Now, as the deadline of the 10-year term approached, the princes who were granted lands had to either return them to the royal family or buy them outright. Rahul, however, had already made his decision. This land was the foundation of his future — his research facility, his empire, his vision.
Without hesitation, he drafted a formal proposal and sent it to the royal family, stating his intent to purchase the territory under his name. The moment he received the royal approval, this land would no longer belong to the crown — it would be his. His city, his laboratory, his dominion. A land ruled not by birthright, but by intellect and ambition. A land where he would reign not as a prince, but as a king of creation.
He called for his butler, Raj. Within moments, Raj entered the cabin and bowed respectfully.
"Yes, my lord?" he asked.
Rahul leaned back in his chair and said calmly, "Raj, draft a formal letter to the royal family regarding the purchase of this land — all 200,000 hectares of it. Make sure to mention that I seek full ownership and that they may send their official requirements or the amount needed for the royal approval and transfer of rights."
Raj nodded firmly. "As you command, my lord."
Rahul glanced out of the window, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon of the vast land he was about to claim. Soon, all of this would belong to him — not just as property, but as the foundation of his vision.
Days passed quietly. Weeks turned into a month, and finally, a royal messenger arrived carrying the long-awaited seal of the royal family.
Rahul broke the wax and unfolded the letter. The message inside was written in elegant script, stamped with the golden crest of the kingdom.
"To His Highness, the Third Prince Rahul,
The Royal Family acknowledges your proposal for the formal purchase of the eastern lands, spanning approximately 200,000 hectares. After careful deliberation, His Majesty and the Council have agreed in principle to the transaction. However…"
Rahul's eyes narrowed slightly as he read further.
"…due to the strategic importance of this region, the Royal Treasury requires a detailed justification for its private acquisition, along with an official statement of intended use and economic benefits to the crown. Additionally, the valuation will include not only the market rate but a royal preservation tax for land under direct royal domain."
Rahul placed the letter down on the table, his expression calm but thoughtful.
"So, they want justification and extra payment," he murmured. A faint smile formed on his lips. "As expected… they can't let go of this easily."
He rang the bell beside him. "Raj," he called, "prepare the documents. It seems we have to show the royals just how valuable this land will be — for them."
Finally, Rahul decided to make his move. After carefully reviewing the royal letter and the situation, he prepared an offer so generous that even the royal family would find it hard to refuse.
The land, if sold at its standard market rate, would only fetch around 500 to 600 million gold coins. But Rahul had no intention of haggling or wasting time. He wanted this matter closed — swiftly and absolutely.
He turned to Raj and said calmly, "Raj, prepare the official letter. My offer will be 1 billion gold coins for the complete ownership of the land. Include all relevant documentation, titles, and transfer deeds."
Raj looked slightly stunned. "My lord, that's almost double the land's value."
Rahul leaned back in his chair, a faint, confident smile curving his lips. "I know. But speed is worth more than gold. Tell them that if the royal family approves the transfer within one month, the offer stands at 1 billion. After that period, it will reduce to 800 million. If they delay beyond that, they can keep their land — I won't be interested anymore."
Raj bowed deeply. "Understood, my lord. I will have the proposal drafted and delivered by tonight."
Rahul nodded. "Good. Let's make sure they understand that I don't negotiate twice."
With that, Raj left to carry out the order — and the wheels of power began to turn in the royal court once again.
In the Royal Court, everyone was flabbergasted when the royal messenger read Rahul's letter. The amount was enormous—far beyond what anyone had expected. King Rouncus, now the ruler of humanity, sat on the throne and read the proposal with a faint, amused smile.
"He's a fat sheep now," the King said, folding the parchment. "Looks like my brother has been earning well." He glanced at the Prime Minister. "What do you think? Should we pressure him—use the weight of the Royal Court to squeeze more from him?"
The Prime Minister's expression was cautious. "My liege, now is not the time. He has far too much influence at the moment. Pressuring him could be dangerous. We should accept the offer and secure the transfer while we can, then consider how to keep him within the crown's influence later."
The King considered this, tapping a thoughtful finger against the arm of his throne. Around the hall, courtiers whispered and exchanged uneasy looks. Rahul's offer had shifted the balance of power; for the first time in many years, the crown had to weigh gold against caution.
The King nodded. "Fine — accept his offer. Have it finalized within the month and transfer the funds to the National Treasury. One billion will do a great deal: we can strengthen the army, improve infrastructure, and fund other projects." He leaned forward, eyes bright with calculation. "Once our army is stronger, we will use it to pressure my brother and squeeze more wool from the sheep. With more resources under our control, we will gain even more wealth."
The Prime Minister, however, remained uneasy. "Your Majesty, it will not be that simple. His pharmaceutical empire is deeply rooted. The recent purge only made his hold stronger—he has influence now that cannot be shifted easily."
The King waved a hand dismissively, but the worry lingered in the Prime Minister's eyes. The court had accepted the gold, but the balance of power had shifted—and the crown would have to be careful how it played the next move.
Finally, within a month, all the formalities were completed, and Rahul officially became the ruler of the land. Since he had already begun his grand 20-year project to build his finest biological city, a steady flow of citizens had started moving into the area. The once barren and wild region now looked far more alive than it did ten years ago.
If one were to compare, it would seem as if a whole century had passed — the development was that rapid. The forests had grown denser, the air felt cleaner, and signs of civilization were blooming everywhere under Rahul's rule.