He smirked slightly.
The underground scene thrived on privacy, exclusivity, and high-stakes games.
A casino built in a hidden yet accessible area had all the makings of a goldmine.
And more importantly, it was a clean investment.
Unlike the resort, which catered to the public, a casino would attract the wealthy, the reckless, and the powerful.
People who wouldn’t blink at spending thousands — sometimes millions — on a single night of indulgence.
As long as he played his cards right, the profits would be insane.
After about twenty minutes, the GPS signaled his arrival.
Ethan took a turn onto a smaller, narrower road, passing through a break in the tree line.
The pavement here was less maintained, cracks running through its surface, but it was still drivable.
Then, just ahead, he saw it.
The land.
A vast, open space surrounded by a sturdy fence.
He pulled up near the entrance, stepping out of the car as his gaze swept across the property.
It was big. Much bigger than he had expected.
The price had been cheap — almost suspiciously so — but now he understood why.
The previous owner had clearly been desperate to get rid of it.
The entire plot was covered in overgrown grass and weeds, some areas almost knee-high.
Nature had taken over quite literally.
Ethan stepped forward, pushing open the rusted metal gate.
It groaned in protest, hinges stiff from lack of use.
As he walked further in, he could tell the land had once been maintained.
The fence was sturdy, the layout wasn’t completely chaotic — someone had invested in securing the area at some point.
But now?
It had been left to rot.
And that worked in his favor.
A cheap buy, but with endless potential.
He exhaled, hands in his pockets as he scanned the space.
"This is gonna take some work."
Pulling out his phone, Ethan snapped a few pictures of the land.
Not for himself, but for the people he was about to hire.
Clearing this much overgrowth wasn’t something he’d waste his own time on.
He needed professionals.
The moment he stepped back near his car, his System Watch flickered.
[Would you like assistance in hiring workers?]
Ethan smirked. It was like the damn thing read his mind.
"Yeah. Get me a team that can clear this place out by the end of the day."
The screen flashed.
[Searching…]
A few seconds later—
[Five available teams found. Selecting the most efficient.]
Ethan glanced at the details as the System finalized the hire.
The workers would be arriving within an hour.
’Good.’
He leaned against his car, checking his messages while he waited.
Ethan didn’t have to wait long.
The distant rumbling of an engine signaled the arrival of the work crew.
A large truck rumbled down the dirt road, kicking up dust as it approached.
Ethan straightened from where he had been leaning against his car, watching as the vehicle came to a stop just outside the gate.
The doors swung open, and one by one, men began stepping out.
Twelve of them.
And they all looked… the same?
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
Identical faces, identical builds — same brown hair, same sharp features.
Then, another figure stepped out from the passenger side.
A man, slightly bulkier than the rest, with a square jaw and a confident stride.
He walked straight toward Ethan, extending a calloused hand.
Ethan clasped it, feeling the firm grip.
"You the one who hired us?" the man asked.
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"Yeah," Ethan replied. "You’re the crew?"
The man nodded. "Radleys. All of us."
Ethan glanced past him at the other men, who were already unloading tools from the truck bed.
"All twelve of them?"
The man smirked. "Thirteen, including me."
Ethan hesitated for a second.
His curiosity almost got the better of him, but he decided against asking the obvious question.
Are you all from the same mother?
Yeah, that would be weird.
Instead, he nodded. "Alright. The job’s simple. I need this entire lot cleared — grass, weeds, any debris — get it all out."
The man — probably the eldest Radley, Ethan guessed — gave a single nod.
"Got it."
Then, without another word, he turned to his brothers.
"You heard him. Move."
Instantly, the men sprang into action.
Ethan stepped aside, watching as the Radleys spread out across the land.
Despite their identical looks, they worked with precision.
Some started with machetes, hacking down the taller weeds.
Others grabbed shovels, loosening the roots before tossing them into a pile.
A few even had small chainsaws for the thicker overgrowth.
It was fast, organized, and — most importantly — efficient.
Ethan had expected the usual half-hearted effort most workers put in when they thought no one was watching.
But these guys? They worked like a well-trained unit.
Like they’d done this a hundred times before.
Ethan folded his arms, feeling satisfied.
The land was big, but at this pace, they’d have it cleared by the end of the day, just like he had wanted.
Which wasn’t bad.
His phone vibrated in his pocket, pulling him from his thoughts.
Checking the screen, he saw a text from Zack.
[Zack: Not showing up at the resort today, huh?]
Ethan smirked, typing a quick reply.
[Ethan: Told you last night. I’ve got business to handle.]
[Zack: Woman business?]
Ethan paused before replying.
[Ethan : Something like that.]
Zack didn’t press further.
He never did when Ethan kept things vague.
Putting the phone away, Ethan turned his attention back to the land.
The Radleys continued working at a breakneck pace.
Ethan spotted one of the younger-looking ones moving toward a tree at the edge of the property.
The guy adjusted his grip on a chainsaw before pulling the cord.
A few seconds later —
Vrrrmm — !
The machine roared to life, and within moments, the tree began to tilt.
"Timber!"
It came down with a heavy thud, sending up a small cloud of dust.
Ethan nodded approvingly.
They were efficient. He liked that.
He moved toward the eldest Radley, who was overseeing the work with his hands on his hips.
"You do this often?" Ethan asked.
The man grinned. "Been clearing land since we were kids. Our old man taught us everything."
Ethan smirked. "That explains the teamwork."
The man chuckled, his eyes scanning the workers. "If you need anything else after this job, just call."