A Joint Investment

Ethan tilted his head, intrigued despite himself. "A resort?"

"Yeah," Zack said, his eyes lighting up. "Imagine it — a luxury destination with everything you could think of. Top-notch accommodations, gourmet dining, pools, spas, nightlife, you name it. A place where people can come to relax, let loose, and have an unforgettable experience."

"Sounds ambitious," Ethan said, though he couldn't deny the appeal of the idea.

"It is," Zack admitted. "But I've got the vision. I've been researching locations, sketching out concepts, even talking to a few architects. What I need is someone to partner with. Someone who can help me make this a reality."

Ethan frowned slightly, his fingers drumming against the bar. "And you think that's me?"

"Why not?" Zack said with a shrug. "You've got a good head on your shoulders, and you're not afraid to take risks. Plus, I trust you. We go way back."

Ethan hesitated, the weight of Zack's words settling over him. A resort was no small endeavor — it would take time, money, and a lot of effort to get off the ground. But it was also an opportunity.

"What's the plan?" Ethan asked finally.

Zack's grin widened. "I was hoping you'd say that. Look, I've got some preliminary numbers and ideas. I can send them over, and we can meet again to go through everything in detail. No pressure — I just wanted to float the idea and see if you were interested."

Ethan nodded slowly. "Alright. Send me what you've got, and I'll take a look. But no promises."

"Fair enough," Zack said, raising his glass in a mock toast. "Cheers to possibilities."

Ethan clinked his soda glass against Zack's drink, the sound echoing softly in the quiet space.

The conversation shifted after that, the two reminiscing about their college days and catching up on life. Ethan found himself relaxing, the initial wariness fading as Zack's enthusiasm proved infectious.

#####

Ethan sat in the cafeteria section of the club, the low hum of background music filling the space.

The club wasn't in full swing yet, but even during off-hours, a few people were scattered around — employees on break, early visitors grabbing a quick bite before the music kicked in.

The air smelled of fresh coffee and faint traces of alcohol, the contrast oddly grounding.

He had a cup of black coffee in front of him, but it had gone cold.

His attention was elsewhere, eyes locked onto the black System phone in his hand. The screen displayed a long string of text, the eerie glow illuminating his face as he read through the System's latest notification.

[Investment System Notification]

[Investment Type: Joint Investment Detected.]

[Warning: Joint Investments will yield reduced RP returns due to shared ownership and influence.

[Would you like to proceed with a Joint Investment?]

Ethan exhaled sharply, leaning back in his chair.

He wasn't surprised — this was exactly what he had suspected. The System had always rewarded him for sole investments, where he had full control over every detail.

But now, with Zack proposing a partnership for the resort, the System was treating it differently.

He scrolled down, reading the additional notes the System had provided.

[In Joint Investments, RP earnings will be proportional to the investment percentage owned.]

[System assistance remains active, but influence is limited based on control percentage.

[Higher risk, lower reward.]

Ethan tapped his fingers against the table, deep in thought. It made sense. If the System could guarantee success, it needed full control.

Splitting ownership meant splitting influence, and in the eyes of the System, that wasn't ideal.

He picked up his coffee absentmindedly and took a sip — lukewarm, bitter, and unappealing. He set it down, glancing towards the bar where employees were prepping for the evening rush.

He wasn't sure how long Zack would be in his office, but the extra time gave him space to think.

This resort investment could be big. Bigger than anything he'd done so far.

Luxury accommodations, gourmet dining, pools, spas, entertainment — if done right, it could rake in millions. But now, he had to decide:

Would he rather take this investment alone or go into it with Zack?

If he refused a partnership, he could find another way to start a resort — buy land, construct the buildings himself, and keep it under his name.

The System would back him fully, and the RP returns would be at their peak. But that would take time.

Zack, on the other hand, had connections.

He already had a network in place — investors, architects, a location in mind. Going solo would mean starting from scratch. Was that worth the extra RP?

The System, as if sensing his hesitation, chimed in with another message.

[Reminder: RP efficiency is maximized when the host controls 100% of an investment.]

[However, rapid wealth accumulation can still be achieved through strategic partnerships.]

Ethan let out a quiet chuckle. So even the System wasn't against partnerships entirely — just warning him of the trade-offs.

His fingers hovered over the screen, debating whether to confirm or reject the idea of a Joint Investment.

He could always negotiate with Zack — maybe push for a larger ownership stake so that his RP returns weren't too diminished.

But if he insisted on full control, would Zack even agree?

The sound of footsteps approaching snapped Ethan out of his thoughts. He locked the System phone and slipped it into his jacket just as Zack reappeared, looking energized.

"Sorry about that," Zack said, pulling out the chair across from Ethan and sitting down. "Had to handle a few things for tonight's event."

Ethan nodded, masking his internal conflict. "No problem."

Zack leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "So, what do you think about my offer? Any thoughts?"

Ethan took a slow breath before answering. "It's a solid idea. But I have a few concerns."

Zack raised an eyebrow. "Hit me."

"The biggest one is ownership. I don't usually do joint ventures," Ethan said carefully, watching Zack's reaction. "I like having control over my investments."

Zack nodded, surprisingly unfazed. "I figured you'd say that." He tapped the table lightly. "Look, I get it. And I'm not saying we have to split it fifty-fifty. I'm open to negotiations."

Ethan smirked slightly. "So if I said I wanted majority ownership, you'd consider it?"

Zack chuckled. "That depends. What do you bring to the table?"

Ethan didn't answer immediately. He couldn't exactly say, 'I have a supernatural Investment System that guarantees success.' But he did have something.

"I have capital," Ethan said simply. "And I know how to make businesses work. I don't fail."

Zack gave him a long, considering look before finally breaking into a grin. "I like the confidence."

Ethan took a sip of his coffee before continuing. "I'll look through the numbers, and then we'll talk ownership stakes. If it makes sense, we'll move forward. If not, I might just start a resort on my own."

Zack whistled. "Damn, you really don't play around."

Ethan shrugged. "Time is money."

Zack laughed, shaking his head. "Alright, man. I'll send you everything tonight. We'll talk again after you've gone through it."

Ethan nodded, standing up. "Sounds good."

They shook hands, sealing their preliminary agreement.

As Ethan walked out of the club and toward his bike, he could feel the System phone vibrating again in his jacket. He didn't check it yet. He already knew what it was.

The System was reminding him of the consequences of this decision.

But Ethan wasn't worried.

He had a plan.