Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One

At the evening, Aditya stood with a small contingent of royal guards before the giant doors of the cannon factory. Beside him stood Ujjwal Singh, the commander of the royal guard, clad in full chainmail armor with spear and shield at the ready.

With a creak, the doors swung open, and Rishabh Gupta, the second-in-command of the factory, emerged, his kurta soaked with sweat, offering a respectful namaste. "Welcome, Your Highness, welcome!"

Aditya was surprised to see an Indian rather than the rumoured foreigner technician he had expected, momentarily questioning the accuracy of his information.

Sensing the prince’s confusion, Rishabh quickly clarified, "I am the second-in-command here. I apologize that our chief technician is currently occupied and unable to greet you personally. Allow me to host you in his absence."

Aditya nodded understandingly, considering the chief’s dedication to his duties. He retrieved a parchment bearing the royal seal and handed it to Rishabh. "No trouble at all. Please deliver this to him and report me of the preparations."

Rishabh accepted the parchment graciously and assured, "It will be done." He passed it to a nearby subordinate with a command to deliver it to the chief. Aditya noted the soldier’s stiff demeanor, sensing an underlying tension.

Turning back to Aditya, Rishabh continued, "With the sample weapons you provided, preparations are nearly complete. We awaited your arrival eagerly. Please follow me."

Aditya nodded in approval and followed as Rishabh led him across the grounds where targets were set up at strategic distances, awaiting the upcoming tests. Workers bustled about, marking safe areas for guests and setting up makeshift tents for meetings and a cafeteria for royal guests.

They continued walking towards a large open field adjacent to the factory. Targets of various sizes and shapes were strategically placed at different distances, some painted with concentric circles for accuracy testing. Safety barriers were set up around the perimeter, ensuring the audience could witness the demonstrations from a safe distance.

"The field is vast enough to accommodate all our guests comfortably," Rishabh explained as they approached. "Security personnel are stationed at every entrance and exit, and we have guards patrolling the perimeter to maintain safety."

Aditya scanned the area, impressed by the organization and attention to detail. "Excellent arrangements. Could you provide me with a brief tour of the core technology of the factory?"

Rishabh readily agreed. By then, Aditya turned to Ujjwal Singh and instructed, "Commander, double-check everything just to be thorough. Take all the men with you."