Chapter 5
The first light of dawn seeped through the cracks of Arjun's window blinds, painting streaks of gold across his walls. His phone buzzed incessantly, a kaleidoscope of notifications from the Rich Man System. Among them, the most urgent: **"Integrity Check in Progress—please review your last five rewards."** Arjun's heart skipped. An integrity check meant the system would scan his actions for any misuse or neglect of rewards. Failure could mean retraction of everything he'd earned.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed and exhaled. The last five rewards had been monumental: a ₹250,000 cash infusion, the Hyper-Learning skill, a studio apartment, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, and the Social Impact Architect skill. He replayed each chapter in his mind—had he truly used these gifts responsibly?
He grabbed his journal and flipped to the page where he'd drawn the Phantom. Underneath, he'd listed its purpose for Meera's NGO. He tapped the page thoughtfully; a checkmark materialized beside "Phantom used for healthcare outreach." He then thought of the Social Impact Architect skill. He'd used it to optimize workshop logistics—it had shrunk setup time from hours to minutes. Another checkmark appeared. The system's holographic interface floated before him, showing a progress bar creeping toward completion.
Arjun dressed quickly—instead of suit and tie, he chose a crisp kurta and chinos, symbolizing his blend of tradition and modernity. He headed to the incubator headquarters, located in the glass towers of Whitefield. On the way, he reflected on the integrity check itself: a meta-reward designed to ensure he remained aligned with the system's ethos—"rewards demand responsibility."
At the incubator, founders buzzed around him, pitching their startups. Anjali Rao's viral livestream captured every moment, boosting the incubator's social reach. Arjun greeted each team, offering mentorship. He paused at a food-tech startup booth, where a young entrepreneur struggled to calibrate her nutrient analyzer. Arjun knelt beside her, guiding her through data interpretation. The crowd watched, nodding in admiration.
After two hours of mentoring, he retreated to a private meeting room. His laptop synced with the System's portal. The progress bar had reached 80%. He exhaled, heart thudding. He closed his eyes and consciously replayed each action: from saving his sister's NGO funds to offering genuine guidance to startups. He pressed "Submit Integrity Report." Instantly, a flurry of approvals cascaded across the portal, and the bar filled. A triumphant chime sounded: **"Integrity Verified. All rewards remain intact."**
Relief washed over him. The system displayed a new notification: **"Reward granted: ₹100,000 for exemplary stewardship."** He smiled. With the funds, he decided to upgrade the incubator's co-working space—adding solar panels, ergonomic desks, and high-speed 5G connectivity. He emailed the plans to facility management.
Later, at a board meeting, he presented the proposal. Chaitra sat across from him, her skepticism replaced by respect. "This is ambitious," she said quietly. Arjun nodded. "Our startups need infrastructure that reflects our vision. This will attract and retain top talent." When the board approved unanimously, he felt the unmistakable rush of collective achievement.
He stepped outside the glass towers, blinking against the midday sun. His phone buzzed again: **"Reward granted: 'Urban Visionary' skill unlocked."** A skill that mapped urban development projects with precision—a perfect complement to his current focus. He tapped on the skill description, noting its potential: streamlining zoning approvals, optimizing resource allocation, and predicting infrastructure bottlenecks.
En route home, he drafted a pilot plan to integrate solar-powered co-working labs in ten tier-2 cities. The plan, propelled by his new skill and funds, seemed feasible—each lab costing under ₹5,000,000. He sketched rough maps on the back of a notepad, excitement bubbling as he plotted coordinates across India's map.
Returning to his apartment, he found Ravi waiting in the living room, eyes alight. "I heard about the incubator upgrade—amazing work," Ravi said, clasping his shoulder. Arjun grinned. "We're just getting started." Ravi's expression turned serious. "Have you thought about our family's home? Mom's been asking for renovations." Arjun nodded. He opened the banking app: ₹100,000 had been credited in the morning. He tapped "Transfer," sending ₹50,000 to a renovation fund for his childhood home. Ravi's face softened—you could almost see the weight lift from his shoulders.
As dusk settled, Arjun settled at his desk. His journal lay open. He reviewed the day's achievements and rewards. The system's final notification glowed: **"Tomorrow's reward: 'Global Network'—unlock pending social impact."** Anticipation tightened in his chest. Act I's crescendo, the first 60 days of rapid evolution, had only deepened his purpose. He drifted to sleep with one thought: *This gift is a responsibility, and I intend to honor it.*