Be a lord in the world of Indian mythology

Chapter 80 Turn Enemies into Friends

Roshman's private residence was located in a secluded area of ​​Harappa, separate from the other Kshatriya courtyards.

The courtyard is spacious and grand, surrounded by high walls. It is filled with tall sal trees and blooming flowers, creating a serene and elegant environment. The buildings are exquisite and magnificent, exuding the nobility and grandeur of a powerful Kshatriya.

Upon entering the living room of the private residence, one sees Rosh sitting upright on a chair covered with a tiger skin.

He was dressed in a complete set of exquisite, gleaming silver armor, which was spotless, without a trace of blood or dust. The armor had smooth lines and a restrained cold gleam. A scimitar inlaid with gemstones hung at his waist. His posture was as upright as a pine tree and his aura as deep as an abyss, as steady as a majestic mountain.

His expression was very relaxed, with even a faint smile on his lips. His eyes were calm and unwavering, showing neither the dejection of a loser nor the arrogance of a victor. Instead, he resembled a detached bystander, calmly watching this power struggle at the top.

Vijay stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "May Indra protect me! Lord Lakshman, on this journey to the East, I failed to reach my final destination and failed to complete my mission. I am ashamed of the heavy responsibility entrusted to me... I beg your forgiveness!"

He paused deliberately, subtly shifting some of the blame onto the deceased Delanvila: "Failure to fully obey Lord Delanvila's orders during this trip was a major cause of failure!"

"Ultimately, it was my fault that I failed to rescue Lord Delanvila in time, which led to his death..."

Roshman smiled faintly, seemingly oblivious to the meaning behind Vijay's words. His expression remained unchanged, his eyes indifferent, showing no concern for Delanvila's death as if he were merely swatting away an insignificant fly, without a trace of regret or anger.

His tone was so calm it was almost casual: "Failure is failure, it's no big deal."

He didn't erupt in anger and reprimand or demand answers as Vijay had expected; instead, he seemed somewhat nonchalant, which surprised Vijay.

Seeing this, Vijay knew the main event was about to begin, and quickly offered the prepared tribute: "My lord, this is ten thousand gold coins I have prepared for you as compensation for your losses on this journey..."

Subsidize my foot! All the goods and carriages for this trip were prepared by Vijay himself; Roshman only sent a team of supervisors.

Even if we dismantle and sell this team of foremen, who knows how many gold coins they'd be worth!

But that's not how it works.

Roshman's gaze fell on the heavy bag of gold coins and the exquisite gift box. A clear look of surprise flashed in his eyes for a moment, then he beamed with joy, making no attempt to hide his love and greed for the wealth. The indifference on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a look of delight. He readily accepted the gift, smiling broadly: "Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Mittal Vijay. You're quite considerate."

After accepting the gift, his attitude became even more amiable, and he gestured with his hand, "Please take a seat."

He then instructed the servant beside him, "Serve fresh berries and chilled sweet water."

The treatment immediately improved!

Vijay sat down as instructed, looking at Roshman's greedy smile.

He was secretly delighted. Just as he had predicted, this seemingly dignified and aloof Kshatriya was actually an extremely greedy person. As long as he was given enough benefits, his attitude would become exceptionally kind and unpretentious.

Roshman toyed with a gold coin, casually steer the conversation towards business travel: "When do you plan to set off next?"

He wasn't even going to put on an act anymore, but Vijay didn't care and replied casually, "My lord, I'm exhausted from this long journey, and I need some time to rest."

He had expected Roshman to urge and pressure him, but to his surprise, Roshman was very understanding and spoke in a casual and tolerant tone: "It's alright, we can rest for half a year before setting off again. There's no need to rush. It's more appropriate to conserve our energy."

Vijay was about to continue praising Roshman's wisdom.

Suddenly, an even more violent, earth-shattering roar and the clanging of metal came from afar, more intense than before, shaking the doors and windows violently.

Vijay instinctively looked out the window, but couldn't see anything.

Sensing that Roshman was in a good mood, he couldn't help but ask, "Sir, there's such a commotion outside. What's going on in the city?"

Roshman was indeed in a very good mood and no longer hesitated to reveal the inside story: "The current city lord is the youngest son of the old city lord. He ascended the throne at a young age, his foundation is shallow, and he is unable to control the overall situation. The regent, Vikram, has long held absolute power in the military and political spheres, wielding immense power and harboring great ambitions!"

"By Brahma, the city lord has endured for several years, but now he can't hold back any longer! He has joined forces with several ambitious individuals in the city to launch a purge of the rebellion, and currently the city lord's side has a slight advantage."

He paused, then added calmly, "Vikram is unwilling to accept defeat and is leading his troops in a full-scale standoff. The commotion just now must be because the Regent's residence is under siege, and the two sides' top Atimaharata Hero-level warriors are engaged in a fierce battle..."

He sighed, "What a pity, Harappa City is going to lose one or two more high-level combatants! It'll be severely weakened!"

There was a hint of regret in his voice, but Vijay could even hear a touch of joy in it!

