📖 Chapter 41 – The Flames of Pune
The sun rose gently over Pune, its streets humming with the mix of old-world temples and buzzing student life. Raj's new stall, painted red and gold with the emblem of Raj's Fusion Eats, gleamed like a beacon outside the gates of Pune University. For the students who had only read about the Mumbai sensation online, this stall was not just a place to eat—it was a chance to taste a legend.
By mid-morning, the line stretched down the lane. Students laughed as they snapped selfies, families queued with curiosity, and auto-rickshaw drivers leaned against their vehicles, munching on steaming pavs. Raj moved among his team, cooking with precision, his aura glowing faintly, binding every motion into harmony.
The panel shimmered:
[Regional Expansion Mission: Pune.]
Progress: 820/1000 Customers
Days Left: 28
Raj smiled faintly as he stirred a pan of fusion masala. At this pace, we'll pass the target in two days. Pune trusts us already.
But shadows moved at the edges of the crowd.
The First Spark
Two men loitered near the stall, their eyes shifty, their clothes dusty. They weren't students, nor locals who smiled with curiosity. Their whispers were short, sharp, carrying the venom of intent.
"Shankar bhaiya said burn it tonight. Make it look like an accident."
"Easy enough. One bottle of kerosene, one spark. By morning, nothing left but ashes."
They disappeared into the crowd, unseen by most—but not by Meena. Her sharp eyes caught the way they circled too long, the way their attention lingered not on the food, but on the stall's structure, its exits, its weak points. She leaned close to Raj, murmuring, "Something isn't right."
Raj glanced once, his instincts sharpened by past battles. The panel glowed faintly:
[Warning: Sabotage Threat Detected.]
Severity: High
Countermeasure: Immediate Vigilance
Raj's eyes narrowed. So Shankar's storm has followed me here.
Nightfall
That night, after the last customer left and the shutters rolled down, the team cleaned the stall. Laughter filled the air—Arjun boasting about handling fifty orders in ten minutes, Imran blushing at compliments from students, Rohit grumbling but secretly pleased at their success.
But Raj's mind stayed alert, his aura pulsing faintly. He dismissed the team to their rooms, but he stayed behind, watching from the shadows. Hours crawled past, the street quiet except for stray dogs and the rustle of leaves.
Then—they came.
Two figures crept from the alley, kerosene bottles glinting in the moonlight. One knelt to splash fuel across the wooden shutter, the other struck a matchstick. Their faces twisted in glee.
"By morning, no more Raj."
The Counter
Before the flame could touch, a voice cut through the dark like thunder.
"Put it down."
The saboteurs froze. Raj stepped forward, his presence heavy, his Leadership Aura radiating like a silent storm. Behind him, Meena and Arjun emerged—they had refused to sleep, staying at his side out of instinct.
The men stammered. "W-We were just—"
Raj's eyes burned. "You were sent to destroy. But this stall was built on trust, not fear. And no flame of yours can burn it down."
Arjun lunged, knocking the match from their hands. Meena snapped photos on her phone, capturing evidence. The saboteurs tried to flee, but Raj's aura held them frozen long enough for local security guards to arrive. Within minutes, police dragged the men away, their mouths spitting curses, Shankar's name slipping from their lips.
The Fire That Failed
News spread faster than flames ever could. By morning, headlines screamed:
"Sabotage Attempt on Raj's Fusion Eats in Pune Foiled!"
"Mumbai's Hero Vendor Protects New Stall from Arson."
"Trust Tested, Trust Triumphant."
Students who had once been curious were now fiercely loyal. Families who had hesitated now visited out of solidarity. By evening, the line outside the stall doubled, chants rising: "Raj! Raj! Raj!"
The panel blazed brilliantly:
[Sabotage Neutralized.]
Pune Mission Progress: 2,300/1,000 Customers
Days Left: 27
[Quest Complete – Ahead of Time.]
Reward: Regional Stronghold Established – Pune.
Raj exhaled slowly as the golden light washed over him. They had not only survived sabotage—they had turned it into strength. Pune no longer saw him as an outsider. They saw him as their vendor, their guardian of food and trust.
Shankar's Rage
Back in Mumbai, Shankar received the news like a dagger to the chest. His saboteurs were caught, his plan exposed, and instead of destroying Raj's name, he had only made it stronger.
He screamed until his throat bled, smashing bottles, overturning tables. "How? How does he turn every loss into victory?" His allies watched in silence, some edging away, others whispering of abandoning him.
But Shankar's madness only deepened. His eyes gleamed with unholy fire. "If fire fails, then poison. If poison fails, then blood. I will not stop until he is ruined."
Raj's Reflection
That night, Raj stood outside the Pune stall, the city lights flickering in the distance. The team slept inside, exhausted but triumphant. He held the Golden Frying Pan, staring at its shining surface, his reflection mingling with the glow of the system.
[Regional Expansion: Pune Complete.]
Next Target: Nashik.
Special Reward: Skill Unlocked – Flameproof Spirit.
Effect: Stalls are now resistant to physical sabotage (fire, basic damage).
Raj smiled faintly. "They tried to burn us. But instead, we became flameproof."
He closed his eyes, the city breeze cooling his skin, and whispered into the night. "Shankar, you send storms, floods, and flames. But I will keep rising. Because this empire is not built on wood or metal—it's built on trust. And that cannot be burned."
The flames of Pune had failed. The empire blazed brighter.