Aditya’s car arrived at a deserted ruin.

  As soon as he stepped inside, a man approached him. Seeing him, Aditya asked coldly, “Where is he?”

  “In the secret basement.”

  Aditya nodded and walked toward the secret basement, whose entrance was hidden inside one of the rooms of the ruins.

  The man opened the door for him, and Aditya stepped inside.

  The ruins looked fragile and ancient, but the basement below was the complete opposite—modern, fortified, and heavily secured.

  Aditya paused when he noticed how many guards were missing.

  He hadn’t expected a single assassin to injure so many trained men.

  As he reached the room where the man was being held, irritation flashed across his face.

  Inside, a man lay unconscious on an iron bed, chained tightly.

  Standing in front of him was Rivan, eating ice cream with his entire face scrunched up like a child.

  Hearing Aditya’s footsteps, Rivan turned toward the door.

  The moment he saw Aditya’s emotionless yet slightly annoyed expression, Rivan instantly hid behind Mr. Shah like a frightened kitten.

  Aditya said sharply, “I told you clearly—you are not to involve yourself in underworld matters. And you are not to come to this place.”

  “Big bro…” Rivan peeked out slightly from behind Mr. Shah.

  “I didn’t want to come here, but… I had no choice. It was unavoidable.”

  Aditya replied with a sarcastic smile, “Oh really? Then tell me about this ‘compulsion.’ And remember—if it doesn’t sound genuine, you know what will happen.”

  Hearing this, Rivan shook Mr. Shah’s hand nervously.

  “You say something, please!”

  Mr. Shah stepped forward and said, “Sir, this time the boss isn’t lying or making excuses. There truly was no other option.”

  Aditya exhaled in relief.

  “If you’re saying that, then I trust it. So… what was the compulsion?”

  , the sound of chains rattling echoed in the room.

  The unconscious man was beginning to regain consciousness.

  Seeing this, Rivan finished his ice cream in one bite, stepped forward, pulled a gun from his pocket, and aimed it at the man.

  Aditya commented dryly, “At least wipe your mouth first. At this rate, even the gun in your hand will feel embarrassed.”

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Mr. Shah struggled to suppress his laughter, while Rivan puffed his cheeks and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.

  Meanwhile, the man began violently pulling at the chains, trying to break free.

  Aditya walked up to him and said calmly, “Stop. Let’s talk for a bit.”

  The man narrowed his eyes at Aditya, then turned his face away and continued trying to break the chains.

  Aditya placed his foot on the man’s hand and pressed down hard.

  But what shocked him was that it had almost no effect.

  If this were an ordinary man, his bones would have shattered by now.

  Aditya smiled faintly and leaned closer.

  “Who did you come here to kill?”

  The man gestured toward Rivan with his eyes.

  “That brat.”

  “Hey! Who are you calling a brat?!” Rivan snapped.

  Aditya looked at them in shock.

  “So this was the ‘compulsion’?”

  Mr. Shah nodded.

  “Yes, sir. I was carrying out the task you assigned me. I didn’t know much about this at first.

  By the time I realized and came to the boss, he had already knocked the man unconscious.”

  Rivan smiled.

  “I showed a lot of restraint. If I hadn’t, he could’ve killed our men.

  But don’t worry, big bro—I didn’t break my promise. He’s alive.”

  Aditya took a deep breath.

  “This man is no ordinary assassin.”

  Turning to him, Aditya asked, “Why did you come to kill Rivan? And what do you know about TRINITY?”

  The man glanced at Aditya with narrowed eyes and turned away again.

  Rivan spoke up, “Big bro, he’s a greedy assassin. That’s why he only injured our men instead of killing them.

  He was paid only to kill me—he didn’t want to waste his energy on anyone else.”

  “Keep your theories to yourself, Rivan,” Aditya replied.

  “That’s not possible. He must have been trained to stay silent.”

  Rivan sighed and stepped forward.

  “Oh come on… now I have to prove this too?”

  Suddenly, the man spoke,“No. That’s not it. You really can buy information—or actions—from me with money.”

  Aditya looked at Rivan in disbelief.

  Rivan shrugged as if to say,

  Aditya exhaled deeply.

  “Fine. We’ll talk. But try anything clever, and I won’t hesitate to kill you.”

  “Even talking costs money, mister,” the man replied.

  “Otherwise, I’m fine staying chained.”

  Aditya frowned.

  “Who are you? What’s your name? I can’t believe you’re really an assassin.”

  The man smirked.

  “Knowing about me also costs money.

  But before that—” he looked at Rivan, “—pay me to save your little prince. Otherwise, I’ll have to kill him. That’s what I was paid for.”

  Before anyone could react, the man suddenly yanked his arms and legs— and snapped the chains apart.

  Everyone went on high alert.

  The man rubbed his wrists and ankles.

  “These chains were trash.At least bring stronger ones next time.

  Anyway, the payment to kill him hasn’t arrived yet. So if you transfer the money now, I won’t kill him. Promise on my mom.”

  Mr. Shah muttered flatly, “A man without a mother swearing on one.”

  The man snapped, “Don’t interrupt my work, old man. If you make me work harder, I’ll sell every part of your body to recover the cost.”

  Rivan lunged forward in rage, but Aditya stopped him.

  “Making unnecessary enemies isn’t wise.”

  Turning to the man, Aditya said,

  “You want money. I’ll give you as much as you want. But in return, you’ll work for me. Deal?”

  The man smiled.

  “Milo. Milo will do all your work, Master.

  Just pay me enough that even counting it takes all day.”

  Hearing the name, Mr. Shah thought to himself, "The underworld named him well… Money Monster."

  While Aditya began extracting information from Milo, elsewhere—

  Koyo stood outside Aditya’s office building.

  Staring at it, he murmured to himself, “Aditya Jain… hmm. I hope you never cross my path.

  Because knowing that Anamika might like you, it would feel bad to kill you.

  Master’s legacy will remain exactly as she wanted it. I won’t let a two-bit businessman like you interfere.”

  With that, he walked away.

  MeanwhileAnamika sat inside the cage with her colors.

  She prepared her canvas.

  Her eyes shone with determination— she would keep her promise and send her painting to the exhibition organized by Ira and Rivan.

  She knew it would be difficult. But she didn’t want to break her promise.

  She began sketching the outline.

  Elsewherethe Delicate Flower’s Cabin.

  She gazed tenderly at every panel and illustration of the unfinished manga Anamika had left behind.

  Looking at the main character’s artwork, she said softly, “My Delicate Flower will soon complete your story. She promised me she’d give you a good ending.

  Before that, I’m waiting for her promise— the one that will lead me to her.

  I’m sure she’ll send her painting to the exhibition. I just have to wait for it… and recognize it.

  I will find you— not only for Aditya bhai, but for everyone… and most of all, for you.”

  In her innocent eyes burned a powerful resolve.