was fed up.
"Amogh! Sometimes have the facial expressions of a normal person. You look like you're about to eat Sangharsh raw."
Pranali's scolding was normal for him because he had come to Kaalminar many times before. But no one knew better than him what a hassle it was to mess with the woman standing in front of him.
Anyway, it wasn't Pranali's fault; Amogh is just like that. He always has an expression on his face as if he will cut everyone down right now.
But he flares up when Sangharsh is nearby. The enmity between the two has a long history... well,
For now, he quietly managed such a big smile that Pranali turned her eyes away.
"Leave it, you won't be able to do it. The old one was fine. Go and sit down!"
Now, the last pair of eyes was towards Pranali. Less brown compared to the others, it looked slightly different from everyone else.
"Chirayu."
He said nothing more than this, or perhaps didn't feel the need to say anything else. The response was similar. Pranali just nodded and returned to her desk.
"Since Ukti is here for the first time, I will introduce her to everyone."
And everyone's eyes fixed on the girl with the big smile.
"Ukti is the Guild Master of the Arogya Guild. She is a Supreme-Level Healer."
"And Ukti, this is Sangharsh, the Guild Master of the Pralaya Guild and a Supreme-Level Fighter."
"This is Amogh, the Guild Master of the Navjyoti Guild and a Supreme-Level Fighter."
"And finally, this is Chirayu, the Master of the Vanijya Guild. He is Supreme-Level but is interested in business."
Pranali's hands pointed towards everyone one by one, and everyone straightened up when their turn came. Ukti nodded with the same big smile.
They had just finished meeting when the door of the meeting room burst open with a loud sound.
The Head of AHSF, Anirudh, rushed into the room, running.
"Ma'am... huff... huff... Ma'am, we need a High-Level Fighter. Our team won't be able to hold for long. It's a very big High-Level beast. A ferocious wolf."
"High-Level?!"
Pranali asked as if in deep confusion. She immediately looked at Tushar, who was standing right there near the door with his hands tied behind his back.
"Tushar! Ketaki! Go immediately with Anirudh and see what the matter is. How can this happen before the auction starts?!"
Tushar and the girl behind him, Ketaki, both immediately nodded and left the room with Anirudh.
"And change your clothes, Ketaki... hey girl."
Pranali shouted after her, but she didn't know if she heard or not. If she did, it would be good, otherwise what was it to her?
She wasn't her mother.
She immediately made a call and summoned more soldiers. The inner turmoil of her mind was not hidden from the four Guild Masters.
"It seems there is no time for conversation. We should proceed towards the auction hall."
Pranali immediately left the meeting room with a glass of water, while Amogh and Ukti followed her out together.
Meanwhile, Sangharsh rubbed his hands and forcefully slapped his hand onto Chirayu's shoulder.
"So... what does your prediction say? Tell me."
Chirayu stood up, adjusting his suit. Chirayu, in his late thirties, didn't like Sangharsh's sudden overly friendly behavior, and he brushed his suit right where Sangharsh's hand had been.
"Stay in your lane."
The voice was quite harsh.
Chirayu looked at him with his light brown eyes and started to leave.
Just then, a very familiar sound came to his ears, which always pulled him in.
What sound could be the most melodious for a businessman?
The sound of money...
Of course.
Whether it's a vegetable seller on the street or a big businessman. Who finds the sound of money offensive?
Sangharsh was counting a wad of notes in his hands, and that kharr kharr sound...
Still, Chirayu snatched the money from his hand and stuffed it into his pocket so fast that even Sangharsh had to check his hand once.
"Wow, bro. I couldn't even see it."
And Chirayu, putting his hand into his pants pocket, looked at Sangharsh roughly, then turned his eyes away as if even looking was a sin.
"Stop talking nonsense and get to the point. By the way, where did these notes suddenly come from?"
Sangharsh smiled like a hunter seeing his prey caught in a trap.
"Let's stop talking nonsense, and get to the point."
And some people call this "my cat, meowing at me." Chirayu just rolled his eyes. What could he say? He took the money with his own hand.
"Prediction! What does your probability calculation say?"
Chirayu answered with slightly less roughness this time.
But Chirayu's answer forced Sangharsh to rethink all his plans.
"This auction.... there's going to be trouble."
"Very big trouble..."
_________________________________________
To be continued...
[1] An Indian Sweet
[2] Ji is a respectful indicator.