Ethan stood in front of the building he had invested in, the early morning sun casting long shadows over the cracked pavement.

    His hands were tucked into his jacket pockets, partly to ward off the chill and partly to keep them from trembling.

    The building was... a sight for sore eyes.

    It wasn''t the worst he''d ever seen, but it certainly wasn''t a postcard of luxury either. The fac?ade was worn, its paint peeling off in long strips like scabs on a healing wound.

    A couple of windows were broken, their jagged edges gleaming like teeth in a crooked smile.

    Still, it was his. His property.

    The system had made sure of that overnight, completing all the paperwork, and transferring ownership into his name.

    He hadn''t even had to lift a finger, but the feeling of standing here now, knowing this place belonged to him, filled him with a sense of pride he hadn''t felt in years.

    "Quite the fixer-upper, huh?"

    The voice snapped Ethan out of his thoughts. He turned to see a man in his late forties approaching, his tie slightly loosened and a clipboard in hand.

    The agent assigned by the mayor had introduced himself earlier as Greg, and Ethan couldn''t help but think the guy looked like he''d rather be anywhere else.

    "It''s got potential," Ethan replied, shrugging.

    Greg smirked, flipping through the pages on his clipboard. "That''s one way to put it. The city''s been sitting on this property for years, waiting for someone with enough optimism — or insanity — to take it on."

    Ethan chuckled, though it sounded more nervous than amused. "I guess that makes me the crazy one."

    They started walking around the perimeter of the building, Greg pointing out structural issues, city codes that needed addressing, and other details that flew over Ethan''s head.

    "The foundation''s solid," Greg said, crouching to inspect a crack in the base. "But you''ll need to redo the plumbing and electrical. Windows are a mess, and don''t even get me started on the roof."

    And if the system''s predictions were right, it would pay off in the long run.

    Greg, who had been lingering near the entrance, checked his watch. "I think my part here''s done," he said, giving Ethan a nod. "Good luck with everything. You''ve got your hands full, but I''ve seen worse turn into something great."

    "Thanks," Ethan said, shaking his hand.

    As Greg left, Marty clapped Ethan on the back. "Don''t worry, kid. We''ve got this. You focus on whatever you''ve got going on, and we''ll handle the heavy lifting."

    Ethan managed a small smile. "Thanks, Marty. I appreciate it."

    Marty gave him a thumbs-up before turning back to his team. "Alright, boys, let''s get to work!"

    The crew sprang into action, unloading tools and equipment from the trucks. Ethan stepped outside to give them space, leaning against the side of the building as he watched them work.

    He pulled out his own phone — not the system''s, but his personal one — and scrolled through his messages.

    There wasn''t much there, just a couple of notifications from food suppliers and a text from one of his employees asking about the week''s schedule.

    For a moment, Ethan let himself bask in the quiet. It was strange how quickly his life had changed. A few weeks ago, he had been drowning in despair, barely able to see a way out.

    Now, he had a thriving business, a growing team, and a new investment that could set him up for life.

    The thought made him smile, and for the first time in years, it wasn''t tinged with bitterness or regret.

    "Hey, boss!" Marty''s voice broke through his thoughts. Ethan looked up to see the man waving him over.

    "What''s up?" Ethan asked, walking back inside.

    "Just wanted to go over the timeline with you," Marty said, gesturing to a set of blueprints spread out on a workbench.

    As Marty explained the renovation plan, Ethan found himself nodding along, the initial nervousness giving way to a sense of determination.

    This building was his now, and he was going to make it something worth being proud of.