Roshman did not mention his position, neither supporting the city lord nor backing Vikram, clearly intending to sit back and watch the fight unfold, waiting for the situation to become clearer.

He looked at Vijay and casually instructed, "After you finish your business, hurry back to the village. Don't stay in the city for too long, lest you get caught up in the chaos."

He paused, then looked at Vijay: "Do you have any other requests? Just say so, and I'll help you as much as I can."

After receiving bribes, important figures like to give you a small, insignificant reward; you have to take advantage of it!

Vijay seized the opportunity to speak up decisively: "Sir, I hope that the boundary of Mittal Village can be formally demarcated to clarify the territory and avoid future conflicts with neighboring villages. I hope that you will grant my request."

Roshman thought for a moment and shook his head slightly: "It's not a big problem, but the city is in chaos right now, power is in flux, and various forces are fighting each other, so it's impossible to formally draw a line for the time being."

"I've noted this down. You can develop your territory on your own first. I'll keep an eye on the situation for you, and once the chaos subsides, I'll handle the formal boundary demarcation for you."

Vijay understood and stopped insisting. He had no intention of getting involved in the Kshatriya conflict, and he had already achieved most of the core objectives of this trip.

He bowed respectfully and said, "Thank you, sir. I shall take my leave now."

Roshman waved his hand casually: "Go!"

After bidding farewell to Roshman's private residence, Vijay walked steadily through the streets and alleys of Harappa.

The afternoon sun softened its intensity, casting long shadows on the stone path.

A faint tension still lingered on the streets, with the distant sound of soldiers marching in formation. Occasionally, civilians hurried by, their whispered conversations barely concealing their fear. But for Vijay, the chaos in the city was no longer his concern. He only hoped to get back to the inn as soon as possible, settle a few last few trivial matters, and then set off back to Mittal Village.

They traveled quickly and soon arrived at the Royal Hotel.

As soon as Vijay stepped into the courtyard, he saw Gantan and Kara standing in the courtyard, with a group of about fifty or sixty people standing neatly behind them. These were the fifty Shudras and five Vaishyas who had been agreed upon earlier.

The group of people were dressed in tattered clothes, patched in many places, with rough fabric covered in dust. Their hair was disheveled, their faces showed the weariness of the journey, and their eyes were full of fear and unease. They kept their heads down, not daring to look around, and their whole being exuded a cautious timidity.

They were all people displaced by war and whose families had fallen on hard times. After becoming dependents, their fates were no longer in their own hands. Facing their new masters, they were naturally filled with trepidation, fearing that the slightest mistake would bring punishment.

Upon seeing Vijay's return, Gantan immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "Master, all fifty Shudras and five Vaishyas have been brought here. They are all those previously selected, without a single mistake!"

Kara added, "We escorted them the whole way without daring to be negligent in the slightest, but they were a little tired from the long journey."

Vijay walked slowly forward, his gaze calmly sweeping over the crowd, giving them a cursory look. Among the Shudras were robust farmers with calloused hands, and artisans with rough fingers and the air of craftsmen.

The five Vaishyas were dressed relatively neatly, with a hint of dejection between their brows, yet they could not hide their shrewdness and competence, clearly people who had once managed family businesses and were knowledgeable in commerce.

Upon closer inspection, they were indeed identical to the candidates I had initially selected.

He knew in his heart that these people were exactly the talents that Mital Village desperately needed, and that they would be needed for future development.

Seeing their fear and trembling, Vijay spoke calmly and gently: "There is no need to be afraid. From today onwards, you are members of Mittal Village. As long as you work diligently and behave yourselves, I will provide you with food, shelter, and dignity, and I will not mistreat you."

As soon as the words were spoken, everyone looked up sharply, a glimmer of hope flashing in their eyes. Their fear subsided slightly, their tense bodies relaxed a little, and a faint expectation appeared in their eyes.

Seeing this, Vijay turned to the innkeeper and instructed, "Prepare hot water so they can take a bath and clean themselves in turn. Then bring them clean new clothes, one set for each person, so they can change into something neat and tidy."

The shopkeeper readily agreed and, not daring to delay, immediately instructed his staff to prepare hot water and clothing.

After everyone went to bathe and change, Vijay turned to look at the slave traders waiting to the side.

The merchant's plump face was plastered with a fawning smile as he stood respectfully to the side, bowing deeply.

Vijay said calmly, “The handover of fifty Shudras and five Vaishyas has been completed without error. You shall return immediately and focus on preparing five thousand Dalits. Make sure that there are equal numbers of men and women, and that they come from diverse backgrounds. They shall be delivered to Mittal village on time one month from now. There shall be no delays or perfunctory treatment.”

The merchant bowed repeatedly, nodding and scraping, "Rest assured, sir, I will do my utmost to search and collect the goods, ensuring quality and quantity, and delivering them on time. I will not dare to make the slightest mistake!"

After saying this, he bowed again, took his leave in a hurry, and busied himself with making arrangements for manpower.

