a private meeting room, Thomas Shelby spoke with his brothers.
"Imagine controlling a power stronger than guns," he said calmly.
"Power that can command storms and forests."
His brother Arthur Shelby laughed.
"You're telling me a ghost in the jungle is going to help our empire?"
Thomas lit a cigarette slowly.
"Not a ghost," he replied.
"A guardian."
"And we are going to find him."
Chapter 23 — First Encounter
The Shelby men entered the forests of Karnataka with guides and weapons.
Villagers immediately warned them.
"This forest belongs to the spirit of Panjurli," they said.
But Arthur Shelby laughed loudly.
"We've faced worse than jungle spirits."
Deep inside the forest, Shiva sensed their arrival.
The wind carried unfamiliar energy.
Not greed like the miners.
But something colder.
More dangerous.
That night Shiva appeared before the strangers.
Thomas Shelby stepped forward calmly.
"So," he said,
"You're the guardian everyone talks about."