June 14, 2001. 23 Hours before Results.
The yellow bulldozer parked across the road was silent, but its presence was louder than a scream. The BDA officer, Mr. Gowda (no relation), had given Surya a strict deadline:
Close the illegal gaming center by noon tomorrow, or the structure would be sealed.
Surya sat on the verandah, watching the machine. His "Arena" was shut. The computers were off.
"Sir?" Imran asked, sitting on the steps. He looked unusually subdued. "Are we done? My dad says if you get arrested, I should run away."
Surya chuckled darkly. "No one is getting arrested, Imran. And we aren't closing."
"But the notice..."
"The notice says 'Commercial Gaming Center'," Surya corrected. "It doesn't say 'Educational Laboratory'."
He stood up. "Imran, call everyone. And tell them to wear white shirts. Tomorrow, we aren't gamers. We are researchers."
"Researchers?"
"Yes," Surya's eyes glinted. "If the results are what I think they are, by tomorrow evening, this won't be an illegal shed. It will be a pilgrimage site."
June 15, 2001. Results Day.
The internet in 2001 was a test of patience. The official website, cet.kar.nic.in, was notoriously fragile. On results day, half the state was trying to access it via 56k dial-up modems.
At 2:30 PM, the BDA jeep returned. The officer stepped out, followed by two constables and a man with a heavy lock and chain.
"Time's up, Surya," the officer said, adjusting his cap. "Is the commercial activity ceased?"
"It has," Surya said, standing at the gate. Behind him, the four students—Karthik, Imran, Meera, and Sumanth—sat at the computers. They weren't playing Counter-Strike. They were staring at a blank browser screen that was slowly loading.
"We are now a Digital Library for meritorious students," Surya lied smoothly. "Surely the government doesn't want to seal a library on Results Day?"
The officer sneered. "Nice try. You don't have a permit for a library either. Constable, seal the door."
"Wait!"
A shout came from the road. A scooter skidded to a halt. It was Karthik's father, Ramesh. He was waving a newspaper.
"Wait! The news... it's on the news!"
Ramesh ran up, panting, his face flushed red. He didn't look at the officer. He looked at Surya, tears streaming down his face.
"Surya Sir... the TV... Udaya News..."
"What happened?" Surya asked, his heart hammering against his ribs.
Ramesh couldn't speak. He just pointed at the house. "Check... check the website. It opened at the cyber cafe in Jayanagar."
Surya turned and ran inside. The officer, confused, followed him.
Inside, Sumanth was hitting F5 (Refresh) frantically.
Loading... Loading...
The screen flashed white. The text appeared.
GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA
COMMON ENTRANCE TEST CELL - 2001 RESULTS
Sumanth typed his registration number. Enter.
Name: Sumanth Rao
Engineering Rank: 09
Medical Rank: 14
The room went dead silent.
"Single digit?" Sumanth whispered. "I... I got Rank 9?"
Imran pushed him aside. "Move! My turn!"
He typed his number.
Name: Imran Pasha
Engineering Rank: 182
"YES!" Imran punched the air. "Under 200! I'm going to RV College! Goodbye, annoying relatives!"
Meera was next. Her hands were shaking.
Name: Meera N.
Medical Rank: 41
"I'm a doctor," she sobbed, burying her face in her hands. "I'm actually going to be a doctor."
Then, everyone turned to Karthik. The boy who had been called 'dull', 'slow', and 'retarded' by every teacher he had ever known. The boy who couldn't read the question paper fast enough.
Karthik stepped forward. He typed slowly.
Click.
The page loaded instantly, as if destiny was eager to show itself.
Name: Karthik R.
PCM Score: 298 / 300
Engineering Rank: 02
Rank Two.
In the entire state of Karnataka.
Karthik stared at the screen. He touched the number '02'.
"I missed Rank 1?" he murmured.
"You missed Rank 1," Surya laughed, grabbing Karthik in a chokehold hug. "Because you probably misread a sign in the Chemistry paper! You genius idiot!"
The room exploded. Sumanth and Imran tackled Karthik. Meera was crying and laughing. Ramesh, the father, collapsed onto a chair, weeping openly.
The BDA officer stood near the door, stunned. He looked at the screen.
Rank 02.
In 2001 Bangalore, a Rank 2 student was a celebrity. If he sealed the house of the teacher who produced the State Rank 2, the media would crucify him. The Education Minister would fire him.
