From Outcast to Legend: Thiago's Rise

Chapter 8

The moment Thiago stated his conditions, the sales agent froze. "You... you want to pay the full listing price and you don't want to negotiate?"

"Yes."

"You also want the transaction completed today?"

"That's right."

The agent blinked several times, wondering if he had misheard. Most buyers spent days bargaining over every detail. Some argued over furniture, others over transfer fees, and many negotiated for weeks before signing anything.

Yet the young man standing before him wanted none of that. He wanted the property immediately.

Recovering from his surprise, the agent's expression transformed into one of pure excitement.

"Mr. Moretti, please have a seat. I'll begin the paperwork immediately." He practically ran toward the office. The detached house Thiago had chosen had remained unsold for quite some time.

Although it occupied the highest point in Jacquer Estate and offered magnificent views, there was one major drawback. Behind the hill stood the town cemetery. Many buyers found the location unsettling. Some believed it brought bad luck. Others simply disliked living so close to a graveyard.

As a result, despite being a beautiful detached residence with a spacious garage, a rooftop platform, and a large yard, the house had sat on the market for months. Its value remained enormous. Selling it would allow Fancy Home Realty to recover a significant amount of capital.

More importantly, the commission alone would make the agent's entire year. He had no intention of letting this opportunity slip away.

Within minutes, lawyers, financial officers, and administrative staff began processing the purchase. Everything moved at astonishing speed.

Less than two hours later, the final contract lay before Thiago.

"Congratulations, Mr. Moretti. You are now the owner of the property," the agent smiled broadly.

Thiago signed the final page without hesitation. Instead of paying in full, he deliberately selected a thirty-year mortgage. With only a six percent down payment, the house officially became his.

The majority of his billion-dollar fortune remained untouched. That was exactly what he wanted.

Money tied up in real estate could not become food, medicine, fuel, or weapons. Liquid capital mattered far more.

As for the monthly mortgage, Thiago almost laughed.

Three months from now, the apocalypse would erase governments. Mortgages, contracts, taxes, and financial laws would become meaningless pieces of paper.

Why waste unnecessary cash today?

The agent handed him a beautiful leather folder. "Here are your ownership documents. And these are your house keys."

Thiago accepted them calmly. "Thank you."

The transaction had taken less than two hours. Everything had gone exactly according to plan.

...

Leaving the real estate office, Thiago didn't immediately visit his new home. Instead, he sat inside a nearby café and began searching for renovation contractors.

The ordinary detached house needed to become a fortress.

One company name repeatedly appeared among local recommendations - Dave Brown Residential Remodeling. Dave Brown enjoyed an excellent reputation for handling difficult renovation projects.

Without hesitation, Thiago dialed the number. The call connected after several rings. "This is Dave Brown."

"I need a house remodeled."

Dave chuckled.

"That's what we do."

Thiago calmly listed them one after another.

"The first floor must be completely sealable against catastrophic flooding. I need reinforced blast-resistant windows. Deployable steel barriers covering every window and entrance. Floodproof security doors."

"A rooftop evacuation platform. Independent water purification systems. Large-capacity backup generators. Solar energy integration. Additional structural reinforcement, and the garage must be modified for emergency storage. I want everything completed within two months."

Several seconds passed. Finally, Dave laughed awkwardly.

"Sir... I think you're joking."

"I'm not."

"The amount of work alone would normally take six months. Some custom materials require months just to manufacture. And you want all of it finished in sixty days?"

"Correct."

"I'm sorry," Dave sighed. I can't accept this project. It's impossible."

Thiago expected that answer. Without changing his tone, he quietly quoted a budget. The number stunned Dave into complete silence.

"...Excuse me?"

Thiago repeated it again. Dave swallowed hard. The amount exceeded several years of profit from ordinary renovation contracts.

His breathing quickened. "Sir..."

"Yes? When would you like me to inspect the property?" Thiago smiled faintly. "So it's no longer impossible?"

Dave laughed nervously. "Well, money has a remarkable ability to improve construction efficiency. I'll be there within the hour. I'll send my engineering team immediately."

"Good."

After ending the call, Thiago leaned back in his chair and his phone buzzed again. As soon as the cryptocurrency trading platform finished verifying his identity, he immediately logged into his account.

One after another, he began purchasing digital assets. To outsiders, his choices appeared irrational. Several of the cryptocurrencies he selected had almost no public attention. Financial analysts considered some of them speculative failures. But Thiago remembered exactly which projects would explode over the coming weeks.

Without hesitation, he invested hundreds of millions of dollars. Large buy orders flowed into the market, and his billion-dollar fortune immediately began working for him.

If history remained unchanged, within weeks, his assets wouldn't merely double. Some investments would increase tenfold. Others fiftyfold. Several would exceed one hundred times their current value. His wealth would multiply into an amount capable of supporting an entire survivor civilization.

...

Meanwhile, news traveled astonishingly fast throughout Jacquer Estate.

"Did you hear? Thiago Moretti bought the detached house on the hill!"

"What?"

"The expensive one?"

"That's impossible."

Soon the discussion reached the Morgan residence. A knock sounded on the front door, and Caius answered impatiently.

Several neighbors stood outside.

Upon seeing them, Cauis' expression immediately darkened. "So. You've all come to laugh at us?"

The neighbors exchanged confused glances. "What?"

"The divorce." Caius snorted. "Go ahead, mock us. It doesn't matter."

The neighbors quickly waved their hands. "No, no. We're not here about that. We wanted to ask whether the rumors were true."

"What rumors?"

"That your former son-in-law just bought the detached house at the highest point of Jacquer Estate."

Caius frowned. "What nonsense. That's impossible."

Another neighbor immediately nodded. "It's true. I saw the real estate staff myself. He completed the purchase today."

Caius stared at them. "You can't be serious."

"We are. Completely."

Several neighbors began chatting among themselves. "I always thought Thiago looked capable. Who would've guessed he was so wealthy?"

"What a shame. Divorcing such an excellent husband..."

"That's truly regrettable."

"If I had a son-in-law like him, I'd treasure him."

Their words sounded casual. But the amusement hidden beneath their smiles couldn't be concealed. Every sentence felt like another slap across Caius's face, and his breathing became heavier.

Fear quietly emerged within Cauis. Where had Thiago obtained that much money? Had Vespera made a terrible mistake? If Thiago truly became wealthy, would he return for revenge?

The thought sent a chill through Caius's body. But almost immediately, his fear transformed into rage, and his eyes widened. "I know! The money belongs to our family! He bought that house using marital assets!" Caius declared confidently.

"Half of everything he owned belonged to Vespera!" That house belongs to us!"

The ridiculous conclusion somehow convinced him completely. Without another word, he stormed toward the street. "I'm getting our money back!"

By the time Caius reached the hilltop residence, dozens of residents had already gathered nearby. Some had no idea what was happening. One elderly neighbor smiled warmly.

"Congratulations, Caius! What an outstanding son-in-law. Buying such an expensive detached house without showing off. He's surprisingly humble."

Anothe neighbor nodded. "Your family is fortunate."

Caius's face twisted with fury. Fortunate? That house should have belonged to the Morgan family! At least, that was what he believed.

He marched directly toward the front gate. Bang! His fist slammed against the metal entrance. "Thiago!"

Bang!

"Come out!"

Bang!

"You shameless thief! You stole our family's money! Open this gate immediately!"