The atmosphere in the Principal's office, even with the expanded, calming influence of the [Aura of Focus], was charged with a near-silent panic. Today was October 17th, 2000. T-1 Day. The final 24 hours before the market's predicted collapse. The [Third Step: Financial Defense] Quest was active, demanding the immediate conversion of all liquid assets—Arjun's inheritance and the substantial remaining System Funds—into tangible, crisis-proof holdings.
The total liquid wealth they needed to shield was approximately ₹3.5 Crore—a fortune in the year 2000, especially in Bihar. This wasn't a standard withdrawal; it was a high-frequency, complex liquidation designed to avoid attention.
"We have until midnight to move every single Rupee out of cash and demand deposits," Arjun Singh instructed, his focus absolute, the weight of the future resting entirely on his youthful shoulders. He was operating in a state of controlled tension, his knowledge of the impending crash providing a terrifying clarity.
Professor Jha, monitoring the Supercomputer, was vibrating with a mixture of terror and scientific validation. "The high-frequency trading anomalies are spiking globally. London, New York, Tokyo—they are all showing coordinated instability, Arjun! The market is twitching. Our LID Index is correct, but the speed of this operation… it feels insane."
Shraddha Singh, the S-Rank Administrator, was the engine of execution. She sat opposite Arjun, conducting transactions on a secure line. Her S-Rank Aptitude had simplified the logistical nightmare into a clear, three-pronged attack: Gold, Land, and Foreign Currency Reserves. Her ability to process risk and optimize complex legal routes was astonishing.
"The university's inherited legal framework—those shell companies your father maintained—are proving invaluable," Shraddha noted, her tone clipped and efficient. "We've initiated the physical acquisition. We are using a blind auction agent in Kolkata for the gold and structuring the land deals through a trust. No single transaction is large enough to trigger an anti-money laundering alert."
(Paragraph 2: The Gold Rush and the Land Grab - 1200 words)
The largest portion of the funds, nearly ₹1.5 Crore, was allocated to physical assets—the ultimate hedge against currency devaluation.
Under Shraddha's direction, a rapid-fire series of purchases occurred:
Physical Gold Bullion: Shraddha acquired 30 kilograms of physical gold bullion. Her S-Rank Foresight dictated that in a global financial panic, only hard assets would retain value. The gold was immediately stored in a secure, non-bank private vault in Patna, discreetly managed by the inheritance lawyer who was now completely loyal to Arjun.
Strategic Land Acquisition: Another ₹1 Crore went into acquiring large, contiguous land parcels immediately adjacent to the existing Nalanda campus. This purchase, structured under the guise of an agricultural trust, was not about instant profit; it was about securing the future expansion and perimeter of the university when they eventually needed to scale to thousands of students.
While the Core Ten students and the Second Cohort were busy settling into their initial routines, unaware of the financial earthquake looming, Arjun and the team were creating the physical bedrock of Nalanda's future empire.
"The land purchase also provides a crucial psychological advantage," Shraddha explained, checking off the completed transactions. "When we announce our success, everyone will rush to buy land around the campus. By owning it now, we control the pricing, the future development, and the long-term expansion blueprint. It gives us absolute spatial control."
Arjun felt the satisfying depletion of his cash reserves but the proportional rise in tangible security.
[System Notification]: "Asset Conversion Status: 75% Complete. Physical assets secured: Gold (30kg), Strategic Land (40 Acres). Stability Index: +45."
(Paragraph 3: The Supercomputer's Silence and Jha's Agony - 1100 words)
As the final hours of October 17th ticked down, all three focused on the Supercomputer's main display. The screen was a chaotic ballet of red and orange lines—the visualization of the LID Index hitting its critical failure point.
"Look at this—the final hours of high-frequency trading in London," Professor Jha said, running a trembling hand through his hair. His academic certainty was warring with his human fear. "The systemic risk is exponential. They are using every tool in their arsenal to hide the instability, but the algorithms are screaming. There are massive, unseen sell-offs in commodities futures and high-yield bonds."
