The silence after the checkmate lingered like a suffocating fog.
One of the old men snorted coldly, clearly unwilling to accept what had just happened.
"Luck," he said. "Beginner's luck."
PK finally turned his gaze toward him—slow, measured, unreadable.
"If you want to play," PK said calmly, "I don't do it for free."
The old men blinked.
Silas raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
PK continued, his tone casual, almost lazy.
"One crore per game."
The garden erupted.
"One crore?!"
"This brat has lost his mind!"
"Does he think money grows on trees?"
The same old man who had challenged earlier slammed his cane lightly against the ground.
"You dare ask one crore just to play chess with us?"
PK smiled faintly.
"If it's too expensive, then you're not worth my time."
Silas laughed—this time openly.
The old men clenched their jaws. Pride burned hotter than logic.
Before anyone could respond—
Footsteps approached from the pathway.
Riya Blackwell returned.
Her expression was no longer dismissive.
It was pale. Controlled. Shock barely contained behind her fox-like eyes.
She walked straight to Silas and leaned close, lowering her voice—but not enough to hide the tension.
"Grandfather… we tested the gifts."
Every elder's attention snapped to her.
Silas's fingers tightened slightly on his cane.
"And?"
Riya swallowed.
"The liquid… it's not ordinary medicine water," she said slowly.
"It's a high-density regenerative compound. It enhances organ vitality, improves blood circulation, strengthens immunity, and stabilizes internal functions."
One of the old men scoffed.
"That's impossible."
Riya shook her head.
"We cross-checked it with three top laboratories and two senior medical professors," she continued.
"They all said the same thing."
Her voice dropped.
"This formula… doesn't exist in the modern medical world."
The garden went silent again—this time, heavier.
Riya continued, eyes flicking briefly toward PK.
"As for the spray… it's even more frightening. It induces deep, natural sleep without any side effects. No addiction. No neurological suppression. Even the top doctors said they can't recreate it."
She paused.
"They said even with current technology, it would take decades to reach this level."
The old men's faces drained of color.
One of them took a sharp breath.
"You're saying… this wasn't purchased?"
Riya nodded slowly.
"It was created."
All eyes turned toward PK.
He stood there calmly, hands in his pockets, expression relaxed—as if none of this concerned him.
Even Riya was shaken.
This was the first time she looked at PK properly—not as an insignificant outsider, not as a reckless boy, but as something unknown.
Dangerously unknown.
Silas closed his eyes for a brief moment… then laughed softly.
"So," he said, opening his eyes and looking at PK, "your gifts were not gifts at all."
"They were priceless."
PK met his gaze and smiled faintly.
"I told you," he said simply.
"I don't bring garbage."
The old men who had mocked him earlier felt their throats go dry.
One crore for a chess game?
Suddenly—
It didn't sound expensive at all.