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**Date: October 17, 2022**
**Day -1**
*Vijyaputri Mansion*—
Ammala sat on the sofa, watching as Ram and Ramya finished their preparations for the trip to Iceland. Their parents had arranged everything for them, though due to other obligations, they couldn't come along.
Still, they assured the siblings' safety by sending their most trusted bodyguards.
Mira had sent her bodyguard, Anya, while Danush assigned Demi to accompany them. The two bodyguards, siblings raised by Mira, had mysterious origins. By their appearance, one might guess they were European, though no one knew for certain.
Anya and Demi weren't to be taken lightly. They were capable of taking on ten enemies at once, single-handedly. Their assassination skills were no joke either—one moment you'd be standing, and the next, a precise strike would leave a hole between your eyebrows. It was these two who were entrusted with protecting Ammala and her siblings.
"Ramya, why are you taking so long to get ready? Come on, that's enough," Ammala said, her voice laced with impatience.
Ramya pouted slightly as she adjusted her clothes. "Sis, we're meeting our other sister for the first time. I need to make a good impression. You know, first impressions last."
Ram, who had been silently cleaning his sword, finally spoke. "Enough. Let's go."
"Fine..." Ramya muttered, lowering her voice as she gave her appearance one last look.
Ammala nodded, and the three of them left the mansion.
*Why do I feel this way?* Ammala thought as they walked. *I know I can trust them—they're my family. But I can't shake this feeling. In my past life, I was betrayed by those closest to me. It's always made me afraid that it could happen again. What if they're lying to me too?*
She let out a slow breath. *But no, nothing like that has happened... I have my gift. My eyes can tell whether someone is lying or telling the truth.* The only drawback was that whenever she used her ability, she couldn't see colors for the next 24 hours. *I should trust my family. I have to.*
"Ammala? Ammala!" a voice called, pulling her from her thoughts.
She blinked and realized Ram and Ramya were looking at her with concern.
"Is everything alright, Ammala?" Ram asked.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine," she replied quickly, brushing off their concern.
The three of them climbed into the car that would take them to the airport. Three more cars followed behind, and two led the way in front. Ram had already sent Charly ahead to gather information about the Gunnar family, who had mysteriously disappeared in Iceland.
On a normal flight, it would take around 23 hours to reach Iceland. But when you're incredibly wealthy, things are different. Charly had been sent 18 hours earlier and made it to Iceland in just five and a half hours. He'd been there for 12 hours now.
"Come on, get into the jet," Ram said, holding the door open.
"I'm not a child!" Ramya snapped, furiously stepping into the plane.
Ram smirked. "Oh? I thought someone was afraid of flying."
"No! No one's afraid! You're the one who's afraid!" Ramya retorted.
Their argument made both Ram and Ammala laugh as they boarded the jet bound for Iceland—the land of green fields ironically named after ice.
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**October 16, 2022—**
"Sigh... the boss is pushing things again. Don't you think, Charly?" Charly's friend asked, pacing near an empty house.
"Shut up, and it's 'boss' to you, not 'friend,'" Charly replied sharply.
"Come on, we're friends. Don't be like that."
"Yeah, but only when we're off-duty. Right now, we're working, so focus."
They had been searching for Gunnar's family for an hour and a half but had found no trace.
"Where could they have gone? We searched all three of his houses. The last one he stayed in was this one. Neighbors said the whole family vanished a week ago without a trace," Charly's friend noted, frowning.
"This doesn't add up. Even with all our resources and connections, we haven't found a single lead," Charly said, his tone grim.
"Maybe they heard we were coming and went into hiding."
"That's impossible. The neighbors said they've lived here for 17 years, and they disappeared overnight a week ago. The orders to investigate only came today. There's no way they knew."
"What about blackmail?"
Charly sighed. "We might not have any other choice."
"Should we move to the second plan?"
"Do it," Charly said, giving a curt nod.
"Right away, boss," his friend replied, immediately communicating the orders to the rest of the team.
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**Present Time—**
"It took four hours, even with the jet at full speed," Ramya said, looking out the window as they descended.
"Where are we going?" Ammala asked, ignoring Ramya's comment.
"We're headed to the mansion our family owned when they lived here 17 years ago," Ram replied.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the mansion. Five minutes after that, Charly joined them.
"Master, we have a lead on Gunnar and his family," Charly said.
"Go on," Ram replied, his face unreadable.
"Yes, master, but... there's a problem."
"What is it? Speak," Ram ordered, his voice firm but calm.
Charly continued, "Yes, master. Initially, I couldn't find any trace of Gunnar or his family. But when we dug deeper, we finally uncovered a lead." Charly began to explain the details of what was happening.
Fifteen minutes later, he finished his report. "That's everything I was able to gather, master."
"Alright, you may leave and continue searching for their whereabouts," Ram instructed.
"As you wish, master," Charly replied before exiting the mansion to resume his work.
Ramya, still processing the information, spoke up. "So, Gunnar and his family are in danger, being chased by some unknown organization for reasons we don't yet understand?"
"Exactly," Ammala confirmed, her voice calm but thoughtful. "And it means this organization must be extremely powerful with high-level connections."
Ram nodded. "You're right. Even with all our resources and network, we could only uncover this small lead." His frustration was evident as he frowned, annoyed at the recurring obstacles they seemed to face.
"What should we do next, brother?" Ammala asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and concern.
"Nothing. You're not doing anything. I'll handle this myself," Ram replied, his voice steady but firm. "The situation is far more dangerous than you realize."
Ramya and Ammala immediately protested, but Ram shut them down before they could continue. "Listen," he said, his voice calm but commanding. "This is not a suggestion, it's an order. I won't repeat myself. You two will stay at the mansion." His aura darkened, leaving no room for debate. Ram was typically kind and composed, but those who mistook his calmness for weakness often met disastrous consequences. If pushed, he could become the embodiment of ruthlessness—more terrifying than any villain from the movies. Crossing him was like signing a one-way ticket to hell.
"Brother, please, at least let me come with you," Ammala pleaded, her tone laced with anxiety. Her expression was calm, but her eyes and voice betrayed her true feelings.
"No, you won't. And I won't say it again." His voice carried finality. "Stay in the mansion."
He turned to Anya. "Anya, you'll stay here with them. If anything happens, your first priority is to report to me immediately."
Anya nodded without hesitation. "Yes, master."
Ram then glanced at Demi, a tall, broad-shouldered man standing at 195 cm—5 cm taller than Ram. Despite his pale skin and average looks, Demi's well-built frame was visible even under his coat. His talents in manipulation and seduction were notorious, often using just a few well-placed words to leave women swooning.
"Demi, you're coming with me," Ram ordered.
With that, the two men left the mansion, the tension still lingering in the air.
Half an hour later
Ram, Charly, and Demi entered an old, dimly lit bar. The place had an air of decay, with furniture and tables that looked like they belonged to another century. The entire establishment was tucked away in a shadowy valley, barely illuminated by the flickering, aged lamps.
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