The rewards from the [First Step] Quest burned in Arjun's mind. The ₹50,00,000 System Funds were already earmarked for immediate expansion, but the true prize was the [Advanced Library Module]. It was an informational Golden Finger, a secret database accessible only to him and linked conceptually to the core faculty.
Arjun led Dr. Rohan Verma back into the Foundational Computing Lab late that evening. The single Linux machine hummed, radiating the subtle energy of the [University Aura]. Arjun opened a simple, text-based interface on the machine—a System construct only he could access and control.
"Doctor, the most immediate need is to structure your curriculum to be competitive globally, not just locally. Our resources are unique," Arjun said, his voice low. "This machine is connected to a private, secure digital repository. I want you to search for 'Predictive Analytics in Supply Chain, Post-2005' and 'Advanced Compiler Design, Post-2008'."
Dr. Verma raised an eyebrow. "Post-2005? Arjun, those papers haven't been written yet. It's the year 2000. The cutting edge here is still Pentium II architecture."
"Just search," Arjun insisted.
Verma typed the queries, skepticism warring with the residual excitement from the 100x Pedagogy success. The screen flickered, and suddenly, two columns of abstracts appeared. The dates were clearly listed: October 2007, March 2010, June 2009. The authors were globally recognized names Verma knew, but the titles of the papers were revolutionary.
Verma leaned closer, his face inches from the screen. He read the abstract for a paper titled, "Quantum Resilience in Classical Compiler Design." His breath hitched. "This… this is a conceptual breakthrough in optimization. We are decades away from even hypothesizing this, Arjun. The mathematical models cited here don't exist in our current curriculum." He looked at Arjun, his eyes wide with a combination of fear and pure academic ecstasy. "What is this place? Is this… proprietary corporate research?"
"It is the blueprint for our curriculum," Arjun stated. "These are the academic problems your students will be solving in the next five years, today. You now have the unique advantage of teaching towards a known, future finish line. This is your 100x Feedback: amplified knowledge, available now. Your first task is to integrate the core concepts of 'Sustainable Data Architecture' and 'Logistical Modeling for E-Commerce' into the first six months of study. Use these abstracts as your inspiration."
The immediate transformation in Dr. Verma's demeanor was total. His role as a traditional teacher was annihilated; he was now a curriculum architect for the future, armed with tomorrow's knowledge. The [Advanced Library Module] had successfully converted future information into present-day academic strategy.
(Paragraph 2: The Scale-Up and the Local Scrutiny - 1100 words)
With the intellectual foundation secured, Arjun moved to the physical. He took a significant portion of the System Funds—₹25,00,000—and headed straight to the largest electronics dealer in Patna. Arjun walked into "Patna Tech Solutions," a shop notorious for slow service and inflated prices, with Shraddha trailing him.
"I need ten high-end computing systems, immediately," Arjun told the owner, a portly, arrogant man named Mr. Bhatia.
Bhatia, recognizing Arjun from the newspaper controversy, smirked. "Mr. Singh, a small university like Nalanda buys one or two desktop systems on credit, usually refurbished. We don't stock ten high-end machines. Not in cash."
Arjun didn't argue. He pulled out the thick wad of cash—the visible manifestation of the System Funds. "I need ten machines with the highest clock speed you can source, a minimum of 128MB RAM, and dedicated Linux support. I need them delivered, configured, and networked in the next 48 hours. This is an advance of ₹5,00,000. I will pay the remaining ₹20,00,000 upon successful configuration."
Bhatia's eyes widened at the sight of the cash. In the year 2000, this was an astonishing, immediate, non-credit transaction. He dropped his arrogance instantly. "Sir, I will have to call Delhi. These specifications… they are commercial grade, not academic."
"They are Nalanda grade," Arjun corrected him sharply. "And I need ten, because the first batch of pioneers has begun their training." Arjun made sure the transaction was public, drawing attention from other small business owners. The local economy needs to see Nalanda as a source of rapid, legitimate capital, he realized. Financial credibility is the first step toward social acceptance.
Shraddha, watching Arjun use money with such confident aggression, noted the change in him. The nervous, indebted boy was gone, replaced by a decisive, financially solvent principal. She handled the paperwork, ensuring the invoices were clean and legal. The remaining System Funds were safely deposited in the university's bank account, giving them a visible, necessary buffer.
