As soon as Ethan reached the house, the towering gates silently closed behind him, the faint hum of the automated security system confirming that everything was locked in place.
He barely acknowledged the gatemen with a small nod before stepping inside.
The familiar scent of polished wood and faint vanilla from the air freshener greeted him as he kicked off his shoes and made his way straight to his room.
Without wasting time, he freshened up, letting the cool water wash away the exhaustion clinging to his body. It felt great against his skin, that much was certain and he was reluctant to turn off the shower.
Running a towel through his damp hair, he exhaled and walked back to the living room.
The lights automatically adjusted to a warm glow, casting soft shadows on the walls. He sank into the couch, pulling out his laptop.
This wasn’t about sorting tickets or resort operations. The staff handled those things efficiently.
No, Ethan had something else on his mind — something bigger. His business portfolio was growing, but if he wanted to take things to the next level, he couldn’t afford to make small moves anymore.
He needed a large-scale investment. Something transformative like the resort, something that would give him fame.
He opened a search tab, fingers poised over the keyboard. Various ideas ran through his mind — real estate, luxury tourism expansions, high-tech startups but he needed to verify from experienced people.
Before he could type anything, his gaze drifted to the edge of the table.
The Black System Phone.
It had been a while since he last touched it, left forgotten in the background as his resort and other businesses flourished. But something about it caught his attention now, like an itch in the back of his mind.
He reached for it and, the moment his fingers wrapped around the sleek, matte-black device, a notification flashed across the screen.
Ethan’s eyes widened. His heart skipped a beat.
[Total Resort Revenue: $4,875,200]
[Return Points Generated: 1010%]
His breath hitched.
He had access to the bank account, of course, but he hadn’t expected the resort to generate this much so soon. It had been busy, but seeing the numbers laid out like this made the success tangible.
Then another message popped up.
[Return Points are now sufficient for System Upgrade. Would you like to proceed?]
Ethan’s fingers hovered over the screen.
Upgrade? He hadn’t thought much about the mechanics of the System beyond the initial benefits, but if an upgrade was available, it could mean new features — perhaps even new ways to expand his empire.
Curiosity won. He tapped the Upgrade button.
The phone vibrated violently in his palm. A sharp hum filled the air, and before he could react, the device shifted, the screen flashing with streaks of black light.
He felt a strange, weightless sensation as the phone morphed, reshaping itself in real-time.
Ethan’s jaw tightened as the sleek black metal coiled around his wrist, transforming into a watch.
The clasp secured itself with an almost mechanical precision, adjusting perfectly to fit him.
For a brief second, he felt the material pulse against his skin, as if it were alive.
He lifted his wrist, staring at the new device now locked onto him. It was black, sleek and damn did it look expensive.
It was unlike any smartwatch or wearable tech he had ever seen. The design was futuristic, with no visible buttons, just a smooth, obsidian-like surface.
A second later, a holographic interface flickered to life, hovering just above the watch face.
The light blue screen displayed the same familiar System UI, but it was far more advanced than before.
Ethan tapped on it experimentally. The interface responded instantly, the holographic display expanding as new options appeared.
[System Upgrade Complete]
[New Functions Unlocked]
His eyes darted across the screen, absorbing the updates.
There were additional features, menus he had never seen before. Some were still locked, but a few new ones stood out immediately.
One in particular caught his attention.
[Business Projection & Analytics]
He tapped it. The moment he did, a 3D model of his resort appeared in the air before him, like a real-time simulation.
His heart pounded as he saw every section of the resort mapped out — guest capacity, revenue flow, ongoing projects, even predictive financial reports.
With something like this, he could analyze future investments with a level of precision no ordinary business tool could provide.
A slow grin spread across Ethan’s lips.
He needed this.
The more he explored, the more he realized how much power this new system gave him.
He could track his investments, optimize profits, and even forecast industry trends with alarming accuracy.
It was like having the ultimate business strategist built into his wrist.
Ethan took a deep breath, shifting his attention back to his original task — finding his next big investment.
If he wanted ATLAS to grow beyond a luxury resort, he needed something disruptive. Something that could rival industry giants and carve out a name for itself.
His fingers hovered over the holographic display as he pulled up current investment trends.
Technology? Too unpredictable. While tech startups had huge profit margins, they were also incredibly volatile.
He wasn’t looking for a gamble — he was looking for a surefire win.
Real estate? Already covered. The resort was bringing in massive revenue, and any future expansions would fall under that umbrella. He also had the apartments he was buying and selling.
Then an idea struck him.
Gambling.
He’d been around long enough to understand how money really moved in the underground.
The businesses that thrived weren’t just the clean, legitimate ones.
No, the real profits flowed through vices — things people couldn’t resist. And among them, gambling was king.
Casinos weren’t just places for entertainment; they were powerhouses of cash flow.
Whether it was high-rollers dropping millions on a single bet or desperate gamblers throwing away their last dollar in hopes of a miracle, the house always won.
And if he controlled the house…
Almost as if it had been waiting for him to make the decision, the System responded.
A new notification appeared on his holographic screen.
[A Suitable Land Has Been Found for Your Casino Investment.]
[Casino Investment Plan has been placed onto The Pending Plan Section]
Ethan’s brow arched. That was fast.
He tapped the message, and a detailed map projection appeared before him.
The land was perfectly placed — not too close to other high-end businesses, yet accessible enough to attract wealthy clients and underground players alike.
But there was a catch.
It was empty unlike anything he had bought since he got his hands on good money.
No existing infrastructure, no buildings — just raw land waiting to be developed.
He would have to build the casino from the ground up.
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He preferred it that way.
Because once it was up and running?
The city would never be the same.