The morning of March 28th, 2207, was crisp and quiet at 6:00 AM. In the sprawling, manicured gardens of the estate, the only sound was the soft crunch of gravel under Veer's shoes.
He walked with his hands clasped behind his back, mind already consumed by the tasks ahead. Ahead, a figure approached, moving with quick, purposeful strides. Familiar, yet subtly altered—the hair trimmed shorter, jawline sharper, and the face carrying the faint impression of a new life.
"Greetings, Family Head," the man said, stopping and bowing with formal precision.
A slow smile spread across Veer's face. "Aryan. It truly is you," he said, surprise flickering in his eyes. "I almost didn't recognize you. Are preparations for your departure complete?"
"Yes, sir," Aryan replied, his tone firm, unwavering.
"Good," Veer said, his voice shifting into businesslike precision. He led Aryan toward a small table beneath the shade of a sprawling banyan tree. On it lay a plain manila envelope. Veer opened it, revealing four items: a sleek, unmarked leather wallet, a metallic bank card without a name, a small wooden box, and a black obsidian badge with golden lettering.
Veer picked up the wallet first. "This contains his new identity—everything from identification documents to VIP memberships. He tends to forget such things, so this is your responsibility."
"Understood," Aryan said, single-minded focus evident in his voice.
Veer's hand moved to the metallic card. "This has a trillion dollars. Allow him full discretion. Do not question a single transaction."
Aryan's eyes widened. A trillion. The magnitude of that number made him momentarily speechless.
Veer then held the wooden box. "This is a gift for him."
"And finally," he said, lifting the black badge with the golden emblem, "this is proof of my trust in you. Use it only when you cannot control the situation. The Golden Guardian will intervene."
"Golden Guardian?" Aryan's mind raced. Within whispers of the inner circle, the Golden Guardian was a myth—a silent legend. To wield such a force, even indirectly, was a responsibility heavier than any he had known.
Within minutes, Aryan was on the move. A sleek, driverless car awaited in a hidden garage. He entered, giving it the address to the Saffron Spire. The journey became a blur of high-tech highways and towering cityscapes, a glimpse of the world he would now navigate.