The concept of merging his virtual world with his family's real-world dream, of building a physical 'Gaffer's Dugout' with a real-life 'Gaffer's Office' streaming studio at its heart, was so brilliant, so perfect, that Ethan's mind buzzed with it for the rest of the night.

He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his brain a whirlwind of possibilities. He pictured it all: a cool, modern gaming cafe filled with kids, all competing in FCG tournaments.

The next morning, he woke up feeling a profound sense of purpose.

He reached for his phone, a new ritual, and opened the YouTube app to check on his fledgling channel.

He wasn't expecting much.

Maybe a few more subscribers, a handful of comments on his last stream.

But what he saw made him sit bolt upright in bed, a slow, disbelieving grin spreading across his face.

In the monetization tab, next to 'Estimated Revenue', was a number that wasn't zero.

$2.17

It was, in the grand scheme of things, nothing. It was less than he earned in an hour at CostMart.

But it was also everything. It was proof. He had earned actual, real-world money by being a football manager.

He scrolled down, his excitement growing.

To receive payments, please link a valid bank account and verify your identity.

He didn't have a bank account. He was nineteen years old and had never had a reason for one. Until now.

He practically flew down the stairs, a piece of toast in his hand, his mind a hive of activity.

"Dad!" he called out, finding his father in the living room, reading the paper.

"I need to open a bank account."

His dad looked up over his glasses, a surprised but pleased look on his face.

"Oh? Getting financially responsible all of a sudden?"

"I'm a businessman now, Dad," Ethan said with a theatrical, mock-serious expression.

"I have revenue streams to manage. My YouTube empire has generated a grand total of two dollars and seventeen cents. The world of high finance waits for no man."

His dad let out a hearty, booming laugh.

"Two dollars, eh? Well, we'd better get that into a high-yield savings account before inflation eats away at your profits."

He stood up, a proud, happy glint in his eye.

"Alright, Mr. CEO. Let's go get you a bank card."

The drive to the bank was a new kind of father-son bonding.

His dad, who was now completely comfortable with Ethan driving the new family car, sat in the passenger seat, acting as a combination of driving instructor and business advisor.

"So, 'The Gaffer'," his dad began, a teasing grin on his face. "How does it feel to be a public figure? I had Mrs. Higgins from down the street ask me if you could give her grandson some tips on his virtual team's defensive shape."

"It's ridiculous," Ethan said, laughing as he navigated a roundabout with a newfound confidence. "But it's kind of amazing. People are actually watching. They're invested."

"They're invested in you, son," his dad said, his tone turning more serious for a moment.

"They see the passion. It's the same passion I have for my toys. You just... found a bigger playground." He looked out the window, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"This gaming cafe... it's a big risk, Ethan. A huge one. But seeing you, seeing Sarah... it feels like the right one."

"We'll make it work, Dad," Ethan said, his voice filled with a quiet, unshakeable conviction.

"I promise."

The bank was a cold, formal, and very adult place. But as Ethan sat there, signing forms and showing his ID, he didn't feel like a kid playing a game anymore.

He felt like a young man taking control of his future. He walked out twenty minutes later, a crisp, new debit card in his wallet, feeling like he had just conquered a kingdom.

His shift at CostMart was a joy. He walked in, feeling ten feet tall, a freshly minted member of the financial world. He found Maya in their usual spot, the dairy aisle, looking at him with a curious, amused expression.

"Well, well," she said, leaning against a refrigerator door.

"Don't you look pleased with yourself. Let me guess. You figured out the optimal stacking pattern for cottage cheese?"

"Even better," he announced, pulling the new debit card from his wallet and presenting it like a trophy.

"I am now officially a man of finance. A captain of industry. I have a bank account."

She just laughed, a bright, musical sound that made his heart do a little jump. "Wow. Look out, Wall Street. So, what brought this on? Your two-dollar YouTube empire finally ready to go public?"

"Something like that," he said with a grin. "And it's two dollars and seventeen cents, thank you very much."

They spent the next hour working and talking, the easy, flirtatious banter a perfect, light-hearted counterpoint to the serious, exciting changes happening in his life.

He told her about his dad's plan for 'The Gaffer's Dugout', and her eyes lit up with a genuine, supportive excitement.

"Ethan, that's a brilliant idea!" she said.

"A real-world hub for the FCG community? That's genius! You could host live viewing parties for your matches!"

"That's the plan," he said, the dream feeling more real with every word.

The shift flew by. As he was clocking out, Maya caught him by the door.

"Hey," she said, a playful, challenging glint in her eye.

"Now that you're a rich and powerful businessman... does that mean you can afford to take a girl out for a proper 'tactical debriefing' sometime? My treat, of course. I'll need to scout my opposition for the league match."

"I think my two-dollar empire can probably stretch to a pizza," he said, a wide, happy grin on his face. "It's a date."

He walked out of the store, the setting sun casting a warm, golden glow on the world. He felt a profound sense of peace.

He was so lost in his happy thoughts that he almost didn't see the figure leaning against the bike racks, waiting for him in the shadows.

A cold, familiar dread washed over him. It was a man in a sleek, dark suit, his face a mask of cold, professional indifference.

He had seen him before.

On the grainy, long-lens photograph from the news article.

"Ethan Couch?" the man said, his voice calm, quiet, and utterly devoid of emotion.

Ethan just stared, his heart pounding, his happy, simple world suddenly feeling very, very complicated.

"My name is not important," the man continued, taking a step forward.

"I'm with Aetheria Dynamics. And Liam Taylor would like to have a word with you."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.