Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One-Chapter 233: Counter Espionage

Same day, after the Prime Minister left the chamber of the Intelligence Chief.

Jaydev wrote a small report on a scroll that he needed to pass to the Mughals and left his official chamber.

A patrol guard discreetly followed him, stationed outside the corner as he went out of his office. This guy was a spy agent set by Aditya to keep track of Jaydev, but despite his best efforts, he couldn’t hide his presence.

Jaydev knew he was being followed but didn’t bother and went straight out of the imperial palace to the city.

There, he went to a merchant shop to buy some flowers. The shop was a street stall with items meant for prayers. The merchant remarked as he received the pouch of silver coins, "I hope all your worries get sorted, my lord." Jaydev smiled as he left, leaving onlookers bewildered by the sudden presence of a noble. He was a known figure there and often bought things for offering in the same temple of Goddess Durga.

The soldier discreetly following Jaydev looked at a vendor selling bangles nearby, who nodded as they exchanged glances. The vendor was also a spy, prepared beforehand and positioned to monitor the merchant.

Passing through the crowd, Jaydev stopped at a temple to offer his prayers.

The priest smiled as he spotted Jaydev.

Jaydev prayed, "May the goddess guide us through these troubled times." After taking a tika, he submitted the flowers and sweets as offerings, along with the small note hidden within them.

The priest nodded solemnly, offering blessings. "The goddess sees all; your prayers shall be carried far."

Jaydev smiled and took his leave.

After leaving the temple, Jaydev stopped at various stalls, purchasing spices, an amulet, and even having his boots repaired by a cobbler. His deliberate movements gave the impression of a man conducting routine errands, masking the significance of his visit to the temple.

He smirked as he noticed the soldier still following him at a distance and murmured, "You’ll need more practice to catch me."

Meanwhile, back at the temple, the priest stepped out with the offerings and distributed the prasad to the beggars sitting outside.

There were twenty beggars standing in line.

He gave prasad to each, and when he reached the last one, he slipped the small message hidden beneath the offering to the beggar.

The beggar accepted the offering, nodded with a smile, and left.

The two onlookers—an amulet seller and a buyer pretending to shop—who had been keeping tabs were now confused about whom to follow. Both were spies, and it was now their turn to monitor, but it was hard to keep track of everyone.

The buyer commented in a low voice, "Now, whom to track? It’s confusing."

The amulet seller, with sharp eyes, noticed that the last beggar, after receiving the prasad in the name of the goddess, neither bowed nor prayed.

It was a distinct behaviour though not certain.

He decided to follow him, stood up, and patted his comrade’s shoulder. "I think I’ve got the clue. You track the priest. Take my position"

The buyer agreed and settled in place to monitor the priest while the amulet seller followed the beggar.

The beggar passed through the busy roads without a worry and then slipped into a pathway outside the city.

The suspicions of the amulet seller increased threefold, and he whistled to call in more comrades to track the person before leaving the city.

The beggar easily slipped past the patrolling guards and headed toward a village route. As he approached the forest path, he glanced over his shoulder to ensure he wasn’t being followed before diverting from the main trail.

Seeing no one, he grew confident and ventured through the forest terrain, eventually entering a small cottage with little bit clearing though surrounded by bushes.

The cottage was a discreet location to dispatch pigeon post . The air smelled of hay and bird droppings. Inside, an older man, stood out with a pigeon trapped in cage. There were more such cages and some boxes probably meant for supplies.

Without a word, the beggar handed him a tightly folded note. The pigeon master accepted it, briefly examining the message before slipping it into a small tube attached to the pigeon’s leg. In exchange, he handed the beggar a pouch of silver coins.

"Count it later," the pigeon master muttered, preparing to release the bird as he went outside.

The beggar, ignoring the advice, poured the coins into his hand as he counted. His lips curled into a pleased smile.

Before the pigeon master could set the bird free, a sudden hiss split the quiet.

An arrow shot through the air, striking the man squarely in the chest. He staggered backward, eyes wide in shock, before collapsing onto the floor. His fall sent cages tumbling, the pigeons inside flapping frantically, their shrill cries echoing through the room.

The beggar froze as he heard the commotion. Slowly, he stepped outside the door.

Armed figures, dressed as commoners, began to emerge from the underbrush with their weapons drawn.

Panicked, the beggar made a break for the nearby bushes, but his escape was cut short.

