The first rays of sunlight touched the waters of the Tungabhadra River.
Mist drifted gently across its surface.
On the opposite bank lay Anegundi.
Older than Hampi.
Quieter.
A village where every stone seemed to remember the rise of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Aditya folded the ancient map carefully.
"The truth crossed the river."
He looked toward the opposite bank.
"So that's where we're going."
Inspector Prakash nodded.
"The local police have already informed the village authorities."
Ananya smiled.
"I have a feeling history has been waiting for us there."
A small coracle carried them across the Tungabhadra.
The boat rocked gently as the boatman paddled through the calm water.
Neither Aditya nor Ananya spoke.
The silence between them was comfortable now.
Different from the awkwardness after the Mysuru Cipher.
Halfway across the river, the elderly boatman looked at Aditya.
"You are searching for the Shadow."
Aditya looked surprised.
"How do you know?"
The old man smiled faintly.
"The river hears every story."
Before Aditya could ask another question, the boat touched the opposite shore.
The boatman had already walked away.
Anegundi welcomed them with narrow stone streets, ancient temples, and weathered houses.
Unlike Hampi, it felt lived in.
Children played near old gateways.
Temple bells echoed through the morning air.
Life continued around history.
Their destination was an old shrine mentioned on Dr. Vikram's map.
A local guide named Raghav was supposed to meet them there.
But when they arrived...
The shrine was empty.
Only Raghav's bag lay near the entrance.
His camera rested beside it.
Still recording.
Prakash immediately stopped the recording.
The final few minutes showed Raghav examining a large stone inscription.
Then he suddenly turned.
His face filled with fear.
Someone called his name.
The camera fell.
The recording ended.
"There was someone else here," Prakash said.
Aditya nodded.
"And Raghav knew them."
Ananya began examining the massive stone inscription.
Unlike the others they had seen, this one had never been documented.
Most of its surface had been worn away by centuries of rain.
But one section remained perfectly preserved.
She brushed away the dust.
Old Kannada script slowly appeared.
She translated aloud.
"When the map is complete,
the guardian shall return not to protect a king,
but to protect the people."
Aditya looked thoughtful.
"The guardians changed their purpose."
Ananya nodded.
"They stopped serving the throne."
"They began serving history."
Near the bottom of the inscription was another carving.
A map.
Not of Hampi.
Not of Anegundi.
It showed the entire Tungabhadra valley.
At its center was a small circle carved into the stone.
Exactly matching the red mark on Dr. Vikram's map.
Prakash measured the carving.
"It's less than two kilometers from here."
Aditya smiled.
"So close..."
"...and yet hidden for five hundred years."
As they prepared to leave, an elderly woman approached quietly.
She carried a basket of flowers for the shrine.
When she saw the ancient inscription, her expression changed.
"You should not read those words."
Ananya looked at her gently.
"Why?"
The woman pointed toward the hills.
"Because once someone reads the guardian's promise..."
She paused.
"...the Shadow begins watching them."
Before anyone could ask more questions, she handed Aditya a small stone pendant.
It bore the familiar lotus symbol.
"This belonged to my grandfather."
She smiled sadly.
"He always said one day a detective would come asking questions."
Aditya accepted it carefully.
"Who was your grandfather?"
The woman looked toward the ruins across the river.
"He was the last storyteller."
Suddenly, Prakash's phone rang.
A constable from Hampi spoke urgently.
"Sir..."
"We found another body."
Prakash's face hardened.
"Where?"
"Near the King's Balance."
They rushed back across the river.
The ancient monument stood silent beneath the afternoon sun.
Police had already secured the area.
A man lay beneath the massive stone structure.
His hands were folded across his chest.
There were no visible injuries.
Only one strange detail.
A lotus flower had been placed over his heart.
Aditya knelt beside the body.
The victim held something tightly in his right hand.
A piece of sandstone.
Carved with three words.
"He isn't dead."
Ananya looked at the message.
"Who isn't?"
Aditya slowly stood.
"I think..."
He looked toward the distant ruins of Hampi.
"...Dr. Vikram wasn't the person we found."
A deep silence followed.
If Aditya was right...
Then the investigation had taken an even darker turn.
Somewhere...
The real Dr. Vikram Deshpande might still be alive.