The LIFP's public silence had been absolute, but the Supercomputer showed their frantic, hidden activity. The LIFP had clearly validated the paper privately, but their failure to publish was now a political tool—they were hoping to survive the crash by pretending the warning never existed.
"We don't need their acknowledgment now, Professor," Arjun reminded him, his voice calm. "We only need the market to confirm our paper. Their validation is irrelevant; our Financial Defense is all that matters."
Jha slumped in his chair. "But what if we misinterpreted the data? What if that 0.002% margin of error is where the world survives, and we've just liquidated everything for nothing? We could have built a whole new campus with that money! I see the mathematics, Arjun, but I don't see the proof yet!"
Arjun walked over and placed a reassuring hand on the professor's shoulder. "The Strongest Principal System does not lie. It is the wisdom of my previous life refined a hundredfold. That money is safe, Professor. And tomorrow, that safe money will be the foundation of a global power."
(Paragraph 4: The Final Currency Hedge - 400 words)
The remaining ₹1 Crore was quickly converted into stable foreign currencies.
"The best hedges are the most liquid and trusted," Shraddha stated, completing the final wire transfers. "We have allocated the remaining funds into two blocks: 70% into USD (United States Dollar) and 30% into CHF (Swiss Francs). The USD will fluctuate wildly during the crisis but will rebound as the primary global reserve. The CHF is the safest harbor for pure stability."
The transactions were concluded just before the national banks closed their books for the day. The Supercomputer confirmed the network logs were clean and untraceable.
[System Notification]: "Crucial Quest: [The Third Step: Financial Defense] is Complete."
[Reward Granted]: "Major Aptitude Tool: [S-Rank Aptitude Voucher - SINGLE USE]. This voucher can be applied to any individual (Student, Faculty, or Principal) to instantly elevate their highest existing B-Rank Aptitude to S-Rank. Use with extreme prejudice."
Arjun's heart hammered. An S-Rank Aptitude Voucher—a tool that could instantly create another genius like Shraddha, or elevate his own core strength. This was the System's ultimate safety net, the true golden finger. He tucked the voucher away, a massive reserve of power waiting for the right moment.
(Paragraph 5: The Silent Transition and the System's Promise - 450 words)
The clock on the wall of the Principal's office ticked past midnight.
October 18th, 2000.
The financial world was quiet. Asian markets were already closed, but the major European and American markets were hours from opening. The Core Ten students and the new cohort of thirty slept soundly, protected by the [Aura of Focus], their minds slowly absorbing complex knowledge through the 100x Feedback.
Arjun, Shraddha, and Professor Jha remained in the office, watching the Supercomputer, which had switched to global news feeds and market opening monitors. The LID Index was a steady, ominous red line.
Arjun finally looked away from the screen, his face calm. He turned to the other two. "We did everything we could. We have a gold reserve, forty acres of strategic land, and the safest currency hedge possible. Our Core Ten is focused, our new cohort is secured, and we have an S-Rank Voucher in reserve."
Shraddha, though exhausted, nodded, her S-Rank mind already anticipating the media chaos tomorrow. Jha, finally seeing the complete, intricate structure of their defense, released a long, shaky breath.
[System Notification]: "Pre-Quest Phase Complete. Standby for Global Recognition Event. Principal, your aptitude has been upgraded due to the successful navigation of extreme financial pressure."
[Principal Aptitude Update]: [Strategic Planning] aptitude has been elevated from B-Rank to A-Rank.
A subtle, cool energy washed over Arjun, sharpening his already formidable planning abilities.
He looked at the small monitor tracking the London Stock Exchange. The pre-market indicators were beginning to flash erratically. The time was 7:59 AM in London. One minute to the opening bell.
"Get some sleep," Arjun told his exhausted colleagues. "Tomorrow morning, we become global news."
The screen blinked, the time hit 8:00 AM London time, and the world's quiet countdown was violently interrupted.