Chapter 10: The Puppet Master’s Web
The war between the Rai family and the Bahun sect had entered a new phase. While the battlefield outside remained chaotic, the real battle was being fought in the shadows. Shree Yan had been working tirelessly, pulling the strings that would unravel the Bahun sect from within. He knew the power of Gaia, Vesper, and his cunning intellect—tools he would use to manipulate, deceive, and orchestrate the inevitable collapse of their enemies.
In the war tent of the Rai family, Diwahang paced nervously, his eyes scanning the latest reports. The situation seemed to be growing worse with each passing day. He could feel the weight of his decisions pressing down on him.
"Shree Yan," Diwahang finally said, turning to his trusted ally, who sat calmly in the corner of the tent, his fingers absent-mindedly playing with a dagger. "What's happening? The Bahun sect is getting stronger, not weaker. Are you sure your plan will work?"
Shree Yan looked up, his eyes gleaming with cold amusement. "Big Brother, you see the surface, but not the depths. The Bahun sect's leaders are fighting among themselves. They will grow weaker, more divided. The real question is how long they can hold their facade of unity. They are fools—each one of them believes they can control the others, but they don't realize that they're all being manipulated."
Diwahang frowned. "By whom?"
Shree Yan's lips curled into a smile. "By me, of course. The rise of factions within the Bahun sect is no accident. I've been feeding them information—poisoning their minds, whispering lies, and pitting them against each other."
Diwahang's eyes widened in disbelief. "You've been manipulating both sides?"
Shree Yan's smile deepened. "Why settle for one when you can control both?"
---
The Hidden Hand
While Diwahang struggled with the weight of the war, Shree Yan's influence over the Bahun sect grew stronger. Through subtle manipulations, he had managed to pit the most powerful leaders of the sect against one another, ensuring that each one sought to undermine the others in a relentless pursuit of dominance. Every time one leader gained an advantage, Shree Yan fed them more false information to fan the flames of distrust.
The tension within the Bahun sect was palpable, each faction maneuvering to secure its own place in the post-war world. But Shree Yan wasn't done. He had planned his next move carefully, and now, it was time to set it in motion.
A few days later, as the Bahun leaders gathered in a secret war council, they had no idea that their discussions were being manipulated by an unseen hand. Shree Yan had planted false reports and forged letters, all of which made it appear as though one faction had betrayed another. The leaders, already suspicious and paranoid, fell for it easily.
Meanwhile, on the Rai side, Shree Yan played his part as well. He maintained his position as Diwahang's trusted ally, all the while manipulating him into making strategic decisions that would unknowingly benefit Shree Yan's greater plan. Diwahang was a pawn in Shree Yan's game, just like the Bahun leaders, but he was too trusting, too loyal to see the truth.
---
The First Move
One fateful night, Shree Yan called a private meeting with Diwahang. The tent was dimly lit, the air thick with the tension of the war. Shree Yan's eyes gleamed with anticipation as he outlined his next move.
"Big Brother," Shree Yan began, his voice smooth and persuasive, "The Bahun sect is on the brink of collapse. Their leaders are at each other's throats. This is the perfect opportunity to strike."
Diwahang hesitated, uncertainty creeping into his voice. "Are you sure? I've been hearing rumors that the Bahun forces are rallying together. It doesn't seem like they're falling apart."
Shree Yan leaned forward, his gaze intense. "What they're rallying around is a false hope. The real strength of their army lies in their unity. If we strike now, when they are divided, we can cripple them before they even realize what's happening."
Diwahang looked uneasy. "But what if we're wrong? What if this backfires?"
Shree Yan placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You trust me, don't you, Big Brother? You've seen what I can do. The Bahun sect is ripe for the taking. We'll strike at their weakest point, and before they can respond, we'll have already won."
Diwahang swallowed hard, his trust in Shree Yan clouding his judgment. "You're right. Let's do it."
---
The Betrayal
The next day, Shree Yan set his plan into motion. While Diwahang and his generals rallied the Rai forces, Shree Yan slipped into the shadows, making his way toward the heart of the Bahun sect's territory. He had arranged for a series of ambushes—small, calculated strikes against key Bahun outposts, carefully timed to make it seem as though one faction had betrayed the others.
The chaos that followed was exactly what Shree Yan had hoped for. As the Bahun forces scrambled to respond to the ambushes, their leaders, already on edge, began to accuse one another of treachery. The infighting reached a fever pitch, and the Bahun forces began to fracture.
But Shree Yan's machinations didn't stop there. He had already planted false intelligence with key Bahun officers, information that would lead them into a trap. When the Bahun sect's forces marched toward what they thought was a strategically important Rai base, they unknowingly walked into a kill zone—one that Shree Yan had personally arranged.
---
The Collapse
The trap was set, and the Bahun forces, divided and disoriented, walked straight into it. Rai warriors, led by Shree Yan's own manipulations, ambushed the Bahun soldiers from all sides, devastating their ranks. The Bahun leaders, distracted by their own internal struggles, were caught off guard. They couldn't rally their troops fast enough.
And then, the true blow came.
Shree Yan, hidden in the shadows, had carefully orchestrated a final blow. He had made sure that the Bahun General, the last unifying force within their army, received the false information that the Rai forces were weak and retreating. Eager to claim victory, the Bahun General led a full-scale charge toward what he thought was a vulnerable position, only to find himself surrounded by Rai forces—and worse, by Shree Yan himself.
The Bahun General, realizing he had been tricked, tried to retreat, but it was too late. Shree Yan's soldiers had already cut off his escape, and with a final, devastating blow, the Bahun General fell.
With his death, the last semblance of unity within the Bahun sect crumbled. The Bahun forces scattered, disbanded by the chaos and confusion Shree Yan had sown. The war was effectively over, and the Rai family stood victorious—thanks to Shree Yan's brilliant manipulations.
---
The Mastermind
As the dust settled and the last remnants of the Bahun sect were mopped up, Diwahang approached Shree Yan with a look of awe. "You were right. We've won. The Bahun sect is in ruins."
Shree Yan gave him a cold smile, but his eyes were filled with something darker—satisfaction. "Yes, Big Brother. But remember this: We didn't win because of strength. We won because I made sure we did."
Diwahang blinked, unsure of what Shree Yan meant. But it didn't matter. The war was over, and Shree Yan had emerged as the true victor.
---
The True Game
Shree Yan stood at the edge of the battlefield, watching as the remains of the Bahun sect were scattered to the wind. His eyes gleamed with ambition. The war had been nothing more than a stepping stone. Now that the Bahun sect had fallen, the real game was just beginning.
Shree Yan had played his role perfectly. The Rai family had won, but it was he who had secured his future. And no one, not even Diwahang, knew just how deep his plans truly ran.
---
The Puppet Master's web had been woven. Would the Rai family remain a pawn in Shree Yan's grand design, or would they begin to question the true nature of his power? Only time would tell.
---