All ministers fell on their knees in fear and said, "Welcome back, Prince." Ashoka said, "All of you, get up and sit on your seats, and please you can also sit on your seat, Mr Prime Minister." All ministers and the Prime Minister (Shakuni) sat on their seats, and then Shakuni said in a polite tone, "Prince Ashoka, we know that you can vote as per your wish as to who becomes temporary king for the next 4 years because you are prince of this kingdom and your decision is also very important, and also because you will be the next king, but…" Ashoka said, "But what?" Shakuni said, "But for your decision, the voting result is now a draw, and now how can we decide our kingdom's next temporary king?" Ashoka said, "Your point is right, Mr Prime Minister, but so now what do you think about how to decide this decision?"
Shakuni said, "If there is a draw in the voting among the ministers, then can we vote among the common people as to who will become the temporary king for the next 4 years?" Ashoka was shocked to listen to that advice from Shakuni because he knew that nobles hate commoners, but still why did he put this advice before me, and the surprising thing is that 8 out of 10 ministers agreed on this matter. Ashoka thought in his mind, why did those nobles agree on this decision? Ashoka could not change this decision because the majority was with him, and he had to accept this decision, and then the meeting ended.
The voting will start after two days. Ashoka left the meeting room with his mom and Albert. Ashoka's mom is very happy to see her son become very handsome and mature in these 2 years. Then, while walking, Albert asked Ashoka, "Prince, how did you know that the discussion about the next king would be held today?" Ashoka said, "Well, I think that is a coincidence," but in his mind he thought, I can't say that I got that information from John. Then Ashoka said, "Albert, I want to introduce someone to you." Albert said, "Okay, Prince." Ashoka's mom went to her room, and Ashoka and Albert went to the palace garden, and then Albert met Eli.
Ashoka said, "Albert, she has skill in archery without training. Can you give her some training? I think she can improve if you give her training." Albert answered, "Yes, Prince, if that is your wish, but I am also not good in archery, but I have a friend and I think he can train her."
Ashoka said, "Okay, we will meet that man tomorrow," and then Albert left because he had some important work to do. Eli asked Ashoka, "Why are we in the palace, and who is that man you were talking to?" Ashoka said, "Why are we in this palace? It's because this is my home, and that man is the general of this kingdom, and he has control of the army of this entire kingdom." Eli was shocked and said, "What? This big palace is your home, and that man is the general? Who exactly are you?" Ashoka said, "I think this is not a secret anymore. I am the prince of this kingdom."
Eli was shocked and shouted, "What? You are the prince of this kingdom? So why do you live in that forest? And what do I call you? Prince? No-no, a… future king, a… what do I call you?" Ashoka stopped Eli and said, "Stop. You call me Ashoka normally. I don't want any formality from you, okay? So calm down." Eli stopped panicking, took a deep breath, and said, "So, Mr. Ashoka, where are we going now?" Ashoka said, "Stop this formality and go rest in your room. We traveled for 2 days continuously." Eli said, "What? I have my private room?" But I can adjust with you. Ashoka said, "Stop that foolish talk. You can't live in my room," and then Ashoka called a servant and said, "Show him her room."
Eli went with that servant, and Ashoka went to his room. He entered the room and said, "This room has not changed in these 2 years." Ashoka sat on his bed and said, "So John, you also hear." John suddenly appeared in front of Ashoka. [JOHN APPEARANCE = He has brown hair, and his eyes are also brown. He covers his face with a mask. He has medium-length hair, and lastly he wears an assassin garb.] Then John respectfully bowed down on his knees and said, "Sir, I collected the information you wanted to know."
Ashoka said, "Tell." John said, "First question: why did the Prime Minister put that advice before you? The answer is because he knows the commoners in this kingdom suffer from money, and he has a plan to buy votes in exchange for money." Ashoka said, "Well, I also thought that plan, but I didn't know he also thought that plan." Ashoka asked John, "So what do you think, who will win in this voting?" John said, "Sir, I think the Prime Minister." Ashoka asked, "Why?"
John answered, "Because he is the richest man in this kingdom, and from what information I have enquired from my sources, he has more money than the royal treasury has, and the second reason is that most people are on that man's side." Ashoka asked John, "So what do you think, how can we defeat him?" John answered, "Sir, there are two ways to defeat him. First, to collect more money than he has, and that is impossible in 2 days. And second is, sir…" Ashoka said, "What is the second?" John said, "To kill him." Ashoka was shocked and then smiled and said, "So who will kill him? Can you kill him? But you said you don't want to kill people now." John said, "Sir, yes sir, and I am still on that—I don't want to kill people, but it's not that I can't kill him."
Ashoka smiled and said, "So what do you want?" John said, "That's what I expected from my master."
