Bab 63: One arrow, Two targets

Diwakar, a skilled blacksmith in his local area, gained much of his reputation through his sister's marriage to a noble household. With her connections, he managed to secure numerous assignments for crafting arms and shields, amassing a substantial fortune in the process.

As word of his craftsmanship spread, Diwakar expanded his business, investing in the production of bricks and joining a merchant group. His involvement in road construction further elevated his status, eventually earning him the title of zamindar, a lower-level noble lord.

With vast lands at his disposal, Diwakar's life took a turn for easy money without the need for labour. With the reputation of being the best blacksmith at hand, his arrogance skyrocketed, and he became more indulged in his newfound nobility rather than the hardworking blacksmith once he was.

With his reliance on his core business diminishing, Diwakar made the bold decision to reject the prince's offer of a stable income job. Now, however, that decision was coming back to haunt him, as many of the low-level blacksmiths or apprentices who used to provide low level craft supplies to top smithies were getting short, causing a domino effect that led to a recession in the whole crafting market.

Following the land reform, he was among the first to feel the repercussions, as he could not impose taxes of more than 60 percent of total produce and he also needed to pay his own taxes to the capital.

The remaining amount might be enough to sustain his family, but maintaining the salaries of his hired employees or paying the security fees required by the merchant group to which he belonged was becoming increasingly challenging.

Forced to halt his drain of stored wealth, Diwakar made the tough decision to focus on rebuilding his business from the ground up, which was already on the brink of ruin.

Fortunately, the prince's call for construction projects emerged as a glimmer of hope. The merchant group approached Diwakar to bring the contract and escape the penalties or face expulsion, which would be a huge blow to his reputation and a major hurdle for his procurement of low supplies essential for business.

His situation was like that of an ant on the verge of drowning, and the prince's call was like a straw for him to grasp, which would be his last chance to survive.

Right now, Diwakar found himself in the same grand hall where the prince had once proposed the idea of standardizing units. To his surprise, there were many representatives from various merchant groups, all eyeing the lucrative tender for road construction.

The atmosphere crackled with tension as each participant awaited their chance to make their case. Sweat dripped from Diwakar's forehead as he understood that the competition would be tough.

As the prince entered and the proceedings commenced, he began by emphasizing the economic benefits of road construction. He highlighted how improved infrastructure could enhance trade routes, facilitate transportation of goods, and stimulate economic growth within the region.

He briefed about his plan for the construction of mud roads connecting all cities and villages, which included numerous business opportunities and privileges for businesses.

This was enough to make all merchant groups salivate for the opportune deal.

The prince made arrangements for everyone to meet him in his chamber, similar to what he did with foreign delegations. To Diwakar's surprise, he got his turn last, which made him even more anxious with each passing moment. He couldn't help but become a little doubtful of being toyed with by the prince

Despite being the last to present, Diwakar poured his heart and soul into his pitch, hoping to impress the prince and secure the tender.

As Diwakar entered the prince's chamber, he felt at ease at the sight of Vinayak, who was standing nearby and was a familiar figure to him. However, his expression hardened as he met the cold gaze of the prince.

He couldn't shake off the sense of déjà vu that washed over him, as if the young prince before him was not just a teenager but an experienced apex predator, staring at his prey for the right moment, to pounce and devour in one move without even leaving a single bone.

He gulped in fear, which brought a smile to the prince's face, instantly changing his expression to that of a salesman always available for his customer's service.

"Diwakar ji," the prince greeted him, his voice smooth yet laced with an underlying intensity, "the esteemed blacksmith of the whole of Delhi. What brings you to our humble domain?"

Diwakar maintained his composure as he replied. "Your Highness," he continued, choosing his words carefully, "I am here to ask for forgiveness for my past behaviour and to request that we put the past behind us. I'm here to offer you a deal that you simply cannot refuse."

The prince leaned forward, "I'm all ears," prompting Diwakar to continue.

Clearing his throat, Diwakar straightened up, "Your Highness, I propose to utilize my expertise in craftsmanship to provide you with the finest quality materials for the road construction project.

My skills in metalworking are unparalleled in the region, and I assure you that the arms and tools required for the construction will be of the highest quality."

The prince nodded thoughtfully, considering Diwakar's offer. "And what else do you bring to the table?" he inquired.

Diwakar hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I also have connections with local artisans and laborers who can assist in the construction process. With their help, we can ensure timely completion of the project.

Moreover, I also have experience in the completion of grand truck road, which will be beneficial for the project."

The prince raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "While your offer is commendable, Diwakar ji, it lacks the comprehensive approach that other merchant groups have presented," he remarked.

"I am already considering three merchant groups, one of which has pledged to optimize transportation routes and minimize costs, ensuring maximum profitability.

The second group has promised community involvement and cost reduction through locally sourced materials.

And the third group has offered expedited construction and state-of-the-art infrastructure." He made a pitiful face and continued, "So tell me, Diwakar ji, setting aside your past defiance, what benefit are you bringing to my company?"

Diwakar's heart sank as he realized that his offer fell short compared to the others. He had hoped that his reputation and craftsmanship would be enough to sway the prince, but it seemed that he had overestimated himself.

Yet, he still felt hope as he saw Vinayak and remembered that his father Bhaskar, who was his old friend, had once lamented that his days were hard as the prince wanted to expedite the construction of houses and other buildings for his company.

Giving it a last resort, he said, "Your Highness, if I am not mistaken, you might need a lot of bricks. How about I provide you with all the bricks at less than 50 percent of the market price and help you manage the labor for the task?"

The prince replied with a straight face, "70 percent less."

Diwakar tried to bargain, "60 percent."

The prince hesitated, as if his next words would be unpleasant, to which Diwakar replied, "Deal, deal, 80 percent deal."

The prince's next words were unexpected. "See, Diwakar Ji, I honestly want to help you as Vinayak's father asked me to help you out. That's why I'm agreeing to this contract even though it means personal losses for me." Diwakar felt a surge of relief at the prince's willingness to assist him.

However, the prince's tone shifted as he outlined the terms of the agreement. "You will have to work under our terms." he stated firmly "Neither you nor any of the trade merchant group's representative will be in charge of road construction.

We will pay your bills, and your task will only be to provide us with supplies and help us manage the labor for road construction.

The laborers' salaries and road building supervision will be handled by the company itself. The same goes for company premises construction."

Diwakar wanted to say something, but the prince shut him down by saying, "In return, the company will pay the promised bills and extra commission for arranging the labor. And the merchant group will get its promised privileges."

Though disheartened, Diwakar nodded in acceptance. His main goal was achieved, and he had little to lose by agreeing to the prince's terms.

As he received a special linen parchment sealed by the company emblem of the swastika (meaning of good luck), Diwakar felt a sense of closure. He bowed politely and left the chamber, feeling a mix of gratitude and resignation.

Vinayak asked with a puzzled expression, "Your Highness, if we are already to help him, then why bother lying? The three offers you stated weren't actually made by those arrogant merchant groups, but the conditions you posed on them instead."

Prince Aditya chuckled. "You see, Vinayak, it's all about strategy," he explained. "You know, I know, but he doesn't need to know. If he knew, would he have agreed to our condition and reduced the price of bricks to 80 percent of the market price?"

A sudden realization dawned upon Vinayak as he understood the prince's cunning plan. "So, you deceived him to secure his agreement to our terms," which was confirmed by the prince himself as he stated with a wink, "It's called hitting two targets with one arrow."