"Sir," Surya turned to the officer. The joy in his eyes was replaced by a cold, sharp glint.
"This is not a gaming center. This is the Gurudeva Academy. We just produced four top rankers out of a batch of four. That is a 100% success rate."
He pointed to the lock in the constable's hand.
"Do you still want to seal the premises? Or should I call the reporters who are undoubtedly on their way to interview Karthik?"
The officer swallowed hard. He looked at the bulldozer outside, then at the future engineers and doctors inside.
"There... seems to be a misunderstanding," the officer stammered. "If this is an educational institution... there are exemptions. We will... uh... review the file."
"Please do," Surya smiled. "And while you are at it, tell your superiors that the land tax is paid."
The officer signaled his men. "Let's go."
As the jeep retreated, the sound of cheering erupted from the house again.
[System Alert]
[Quest Complete: The Underdog Squad]
* Objective: All students under Rank 2000.
* Result: OVERWHELMING SUCCESS.
* Bonus: State Rank Holder Produced (Rank 2).
[Rewards:]
* Karma Points: +2,000 KP. (Jackpot!)
* Reputation: 'The Miracle Worker'.
* New Title: [Novice Gurudeva].
* Facility Unlock: [The Hall of Recruitment].
[System Notification: Level Up!]
[Principal Level: 1 -> 2]
[Aura Range Increased: 50 Meters -> 500 Meters.]
Surya looked at the golden text floating in the air. 2,000 KP. That was enough to build a real college building.
"Sir!" Karthik wiped his eyes. "Who got Rank 1? I want to know who beat me."
Surya paused. He had a bad feeling.
"Check Rank 1," Surya commanded.
Sumanth went back to the main list.
Top 10 Rank Holders:
* Vikram Seth (Seth International) - Score: 300/300.
* Karthik R. (Gurudeva Academy) - Score: 298/300.
"Vikram Seth," Surya whispered.
Perfect score. The rival System User hadn't just won; he had dominated.
"He's perfect," Karthik muttered, a competitive fire lighting up his eyes. "Next time... I'll beat him."
"Yes, you will," Surya said.
Suddenly, a heavy, black car pulled up to the gate. It wasn't the BDA. It was a Mercedes.
The window rolled down. Vikram Seth sat there, looking cool and pristine in sunglasses. He looked at the celebration inside. He looked at Surya.
He didn't look angry about the BDA failing. He looked... amused.
Vikram took off his sunglasses. His eyes flashed with a purple light that only Surya could see.
You survived, the look said. Good. The game would be boring otherwise.
The Mercedes drove off.
Surya walked to the gate. He felt the massive influx of Karma Points coursing through him. He looked at his rundown house, at the joyous students, and the retreating enemy.
"The tutorial is over," Surya announced to the wind.
He turned back to his students.
"Celebrate today," Surya said. "Because tomorrow, we start building the University. We aren't just a tuition center anymore."
[Arc 1: The Foundation - COMPLETE]
Interlude: The System Shop Update
With the completion of Arc 1 and the Level Up to Principal Level 2, the System Shop has updated with new items suitable for the "Junior College" phase.
Current KP Balance: 2,100.
New Available Upgrades:
* Teacher Recruitment Token (500 KP): guarantees finding a teacher with at least one A-Rank talent.
* Building Blueprint: The PU College Block (1,000 KP): Instantly lays the foundation and architectural framework for a 3-story building. (Requires physical materials for completion).
* Skill: Silver Tongue (300 KP): Increases persuasion chance by 50% (Crucial for getting University affiliation/permits).
* Item: Seed of the Bodhi Tree (2,000 KP): A mystical sapling. When planted in the campus center, it permanently boosts the 'Wisdom' stat of everyone in a 1km radius.
Surya looked at the list.
"I need a building," he thought. "And I need teachers. I can't teach Biology and English myself."
He selected Building Blueprint and Teacher Recruitment Token.
Balance Remaining: 600 KP.
"Let's build an empire."
End of Arc 1.
Arc 2: The Junior College Arc begins next.
In Arc 2, Surya must:
* Navigate the corrupt bureaucracy to get his PU College license.
* Recruit his first staff members (who are likely eccentrics or rejects like his students).
* Face the corporate wrath of the Seth Empire, which will try to buy out his teachers.
* Meet the Female Lead? (Romance subplot initiates).