Reborn to Roast the East India Company With My Emperor System

Chapter 5: Shadows of Stolen Dreams

The seasons spun over Surat like threads on a loom, weaving the city through the monsoon’s embrace into the vibrant spring of 1609. The Hector, that harbinger of the East India Company’s ambitions, had vanished from the horizon months ago, its departure softening the merchants’ unease into the steady pulse of trade. Surat danced its eternal rhythm: oxcarts creaked under burdens of saffron and cloves, weavers’ looms hummed like cicadas in shaded alleys, and the Tapti River glittered beneath a sun that burned like a polished rupee. Jai Vora, now nine, stood taller, his wiry frame honed by play and purpose, his mind a crucible of modern wisdom and youthful fire. As Vihaan Roy, the 2025 trade mogul whose fiery death birthed this second chance, he’d sworn to live fully—and to crush the EIC’s looming shadow.

The Emperor System’s double experience boost, unlocked by his followers’ loyalty (all above 10%), had transformed Jai’s crew into a constellation of talent. His merchant-son friends—Vikram, Ram, Shashi, and Kali—had sharpened their minds with Anil’s trade lessons and tempered their bodies at akharas, wrestling stones and sparring until their stats gleamed like polished steel. His follower-servants—Kofi, Amir, Sarita, Ravi, and Annu—had grown too, their forge work, sword drills, and bookkeeping infused with the system’s subtle magic. Jai himself had turned his Charm and Wisdom into a merchant’s arsenal, weaving small trades—spices for silks, trinkets for coins—to amass 50 silver coins. The system, his AI-spirit guide, chirped with playful pride: “You’re a pint-sized tycoon, Jai! But those Britishers will sail back—keep forging that empire.”

Jai’s ninth birthday burst into the Vora courtyard like a festival reborn, marigold garlands swaying in the breeze, oil lamps casting a golden glow, and Leela’s cardamom-laced halwa filling the air with sweetness. Anil and Leela gathered the household—Kofi, Amir, Sarita, Ravi, Annu, and the family servants Meera and Gopal—around a low table laden with festive delights. Jai, his Charm=9 radiant as a polished gem, presented his five follower-servants with tailored clothes crafted by the family tailor. Kofi received a sturdy blacksmith’s tunic, its weave tough enough for forge sparks; Amir, a flexible kurta for sword drills; Sarita, a sari embroidered with ledger motifs, practical yet elegant; Ravi and Annu, durable tunics for shop and dock work. “For all you’ve done,” Jai said, his voice warm with gratitude, “you’re not just help—you’re my crew, my family.”

The recipients’ faces lit with awe. Sarita, whose loyalty had climbed from 20% to 45% through months of fair wages and shared meals, felt her guarded heart crack open. The sari, a symbol of trust, was her tipping point. Tears welled in her eyes, mirroring the others’—Kofi and Amir recalling their days in chains, Ravi and Annu their years of toil without such recognition. “No master gives like this,” Sarita whispered, clutching the fabric. The system’s voice rang like a temple bell: “Loyalty boost: Sarita to 60%. Quest complete: 10/10 followers with a stat above 12 and loyalty above 60%. Reward: +10 Health, +10 Stamina. You’re a loyalty wizard, Jai!”

Kofi’s voice broke as he knelt. “We were nothing to others. You’ve given us everything.” Amir nodded, eyes glistening. Ravi’s hands trembled on his tunic, while Annu murmured, “A family…” Their loyalty surged by 10 points—Kofi and Amir to 70%, Ravi to 70%, Annu to 80%—a quiet testament to kindness in a world of whips and bargains. Anil’s eyes misted, his Wisdom=12 grappling with pride and wonder at his son’s heart. Leela ruffled Jai’s hair. “You’re too big for this world, beta.” Meera and Gopal, though not followers, smiled warmly, their gifts a nod to their long service.

The joy shattered the next day, when a dust-streaked messenger stumbled into the spice stall, his breath ragged. “Anil-ji, your shipment—spices for the Mughal king in Agra—looted by bandits on the Deccan road!” The deadline was two weeks, or the king’s contract, their lifeline to greater trade, would vanish. Anil’s face paled, his hands twisting like vines in a storm. “How do we recover? The goods are gone—bandits don’t barter!” Leela’s hand rested on his shoulder, but the air was heavy with despair, the Vora legacy teetering on a knife’s edge.

That night, under a sky pricked with stars, Jai summoned his followers to an abandoned house on Surat’s outskirts—a crumbling ruin of sandstone and vines, its shadows cloaking their purpose. The group gathered: Vikram, Ram, Shashi, Kali, Kofi, Amir, Sarita, Ravi, Manoj (the scribe), and Annu (the former dockhand), their faces flickering in the light of a single oil lamp. Jai, his small frame radiating a commander’s presence, spoke with Wisdom=105 and Charm=9 fused into a leader’s fire. “Bandits stole our shipment. Papa’s breaking, and the king’s deadline looms. We’re not waiting for fate—we’ll take back what’s ours and teach those thieves a lesson.”

He unveiled his secret: with his 50 silver, earned through cunning trades, he’d bought weapons from a discreet armorer—swords for power, blades for stealth, bows for range. “This is dangerous,” Jai said, eyes sweeping the group. “If anyone wants out, go now—no judgment.” But their loyalty held like forged steel: Vikram’s 90%, Sarita’s 60%, Kofi and Amir’s 70%, Manoj’s 75%, Annu’s 80%—none flinched. “We’re yours,” Shashi said, his voice steady, the others nodding, their resolve a quiet flame.

Jai’s plan unfolded like a merchant’s ledger. “This isn’t just tonight. We’re building Vora Trading Company—a legacy to rival empires. Sometimes, that means secret work: protecting our goods, striking first. Sarita, go back—guard my family, keep the home steady with your People Management=28.” Sarita’s eyes gleamed, her sari a shield of determination as she nodded. The rest donned masks of dark cloth, gripping their weapons: swords (+5 Power), blades (+4 Agility), bows (+3 Perception).

Jai led the nine—ten strong with himself—into the night, the moon their silent guide, the bandit camp a shadow in the hills. In his heart, this was more than spices—it was the first strike against chaos, a step toward roasting the EIC.

CURRENT STATS:

Jai Vora (9):

Power=14 (9+5)

Stamina=18 (8+10 quest)

Endurance=15

Health=25 (15+10 quest)

Wisdom=105

Agility=9

Perception=14

Luck=13

Charm=9

With sword: +5 Power