Dr. Tanaka gave the General a cold look before giving an even more icy gaze to Niiya.

Niiya studied his father's demeanor. His heartbeat became high. The doctor looked so vicious at that time that Niiya couldn't fathom the level of his wicked mind and heart.

​​

The General clasped his chest and sat down on the nearest chair with a thud. He stared at the doctor. "You tricked me, you bastard!" he shouted. "Because of you that filthy wizard entered my mind and has bound me to some sort of promise. He has threatened me that if I ever break this promise, I will cease to exist and die a painful death." The General remembered how Ziu had entered his mind. Just before exiting he had created a pact in which if the General backed out, he would face dire consequences. It was because of this reason that he had to give orders to the second set of fighter jets to go and attack the Wizard Realm. But at least he saved human lives.

Dr. Tanaka scoffed. He looked at the General and said, "We all are bound by the same promise—you, Niiya and me." He paused. Then he added, "Don't you tell me that I tricked you into it. You were given the options. You could have backed out but you didn't because of your greed. Now that you are in this deal, you better cooperate."

"Cooperate?" The General shouted. He got up from his chair. "Because I cooperated, we lost so many human lives in this useless battle." The General emphasized on the word 'cooperate'. He stopped for a moment. All of a sudden, he narrowed his eyes and then on an inner feeling, he asked with suspicion, "Somehow why do I get the impression that I was just a pawn in this game?" with a frown he pointed at the doctor and said, "What are your ulterior motives?"

Dr. Tanaka roared with laughter. When he calmed down, he looked at him and then said with pride, "I am glad your peanut sized brain finally deciphered the mystery." Then his gaze shifted to Niiya. "My motives, you ask? They are to make my son the ruler of all the realms."

The General felt like a stupid who was nothing but a patsy in the hands on Dr. Tanaka. Looking back all he saw was what a fool he had become. He was chasing his ambition and here, the man in front of him was even a bigger player. His heart rate accelerated in his chest as if it would explode like the bombs that the fighter jets had carried. His skin became flushed and hot. He stumbled and walked to the window. He opened it to get some wintry air. He was giddy and sweating. This was the biggest face slap of his life. He could hear its echo in this deafening silence.

Niiya was aghast. What was his father even thinking? And when did he devise this plan? And how did Ziu never come to know about his plans? Suddenly he felt coldness and heaviness expanding in his core. His muscles became weak. His mind refused to believe the truth of his father. "F- father?" he managed to speak in a shaky voice. "What are you even saying?"

Dr. Tanaka had been at the helm of the Council of all the Realms for so many years that he knew what exactly it was to be so powerful. He had developed and learnt how to be extremely cold, calm, manipulative and at the same time hide his thoughts from the ones who were present in the council. They were all too mighty and being their head was something not a normal human brain would have achieved. He considered himself to be the epitome of human intelligence. He had been in that position for a long time and when the time came, he gave it to his son. He had heard of his growing affection with Adrianna and he wanted her to marry him but then Niiya was abducted. Till today he couldn't come to know as to who kidnapped Niiya. When Niiya was released, it was too late. Adrianna was married and marked.

His hopes dashed and he started to hate Adrianna. He had heard about the entire discussion about dumping the waste on the land from close resources. When Ziu came to Niiya with the idea, Dr. Tanaka saw this as a great opportunity. He roped in the General and the rest was history.

There was no backing out now. The General was tied with the promise. Howsoever terrible he felt, he had to do exactly what Ziu had asked him to. Dr. Tanaka was quite sure that Ziu would defeat Adrianna. After all he had the force of an army with him.

Dr. Tanaka smiled at Niiya—his prized possession. "You heard what I said," he replied softly. He loved his daughter a lot but she had taken a different path unfortunately. Had she been with him, he would have married her to a strong ruler of another realm. He had plans for Niiya—an alliance that would make him invincible.

Niiya promptly came back to his senses. "But this is insane, father," he said as he felt tingling on his skin. "Why would I go against Adrianna anymore than we are already going?"

"You are just too blinded by her infatuation, Niiya," replied his father.

"No, I am not!" Niiya retorted. "I think I have moved on." He remembered his day with Pryce. It was so peaceful and soothing. His life changed in that moment. "I am not in love with Adrianna anymore."

"Oh! That's good then. It would make my work easier by eliminating her without you feeling bad."

"Eliminating Adrianna? You are out of your mind. I won't allow that," Niiya called out and got up from his place in rage. His fists were closed tightly. Adrianna was his best friend.

The General interrupted. He looked at the old man with disbelief. "Adrianna is such a strong witch. You think it is easy to wipe her out? You really have gone mad, Dr. Tanaka. Because of you, I am in this mess. Do you even know what has happened to the fighter jets that I had ordered for attack? They have all been destroyed—all at once. Not a single machine or human was alive after the first batch was sent."

Dr. Tanaka shrugged. "It doesn't matter. Ziu will take care." What Dr. Tanaka didn't say was that there were more people who were after the entire game. People, who wanted him to be at the helm. And he wanted his son. So even if Ziu failed, he had a different plan.

"Stop with this madness father!" Niiya pushed.

"Sit quiet Niiya," Dr. Tanaka hushed him as though talking to a toddler. His plan was perfect. "You just watch your rise as a ruler of this world." There was an evil smile on his lips and a malicious gleam in his eyes. He knew way too many things to take advantage of.

Suddenly, the door of the room opened. Everyone jumped in their places as their heads turned to see the uninvited guests.

Adrianna entered the study followed by Dmitri.