The subtle calmness radiating from the expanded [Aura of Focus] was powerful, but it could not deter the focused gaze of Akash Sharma, the freelance journalist. Two days after the completion of the Ashoka Grove, his article hit the local Patna daily, Bihar Sandesh. It was placed on the third page, titled: "From Ruin to Renaissance? The Mystery of Nalanda's Young Principal."
The article was a masterpiece of journalistic curiosity mixed with regional skepticism. Akash didn't mention the LID Index or global finance; he focused entirely on the dissonance: A young, 20-year-old principal, Arjun Singh, inheriting a defunct institution and, within four months, transforming it with suspiciously high-quality infrastructure. He lauded the restoration of the Ashoka Grove as a noble cultural endeavor, but pointedly questioned the source of funding and the identity of the mysterious ten students—the 'Core Ten'—who had been seen working tirelessly on construction and spending hours inside the locked library.
"The work is first-rate, the intent is honorable, but the speed and quality suggest resources far beyond the typical inheritance of a neglected property," Akash wrote. "Nalanda University is either a genuine miracle of youth-led enterprise or it's concealing a far greater, perhaps more dangerous, secret."
Arjun read the article in his office, his jaw tight. This was the first wave of scrutiny, and it was localized, but effective.
"This is exactly what we wanted to avoid before the LIFP validation," Arjun muttered, tossing the paper onto his desk. "If this starts attracting official attention now, they'll audit us, freeze our assets, and shut down the Supercomputer before we can even celebrate."
Shraddha Singh, however, approached the situation with the cool, calculated detachment of her new S-Rank in Strategic Administration and Institutional Foresight. She tapped the article calmly.
"No, Arjun. This is not a failure; it is a controlled exposure," she explained, her voice entirely devoid of panic. "Look at his focus. He didn't find the truth about the market paper because that information is too obscure. He found the superficial truth: money and speed. We now have an audience of local gatekeepers. We must leverage this to our advantage before the national media picks up the scent."
Her S-Rank mind had already formulated the counter-strategy: an official, highly localized press response designed to co-opt the narrative.
(Paragraph 2: The Art of Information Control - 1200 words)
Shraddha's plan was simple yet devastatingly effective. She drafted a formal press statement that was entirely devoid of specific financial details but overflowing with cultural and nationalist sentiment.
The statement, released to Akash and a few other local reporters, contained three key points, formulated by her S-Rank Foresight:
The Heritage Narrative: Emphasized the restoration of the Ashoka Grove and the new emphasis on preserving Bihar's ancient educational legacy. ("Nalanda is a symbol of India's intellectual future, rooted in its profound past.")
The Youth Leadership Narrative: Positioned Arjun Singh, the 20-year-old Principal, as a patriotic son returning home to invest his inheritance in the nation's future, appealing directly to regional pride. ("A young man choosing Patna over global opportunities is a beacon for our generation.")
The Anonymous Philanthropy Narrative: Credited the "high-quality materials" and "speed of construction" to an anonymous group of NRI (Non-Resident Indian) alumni who wished to see the Nalanda name restored. This was a safe, common narrative in the 2000s that deflected scrutiny from the System Funds.
Shraddha also included a brief mention of the Core Ten students, describing them as "Nalanda's first cohort of highly motivated scholars who live and breathe academic dedication." She challenged the local media: Don't focus on the principal's money; focus on the results. Come and see the dedication of these students.
The new narrative was perfectly designed to satisfy the curiosity of the local government and media: Patriotism, youth, and generous diaspora funds. It was the perfect smokescreen.
(Paragraph 3: The Targeted Aptitude Injection - 700 words)
Arjun knew the success of the information control relied entirely on the journalist, Akash Sharma, accepting and propagating this narrative without digging deeper. He found Akash lingering near the restored main gate, taking notes.
"Mr. Sharma," Arjun greeted him, extending his hand. "Thank you for the article. It was well-written, if a little dramatic."
As Arjun shook the journalist's hand, he subtly initiated an action the System had recently enabled:
[System Notification]: "Available Aptitude Injection: Journalistic Integrity and Insight (C-to-B). Cost: ₹1,00,000 in System Funds."
Arjun mentally confirmed. The ₹1 Lakh vanished, and Akash Sharma felt a sudden, inexplicable rush of clarity. His existing Journalistic Aptitude (currently C-) didn't just improve; it re-prioritized. He suddenly saw the human story in Nalanda, not just the financial mystery. He realized the most compelling story was not who paid for the walls, but what was happening behind them.
"Principal Singh," Akash said, his voice now respectful, his previous skepticism replaced by genuine, B-Rank curiosity. "I appreciate the transparency about the NRI funds. But the students... they aren't normal. The concentration I felt in the Grove... what are you doing with them? That's the real story, isn't it? The results."
"Come back tomorrow, Mr. Sharma," Arjun invited him. "We will let you observe one of their specialized study sessions. Write about what you see." Arjun had successfully pivoted the media scrutiny from finances to pedagogy.
(Paragraph 4: The Perimeter Defense Quest - 800 words)
The increasing external attention triggered a vital new System Quest, reinforcing Shraddha's point about security.
[System Notification]: "New Quest: [Perimeter of Silence]"
[Quest Objective]: "Install a subtle, non-visible security layer to protect the Supercomputer and the Core Ten's work from increasingly complex external snooping (e.g., audio bugs, long-distance lenses, perimeter breaches). Must integrate seamlessly with the existing architecture. Budget Allocation: ₹15,00,000 in System Funds."
[Reward]: [System Module Unlock: Advanced Data Encryption Suite (A-DES)]
Arjun immediately authorized the funds. He instructed the Core Ten students—who were now adept at practical engineering thanks to their construction phase—to install the [Perimeter of Silence]. The System provided a blueprint for what looked like elaborate, heavy-duty metallic wind chimes and decorative copper grills placed strategically around the main building and library.
These were not chimes. They were Acoustic Dampening Arrays and Electromagnetic Pulse Emitters, disguised as art. The copper grills were, in fact, Low-Frequency RF Shields, and the 'wind chimes' emitted a constant, subsonic frequency that neutralized the range of commercial audio surveillance equipment. The students installed the system perfectly, their knowledge of physics and engineering (enhanced by the 100x Feedback) making the task easy.
Within twenty-four hours, the most sensitive areas of the university were cloaked in a secure, subtle field. Anyone attempting to record conversations or remotely monitor the Supercomputer would capture nothing but white noise and static. Nalanda was now safe from the prying eyes and ears of competitors, government auditors, or, eventually, panicked financial entities.
(Paragraph 5: Jha's Agitation and the 20-Day Mark - 400 words)
With security handled, Arjun returned to the core problem: the silence from the LIFP. Only 20 days remained until the market prediction date of October 18th.
Professor Jha was pacing his office, his S-Rank intensity twisting into nervous energy. "Arjun, they are sitting on it! I can feel it. If we wait for their official, political, bureaucracy-laden validation, it will be too late. We have a moral duty. We should leak the paper now to the Economic Times or Financial Express in India. We force their hand."
"No, Professor," Arjun countered, placing his hand firmly on the desk. "We wait. The System guarantees global recognition, and that means the LIFP. If we leak it here, it becomes a local prediction. If they publish it in London, it becomes a global truth. We need that institutional weight to protect us later. We have 20 days. We hold the line."
Arjun's confidence, rooted in his future knowledge, was the only thing holding the brilliant but paranoid professor in check. They were operating on a razor's edge. The small story in the local paper was about to explode into a national story, and the world was just three weeks away from proving the Strongest Principal was not a madman, but a seer.