Ethan stepped into the kitchen, his footsteps muffled against the tiled floor.
The house was silent, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator as he opened it.
He grabbed a chilled bottle of juice, unscrewing the cap with one hand while his other hand scrolled through his sleek new System Watch.
The underground world thrived on high-stakes gambling.
A well-placed casino could be the ultimate financial weapon, raking in millions while also serving as a meeting ground for high-profile figures.
Ethan had seen how much money moved through underground poker games and private betting clubs.
If he built his own, he wouldn't just be running a business — he'd be controlling an entire ecosystem.
He took a sip of the juice.
Too cold.
The sudden chill burned his tongue slightly, making him wince.
He sighed, placing the glass down on the counter.
He turned his focus back to the System Watch, tapping through the real estate listings.
A moment later, the one that he saw earlier that the System had recommended, a 15-acre plot of land for $500,000.
Ethan's brows raised slightly. That cheap?
The location wasn't too remote, but it wasn't in the heart of the city either.
That was perfect. If it was too central, authorities and regulations would be a hassle.
If it was too far out, attracting customers would be an issue.
This land struck the perfect balance.
The System even projected customer traffic — both high rollers and casual gamblers would be drawn to it.
Ethan didn't hesitate.
[Purchase Land – $500,000?]
He tapped YES.
The System processed the transaction instantly. Within seconds, a confirmation screen popped up:
[Transaction Complete. The property is now registered under your name. Legal documents will be prepared and delivered by tomorrow.]
Ethan exhaled, taking another sip of juice — this time prepared for the cold. This System was something else.
It didn't just give him ideas; it handled everything in the background, from paperwork to logistics.
It was like having a personal AI assistant dedicated to making him richer.
And yet, Ethan knew he couldn't become complacent.
"You're making me lazy," he muttered to the System Watch, smirking slightly.
But laziness had never been his style.
He wasn't just looking to build businesses — he wanted empires. High-class investments, projects that would generate insane amounts of money.
And this casino was the start of something big.
A soft beep interrupted his thoughts.
[New System Feature Unlocked: Virtual Project Projection]
Ethan's eyes narrowed. What's this?
Before he could question it, the holographic interface expanded, and in front of him, a detailed 3D projection of a fully built casino emerged.
He took a step back, his breath catching slightly.
The design was sleek, modern, and towering — an architectural masterpiece. Neon lights traced the building's edges, and large, tinted windows lined the front, giving it an elite, mysterious vibe.
The entrance had a massive gold-plated emblem, signifying wealth and exclusivity.
Inside the hologram, he could see the casino floor — a vast expanse of poker tables, roulette wheels, and VIP sections for high-stakes gamblers.
The second floor featured luxury suites, private gambling rooms, and even an exclusive lounge for VIP guests.
Ethan smirked. Now this was money.
The System had designed the entire blueprint for him.
He didn't need to hire an architect or spend months planning. Everything was already optimized for profit.
A smaller screen popped up beside the hologram, detailing construction costs and estimated returns:
[Land Cost: $500,000 (Paid)]
[Construction Cost: $10,000,000 (Estimated)]
[Projected Annual Revenue: $50M - $100M]
[VIP Membership Revenue Potential: $20M+]
Ethan whistled softly.
It wasn't cheap, but the returns were ridiculous.
He could make back his investment in months, not years.
The underground scene would go crazy for a place like this.
Of course, he had to play it smart.
Casinos attracted all kinds of people — business moguls, corrupt officials, crime syndicates, and billionaires looking to launder money.
He had to decide how much of the underground influence he wanted to entertain.
Legit or shady?
A fully legitimate casino would still bring in massive profits, but if he was willing to bend the rules, the profits would be astronomical.
Ethan tapped his fingers against the counter, considering.
He wasn't naive. The gambling world was a power play, and he had to be in control.
If he was going to open a casino, it had to be a place where even the biggest sharks knew whose waters they were swimming in.
The System Watch flickered, offering additional options:
[Legal Casino: High-end, celebrity-friendly, government-approved.]
[VIP Underground Casino: High-roller exclusive, minimal oversight, maximum profit.]
[Hybrid Model: Legal front, underground backroom for special clients.]
Ethan smirked. He already knew his answer.
[Selected: Hybrid Model]
The casino would have the best of both worlds.
A legal, high-class establishment on the surface, but with exclusive VIP areas where only those who knew the right people could enter.
But for now, he was done exploring. His mind was already on tomorrow.
A soft vibration from his regular phone pulled him out of his thoughts.
He glanced at the screen — a new message from an unknown number.
[Come pick up the land deeds tomorrow. Location and time will be sent in the morning.]
Ethan's lips curled into a slight smirk.
The process was fast and efficient. Just the way he liked it.
He liked the new update, the System wasnt wasting any time.
Without overthinking it, he switched to his phone and shot a text to Zack.
[Ethan: I won't be at the resort early tomorrow.]
The response came almost immediately.
[Zack: Again? Bro, don't tell me you're taking another girl out. How many is that this month?]
Ethan rolled his eyes. Zack never slept at a reasonable hour, always up doing God-knows-what.
He didn't even bother arguing about the 'taking girls out' part. He simply replied:
[Ethan: Not what you're thinking.]
That was enough for Zack to get the message.
He understood Ethan well enough to know that if he wasn't spilling details, there was no point prying further.
A simple "Got it" followed, and that was the end of it.
Still, Ethan knew that Zack was probably smirking on the other side of the phone, convinced he was up to something shady.
With that handled, Ethan switched to another chat — Lila.