📖 Chapter 34 – The First Franchise Stall
The air at the hostel buzzed with a different kind of energy. For weeks, the team had worked not on cooking alone but on teaching, shaping raw recruits into something more. And now the day had arrived—the launch of the very first franchise stall.
The golden panel pulsed brightly in Raj's vision:
[Main Quest: Open First Independent Franchise Stall.]
Reward: Brand Growth Multiplier + Skill Upgrade.
Raj stood in front of the chosen location, a busy stretch near a university gate where students swarmed daily for cheap meals and quick bites. But unlike the stalls they had run before, this one would not be manned by Raj's core team. It would be run by someone else—trained, guided, and carrying the name Raj's Fusion Eats on their shoulders.
Arjun shifted nervously, watching the recruits set up. "Bhaiya, are you sure about this? What if they mess up? What if people say it's not the same?"
Meena's tone was sharp but quiet. "Doubt is natural. But scaling means letting go. If we never trust others, we'll never grow beyond ourselves."
Imran piped up, wide-eyed. "I think they'll do great. They learned everything from you."
Even Rohit, leaning against the wall with crossed arms, muttered, "We'll know soon enough."
The recruit chosen to lead the first stall was Ramesh, a humble man with steady hands and honest eyes. He had worked under Raj for weeks, perfecting recipes, practicing hygiene drills, memorizing the Fusion Eats pledge: Serve with honesty, cook with pride, win with trust. Raj had seen the fire of sincerity in him, and the system had glowed green at his name.
But among the other recruits, hidden in plain sight, Shankar's spy also watched with careful eyes. He smiled when spoken to, worked hard when observed, but inside he carried only one mission—learn, betray, and ruin from within.
The launch drew a crowd. Students pressed close, curious to see the new stall under the famous brand name. Journalists arrived, snapping photos, murmuring about the growth of a "street empire." Raj stood nearby, not as a cook this time, but as a founder, watching his name spread beyond his own hands.
The first plate was served—a fusion pav with fresh coriander and cheese. The student bit into it, eyes widening. "It tastes the same as Raj bhaiya's stall!" he shouted. Cheers followed, the line lengthening, voices buzzing with excitement. Soon, the stall was swarmed, the recruits moving with practiced coordination, food flying from pan to plate in seamless rhythm.
The system chimed:
[Quest Complete: First Independent Franchise Stall Opened.]
Reward: Brand Growth Multiplier + Team Skill Bonus.
– Customer Trust Scaling Enabled
– Training Efficiency +25%
Raj's chest swelled as he watched. This was the proof he had needed—the brand was bigger than himself now. His empire could live beyond his own hands, grow roots in places he couldn't stand at every moment.
But even as the stall thrived, the spy made his first move. Late that evening, after the rush ended and Ramesh locked the cart, the spy lingered. He loosened a screw on the gas connection, just enough to cause trouble when lit the next day. He hid spoiled flour among the fresh sacks, waiting for it to mix in. His smile was thin and cruel.
Back at the hostel, Raj reviewed the day's success with his team. "We've proven our model," he said quietly. "Now it's about protecting it. One mistake, one failure, and Shankar will use it to tear us down."
The panel pulsed ominously:
[Hidden Threat Detected: Sabotage in Franchise Operations.]
Countermeasure: Regular Inspections + Surprise Audits.
Raj's eyes narrowed. He couldn't see the threat yet, but he could feel it. He rose from his chair, determination burning in his gaze. "If shadows follow us into our franchises, then we will shine brighter. Every stall will be watched, every plate inspected. No one poisons this dream."
The night grew quiet, but in the silence, the war between light and shadow only sharpened. One franchise had been born—but so had betrayal.