The grand chamber of the palace was alive with nervous energy. Ministers filed in one by one, carrying stacks of reports, ledgers, and maps. Most kept their heads low, wary of the young king who had only recently assumed the throne. Only a few dared to meet his gaze.
Rahul sat at the head of the long table, his posture calm but commanding. He watched carefully as the ministers took their seats, silently noting tge faces of all the ministers and their names as he knows that he will have to work with them in future.
The Minister of Agriculture, an aging man with graying hair and calloused hands, was the first to speak. "Your Majesty," he began cautiously, "our farmlands are functioning, though yields have been inconsistent. Water shortages, outdated tools, and soil depletion continue to plague us. We require a fair amount of instruments , fertilizer and other farming equipment. If you allow the flowing of these equipment from outside the yield will definitely increase and some of the young officer in department also support this .
Rahul nodded slightly, making mental notes. I see. The problem is really of opening country to outside world.
Next came the Minister of Trade and Industry, a sharp-eyed woman who had studied abroad for several years. "Sire, our exports are minimal, and most industries are primitive. If we open trade with neighboring nations, we risk exploitation, yet remaining isolated stifles innovation. I recommend gradual liberalization, with careful oversight to prevent corruption."
Rahul's interest piqued. She is competent… and forward-thinking. A potential ally.
The Minister of Defense, a burly man with a permanent scowl, spoke last. "Your Majesty, our army is undertrained, under-equipped, and demoralized. If Athenia faces an external threat or internal rebellion, we would be unable to defend our borders. Investments are needed, but most of the treasury is mismanaged, leaving little for modernization."
Rahul leaned back slightly. He rally need to increase his investment in defense sector as everything and every plan defend on how heavy his fist is and remove corruption first from military.
He spoke clearly, his voice calm but firm: "I want a complete audit of all ministries, every department, every official. and what has potential. Prepare your reports in detail; I will review them personally."
The ministers murmured among themselves, some intimidated, some hopeful. Rahul's eyes swept the room again. He had observed their ambitions, their hesitations, their loyalties. Each of them would play a role in the future of Athenia—if he could manipulate and inspire them properly.
The ministerial meeting stretched over two or three days, with exhaustive discussions, reports, and debates. By the end, Rahul had a clear understanding of the country's condition.
The state of Athenia was poor, but not irrecoverable. If things continued unchecked, the nation wouldn't collapse immediately—it would take time for stagnation and inefficiency to cause serious damage.
Yet one thing was clear: corruption had to be rooted out from the military first. Its infrastructure needed urgent modernization, and once strengthened, the military could be leveraged to support reforms in other sectors. Rahul knew that many of the old-fashioned officials and ministers would resist any meaningful change, and he had no intention of allowing internal conflict or rebellion to destabilize the kingdom.
With this in mind, he began planning the introduction of the Anti-Corruption Bureau. Priya had already provided him with a detailed list of capable candidates, giving him the tools to begin the long process of reform without immediate upheaval, starting with the very institutions that ensured the country's stability.
Rahul leaned back in his chair, his mind already moving several steps ahead. Step by step, carefully… that's how a backward nation becomes strong without breaking itself.
"Ministers," rahul began, his voice calm but commanding, "over the past few days, I have reviewed your reports and the state of the kingdom. It is clear that Athenia faces significant challenges—inefficiencies, mismanagement, and corruption. If we are to strengthen our nation, these issues must be addressed immediately."
A murmur ran through the room. Some ministers shifted uneasily in their seats; others watched silently, curious how he would proceed.
"To begin this process," Rahul continued, "we are establishing a new institution: the Anti-Corruption Bureau. Its role is simple but vital—ensure transparency, monitor the activities of all ministries, and hold officials accountable for their actions. It will operate independently, reporting directly to me."
Several ministers stiffened. Corruption had been their safety net for decades. Removing it, even gradually, would strike at the very foundation of their power.
Rahul's eyes scanned the room carefully, noting reactions. Some were wary, some intrigued, and a few scowled openly.
"I have already received recommendations for capable individuals to lead this bureau," he added, glancing briefly at Priya, who stood quietly at his side. "They are skilled, loyal, and trustworthy. Their task will be to uncover inefficiencies and corruption without fear or favor."
A senior minister, known for his conservative stance, spoke hesitantly, "Your Majesty… this… this will disrupt the functioning of our ministries. Are you certain this is necessary?"
Rahul's gaze sharpened. "The country's strength depends on its institutions being strong and fair. This is not a punishment—it is a safeguard. Those who perform their duties honestly have nothing to fear. Those who obstruct progress will face consequences."
By the end of the meeting, Rahul had achieved his one of the goal that the ministers were informed of the bureau.
Step by step, he thought. We will rebuild Athenia from the inside out.
Rahul turned to the Finance Minister. "What is the current budget allocated for the military? Specifically, the funds available for troop salaries and capital improvements?"
The Defence Minister stiffened slightly but quickly masked it with a professional nod. The question pleased him—any additional funding could finally improve the army's dire condition—but he was also acutely aware of the corruption running through the ranks. The newly proposed Anti-Corruption Bureau would be investigating the military, and he knew some of the funds would inevitably be curtailed.
Still, he thought, if this amount strengthens the military infrastructure, it is worth it. Let's see what actions the bureau takes before raising further objections.
Rahul continued, "Given our current financial state, we can allocate 1 billion Zian. Keep in mind, Zian is the currency of this country. To put it in perspective, 1 Zian is roughly equal to 0.01 U.S. dollars, making it significantly weaker than most global currencies." He paused, letting the scale sink in. "It's a modest sum, but it must be used efficiently."
The Defence Minister nodded. The allocation wasn't enough to overhaul everything, but it was a start—and combined with careful oversight from the Anti-Corruption Bureau, it could make a noticeable difference in the army's efficiency and morale.
Rahul's gaze swept across the room. Every decision now had to balance resources, reform, and resistance. Too little money, and the military would remain weak; too much, and ministers would suspect favoritism or mismanagement. Step by step, he would reshape Athenia's foundations.
Rahul made his next move decisively. The Anti-Corruption Bureau would begin its work with the military—the institution most critical to the country's stability, yet riddled with graft and inefficiency.
He summoned the head of the Bureau, the individual he had personally selected, one of the most loyal and capable people in the kingdom. Every day, this person meticulously documented reports on corruption and inefficiencies across the country. Rahul trusted him implicitly.
"Aditya," Rahul said, once the man stepped forward. "You are now responsible for the Anti-Corruption Bureau. Your first task will be to investigate the military—its facilities, financial reports, transactions, and every aspect of its operations. Nothing should be hidden from you."
Aditya bowed deeply. "Yes, Your Majesty. I will begin immediately."
The Defence Minister was not pleased with this decision at the meeting, but for the sake of the additional funding approved by Rohan, the military agreed to comply with the Bureau's oversight. Other ministers, meanwhile, breathed a quiet sigh of relief—they were safe for now. Yet they understood the subtle warning: a sword now hung over their necks.
For Rahul, this was precisely the outcome he wanted. He could not remove every corrupt minister at once—it would destabilize the country. But by establishing the Bureau and giving it authority, he could force officials to halt excessive corruption, enforce accountability, and guide the kingdom toward reform, all without immediate upheaval.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau would not act as a tyrant; it would restrain ministers from abuse, monitor their actions, and slowly steer the country in a better direction. For the first time in decades, the machinery of Athenia had a mechanism to check itself—and Rahul watched silently, knowing that every report, every audit, and every correction would strengthen his control and the nation itself.