Surya paused at the library's edge, the guard's fist poised above him, when a voice sliced through the tension like a shatranj blade.
"Outrageous!"
A figure ascended the steps, exuding authority as potent as a monsoon gale. His silver hair gleamed like moonlight, his hawkish nose bore the scars of battles past, and his clean-shaven jaw was set firm. Draped in golden robes with a lotus emblem blazing on the chest, he strode forward—a beacon of dignity amid the crowd's hush.
"Your Eminence!" the guard and clerk cried in unison, terror bleaching their faces as they dropped to their knees, foreheads kissing the stone.
This was the "Dharma Vulture," a name whispered in the slums with reverence. From a humble spice trader, he'd soared to a mantri in Lanka-nagar's royal council, a tale mothers spun to kindle ambition in their young. Surya and Elenav's scheme had hinged on catching the duo mid-crime, bolstered by a figure of weight to seal the chitra-trap's truth and hasten justice. Elenav had vowed to summon such a soul—Surya hadn't dared dream it'd be this luminary, a slum savior in gold.
Only twenty mantris served Aryavarta, their voices second only to the maharaja's, their decrees rippling through the realm. The man's gaze swept the scene, his words a thunderclap. "This vidya-mandir rose under the third Maharaja to gift knowledge to all—rich or ragged. Though today's ruler set a fee to fill the treasury, he decreed warmth and welcome for every soul. How dare you defy his edict?"
Murmurs rippled through the onlookers, a tide of suppressed ire cresting. Many had chafed at the duo's cruelty, yet lacked the might to challenge it. Now, a quiet satisfaction bloomed as justice loomed. A wet patter broke the silence—liquid pooling beneath the clerk's dhoti, earning snickers from the throng.
"Your Eminence, mercy!" the guard quavered, voice cracking. "Spare us to mend our ways!" He knew his fate teetered—another mantri might've slated his head for the block already.
"I've captured this in my own yantra," the Dharma Vulture declared. "At the palace, I'll order a swift raj-vichar probe. The court will judge you. Begone—run, and the vayu mage guarding me will track you down." His tone brooked no defiance.
Turning, he met Surya's triumphant grin—their trap had sprung true. "Well played, boy. By baring this rot, you've served Aryavarta nobly. By my mantle as mantri, I name you a Mukhya Nagarik. Come tomorrow to the palace for your due."
The crowd, swelling to near five hundred across the library's vast forecourt, burst into applause. A voice hollered, "Mukhya Surya! Dhanyavad!" Others joined, a chant of his name swelling like a festival hymn. Surya's smile stretched wide, a heat surging within—a craving he'd never named, now ablaze. This roar of gratitude, this pulse of purpose, was what he'd sought across two lives without knowing. To punish the wicked, to lift the broken—this was his dharma, his fire.
The system sang amid the clamor:
[_Ding_
Mission "Avenge the library duo's tyranny" complete. 30 Exp awarded. New feature: Achievements Unlocked.
Description: Tracks host's legendary strides toward world dominion, granting rich Exp rewards.
Achievement: "Jan Rakshak-1" earned.
Jan Rakshak-1: By unveiling the library guard and clerk's vile deeds, you've won the people's praise. Your name will echo in tales, the first thread of your epic woven. Hail your steps to world mastery!
500 Exp Awarded
Achievement: "First Dominion Milestone" earned.
First Dominion Milestone: Congratulations on igniting the Achievements system with your inaugural feat!
500 Exp Awarded
Total Exp: 1050]
Surya's mind reeled, the numbers a hammer blow. Thrice he queried the system, stunned by the windfall—a fortune to fuel his ascent.