Ishita didn't speak right away, but a slight frown appeared on her face. She wasn't sure if Arjun would be comfortable with that kind of work. It was clear to her that it was both exhausting and unpleasant. Someone like him deserved better.
"What about the other job?" she asked, trying to keep her tone neutral.
Uday chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, I figured that first job wouldn't suit him. The other one is a bit easier. Just cleaning their dwellings, washing clothes, that kind of thing. The pay is average, but it's simple enough. I think Arjun could handle it."
Arjun smiled, his expression calm. "No, thank you. I'll find something on my own."
Uday's smile faltered for a moment, though he quickly masked it. He wasn't pleased. In his eyes, Arjun was just another nobody who didn't know how to appreciate a favor. He had met plenty of people like that before.
Deepak, on the other hand, grew anxious. He shot Arjun a meaningful glance, as if urging him to reconsider. But when he met Arjun's gaze, he saw only quiet confidence in his smile. That unwavering assurance unsettled him.
"Good luck, my friend." Uday forced a grin, but the warmth didn't reach his eyes.
He had already lost interest in the conversation. Instead, he turned his attention back to Ishita and Esha, his tone shifting to something more cheerful. "I'm throwing a poolside party at my mansion in two days. Would you like to come?"
Ishita parted her lips to refuse, but before she could, Esha let out an excited squeal. "Of course! It's been ages since we had a proper party!"
Uday smirked, pleased with her response. "It'll be the first time the younger crowd gets together like this in the stronghold. Should be a night to remember."
In truth, the party wasn't just for fun—it was a calculated move. Uday had put a lot of effort into organizing it, hoping to build connections and strengthen his influence. If Ishita and Esha attended, it would significantly boost his reputation.
"Ishita, my dear sister..." Esha clasped her arm, shaking it playfully. "Come on, let's go! It'll be fun!"
Ishita hesitated, feeling cornered. She glanced toward Arjun and Deepak, unsure how to respond. She wasn't particularly interested in Uday's party, but rejecting it outright might cause unnecessary friction.
Uday caught the direction of her gaze immediately. He assumed she was too shy to accept in front of the two outsiders and that she hesitated because she couldn't invite them along.
That irritated him. He had no desire to let two refugees attend his exclusive gathering. But Ishita's social standing made it difficult to deny her. Suppressing his reluctance, he forced another smile and waved a hand. "You two can come too. It's going to be fun!"
Arjun could see right through Uday. It was obvious he had no real intention of inviting them. His forced smile, the reluctant tone—everything about it screamed insincerity. Arjun had no desire to attend, but before he could refuse, Ishita spoke up.
"You should come with us. Please," she said, her voice softer than usual. "Other than Esha, I don't really know anyone there. It would be… uncomfortable."
In truth, Ishita had no interest in the party. It wasn't her scene. But Esha would pester her endlessly if she refused, and more than that, she wanted a chance to speak with Arjun alone.
Arjun hesitated. He could tell Ishita didn't fit in with those types of events either. After a moment, he gave a small nod. "All right."
"I'm afraid I have to decline. My team is really busy these days," Deepak said, his tone polite but firm.
"That's a shame," Uday replied, taking a slow sip of his coffee. But there was no real regret in his voice. He barely spared Deepak a glance before shifting his focus back to Arjun, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Two days from now, at three in the afternoon. Just mention my name at the entrance to get in," Uday said casually.
With that, he finished his coffee, pulled out his card to pay, and left without another word, already moving on to his next social engagement.
By the time they stepped outside, the sky had deepened into shades of orange and purple. It was getting late.
"We should head back," Ishita said, glancing at Esha.
"I'll walk with you," Arjun offered.
Ishita shook her head, smiling slightly. "No, you've had a long journey. You should rest."
She gave a small wave before turning away. Arjun watched as the two women walked ahead, their figures gradually blending into the crowd.
A few moments later, Esha glanced over her shoulder, then suddenly turned to Ishita with a teasing grin. "Ishita, do you like Arjun?"
"What?" Ishita's head snapped toward her, eyes wide with disbelief.
Esha giggled, undeterred. "Do you like him?"
"You're impossible…" Ishita sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. She was too tired for this conversation.
"If you don't like him, then why did you invite him to the party?" Esha pressed on, eyes twinkling with mischief. "And even if that's not the case, you shouldn't get too close to someone like him."
Ishita frowned. "What do you mean by 'someone like him'?"
"I don't mean it in a bad way," Esha said quickly. "But you two are from completely different worlds. If you give him the wrong impression, he'll only end up hurt. And in the end, won't that be awkward for you too?"
Ishita exhaled sharply, pressing her fingers against her temple. "You…" she muttered, shaking her head. "You're overthinking things."
Arjun stood still, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. His mind replayed the conversation from earlier, lingering on the stark contrast between his world and theirs.
"You shouldn't have promised to go to that party," Deepak sighed beside him.
Arjun glanced at him but said nothing.
Deepak shook his head. "The people in the first level live in a completely different world. You could tell just from the way they talked, the things they cared about… even the price of their coffee was ridiculous."
Arjun remained silent, his fingers lightly brushing the small note Deepak had handed him.
"This is my office number. I have to go now, but please keep in touch," Deepak said, his voice carrying a hint of concern. His steps were slow and heavy as he walked away.
Arjun watched him leave, his expression complicated. A different world…
Turning his gaze toward the distant skyline, he saw the towering buildings of the first level stretching high, gleaming under the fading sunlight. It really was different.
