Ethan did the math. Even if he had mountains of gold to exchange, worth billions, sinking it all into a single machine… How many fortress captures, how many city sieges would it take to turn a profit? He'd have to build entertainment districts for casual players, hoping to recoup the costs through tourism and attractions.
Sure, the leisure industry inside Ethereal was projected to be incredibly lucrative. Not every player was a hardcore battler; most regular folks just logged in at night to unwind and enjoy the side benefit of deep, restful sleep. But the ROI timeline was daunting. The numbers kept circling in his head, refusing to settle, each projection gloomier than the last.
More pressingly, that theoretical mountain of gold wasn't in his pocket yet. Even when it arrived, he had no idea how much Trusty007 would manage to secure for him in the next couple of days. Finances might be limitless in the future, but right now, they were tight.
