Note 1 : Thank you LordofWar459 & Epic_Buddie123. This chapter is for you

    Note 2 : More gifts for more chapters.

    Note 3 : if you wanted me to create a discord to talk about the novel, let me know in the comments

    _______________________________________________________________________________________________

    The car was moving slowly, gliding through the dark, quiet streets of the city. The flickering neon signs of deserted storefronts cast fleeting shadows on the tired facades of the buildings, giving the surroundings an almost spectral air. In the back seat, Lassen was silent, motionless.

    His eyes absentmindedly followed the lights dancing on the tinted windows, but his mind seemed far away, lost in a maze of thoughts.

    Adrian, at the wheel, occasionally glanced furtively in the rearview mirror. His boss''s demeanor was unusual. Lassen, usually so sarcastic, seemed wrapped in a gravity Adrian didn''t dare disturb. Yet the silence wasn''t empty; it was heavy with something Adrian couldn''t quite name.

    Then, suddenly, Lassen shifted slightly. His eyes locked on something in the distance, beyond the reflections and shadows. A familiar, imposing, and cold silhouette loomed in the darkness.

    It was a solitary building, a monolith from a bygone era, its gaping, dark windows eroded by the ravages of time. Its gray facade seemed almost alive under the trembling light of the streetlamps, as if it still breathed memories of a forgotten past.

    Lassen felt his heart skip a beat.

    "Adrian" he said, his voice strangely calm, almost robotic. "Stop the car."

    Adrian furrowed his brows, easing off the gas slightly as he glanced again at his boss through the rearview mirror "Here? Why? It''s just an old building. Do you need something?"

    Lassen turned his head toward him " Now !!" Lassen said again, his tone icy.

    Adrian sighed, giving a small shake of his head. He knew arguing would be pointless. He steered the car to the side of the road and brought it to a gentle stop.

    Before the car had fully halted, Lassen pushed the door open. The sharp slam echoed down the deserted street, cutting through the oppressive stillness of the night.

    Adrian watched him step out, his brow knitted with suspicion "Should I wait for you?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of unease he tried to mask.

    Lassen didn''t answer. He was already striding toward the building, his footsteps ringing faintly on the pavement, each one echoing off the bleak walls around him.

    The cold gnawed at the air, creeping into his clothes and biting his skin, but he didn''t slow his pace.

    Adrian, still in the car, didn''t turn off the engine.

    In front of the towering structure, Lassen came to a stop. He tilted his head upward, his eyes tracing the building''s contours, the ravages of time etched deeply into its surface. Yet, in its ruin, it still commanded a sense of authority.

    Finally, he saw himself again on this rooftop, standing exactly where he was now. The biting cold, the void calling out to him, and the crushing feeling that nothing would ever change. He remembered every detail: the glow of fireworks, the distant sound of laughter, and the silence within him—deeper than anything else.

    But he had never touched the ground. Instead, he had woken up, 18 years old again, with a voice in his head. A voice that had guided him, challenged him, and transformed him.

    Lassen blinked, the cold reality replacing the memories. He was still staring at the roof, motionless.

    In his mind, the system murmured

    [Do you want me to make a sarcastic comment, or would you rather I stay silent this time?]

    "You knew this was the place, didn''t you?" Lassen murmured.

    [Oh, of course. But I didn''t want to ruin the surprise. You know, it''s a charming spot. A little chilly, but charming.]

    Lassen closed his eyes and took a deep breath "Why are you here?" he asked, more to himself than to the system "Why me?"

    The system stayed silent for a moment, as if pondering.

    Then, gently, it replied [Because you''re desperate enough to listen, but stubborn enough to try.]

    Lassen opened his eyes and stepped back. His features, once tense, had softened. He wasn''t entirely sure what he had been seeking by coming here, but he knew one thing: this building was now just a memory. And he had changed.

    He turned on his heel and walked back toward the car, where Adrian was still waiting, visibly concerned.

    "Everything okay?" Adrian asked hesitantly.

    Lassen nodded, a faint smile on his lips "Yes. Let''s go."

    "Adrian" he said suddenly.

    "Yes, sir."

    "Tell Alex to buy this building" Lassen added.

    Adrian glanced at his boss and nodded.

    As the car pulled away, Lassen took one last look at the building through the rear window.

    He would probably never see it again, but something inside him felt lighter.

    That night, he had stared his past straight in the eye and, for the first time, he saw more than failure. He saw a beginning.