Shaking off his thoughts, Arjun made his way to a nearby phone booth. It had been two days since he last saw Subash and Janvi. He needed to reconnect with them.
Not long after, Subash and Janvi arrived at the Aurora Coffee House.
"Arjun! How are you? Got everything settled?" Subash greeted warmly, shaking his hand firmly. Meanwhile, Janvi was already flipping through the menu, her focus elsewhere.
Arjun smiled. "Yeah, everything's settled."
"Which level did they assign you?" Subash asked curiously.
"Level -3."
Both of them looked surprised but quickly exchanged knowing glances, remembering the power he had displayed before.
"We're in the same level!" Subash grinned.
"How are your injuries?" Arjun asked, his gaze scanning them for any lingering signs of weakness.
"All healed after some rest," Subash replied casually.
Arjun believed him. They looked fine, moving without any signs of discomfort. Maybe awakened ones healed faster. He wasn't sure—his situation was different from theirs.
"That's good. So, what's next?" Arjun asked. He had been considering heading out for a hunt to gather more energy, and he wanted to know if they had similar plans.
Subash's expression turned serious. "Should we team up for something outside?"
Janvi stiffened slightly, her fingers tightening around the menu. The trauma from their last fight was still fresh in her mind, but she said nothing.
Arjun nodded. "I was thinking the same thing. Any ideas?"
A smile spread across Subash's face. "Actually, I had an idea ever since I saw you fight the mutant zombie. And after today's news, I'm even more sure."
He pulled out his tablet and tapped on a map, pointing to a marked location. "This is the Mall of Asia, among the biggest in the city. It's not far, about 15 kilometers from here."
Arjun leaned in, taking in the massive structure sprawled across 20 acres.
"During the outbreak, it became one of the major infected zones," Subash continued. "According to the military, there are two Level-1 mutant zombies guarding the area, along with nearly ten thousand regular zombies."
Arjun's eyes widened slightly. "That many in one place? I thought zombies kept moving around, drawn to noise."
"Normally, yes. But for some reason, this place remains heavily infested," Subash explained. "The military has put up a bounty—10,000 contribution points for clearing the zombies. Even killing a single mutant is worth 4,000 points."
Arjun's fingers tapped lightly against the table, considering the challenge.
"Since you're the strongest among us," Subash continued, "our plan is simple. We'll handle the regular zombies, keeping them off you as much as possible, while you take down the mutant."
Subash watched Arjun closely, waiting for his reaction.
Arjun's eyes flickered with interest. It was risky, but… it was also an opportunity.
Hearing the plan, Arjun nodded. Killing the two mutants shouldn't be too much trouble for him—as long as they weren't together. He would have to assess the situation when he got there.
Seeing Arjun agree, Subash continued, "We're planning to split the profit 80-20. You take 80% since you're taking the biggest risk, and we'll take 20%."
The split seemed fair. Arjun nodded. "Alright, I agree. But what about the supplies inside the mall? It's one of the biggest in Bangalore—there must be a huge stockpile of goods inside."
Subash and Janvi exchanged glances before Janvi spoke. "There might be supplies, but there are also thousands of zombies. The risk would be much higher if we tried to retrieve them. If it were a smaller shopping center, we could consider it, but this… it's too dangerous."
"We plan to take down the two mutants as quickly as possible and get out before things spiral out of control," Subash added firmly.
Arjun considered it for a moment before nodding. "Alright. So, what's the plan?"
Subash pulled out his tablet, pointing to a satellite image of the mall. "The military's satellites can't pinpoint the exact location of the mutants, but based on previous reports, they're likely in the basement parking lot."
He zoomed in on the layout. "We can't enter the parking lot directly—it's too congested, and your wolf transformation won't fit inside. So, we'll need to lure them out. Janvi will handle that."
Janvi's expression remained calm as Subash continued. "She'll enter through the staff entrance." He pointed to the spot on the map. "Meanwhile, we'll clear the zombies near the main entrance so she can escape safely."
Arjun frowned. "That's too risky."
Subash sighed. "It's the best plan I could come up with."
"No," Arjun shook his head. "I'll enter the mall and draw the zombies out. You two just need to clear the surrounding zombies so I have a way out."
Both Subash and Janvi were stunned. This plan would put almost all the burden on Arjun.
Janvi immediately objected. "No, Arjun, that's too dangerous! If you get injured while luring them out, fighting the mutants will become even harder."
Arjun smiled slightly. "I can handle it."
He looked at Subash. "Once the entrance is clear, you two should leave the area and find a secure location. I'll take care of the rest."
Subash still seemed hesitant. "Are you sure about this?"
Arjun nodded. "Also, can you arrange for three trucks?"
Subash narrowed his eyes. "You're planning to take the supplies, aren't you?"
Arjun didn't deny it.
Subash sighed. "I can rent them from the military, but seriously… don't put your life on the line for this."
"I won't," Arjun assured him.
"Alright. So, when do we move?"
"Tomorrow," Arjun said without hesitation.
With the plan finalized, Subash and Janvi bid him farewell—they needed to make adjustments and gather additional supplies.
As for Arjun, he had to prepare himself to pull off this mission successfully. His goal wasn't just to eliminate the mutants but to take as many supplies as possible. That's why he had volunteered to go in first—he had the perfect skills for it.
He could shapeshift into a small insect and move undetected among the zombies. And if things went south, his wolf form was strong enough to withstand their bites—something he had tested before.