I. The Pressure of the Platinum Tower
Agastya stepped out of the Nanda Industries Tower, the contract with Devraj Nanda a weightless, invisible scroll detailing a potential ₹50 Lakh fee. He had 48 hours to acquire a retired commissioner's signature for Project Garuda.
His bank account was still empty, yet the SGMS had already mandated the acquisition of a luxury vehicle. The contradiction was absolute and deliberate—the System was teaching him that power operates on credit and leverage, not cash on hand.
He sat on a low stone wall outside the tower, staring at the chaotic traffic. He immediately activated his Advanced Negotiation skill and focused on the Universal Access Card asset embedded in his phone.
[TASK 003: THE ARBITRAGE OF POWER. PRIMARY GOAL: ACQUIRE RETIRED COMMISSIONER'S SIGNATURE (PROJECT GARUDA). DEADLINE: 47:45:00]
Agastya needed to find Madan Deshpande, the retired Municipal Commissioner. Nanda's lawyers had failed because they relied on formal channels. Agastya wouldn't make that mistake.
He initiated the Universal Access Card.
[ASSET: UNIVERSAL ACCESS CARD - USE INITIATED. TARGET: MUMBAI CIVIC AUTHORITY RETIRED PERSONNEL DATABASE. DATA MINING COMMENCING.]
In a silent, digital flash, Agastya's phone acted as a master key, bypassing firewalls and security measures. The System filtered the data straight into his mind: Deshpande's current address, contact details, and, more importantly, a detailed profile of his financial woes and recent political history.
Madan Deshpande:Retired and highly respected. Clean record, but financially struggling due to a collapsed investment in a new-age education start-up, 'GyanaTech.' He holds a fierce moral code but is desperate to secure his daughter's final year medical school fees.
The man wasn't corrupt; he was cornered. This wasn't a case of bribery, but rescue.
II. The Luxury Acquisition: Leveraging Credit
Agastya had to address the System's secondary mandate: status.
[SECONDARY MANDATE: LUXURY VEHICLE ACQUISITION. REQUIREMENT: ACQUIRE VEHICLE WITH MINIMUM MARKET VALUE OF ₹1.5 CRORE. TIME ALLOTTED: 12 HOURS.]
The demand was insane. How could a man with no credit history and an empty bank account acquire a ₹1.5 Crore vehicle?
He leveraged his newly acquired status—the Nanda Tower address and the Niyati Solutions consulting firm—which the System had forced him to establish.
He walked to a high-end luxury car dealership near Worli, choosing a dealership that specialized in exotic sports cars. He set his sights on a sleek, black 'Vayuveg' Supercar (a fictitious Indian-branded luxury sports car), retailing at ₹1.8 Crore.
He was met by a skeptical sales manager, who immediately looked down upon Agastya's inexpensive suit and calculated lack of status. Agastya activated his Advanced Negotiation skill.
"I need the black Vayuveg, and I need it delivered to the Nanda Tower by 6 PM today," Agastya stated, bypassing any small talk.
"Sir, that model is ex-showroom ₹1.8 Crore. We typically require a 40% down payment and verified credit history," the manager said, an edge of condescension in his voice.
Agastya used his skill to analyze the manager's micro-expressions: Desperate for a massive commission, worried about the monthly sales target.
"My name is Agastya Shastri. I am the Principal of Niyati Solutions, operating out of Nanda Tower. I have no credit history because I operate entirely on secured collateral and immediate transactions," Agastya stated, his voice calm and authoritative. "My first retainer for a major client is ₹50 Lakhs—due in 48 hours. I will not pay a down payment. I will provide a bank guarantee for the full amount, backed by the Nanda Industries contract, and pay 18% annualized interest."
He pulled out the new Nanda Industries contract (a PDF copy Aditi had emailed him), placing his finger precisely on Devraj Nanda's signature. "You are not extending credit to a man; you are extending credit to the Nanda ecosystem. If you choose to follow standard procedure, you will sell this car to a salaried manager next week. If you choose to deal with me, you will get your commission today, and Niyati Solutions will become your exclusive fleet partner for all future luxury acquisitions."
The manager saw the signature, felt the pressure of the deadline, and recognized the opportunity. Agastya hadn't talked about price; he talked about access and future revenue.
Agastya left the dealership two hours later, having signed a complex, short-term loan agreement with an NBFC associated with the dealership. The Vayuveg was scheduled for delivery.
[SECONDARY MANDATE: LUXURY VEHICLE ACQUISITION - COMPLETE.]
[HOST NET WORTH: -₹1.8 CRORE (TEMPORARY LIABILITY). STATUS RATING: ELITE TRAJECTORY.]
III. The Bargain with the Commissioner
Agastya drove his newly acquired Vayuveg (a sleek, low-slung machine that felt both ridiculously luxurious and utterly essential) to the quiet, tree-lined suburb where Madan Deshpande lived. He was wearing the new suit, and the vehicle was a visual declaration of unstoppable success.
He found Deshpande in his modest living room, sipping tea and working on a legal brief.
Agastya skipped the formalities. "Commissioner Deshpande, I am Agastya Shastri of Niyati Solutions. I am here regarding the land transfer documentation for Project Garuda."
Deshpande, a man of quiet integrity, stiffened. "Mr. Shastri, I retired from the MCA two years ago. I have no official capacity."
"The MCA still requires your signature from the final review of the documentation you handled before your retirement," Agastya explained, taking a seat uninvited. "The lawyers are arguing the legal validity. I am here to address the human validity."
