Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One

Aditya had never touched alcohol in his life, neither in his past timeline nor in his current era. As a martial artist striving to stay sharp, he believed in maintaining traditional roots and avoided any kind of sedatives, be it smoking or alcohol. Even after his reincarnation, he adhered strictly to his discipline.

But now, out of sheer anxiety, he found himself forced to drink. The liquid burned his throat with its bitter flavor, and a strong stench assaulted his nostrils, nearly causing him to vomit. The alcohol seemed homemade and unrefined, making the experience even more nauseating. Despite this, he persevered. His sacrifice to his disciplined routine paid off as Mathew, visibly impressed, helped him fix his dislocated shoulder and laughed heartily. "Good lad! Now you are a man."

Mathew then unpacked his precious pot filled with wine and started drinking directly from it, spilling some on his ragged clothes. Aditya was curious about the brew’s origins but refrained from asking, fearing he might not be able to hold back his nausea.

After downing half of the pot, Mathew began to open up to his newfound drinking companion. "You know, I used to hate you for allowing the Portuguese to come, but the way you protected the fort, I’ve decided to forgive you."

Aditya took another cautious sip from the jar, noting that the wine was beginning to take effect on Mathew. A few more drinks, and it might become easier to extract information and potentially strike a deal. However, Aditya had to be mindful of his own intake, as he was already feeling a bit dizzy from just a few sips.

Mathew continued, "Those pesky nuisances... Anyway, it’s good you let them come. Now I can have my..." He stopped mid-sentence and changed the subject. "I heard you made some weapons that can shoot as fast as cannon shells and even explode on impact?"

Aditya nodded. "They’re rockets."

Mathew took another gulp of wine and then continued, "Yes, rockets. But how did you come up with the idea?"

Aditya hesitated, thinking of a plausible lie.

Sensing his discomfort, Mathew reassured him with a friendly gesture. "I know your secret. You’re not Ratna’s real son. Hemu has told me everything."

Panic surged through Aditya, sweat beading on his forehead. His worst fears seemed to be coming true. But then Mathew said something unexpected, "It must have been hard to lose your master from the east."

Hope ignited in Aditya’s heart as he asked for clarification, "What do you know?"