The Tycoon's Odyssey

The vast ocean stretched endlessly beneath a sky of fading hues, the horizon blurring into a seamless expanse of twilight.

A colossal cruise ship cut through the calm waters, its sleek body sliced the tranquil sea. The deck was bathed in the soft, golden glow of the setting sun, casting long shadows across the polished wooden floor.

The gentle breeze whispered through the air, rustling the leaves of potted palms and carrying with it the briny scent of the ocean. The rhythmic lapping of waves against the ship's hull provided a soothing, almost hypnotic soundtrack to the serene evening.

On the deck, near the railing, a man in casual beach attire stood quietly. His shirt was a vivid blend of tropical colors and fluttered lightly in the breeze, while his navy shorts were perfectly suited for a leisurely evening at sea. A pair of dark sunglasses shielded his eyes, and his stance was relaxed yet commanding, hinting at a well-earned confidence.

He held a cocktail in one hand and took a slow sip as he savored the refreshing blend.

His incomprehensible expression remained fixed on the horizon, as though contemplating some distant, unseen mystery.

As the sun dipped lower, bathing the world in shades of orange and red, the man muttered softly, his voice barely more than a whisper amidst the gentle breeze.

"I see…"

With that, his gaze returned to the distant horizon, lost in thought.

[Sir, it seems they are highly worried about you. They want to get closer to you yet are unable to. Who knows how they will act once they learn that you are already being targeted.]

"Hmm! That's a difficult thing to predict," Evan muttered softly.

It wouldn't be wrong to say that Aurora could now control almost every technological communication all over the world. Beginning with Codezipper and his other tools, to Breach Protector and others, using them, Aurora had infiltrated nearly every smartphone and computer that was joined to a network.

Though she still required more manpower to track everything, there were certain key details that would trigger the protocol to alert her.

That was, any mention of his name or something pertaining to him was spoken, it would alert Aurora and send data to her monitors.

After Aurora appeared, she found several small searches for him, but out of all, there was a prominent and restless search that came from Mahajan.

The people were quite skilled and were trying to look for every bit of information available on him. Through her tracing, Aurora found her way on Claire and Roy's smart devices and had been recording their every word since then.

And truthfully, Evan didn't know how to react when he learned this. Claire was convinced that he was her son and according to Aurora's analysis, based on facial and physical features, there was an 80% compatibility…

Now, they just needed to wait for the DNA test.

However, they feared their enemies and hesitated, not wanting to affect him. Firsthand, Evan could see Claire's affection. She always kept his photo close, asking for forgiveness through tears. She was really affected by his loss.

And the more he saw her distress, the more uncomfortable he felt for some reason.

"Haa! The enemy is truly problematic."

[Yes, and I am certain that the man whom Amit Sharma spoke with had a hand in this too. Amit Sharma might have known this too. Still, it's hard to believe that someone was using such an old-age keypad phone for communication in this day and age.]

"Yeah, that person is way too cautious. The phone didn't even have a camera nor did he carry it with him. I feel that the person is also afraid of AI capability…"

[Isn't this too much caution,] Aurora spoke, her voice tinged with disbelief.

"Hey, Evan, how long are you going to stand there like that?"

But that was when Evan's train of thought was interrupted by a gentle tug at his arm. He turned to find Suri standing beside him, her expression that of concern, her lips curling into a playful pout.

"Hey, Evan, how long are you going to stand there like that?" she teased with a playful grin.

Suri wore a light, flowing sundress in pastel blue, adorned with delicate floral patterns catching the gentle breeze as the fabric fluttered around her, accentuating her relaxed and carefree vibe.

She looked quite good—like a sunflower basking under the morning sun.

"You've been lost in thought for too long," she continued, leading him toward the ship's deck, where the evening festivities were in full swing.

"Come on, it's vacation time! You need to stop worrying about all the little things. Don't be a party pooper by putting on such a shitty expression."

"What do you mean, 'shitty expression'? I was just enjoying the beauty of Mother Nature?" Evan retorted.

"Like hell, I will believe that?" Suri rolled her eyes.

As they stepped onto the deck, the scene was a picturesque snapshot of summer bliss.

Sam was at the grill, his skilled hands working effortlessly to flip a variety of meats. The mouthwatering aroma of grilled steak and burgers wafted through the air, mingling with the salty tang of the sea. Celina was close by, diligently preparing fresh salads and side dishes with careful precision.

Maria had found herself a cozy spot on a large beach lounger, her eyes half-closed in contentment as she stretched out under the sun. Her occasional grumbles were lost in the general merriment around her. Meanwhile, Elina, full of energy, darted around the deck, her laughter ringing out as she played tag with some of the other guests.

Suri led Evan to a table set with plates and glasses, the atmosphere bright and joyful. She nudged him into a seat and smiled warmly.

"Everyone's enjoying themselves," Suri remarked, glancing around at the happy faces. "It would have been great if Aria could have joined us too. She would have loved this."

Evan gave a slight nod, his smile softened as he took in the scene around him. The warmth of the evening and the genuine camaraderie had slowly lifted his spirits.

Noticing their arrival, Sam called out with a hearty laugh, "Evan! Suri! Come, grab some of this meat before it's all gone!"

Celina, setting down a bowl of fresh salad, added, "And don't forget to try the new dressing I made. It's a secret recipe!"

Maria, without lifting her head, muttered, "You all better enjoy this while you can. I don't think this guy is gonna give us any more vacation any time soon and will make us work to death."

In the next moment, Elina took a bite of kebab and laughed, "The sea is so peaceful… I wish we could stay here longer."

Evan chuckled softly, a rare smile appearing on his face as he relaxed into the easy rhythm of the evening, letting the distant worries of the day drift away—if only for a moment.