After the merchant left, the courtyard returned to quiet.

Vijay stood under the Sal tree, sorting out his thoughts: the slaves were in place, and the five thousand Dalits were just waiting for the handover; there was no need to get involved in the chaos in the city, and Roshman's side had been appeased for the time being; now all he had to do was wait for the Brahman to arrange the ceremony of recognizing the master, and then he could return home in peace.

Thinking of this, he remembered something else: the village was in dire need of reconstruction, and daily necessities such as pots and pans, cloth and hemp thread, farm tool parts, salt, sugar and seasonings were extremely scarce. He needed to take advantage of being in the city to purchase them in bulk and bring them back with him.

So he summoned two of his personal servants and carefully instructed them: "You two go to the market in the city immediately and buy a large quantity of daily necessities that the village lacks. Buy whatever is needed and fill ten oxcarts."

The servant bowed and accepted the order, then quickly left to go to the market to make purchases.

Just as Vijay was about to study the system properly, a man dressed in the white robes of a Brahmin servant suddenly appeared before him and bowed respectfully: "Lord Vijay, Lord Fannuzu has prepared the ceremony of recognizing a master. Please proceed to the temple area immediately."

So fast?

Vijay was slightly shocked, but he immediately got up, straightened his robes, and led dozens of newly recruited Shudras and Vaishyas toward the temple area.

The group was quite large, with dozens of people accompanying them, making them particularly conspicuous as they walked the streets of Harappa.

People along the way turned their heads, stopped to watch, and whispered among themselves, "Who is that? Such a grand entrance!"

"Looks like a Vaishya, but it seems more imposing than many Kshatriyas!"

"He looks like Vijay, the owner of Mittal Village!"

The murmurs reached his ears, and occasionally someone recognized him, casting a look of awe or curiosity.

Vijay remained calm, but a sense of melancholy stirred within him: wealth and honor without returning home are like wearing fine clothes in the dark.

Now, leading a large and impressive entourage, I finally understand what it means to return home in glory and show off one's honor to others.

I wouldn't say I felt like I was floating on air, but I did feel a little smug for a moment.

"Pleasure yourself, add 1 talent point, 4 talent points remaining."

Is this how you please yourself?

It seems my threshold is still quite low!

Vijay said with a hint of self-deprecation.

Arrive at the open altar in the temple district. This area is not a core forbidden zone, but it is also a public venue for sacred ceremonies.

The altar is built from a single piece of black stone, wide and flat, with sacred stone pillars standing around it, engraved with Sanskrit inscriptions, and filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, creating a strong sacred atmosphere.

Fan Nuzu was already waiting in the center of the altar, dressed in a sacred robe, surrounded by a soft halo, with a solemn expression.

This ceremony of recognizing the Lord was personally presided over by Vajrabhu, and all the offerings used were of the highest quality. The ceremony strictly followed the proper Brahmanical rituals and was more grand and solemn than the previous ceremony presided over by Vajrabhu.

Around the altar, Brahmin attendants stood in neat rows, their expressions solemn, and the deep, melodious chanting echoed in the air above the altar, sacred and dignified.

Vijay led the group, standing respectfully beneath the altar, awaiting the start of the ceremony.

Fannu raised his hand to signal the start of the ceremony.

Reciting ancient Sanskrit scriptures, worshipping the main deity, sprinkling holy water, burning sandalwood incense, offering sacrifices, and making sacred vows—every step is solemn, respectful, and meticulous.

The sacred chanting, the wafting sandalwood incense, and the solemn atmosphere intertwined, inspiring awe in all who beheld it. This ceremony was even more sacred than those presided over by Vajramu, inspiring reverence in all who beheld it.

The ceremony went smoothly. After the servants finished reciting the last oath, the ceremony of recognizing the Lord was officially completed, and the sacred bond between Vijay and them was established!

Vijay stepped forward and offered the ritual offerings he had prepared in advance once again. Fannu accepted them calmly, his expression gentle.

Vijay bowed and prepared to lead everyone away, but was stopped by Fannu's feet floating over.

His gaze fell on Vijay, and a voice, audible only to Vijay, rang out again, carrying a deliberate eagerness: "Shiva, patriarch, if you are willing, I can perform the blood-raising ceremony for you..."

He paused, his tone growing increasingly fervent: "I can handle all the preparations on your behalf, including the offerings and rituals. This will help you integrate into the noble bloodline of the Kshatriyas, break through your limitations, and elevate your status."

The words were overly solicitous, almost deliberately ingratiating, and Vijay instantly felt a sense of resistance and wariness.

He could clearly sense that this enthusiasm was not entirely well-intentioned.

Is this yet another test from the Brahma priest?

He suppressed his doubts, his expression remaining respectful, and his tone serious: "Thank you for your kindness, Lord Zu, but this matter is of great importance. Please allow me to consider it carefully and consult the divine messenger again in the future."

Upon hearing this, Fan Nuzu stopped insisting and nodded slightly: "Very well!"

"If you figure it out, come find me anytime!"