The Price of Power
The flickering tube light in Abhay's apartment buzzed like an annoying insect, casting shadows on the bloodstained walls. The chaos from the previous fight had been cleaned up, but the echoes of violence lingered. Abhay sat on the edge of his creaky bed, staring at the holographic interface projected before him. The faint hum of the Dominion System was now as familiar as his own heartbeat.
"New Task Unlocked: The Price of Power"
Objective: Acquire ₹1,000,000 (1 Million INR) within 14 days.
Failure Consequence: System Penalty - Reduction in Physical Attributes by 20%.
Reward: System Points (2,000 SP) + Unlock Advanced Financial Module.
Abhay's eyes narrowed.
"One million rupees… in two weeks?"
For most, that was an impossible task. But Abhay wasn't most people—not anymore.
"System, suggest the optimal strategies."
"Analyzing current environment… Strategic pathways identified:"
Illegal Option: High-risk, high-reward—Target a money laundering operation controlled by the Kashi Tigers. Estimated gain: ₹2-3 million.
Business Option: Moderate risk—Infiltrate the underground betting scene and manipulate outcomes using strategic planning. Estimated gain: ₹1-1.5 million.Hybrid Option: Low-risk entry with potential for high returns—Blackmail or leverage corrupt officials involved in illegal land deals. Estimated gain: ₹1 million+.Abhay's lips curled into a grin.
"Why not do all three?"
—---
[Step 1: Infiltrating the Underground Betting Scene]Abhay knew exactly where to start. The bustling streets of Lalpur were home to Varanasi's largest underground betting ring, hidden behind the façade of a rundown warehouse labeled "Sharma Logistics."
Disguised in a simple black hoodie, Abhay entered the warehouse, where the air was thick with cigarette smoke, shouts of gamblers, and the metallic clink of cash. Fights were being streamed in real-time, with money changing hands faster than the punches being thrown.
His new Tactical HUD scanned the room, analyzing faces, identifying key players. One name flashed prominently—Ravi "Bhai" Thakur, a mid-level enforcer managing the betting operations for the Kashi Tigers.
Abhay approached the betting table, slapping down ₹10,000—the last of his legitimate cash.
"I'm betting on the underdog," he said, pointing to a scrawny fighter in the cage.
Ravi Bhai laughed, revealing yellow-stained teeth.
"Bad choice, bro. That guy's dead meat."
Abhay didn't respond. He'd already scanned the fight data. The underdog had a hidden advantage—a dislocated shoulder on his opponent that no one noticed… except him.
The fight began. Punches flew. Blood spilled. But just as Abhay predicted, the scrawny fighter exploited the weakness, landing a knockout punch.
Abhay collected ₹50,000.
"Double or nothing," he said calmly, locking eyes with Ravi Bhai.
—---
[Step 2: High-Risk Heist - Targeting the Kashi Tigers' Money Laundering Operation]With winnings in hand, Abhay moved to his next target—a money laundering operation disguised as a luxury car dealership in Sigra. The System provided blueprints, guard patterns, and even estimated response times for local police—corrupt and paid off, of course.
But Abhay wasn't going in guns blazing. He'd learned that brains beat bullets.
He recruited two small-time criminals—Imran and Golu—offering them a cut of the loot. They didn't know about the System guiding every move, predicting every guard rotation, and hacking into surveillance feeds.
The heist went down like clockwork. Silent takedowns. No alarms triggered. In under 30 minutes, they walked out with duffel bags stuffed with cash—₹700,000 in total.
Imran and Golu cheered, but Abhay remained calm. He wasn't after the money.
He was after the lesson: Control is power.
—---
[Step 3: Leverage and Blackmail]With ₹750,000 secured, Abhay's final play was pure manipulation. Using the System's facial recognition capabilities, he tracked a corrupt government official named MLA Dinesh Tiwari, notorious for illegal land grabs.
Abhay uncovered hidden transactions, recorded incriminating conversations, and even obtained footage of Dinesh meeting with known crime lords.
A simple USB drive was delivered to Dinesh's office.
"Transfer ₹250,000 to this account, or the media gets everything."
Within hours, the money was in Abhay's account.
"Task Complete."
[Total Earned: ₹1,000,000]
—---
[Reward Unlocked: Advanced Financial Module]Abhay stood alone on his apartment balcony, watching the city lights flicker in the distance.
"Congratulations, Host. You have earned 2,000 SP and unlocked the Advanced Financial Module."
A new screen appeared, showcasing futuristic investment opportunities—cryptocurrencies not even invented yet, insider stock market predictions, and algorithms capable of manipulating global markets.
Abhay's smirk returned.
"Money isn't just paper. It's leverage. And now… I own it."
The System chimed one last time.
"New Task Unlocked: Establish Criminal Network."
Abhay's eyes gleamed with ambition
"Let's build an empire."
—End of Chapter 4—