The room Rahul had rented inside "Pyaasa" was luxurious by the bar's standards—clean linens, strong wooden furniture, ample space, and a quiet corner with a view of the bazaar's chaos. At 10 gold coins per night, it wasn't cheap, but it was worth every bit for someone like him.
After a hearty breakfast and some idle chatter with Rehmat Ali, Rahul turned his attention to the bar's task board. Notices of all kinds were pinned there—some petty, some lucrative, and some downright dangerous.
He sifted through them until a few interesting ones caught his eye.
Task 1: Bandit Raghu – Wanted Dead or Alive
Charges: Murder, rape, loot, arson
Reward: 500 gold coins alive, 300 gold coins dead
Location: Pushpak Valley
Task 2: Livestock Guarding
Objective: Eliminate dire wolves from archer tower, 7-night duty
Reward: 25 silver coins per wolf + carcass (negotiable)
Location: Livestock farm
Task 3: Missing Cat – Malati
Description: White with a black spot on rear
Reward: 1000 gold coins
Location: Ghutghutiya Jungle
"A thousand gold coins... for a cat?" Rahul chuckled. "Either that feline's got royal blood or her owner's lost her mind."
But among the clutter, one task gleamed like a treasure chest waiting to be cracked open:
Task 4: Eliminate Two Saltwater Crocodiles
Reward: 10,000 gold coins for the kill + 10,000 gold coins for 100% intact carcasses
(25% damage reduction = 2500 gold deduction per body)
Location: Piranha-infested Koushali River
This was no simple bounty. Killing the beasts was doable, but preserving the carcasses intact? That was the real challenge. Gunshots would tear flesh. Swords would leave marks.
Only one solution made sense—poison. A slow, precise death without a scratch.
Following Rehmat's suggestion, Rahul visited a local ayurvedic seller and procured two barrels of neurotoxin-infused herbal mixture. Tasteless, odorless, and lethal, it attacked the nervous system, ensuring a fatal result within minutes.
Chunks of meat were soaked in the brew until they were saturated with death. Rahul then stored them safely in his system's inventory and prepared to leave.
Mounted on horseback, he rode out to the banks of the Koushali River. There, he placed two enormous chunks of the poisoned meat apart from each other, creating a trap. The scent would draw the crocodiles—if all went well.
But nature had other plans.
A low growl echoed from the jungle behind him. Rahul turned sharply. His mini map lit up with a cascade of red dots.
➖Ping➖
"Intruder Alert,
Host. Imminent Danger.
Estimated contact: 155 meters."
The system's warning repeated, growing more urgent. From the bushes and trees emerged a stampede of predators—dire wolves, wild dogs, bears, hyenas, even a leopard climbing into the treetops to pounce.
Surrounded.
Rahul's hand hovered over his firearm, but an idea struck. The meat.
He yanked chunks from his storage and hurled them toward the oncoming beasts. The tactic relied on a primal instinct: if something flies at them, they try to catch it with their mouths. It worked.
The predators lunged, scrambled, and snatched the meat mid-air. Even the leopard leapt from its perch to catch a hunk of flesh.
And then the forest fell silent.
➖Ping➖
"Smooth Killer + Innovation: 15,000 EXP, 9,000 Soul Points"
"Dire Wolf kill: +250 EXP"
"Bear kill: +2527 EXP"
"Leopard kill: +3010 EXP"
"Wild Dog kill: +499 EXP"
"Hyena kill: +1299 EXP"
…and more.
The notifications cascaded endlessly. Rahul didn't even have time to read them all. He glanced at the battlefield—corpses of predators lay scattered in a bloody slumber.
But the real prize was ahead.
He approached the riverbank, cautiously stepping toward the bait. There, two monstrous saltwater crocodiles lay dead—perfectly preserved, no scratches, no gunshots, no blade marks.
Success.
➖Ping➖
"New Active Skill Unlocked: [Venom King]"
(Neurotoxic damage over 1 minute. Cooldown: 24 hrs.)
"Host Level Up: Level 5"
A smirk crept across his face. He hadn't just killed monsters—he had become one. Silent. Lethal. Efficient.
He opened his system:
[Host] - Rahul Shikder
[Level] - 5
[Health] - 3005/3005
[Endurance] - 22 + 3
[Stamina] - 20 + 2
[Intelligence] - 23 + 2
[Dexterity] - 22 + 3
[Charm] - 12
[Add. Attribute Points] - +10
[Skills]
• Active: Venom King (T1)
• Passive: Basic Firearm Mastery, Advanced Assessment, Smooth Talker
[Title] - John Ramgo (Active)
[Shop] [Exchange] [Storage] [Notification]
But a question remained—would the client accept neurotoxin kills? It could affect the sale value of the carcasses. Best not to damage the bodies further until he had confirmation.
He opened his system storage and began loading the corpses. For the first time, the space felt tight.
Final tally:
6 dire wolves
3 wild bears
10 wild dogs
7 hyenas
8 wolves
1 leopard
2 saltwater crocodiles
He mounted his horse and rode back toward the bazaar as dusk settled across the crimson skies. The hunt was over. But the game had just begun.
-----------------------------------
Next Chapter – Chapter 16: A Bait's Bet
The crowd roars. The sand trembles. But behind the chaos of the arena, a silent wager brews — one where the bait is not the weakest, but the most lethal. With ten rounds to survive and every bet stacked against him, Rahul isn't just gambling with gold… he's gambling with death. Will the unknown fighter become a legend, or will the house win it all?
⚔️ Ready to witness a slaughter no one bet on?
If this chapter got your blood pumping, vote now and drop a comment — your support keeps the fire burning.🔥