A knife flew through the air, embedding itself in his knee. He cried out, crumpling to the ground. Blood seeped through his tattered robes as he tried to crawl away, dragging his injured leg behind him.

"Please!" he sobbed, his voice hoarse with fear. "I’m just a courier! Spare me!"

A tall figure stepped forward, the amulet seller from earlier. His face was expressionless as he raised the hilt of his sword and brought it down on the beggar’s head. The courier slumped to the ground, unconscious.

"Search the place," the amulet seller ordered, his voice low but commanding. His comrades spread out, rummaging through the crates and cages.

As his eyes scanned the chaos, they landed on the fallen pigeon master. He bent down, prying the pigeon post from the man’s lifeless grip. His eyes widened with horror as he read the contents.

**********

Outside the Khirkee village , open training grounds, evening of 23 april 1557.

Aditya stood atop a slight hill with his arms crossed. His gaze was fixed on the bustling training ground below.

Beside him, his butler, Hari Singh, was giving him a report of his daily meetings and incidents.

His mind was half-occupied with the report, while his vision was focused on the progress as Bheem commanded the new group of soldiers in throwing the new grenade.

The men in blue uniforms hurled the grenades at varying distances, while some other soldiers were also practicing line formation at a distance under Colonel Manish.

"Your Highness," Hari Singh continued, "Ashutosh has finalized the purchase of the glass and paper manufacturing facilities. He requests your presence to oversee the new production."

Aditya’s gaze remained on the field as he nodded. "Schedule my day tomorrow for that. I’ll inspect the management personally. Next?"

"The second consignment has arrived in the capital," Hari continued. "The Portuguese delegate is eager to receive their promised share and has brought along some additional weaponry that may interest you." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Aditya chuckled, his tone light but knowing. "They must have a request wrapped up with their generosity. Arrange a meeting at early morning."

Hari Singh hesitated, his normally composed demeanor faltering. Aditya noticed. "What is it, Hari? Speak freely."

Clearing his throat, Hari said, "Princess Meenakshi has extended an invitation for dinner tonight. It concerns her weapons consignment and her imminent departure. She wishes to host you before she leaves."

Aditya sighed, a hint of guilt crossing his face. He had kept his distance, wary of upsetting his grandfather, but this seemed like a farewell obligation. Also there is something that he needs to check-up on himself. "Very well, I’ll attend."

Before more could be said, Balwindar galloped up on horseback. The rider dismounted swiftly, offering a deep bow. "For the Samrajya, Your Highness."

Aditya dismissed Hari Singh with a nod before addressing Balwindar. "For the Samrajya. What news do you bring?"

Balwindar passed him a folded note. It was the same message to be used for pigeon post to the Mughals.

Aditya’s eyes widened as he read the contents. It had details of the Kashmir Pass discovery and a request for cannons.

Aditya gritted his teeth. "This motherfuc...," he calmed himself, not wanting to show his disgraceful sight to his subordinate. "So, he’s playing both sides."

Balwindar confirmed, "The courier was intercepted, but he knew little beyond his task."

Aditya clenched his jaw, suppressing his frustration. "That’s not enough to put my hands on him directly. He is still a trusted confidant of my grandfather and holds an influential position in the council. We need more evidence."

Balwindar presented a Mughal token retrieved from the courier, its lion insignia glinting ominously.

Aditya tightened the coin in his grip and took a few moments to think about it. After pondering for a while, he came to a conclusion. "We cannot ignore them anymore until the end of the treaty. Bairam Khan needs to be handled before that."

He passed his next set of orders. "Dig deeper into Jaydev’s past and all those he is associated. Keep it discreet. As for the Mughals. I will arrange a trade delegation for Lahore before I leave . We’ll embed spies within it. Its time to launch our own spies within the enemy compound."

Balwindar’s eyes brightened. "Is it time for revenge, Your Highness? May I lead the operation?"

Aditya commanded in a measured tone, "Patience, Balwindar. The target is hard to touch now, so we will prepare for the right moment to strike. We will not attack, but rather monitor... You’ll oversee the mission from the shadows. Let their attention fall on the decoy." He then gave more mission details to him.

Balwindar bowed, his voice steady despite his disappointment. "As you command, Your Highness."

As the sky darkened, the training concluded, and Bheem approached, examining the Mughal token in Aditya’s hand. "You seem troubled."

Aditya’s lips curled into a determined smile. "Not troubled, Bheem. Focused!"