📖 Chapter 6 – Staff Recruitment System Unlocked
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The morning air was fresh, but Raj was exhausted. His arms ached from frying, his voice was hoarse from shouting orders, and his eyes stung from lack of sleep.
Still, when he wheeled his cart to the street and saw the line already forming, his heart swelled. Students waved, calling out, "Raj bhaiya! Don't forget the gulab jamun today!"
Raj forced a smile and got to work. But as the hours passed, he realized the truth—he couldn't keep this up alone.
The frying, the serving, the money collection, the cleaning—it was too much for one man. Yesterday had nearly broken him. Today, with even more customers, it was impossible.
By noon, his cart looked like a war zone: chutney dripping, pav scattered, coins spilling from the cash box. Sweat soaked his shirt, and he nearly dropped a frying patty into the dirt.
The golden panel blinked.
> [Warning: Host is overworked.]
[Unlocking Staff Recruitment System.]
Raj froze. "Staff recruitment?"
The panel shimmered, new text appearing:
> Staff Recruitment System
– Recruit loyal workers.
– Spend XP to boost their skills.
– Temporary skill-sharing possible.
– The stronger your empire, the stronger your staff.
Raj's eyes widened. "So… I can build a team?"
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The First Candidate
That evening, as Raj packed up, a skinny boy of about seventeen approached timidly. He wore a worn-out shirt and carried a delivery bag.
"Bhaiya… I've been watching you. My name's Arjun. I… I need work."
Raj studied him. Arjun's eyes were tired but sharp, filled with hunger—not just for food, but for opportunity.
"Why me?" Raj asked carefully.
Arjun swallowed. "I used to run errands for Shankar. But he never paid on time, and he… he hit me once when I spilled chutney. You… you're different. People respect you. I want to work for you, even if it's just cleaning."
The panel blinked:
> [Potential Staff Detected: Arjun – Loyalty 70/100]
Recommendation: Hire immediately.
Raj smiled faintly. "Alright, Arjun. You'll start tomorrow. I'll teach you everything."
The boy's eyes lit up, and he bowed gratefully.
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System Training
That night, Raj opened the Staff Recruitment panel.
Arjun's name appeared with blank stats:
Cooking: 2/10
Cleaning: 4/10
Customer Handling: 3/10
Beneath it, a flashing option:
> Spend 50 XP to train staff?
Raj chuckled. "So it works like me leveling up."
He tapped yes, and a golden glow enveloped Arjun's profile.
> Cooking +3
Customer Handling +2
Raj nodded with satisfaction. "Good. With him running one cart, I can focus on the second."
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Shankar's Discovery
Across the street, Shankar watched from the shadows. His eyes narrowed as he saw Raj laughing with Arjun, teaching him how to prep chutneys.
"Recruiting staff now? Expanding?" His voice shook with rage. "This boy won't stop until he destroys me."
He slammed his fist against his stall. "Fine. If he's building an army… I'll crush it before it grows."
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The Empire Expands
The next day, Raj unveiled the change. Arjun, wearing a clean apron and a shy smile, manned the stall while Raj prepared food with more focus than ever before.
The customers noticed instantly. The line moved faster, the stall looked cleaner, and Arjun's cheerful greetings put everyone at ease.
"Raj bhaiya's got an assistant now!"
"This place is looking like a real business!"
The system chimed:
> [Staff Recruitment Success.]
+15% Customer Satisfaction.
New Feature Unlocked: Staff Loyalty Meter.
Raj exhaled deeply. For the first time, he felt… professional. No longer just a lone cook fighting for survival. This was the start of something greater.
One cart today. Two carts tomorrow. An empire in the making.
The next morning, the street outside the college felt different. Raj wasn't alone anymore. Arjun, wearing a freshly washed shirt and a secondhand apron, stood beside him at the stall. His nervous hands fumbled with the chutney jars, but his eyes shone with determination.
"Steady," Raj said, guiding him gently. "Smile at the customers, keep the coins organized, and never serve a plate without wiping it clean. Presentation matters."
Arjun nodded quickly. "Yes, bhaiya!"
As the first rush of students arrived, Raj watched closely. Arjun greeted them, cracked small jokes, and handed out chutney with surprising ease. The line moved faster than ever before. Customers who had once grumbled about waiting now left smiling.
The golden panel shimmered faintly behind the cart.
> [Staff Performance: +20% Efficiency]
[Customer Satisfaction Increased.]
Raj exhaled, feeling the pressure ease from his shoulders. For the first time since he had started, he wasn't drowning in work. He wasn't just surviving—he was growing.
By late afternoon, when the gulab jamun batch was unveiled, the crowd was larger than ever. Some students even clapped for Arjun as he served confidently, his earlier shyness replaced by pride.
Raj smiled to himself. He's not just an assistant. He's the first soldier of my empire.
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A Shadow Watching
Across the street, Shankar's eyes burned with fury. His stall was emptier than ever, while Raj's line stretched beyond the gate. He saw Arjun laughing with customers and Raj focusing on cooking with calm precision.
"This boy is building a team now…" Shankar muttered, his voice low and venomous. "If I let him continue, soon he'll swallow this whole street."
He slammed his ladle into the frying pan, oil splashing dangerously. His workers flinched, but he didn't care. His mustache bristled as he growled, "No more games. Tonight, I'll strike where it hurts."
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A Dream of Expansion
That evening, as Raj and Arjun packed up the stall, students passed by, patting Arjun on the back and teasing, "Now Raj bhaiya has a right-hand man!"
Raj chuckled, locking the cart. "You did well today, Arjun. From tomorrow, you'll handle the stall for a few hours while I prepare for the second cart."
Arjun's eyes widened. "Second cart? Already?"
Raj's smile was calm but firm. "Yes. One stall won't build an empire. We're going to spread."
The golden panel pulsed approvingly:
> [Staff Loyalty: Arjun – 82/100]
[Expansion Slot Ready.]
Raj closed his notebook later that night, scribbling plans for where the second cart should go. The railway station… the marketplace… so many options. His hands trembled with excitement.
For the first time, he didn't feel like a lone dreamer against the world. He had a system. He had customers. And now, he had staff.
Tomorrow, the real team would begin to form.
But outside the hostel, hidden in the shadows, Shankar's gaze lingered on Raj's window. His lips curled into a dangerous smile.
"Enjoy your little empire while it lasts, boy. Soon, I'll tear it down."