I am the creator of New Life on the Earth
Chapter 178: The Master’s Dominion

Chapter 178: The Master’s Dominion

Chapter: The Master’s Dominion

The luxurious room was an embodiment of silent power and decadence.

Ornate chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, their golden light casting a warm, almost surreal glow across the plush red carpet.

The air inside the room felt dense, heavy with an aura of authority that seemed to emanate from one man seated on the large leather sofa at the center.

On either side of him sat two young women, their poised demeanors betraying the nervous tension in their darting eyes.

The Master, Krish, lounged in his seat with a calculated ease that masked the undercurrent of ferocity in his persona.

At his feet, kneeling on the floor like humbled subjects, were two of the most powerful men in the nation—the President and the Prime Minister.

Their heads were bowed low, beads of sweat glistening on their foreheads, a stark contrast to the man seated comfortably above them.

One of the women beside Krish, her voice soft yet trembling, broke the silence. "But Krish, why do you say you are weak? In my eyes, you are incredibly strong..."

Her words hung in the air like an unintentional challenge. Krish’s expression darkened almost instantly.

His hand shot out with a terrifying speed, gripping her throat with a force that made her gasp audibly.

Her delicate fingers clawed at his hand as she struggled to free herself, her eyes wide with shock and fear.

"Weak?!" Krish hissed, his voice low but laced with venom. His grip tightened as he leaned closer, his face inches from hers. "What part of me looks weak to you? And when did I ever say I was weak?"

The woman’s lips quivered, her silent pleas evident in the way her hands frantically tapped against his iron-like grip.

Her breaths came in shallow, desperate gasps until she could no longer make a sound.

Just as her struggle began to wane, Krish released her, sending her sprawling onto the floor.

"Foolish girl," he spat, his voice cold. "I merely spoke of my limitations. Don’t you dare twist my words or use that empty head of yours to think in my presence."

The woman coughed violently, clutching her neck as she scrambled to her knees.

She lowered her head in submission, trembling as she spoke, her voice hoarse and filled with dread. "Forgive me, Master Krish. I crossed my line. Please punish me for my mistake."

A slow, almost predatory smile spread across Krish’s face. "Oh, you’ll be punished," he said, his voice a chilling mixture of amusement and menace. "Go to the other room. I’ll deal with you personally."

The woman flinched but nodded quickly, her body trembling as she rose to her feet.

She scurried out of the room without daring to look back.

The other woman, seated beside Krish, silently followed, her eyes downcast as she exited.

Krish leaned back into the sofa, his hands draped over the armrests, exuding a casual dominance.

His gaze turned toward the President and the Prime Minister, who remained kneeling in silence.

"Well?" Krish said, his tone sharp as a blade. "How far along is the plan?"

The President, startled by the sudden question, hesitated briefly before replying.

"Master, as per your instructions, I have addressed the nation and announced the investigation. Every citizen has been informed of the screenings."

Krish nodded, his expression one of mild satisfaction. He rested his arms on the back of the sofa and tilted his head upward, his eyes tracing the intricate patterns on the gilded ceiling.

The room fell silent again, save for the faint hum of the air conditioning. The Prime Minister, who had remained quiet until now, shifted uneasily on his knees.

"Master," the Prime Minister began hesitantly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Forgive me for my question..."

Krish slowly lowered his gaze from the ceiling, his sharp eyes locking onto the Prime Minister. His lips curled into a sardonic smile.

"Go on," he said softly. "Ask your question. It’s not as if I’d kill my beloved servant for his curiosity."

The Prime Minister swallowed hard, visibly trembling under Krish’s piercing gaze. "Master," he said cautiously,

"with the announcement of these investigations, won’t the Power Holders be alerted? They might find ways to counter our methods, especially since we don’t fully understand their unique abilities."

The room seemed to grow colder as Krish’s expression hardened.

He leaned forward, resting his elbow on his knee and his fingers against his temple. His intense gaze bore into the Prime Minister as he spoke.

"That’s an angle I hadn’t considered," Krish admitted, his voice low and contemplative.

Both the President and the Prime Minister froze, their eyes widening in disbelief.

To hear Krish acknowledge a miscalculation was as shocking as witnessing a storm suddenly halt mid-rage.

But Krish quickly recovered, waving his hand dismissively. "No matter," he said, his tone laced with indifference. "It doesn’t bother me. My goal was never to capture all the Power Holders. I only need enough of them to fall into my net. The rest can remain free for now."

His words carried a chilling finality, a clear indication that every move in his plan had been carefully calculated, even if some details remained ambiguous.

Krish’s gaze turned distant, as though he were looking far beyond the opulent walls of the room.

His mind, however, was sharp and precise, working tirelessly in the shadows to tighten his grip on the world around him.

The President and Prime Minister remained kneeling, their heads bowed once more in silent submission. Krish reclined into his seat, his expression one of quiet satisfaction.

The Master of Shadows had no need for brute strength or overt displays of power.

His strength lay in his ability to manipulate, to control from behind the scenes.

As the Chapter came to a close, one thing was clear: in the grand chessboard of power, Krish was not a mere player.

He was the hand that moved the pieces, setting the stage for a battle that would shape the future of the nation—and perhaps, the world.