(Paragraph 3: The Aura of Focus in Action - 950 words)
Back at the university, the atmosphere was electric. The [Aura of Focus]—the passive reward upgrade—was at work. The ten pioneers were divided into two core working groups, operating on the single initial machine while waiting for the others.
Team Alpha (Logic & Hardware): Rajesh (S-Rank Hardware Logic) and Vikram (S-Rank Hardware Intuition) were bent over a disassembled networking hub, guided by Dr. Verma (now energized by future knowledge). They were designing the blueprint for the entire campus LAN, debating the pros and cons of fiber versus Cat-5 cable for long runs—a debate unheard of in Patna in 2000. The [Aura of Focus] made their collaboration seamless; there were no ego clashes, only concentrated problem-solving. Vikram's intuitive grasp of how the signals moved complemented Rajesh's ability to model the protocols, achieving a synergistic breakthrough in network topology design that should have taken months.
Team Beta (Modeling & Strategy): Ritu (S-Rank Data Science), Vijay (A+ Finance), and Lalita (S-Rank Logistics) were huddled over a whiteboard. Ritu was using advanced statistical methods, influenced by the Library abstracts, to model Lalita's textile supply chain, while Vijay applied principles of risk assessment to the variables. Their work was dense, complex, and driven by an intense, silent hunger for real-world application. They were already simulating a dynamic market model using basic spreadsheet software, seeing the theoretical output of their combined S-Rank aptitudes bloom.
Even Priya (A-Rank Communication) and Hassan (A-Rank NLP) were collaborating, working on the university's first press release. Hassan was focused on the precise, emotional language required, while Priya ensured the message was rhetorically powerful and strategically palatable for the local press. Their task: to articulate the mission of the university without revealing the revolutionary methods.
Arjun walked among them. The air was not just clean; it vibrated with purposeful learning. The [Aura of Focus] had created a learning cocoon, protecting the ten minds from the massive external debt and the ongoing local scrutiny. Their aptitude gains, already accelerated by the 100x Pedagogy in the initial lesson, were now compounding daily under the sustained focus.
(Paragraph 4: The Void and the New Quest - 800 words)
Arjun watched Team Beta's complex logistical modeling and realized a critical flaw in his setup. Dr. Verma was a genius in computer science, but he lacked the deep, specialized knowledge in Finance, Economics, and Management required to truly mentor Vijay and Lalita and guide Ritu's data applications toward business utility. He needed a second pillar of faculty—a mentor who could teach the future of Applied Economics and Entrepreneurship.
As Arjun pondered this strategic void, the System, recognizing the imbalance in the Core Team's mentorship, issued a new directive.
[System]: "[Second Step] Quest: Establish the Dual Pillar."
Objective: Recruit one (1) additional Founding Faculty member with an aptitude rank of A+ or higher in the fields of Applied Economics, Business Strategy, or Advanced Mathematics.
Reward: Faculty Aptitude Voucher (B-to-A), Infrastructure Upgrade (Advanced Dormitory Module), and ₹1,00,00,000 System Funds.
Failure Penalty: Loss of [Aura of Focus] and a 25% reduction in student aptitude gains until the objective is met.
Deadline: 30 Days.
The new quest brought a much higher reward—a massive ₹1 Crore—but also a crippling penalty. Losing the [Aura of Focus] and having student gains reduced would be catastrophic. Arjun had to find a high-level specialist, an A+ or S-Rank faculty member, in a highly specialized field, in Patna, in 2000. This was a near-impossible task using conventional methods.
Arjun shared the challenge with Shraddha, who had just returned from depositing the funds. "We need a financial genius, Shraddha. Someone who sees the market not as a game, but as a solvable equation. Do you know anyone who failed in Finance but was driven by a revolutionary concept?"
Shraddha tapped her pen thoughtfully. "There is only one name in Patna that fits that description, Arjun. A man who was a mathematical prodigy but was exiled from the academic community for promoting ideas about dynamic currency modeling that were considered seditious by the Central Bank. He runs a tiny, failing coaching center now. His name is Professor Alok Jha."
"Professor Alok Jha," Arjun repeated, a new determination setting in. "Tomorrow, we recruit the second pillar. The future of the university depends on bringing him into the [University Aura]."