If I had a motto, it would be: Why walk the straight path when the shadows are full of XP?
By now, the docks, marketplaces, and taverns were familiar enough to feel like my personal playground. My Mixed Network hummed quietly with activity: traders, mages, tinkerers, even one British official who was, inexplicably, a secret arcane fan.
And now… it was time to level up from smuggling textiles and opium to small arms.
[Quest Unlocked: Shadow Network]
Objective: Gain access to minor arms through network allies.
Reward: +500 XP, Unlock: Arms Trade Base
Failure: Exposure → Reputation -50, Arrest Risk: High
High stakes? Check. XP? Check. Potential game-breaking loot? Check.
Meeting the Arms Contact
Shyam, ever my dockside trader, waved me over to a hidden alley behind a stack of crates. "I know a man," he whispered. "Quiet. Only deals in arms. Not curious about loyalty… as long as you pay and keep quiet."
I smiled. Perfect.
Ravi leaned closer, whispering, "Use the token carefully. Minor wards can amplify illusions, hide our crates, make transactions smoother."
[Arcane Token Passive Effect Active: +10% Concealment]
We approached a squat man with a crooked nose and a pistol strapped to his belt. He squinted at me. "You're young to be in this business. Who vouches for you?"
I leaned casually, letting Silver Tongue shimmer.
"Colonel Barstow," I said smoothly. "And, well… I have friends who understand the value of both science and magic."
He hesitated. His eyes flickered toward Ravi's faintly glowing aura. Then back to me. "Alright. One consignment. But you make mistakes, and it's your neck."
DING!
[Skill Check Success: Storycraft + Silver Tongue]
+50 XP
Contact Established: Arms Dealer (Level 2)
First Mini-Heist
The first consignment was small: a crate of rifles, meant to "vanish" into the underground market. Our route? Through a British checkpoint, past a guard who might recognize Shyam, and over canals that smelled worse than 2025 Mumbai monsoons.
Ravi whispered, "I'll mask the magical signature. Make the crate invisible to charms."
I nodded. "And I'll handle the mundane part… talking my way past everyone."
[Quest Activated: Smuggle Minor Arms]
Objective: Transport arms without alerting authorities.
Reward: +200 XP, Reputation +10, Unlock: Arms Network Expansion
I strolled toward the checkpoint, crate in tow. The sepoy guarding the bridge grunted. "Package?"
I smiled. "Textiles. Official consignment. Authorized by Colonel Barstow."
[Storycraft + Silver Tongue Check]
Final Roll: 77% → Success
The sepoy grunted and waved us through. The crate shimmered faintly under Ravi's ward. Invisible. Undetectable. Undeniably awesome.
[Quest Complete: Smuggle Minor Arms]
Reward: +200 XP
Loot: 10 Rifles
Expanding the Network
Back at the safehouse, I spread out the rifles, counting them carefully.
"This isn't just about profit," I said to Shyam and Ravi. "Each of these could equip someone who might one day fight for India."
[Patriot's Heart Passive Triggered: +5% Influence with Indian Nationals]
Ravi blinked. "You really think like that?"
I shrugged. "Yes. This isn't just a game. Every connection, every crate, every whispered lie… it's all XP toward a bigger quest: freedom. India first, loot second."
DING!
[Hidden Quest Update: Forge India's Future]
Progress: 10%
10%. Not much, but visible. And each shipment would slowly grow my Shadow Network, blending traders, smugglers, mages, and tinkerers.
Side Hustles, Side XP
Of course, no RPG is complete without side quests. That night, the tavern held a minor side mission: helping a small gang of street urchins protect their magical trinkets from petty thieves.
I negotiated, bribed, and even used the Arcane Token to create small illusory duplicates of the trinkets. By the end, the kids were loyal to me, offering information and minor support for future operations.
[Side Quest Complete: Protector of the Orphans]
Reward: +50 XP, Unlock: Street Network Contacts
Reputation System
My HUD chimed again:
Reputation:
Traders: +15
Mages: +10
Underground Network: +20
British Authorities: -5
Patriotism Influence: +5
I smirked. "Looks like I'm officially a small-time underworld player… but secretly a nationalist hero. Feels good, man."
[Level Up! → Level 6]
Skill Points Available: 2
Options: Storycraft Lv.4 or Oratory AoE Lv.2
Decisions, decisions. More lies, or more crowd control? I grinned. Both
The Arcane Token Mystery
As I laid down to rest, the Arcane Token pulsed faintly. A holographic rune flickered above it, unreadable. My HUD flashed a hint:
[Arcane Token: Potential Unlock Condition Detected]
Hint: May react with historical Indian sites of power or legendary artifacts.
I frowned. "So, it's not just a mana battery… it's like a key?"
Ravi nodded silently. "Keys are dangerous. But in your hands… potentially revolutionary."
[Hidden Quest Hint: Discover Arcane Token Purpose]
Objective: Investigate relics and sites of ancient Indian magic.
Reward: ??? (Epic Tier Unlock)
Revolutionary. That word floated in my mind like an XP bonus waiting to be claimed.
Reflection
I looked at my HUD one last time before sleep:
Level 6
Storycraft Lv.4
Oratory AoE Lv.1
Silver Tongue Lv.2
Mixed Network expanding
Arcane Token glowing faintly
Patriot's Heart active
It felt like I was finally stepping into the meta layer of the game—not just survival or small hustles, but influencing the world itself.
And with every small shipment, every persuaded ally, and every whispered lie, I was leveling up toward something bigger.
[Hidden Quest Update: Forge India's Future]
Progress: 15%
15%. The grind had begun in earnest.
Next steps were clear:
Expand Shadow Network → more arms, magic, and tech allies.
Investigate the Arcane Token's true potential.
Strategically grow influence while keeping British authorities oblivious.
Build toward India's freedom through power, persuasion, and magic.
If I played this smart, I wasn't just a conman.
I was a game-changer.
[Next Quest Unlocked: Deep Connections]
Objective: Link Shadow Network with influential city leaders and minor magic guilds.
Reward: +500 XP, Unlock: Secret Arms Base, Advanced Arcane Tools
Level 6, small arms, magic, patriotism…
Yeah. Game on.