Indumati was in the midst of a jubilant birthday celebration, laughter and music filling the air as friends and family reveled in the moment. Just as the festivities reached their zenith, a flustered servant approached Sun, whispering nervously that the governor had summoned him. Prerna, enjoying the party to the fullest, noticed Sun's abrupt departure and furrowed her brow, intrigued. "Why is he being called away?"
"The governor specifically requests his presence," the servant replied, casting his gaze downward. Prerna's curiosity shifted to annoyance. "And what about me? Why wasn't I invited? I was with him."
The servant merely shrugged, his expression apologetic. "I'm just following orders," he murmured before retreating, leaving Prerna to ponder the strange turn of events, a sense of unease creeping in.
Meanwhile, in a serene garden adorned with blossoming flowers and the gentle sound of a bubbling fountain, the governor sat expectantly, tapping his fingers against the armrest of his ornate chair. As the sun arrived, the governor wasted no time. "Thank you for coming. We need to discuss a rather pressing matter—the pirate who attacked and sank one of your ships."
Sun's response was measured, though a hint of mischief danced in his eyes. "I don't have much information about this pirate," he replied, pausing thoughtfully. "But I can certainly take a guess."
Intrigued, the governor leaned forward, eager for the insight. "Please, go on."
With a sly smile, Sun replied, "If you're searching for someone to blame for the chaos, you might want to reconsider your actions. After all, you're the one who fosters the unrest in this town."
The governor's eyes widened, caught between surprise and annoyance. "What do you mean by that?" he challenged, disbelief creeping into his voice.
"Consider this," Sun elaborated, crossing his arms thoughtfully. "Isn't it curious how your political maneuvering often coincides with these incidents? Perhaps the pirate is merely a distraction, a pawn in a larger game where you manipulate the board."
The governor's expression shifted from skepticism to contemplation, his mind racing with the implications. As he absorbed Sun's words, the lively atmosphere of Indumati's party faded into the background, replaced by the heavy weight of the conversation. Intrigue brewed in the garden as the two men edged closer to a clandestine understanding, where the lines between ally and adversary blurred like shadows in the fading sunlight.
In a flashback, just one hour earlier, Raaj had approached Sun and Prerna with critical information about the pirate attack. "I have everything you need," he declared, urgency etched on his face. Sun instructed Raaj to lay all the information files on the table.
As Sun and Prerna perused the documents, they discovered that the ship was laden with goods detailed by Raaj: gold, expensive alcohol, and various other imported items. It was clear Raaj had departed the ship in full compliance with Royal Law, and everything appeared to be in order—except for one thing that caught Sun's attention. A single file was marked with heavy red ink, indicating that it contained information that was both sensitive and potentially unsettling.
"What's this?" Sun asked, a knot of apprehension tightening in his stomach. Prerna leaned closer, her curiosity now piqued once more, sensing they were treading into dangerous waters. The atmosphere shifted as they realized that beneath the surface of their lively celebration, darker truths lurked, entwined with the governor's political machinations and the chilling specter of piracy.