Agastya's Advanced Negotiation skill allowed him to cut through the noise. He immediately hit the core point.
"I know about GyanaTech," Agastya stated gently. "I know about the medical school fees. I know you are a man who needs ₹60 Lakhs to secure your daughter's future, but you refuse to accept a bribe because of your conscience."
Deshpande's face went pale. "You have no right—"
"I have the right of a man who can offer a legitimate solution," Agastya interrupted. "I represent the largest private financial interest in this city. I am not asking you to accept illegal compensation for a signature you already cleared. I am asking you to accept a legitimate, high-value consulting contract for your expertise."
Agastya pulled out a pre-drafted contract for Niyati Solutions. The contract required Deshpande to serve as a Senior Infrastructure Regulatory Advisor for six months—a legitimate, high-paying, non-corrupt position. The retainer: ₹60 Lakhs, paid upfront.
"Sign this contract," Agastya instructed, "and advise Nanda Industries that the bureaucratic error can be rectified with your official endorsement and signature on the final document, as per protocol. You secure your daughter's fees, and you maintain your integrity. Your daughter will not bear the shame of a bribe, but the pride of her father's expert advisory work."
Deshpande stared at the contract, his eyes tearing up. The money was legitimate, the role was real, and the System had ensured Agastya could afford to pay the man—once his own ₹50 Lakhs retainer was cleared by Nanda. Agastya was operating on a negative cash flow and a positive skill trajectory.
Deshpande picked up the pen. "The integrity remains," he whispered, signing the contract, "but the fear is gone. You are a dangerous young man, Mr. Shastri."
"Danger is just leverage, Commissioner," Agastya replied, smiling.
He had the signature on the regulatory document. The Project Garuda crisis was solved.
IV. The System's Reward: Focus and Firepower
Agastya drove the Vayuveg back, the sense of power intoxicating. He had transformed a bureaucratic nightmare into a legitimate consulting contract, leveraged his status to acquire a luxury car, and secured his first major fee—all in under 24 hours.
[TASK 003: THE ARBITRAGE OF POWER - COMPLETE.]
[REWARD PROCESSING]
System Credit (SC): 1,500 ACQUIRED.
Skill:Strategic Focus (Level 1) ACQUIRED.
Effect: Host can maintain absolute concentration under extreme duress, filter complex data streams, and ignore psychological distractions.
Asset:The Financial Firepower Card (FFC) (One-Time Use) ACQUIRED.
Description: A temporary digital credit card. Provides the Host with an instantaneous, untraceable line of credit of ₹1 Crore. Must be used within 24 hours. No repayment required.
LEVEL UP: SYSTEM LEVEL 2.
The rewards settled in. The Strategic Focus skill immediately calmed the adrenaline rush and fatigue. Agastya felt his mind sharpen, the chaos of the city turning into a series of predictable, manageable vectors.
The Financial Firepower Card (FFC), a non-repayable credit of ₹1 Crore, was a massive, immediate injection of liquidity, designed to cover his existing debts and fund the next phase of his operation. The System didn't give him pocket money; it gave him war chests.
He parked the Vayuveg in the Nanda Tower parking garage and took the elevator to the 50th floor.
V. The Escalation
Devraj Nanda was waiting. The signature was delivered, and Nanda immediately initiated the ₹50 Lakh payment to Niyati Solutions. Agastya's debts (including the loan for the Vayuveg) were instantly covered using the FFC line of credit, leaving him with a substantial, legitimate operating capital.
"You delivered," Nanda conceded, a note of genuine awe in his voice. "The contract is paid. The Project Garuda issue is closed. Now, about that office..."
"I expect my team to be on Level 50 by the end of the week, Mr. Nanda," Agastya stated, his voice firm, using his Strategic Focus to maintain unblinking authority. "And I expect access to your logistics and supply chain data."
Nanda nodded, his eyes narrowed, already plotting. "Aditi will coordinate your office setup. Welcome to the machine, Agastya Shastri."
As Agastya left the meeting, Aditi Deshmukh caught up with him.
"You're not a consultant, Mr. Shastri," she murmured, a genuine flicker of a smile touching her lips. "You're a whirlwind. I don't know how you got that signature, but I advise you to use your new Level 50 status carefully. The people up here don't like new noise."
Agastya met her gaze, his Strategic Focus allowing him to process her beauty, her intelligence, and the veiled warning all at once. "I'm not here to make friends, Ms. Deshmukh. I'm here to acquire leverage."
He walked toward the elevator. The System immediately generated the next task, focusing on the inevitable love interest and the expansion of his business front.
[LEVEL 2: ACTIVATED. HOST MUST EXPAND INFLUENCE.]
[TASK 004: THE LOGISTICS LOOPHOLE]
GOAL: Utilize the new data access (Nanda Logistics) to expose and solve a major corporate espionage operation. REQUIREMENTS:
Unmask the Corporate Spy: Identify the individual leaking Nanda Logistics' proprietary route data to a rival firm.
First Strategic Hire: Recruit a key employee (to become the future CEO of Niyati Solutions). This employee must possess exceptional technical skills and be a high-level female asset (Aditi Deshmukh is a potential candidate). SYSTEM REWARD (Upon Completion): Skill: Corporate Espionage (Level 1), Asset: Quantum Communication Device (Q-Com).
Agastya smiled, a cold, predatory expression. He had a million-rupee war chest, a sports car, a penthouse office, and a beautiful, highly intelligent woman to either hire or conquer. The game had just moved from survival to dominance.