The market stood still.
All eyes were on Ram.
He raised his gun.
A single shot fired into the air.
BANG!
Silence spread instantly.
"No one moves," Ram said coldly.
Karna stood beside him.
Watching everything carefully.
Ram stepped forward.
His voice strong.
"From today…"
"…this market is under the control of the General."
People looked at each other.
Confused.
Afraid.
"You will pay tax," Ram continued.
Murmurs began.
"…Tax?" someone whispered.
"In return," Ram said,
"…you will be protected."
He pointed toward the camp.
"If danger comes…"
"…call the military."
"We will handle it."
A man from the crowd stepped forward.
Angry.
"Why should we pay you?" he asked.
The crowd became tense.
Ram looked at him.
Calm.
"If you don't pay…"
"…we don't protect."
Silence.
"Simple," Ram added.
The man stepped back.
No answer.
An old grandmother slowly walked forward.
Her hands shaking.
"…We will pay," she said softly.
Everyone looked at her.
"Please…"
"…just protect us."
Her voice trembled.
Karna watched her.
Carefully.
Ram nodded once.
"You will be safe," he said.
The tension slowly disappeared.
People began to accept it.
But suddenly—
Karna's eyes changed.
"…Someone is watching us."
Ram didn't react immediately.
"Where?" he asked quietly.
Karna pointed.
"…On the rooftop."
Without wasting a second—
Ram rushed forward.
Fast.
Silent.
Deadly.
He climbed up.
But—
No one was there.
Only wind.
Only silence.
Ram's eyes narrowed.
He returned.
Karna looked at him.
"…He disappeared," Ram said.
Karna nodded.
"…I saw him clearly."
Ram stared at him.
"…From that distance?"
Karna hesitated.
"…I don't know."
A pause.
"…I can see far."
"…Very far."
Silence.
Ram understood something.
This was not normal.
He looked at Karna differently now.
Not just a child.
Something more.
Far away—
On another rooftop—
A shadow stood.
Watching.
"…Interesting," a voice whispered.
"You can see me…"
A faint smile appeared.
"…this will be fun."
Darkness covered him again.
Back in the market—
Ram looked toward the sky.
"…They're testing us."
Karna stood beside him.
"…What do we do?"
Ram's eyes turned cold.
"…We let them."
A pause.
"…For now."