(Starts the moment the bike stops at the palace gate – 06:47 AM)
The gates opened before I even slowed down.
Aria's arms were still tight around my waist, shaking.
We rode straight into the main hall.
The golden spotlight was already on.
Fluffy sat on the throne.
No crown this time.
No cape.
Just a simple red thread around his neck (the same one that snapped two hours ago).
His eyes were brown again.
Normal dog eyes.
When Aria saw him, she let go of me and ran.
Not to the throne.
Straight to the floor in front of it.
She fell to her knees.
Fluffy jumped down slowly (old legs, careful steps) and walked to her.
They stared at each other for ten silent seconds.
Then Aria reached out with trembling fingers and touched his face.
"Papa…?"
Fluffy pressed his head into her hand and closed his eyes.
A single tear rolled down his white muzzle.
No words.
None needed.
The butler appeared with a small silver bowl of water and placed it beside them.
Aria laughed through tears and scratched behind his ears exactly the way she did in the old videos.
Fluffy's tail wagged so hard he almost fell over.
I stood there like an idiot holding the helmet, feeling like I was watching something holy.
After five full minutes, Fluffy walked back to the throne, climbed up, and sat.
His eyes flashed red for one second.
Business mode.
He looked straight at me.
Voice in my earpiece only:
"Red Lotus wants me tomorrow midnight.
They think they're hunting me.
They have no idea I've been hunting them for seven years."
He nodded once toward the butler.
A wall opened.
Inside: a giant screen with hundreds of photos, maps, names.
All connected by red strings.
At the centre: one name circled in gold.
DR. VEDANSH MALHOTRA
Former head of Neural Transfer Project
Disappeared 2018
Last seen: Bangkok
Fluffy's voice again, cold as steel:
"He stole the backup of my mind the night of the accident.
Built Red Lotus with it.
Now he wants the original body to complete his army."
Aria stood up, wiped her tears, and walked to the screen.
Her voice was steady now.
"I know where he is.
He kept me for three months before this kidnapping.
He talked in his sleep.
Always the same place."
She pointed to a tiny island on the map.
"Andaman.
Private island.
Code name: Crimson Sanctuary."
Fluffy's eyes glowed brighter.
The butler handed me a new black card.
Unlimited limit.
One line engraved:
"For whatever it takes."
Fluffy jumped down again, walked to Aria, and placed one paw on her foot.
Then he looked at me.
The message was clear.
72 hours became 41 hours.
One father.
One daughter.
One assistant.
Against an army that wanted to become gods.
I pocketed the card.
"Wheels up in 30 minutes?"
Fluffy gave one sharp bark.
Aria smiled for the first time.
"Let's go bring hell to them, Papa."
The spotlight went out.
When it came back on,
the throne was empty.
Only the red thread remained,
glowing softly in the dark.
The hunt was on.
**To be continued…**