The scene changes, and we see Eli changing her clothes in the room and thinking, Thank God he didn't find out that I am that bandit leader's daughter. I didn't expect that one man killed all 500 people. When I saw him kill all the bandits, I thought the safest way to stay alive is to act like I was that bandit slave, and thankfully I found some dirty clothes in that old man's house. But I didn't expect that man is this kingdom's prince. I think he is not an ordinary man, but don't think he is a prince. Now I have to continue this acting because if he finds out that I am that bandit leader's daughter, he will kill me, I am sure. Anyway, I was not concerned about that old man. I also wanted to kill him because he used to beat my mother every day after drinking alcohol, but I had no other option except living with him. But now I have an option, and I don't want that chance to slip out of my hands.
The scene changes again, and we see Ashoka and John. Ashoka said, "So that is what you want. I don't think you have interest in those things. Okay, I will search for that thing. Now what about the second thing?" John answered, "Yes sir, the second question you asked—bring the background of that girl Eli. Sir, your suspicion is right; she is not a slave." When you told me to bring information about that girl Eli, I first thought she was a slave. But when I found one bandit who escaped from that village silently, I found him. I thought I captured him and would kill him, but when he saw me with a dagger, he suddenly shouted and said, 'Please forgive me, I know you are with that man. That man also forgave our leader's daughter. Please forgive me too.' I was shocked, and then I learned from him that—
That girl is not a bandit slave; she is the bandit leader's daughter. And sir, her real name is not Eli; her real name is Luna. Ashoka said, "Okay, very good John, you can leave now," and then John disappeared from there. Now Ashoka smiled and said, "So Miss Luna, what do you want from me? Do you want to kill me to get revenge or really want to work under me? Well, I will find that later." Then Ashoka rested.
The next morning, after taking a bath and changing clothes, he went to meet Eli in her room, but Eli was not in her room. So Ashoka went to the palace training ground because he thought Albert took her for training. But when Ashoka entered the training ground, he found Eli training archery with a man. Ashoka went and said, "So Eli, you are here. And who is that man?"
Eli said that man is Mr. Albert's friend, and Mr. Albert said he will train her from now. Then that man introduced himself and said, "Prince, a pleasure to meet you. I am the commander of Vikram Army, and I have the best archery skill among five commanders. My name is Vikram."
Ashoka thought in his mind, our kingdom's army number is the highest among all kingdoms. An average kingdom has 8 lakh to 10 lakh army, but our kingdom has 25 lakh to 30 lakh army, and for that our army is under five commanders. One commander has 5 lakh soldiers under his control, and all five commanders are under General Albert, and a general is under royal blood, meaning like queen, prince, or king. And in that, the king has the highest authority. Even if the king orders the general to kill 1 lakh innocent commoners, the general has to follow that order. But now there is no king here; the general only follows the queen's orders.
Ashoka said to Vikram, "So you are good in archery. Can you show me your skill?" Vikram said, "As you wish, Prince," and then Vikram took his bow and shot five arrows at once, and his shot perfectly hit the target. Ashoka was very impressed by Vikram and said, "Vikram, do you want to work under me? I will double your salary and also add 50,000 soldiers under you."
Vikram replied, "Prince, your offer is not bad, but I am good where I am now." Ashoka said, "Okay, but think about it later." Then he asked, "Is Eli's training continuing smoothly?" Vikram replied, "Yes sir, this girl has talent. She has already mastered how to shoot two targets with two arrows." Ashoka said, "I know this girl has talent. Well, now continue your training, Eli." Then Ashoka left the training ground and went to meet Atlas.
Atlas was drinking alcohol in his room. Ashoka entered and said, "Isn't this too early to celebrate, Atlas?" Atlas said, "Boy, you have no manners. Didn't your parents teach you to knock first?" Ashoka laughed and said, "No, I spent two years with a man who doesn't know what manners are." Atlas said, "So what do you want from me, boy? Now there is nothing left that I can teach you. I trained you; now you have to master your magic on your own."
Ashoka said, "I know that, but the thing is how? I try many times, but whenever I release too much magic, I lose control. My father said I can defeat 10,000 people single-handedly if I master this power, but I can't master that power." Atlas said, "Stop, boy. Your father trained 10 years to master that power, and you think you can master that dangerous power only in 2 years? But yes, you have talent. You can defeat 2,000 soldiers single-handedly, and you achieved this power only in 2 years. Your father took 5 years, but you took only 2 years." Ashoka said, "You don't understand, Atlas. I don't have time. When I entered the palace, there are only two people I can trust, and it is you and my mom."
Atlas said, "You also have that general on your side, isn't it?" Ashoka said, "You mean Albert? Yes, Albert is strong, and I think he is even stronger than me, but no Atlas, Albert is a general, and a general is a throne slave. And if John can't do that work and if that bastard becomes king, then all army power will also go into that bastard's hands. And I pray that John successfully completes that task."
And the scene changes, and we see John fallen on the ground with a knife in his stomach, and there is blood coming out of his stomach.