The city was fast asleep under a thin veil of mist and streetlight haze. Somewhere in the quieter lanes of Indiranagar, a solitary figure sat at a run-down bus stop, hunched under layers of anonymity—hood, cap, and mask shielding every trace of identity.

Rahim Khan tapped a command into the laptop resting on his knees. The black case beside him clicked open like a coffin, revealing a sleek, insect-sized drone glinting in the pale glow of the LED screen. A tap, and it came to life—its wings buzzing near-silent.