"From Broke to Baller: Thanks, System?"

The real estate office was bustling with activity. Jin stepped inside, the cool air conditioning a welcome relief from the humid heat outside. His fingers brushed the edges of the folder in his hands, where the signed documents awaited their final signature. This was it. The final step in what had felt like an endless process.

The receptionist smiled at him as he approached the counter. "Mr. Cortez? We've been expecting you. The lawyer's already in the back, ready to go over everything with you."

"Thank you," Jin replied, offering a polite smile in return.

He made his way down the hallway, past closed doors and offices filled with people. Finally, he reached a door with a sign reading, Client Meetings. He knocked gently before entering.

Inside sat a lawyer in a sharp suit, his eyes rising from the paperwork as Jin stepped in.

"Ah, Mr. Cortez," the lawyer greeted him, standing to extend his hand. "It's good to see you again. Please, have a seat."

Jin nodded and sat across from the lawyer, laying the folder in front of him. "I'm ready to go over everything."

The lawyer flipped open the folder and began reviewing the paperwork with practiced precision. Jin listened carefully, ensuring that every detail aligned with what he had agreed to during the negotiation with Mr. Luis. The terms seemed fair—no hidden clauses, no surprises. Everything was straightforward, just as it should be.

"The property is as-is," the lawyer explained, "but as we discussed, you have some room for renovation and adjustments. The price has been set at ₱1.6 million, and that will be finalized today with your signature."

Jin nodded, already familiar with the details. His heart raced slightly as he thought about the future—what this property could mean for him, how it would change his life. It was more than just a financial investment. This was a step toward independence, toward carving out a future of his own.

"I'm ready to sign," Jin said, his voice steady.

The lawyer smiled and slid the documents across the table. Jin took a deep breath, picking up the pen and signing his name in the designated spaces. Each stroke of the pen felt like a small victory, a symbol of his hard work and determination.

Once he finished, the lawyer quickly made a copy for himself and handed Jin the final document for his records. "Congratulations, Mr. Cortez," the lawyer said with a nod. "You're now the proud owner of this property."

Jin shook the lawyer's hand, feeling a sense of pride welling up inside him. "Thank you. I appreciate all your help."

As he left the office, the weight of the papers in his hand felt significant, like a tangible marker of his progress. He had done it. He had taken a risk, made a sacrifice, and now it was paying off.

---

The next few days were a blur of activity as Jin arranged for contractors to inspect the property. He had carefully planned out every detail—the budget for renovations, the timeline, and even the materials he would need. It was overwhelming, but Jin was determined. His system had offered him an additional bonus for completing the property purchase, which helped ease some of the financial stress. But it wasn't just the system's rewards that motivated him. It was the future he was building, step by step.

On a quiet Sunday afternoon, Jin sat at his desk, scrolling through his plans for the property. His phone buzzed, pulling him from his thoughts. It was a message from Mika.

> Mika R.:

"Jin, we need to talk about the project. Can you meet us tomorrow after class?"

Jin paused, considering the request. The group project had been going well—he had already done most of the research and helped organize their presentation. He hadn't heard much from them lately, though, and he was curious about what they wanted to discuss.

> Jin C.:

"Sure, I'll meet you after class. What's up?"

> Mika R.:

"Nothing serious. Just wanted to run through some things before the deadline."

"Alright. See you then," Jin replied, setting his phone down.

---

The next day, after class, Jin met up with his friends at the café they had grown accustomed to. Yssa and Calix were already there, sitting at their usual booth, laughing over something Mika had said.

When Jin arrived, Calix waved him over. "There he is! The man of the hour."

Jin raised an eyebrow, sitting down next to them. "What's going on? You guys look like you're planning something."

Mika smirked, folding her arms. "We just wanted to check in with you. The project is almost done, but we need to polish a few things. We thought you could help us with the presentation part."

Jin nodded. "I've been working on it. It's mostly just formatting the slides, right?"

Yssa leaned forward, her expression serious for a moment. "Yeah, but I think we should focus on making the presentation stand out more. We need something that'll grab the professor's attention."

Jin considered her words. "I agree. We can add some interactive elements, maybe even a quick demo or some visuals to back up our points."

Mika's eyes lit up. "Now you're talking. I knew you had some good ideas."

They spent the next hour brainstorming, refining the details of their presentation. Jin contributed his knowledge of digital finance trends, sharing insights and suggesting ways to engage their professor with more compelling visuals. By the time they finished, the presentation was practically perfect.

"Thanks, Jin," Yssa said, offering him a grateful smile. "You really know your stuff."

Jin shrugged, a little embarrassed. "It's nothing. I've just been researching a lot."

Calix leaned back in his chair. "Well, whatever you're doing, keep it up. You're really on fire lately."

Jin smiled softly. "I'm just doing what I can. Everyone's been working hard on this."

After they wrapped up the meeting, Jin headed home, his mind occupied with both the project and the next steps for his property.

---

Later that evening, as Jin was about to settle into bed, he received a notification from his system.

> System Update:

"Property Renovation Project: Active

Next Steps: Begin planning construction and estimate completion time. Adjust budget accordingly."

Jin's heart raced. There was no turning back now. It was time to take action, to turn the property from an investment into a home—both for him and for the future he was building.

End of Chapter 29