The first week of November had settled over the countryside like a quiet fog.
Lucas stood on a gravel path just outside the park's rear service gate, hands deep in the pockets of his coat. From here, the entire entrance area was visible—no longer still and abandoned, but alive with motion and steel.
The system's crew had arrived just after sunrise. Trucks unloaded equipment with military precision. Surveyors marked positions. Frames were being erected where faded signage once stood. It all moved faster than any contractor could manage. But to an outsider, it looked perfectly normal.
There was nothing supernatural about it. No glowing machines. No floating robots. Just... a relentless crew working through the off-season. Quiet. Efficient. Professional.
And no one would question it.
Three days ago, Lucas had reviewed the full report: a complete technical scan of the park, including wear levels, utility lines, drainage issues, and faded theming.
It was sobering. The infrastructure was weak. The theming barely held together. But the bones were good. The land was solid. The foundations were usable.
The system had offered a clear path forward: a complete renovation of the entrance zone, followed by phased upgrades to the rest of the park. Lucas had accepted the proposal almost immediately.
> ✅ Full renovation authorized
Temporary closure: 4 months
Period: November 3 – March 1
Public explanation: "Off-season improvements and maintenance"
The decision felt clean. Logical. Most parks in the region closed for winter anyway. This wouldn't raise any eyebrows.
The real question had been: What will it become?
The system had presented four themes for the entrance area. Each had strengths. Each had costs. But only one offered the kind of narrative flexibility Lucas needed.
> Option 3: Explorer's Landing
A 19th-century-inspired travel hub
Steamer trunks, faded maps, globe props, and ticket windows
Transition-friendly into future themed areas
Evokes curiosity and nostalgia
Expansion compatibility: High
Lucas had chosen it without looking back.
> ✅ Theme confirmed
Displaying renovation templates…
Template B: Balanced Experience
Cost: €1.5 million
Remaining Funds: €5.5 million
Cohesion Rating: 84%
Estimated Visitor Satisfaction Increase: +75%
Themed paving with compass engravings
Antique-style lampposts with warm ambient lighting
Wooden benches engraved with the new logo
Directional signs with stylized lettering
Soft background music via hidden speakers
Thematic trash bins and fencing
Decorative props: vintage travel crates, luggage, maps
Central info booth styled as a baggage check-in
Lucas confirmed it. Clean. Immersive. Practical.
> ✅ Template B selected
Construction initiated in entrance zone
Estimated completion: 6 weeks
He closed the interface and leaned back on the bed of his rented guesthouse. Through the window, he could still hear machinery humming. No shouting. No radio chatter. Just movement.
He reached for his phone.
"Lucas?" his mother answered.
"Hey," he said. "Is Dad around?"
"One second."
His father's voice came on the line. "Everything okay?"
Lucas nodded, even though they couldn't see it. "Yeah. I've made my decision."
"Oh?" his father asked. "And?"
"I'm keeping the park."
There was a long pause.
"I went over everything," Lucas added. "And it's not hopeless. Uncle left me more than just the land. There were funds too. Enough to actually fix it."
"That's a serious step," his dad said.
"I know. But I want to do it right. Not just paint over the cracks. Rebuild it from the ground up."
His mother spoke gently. "That sounds like you."
Lucas allowed himself a small smile. "You'll see it when it's ready. Opening day is March first. It won't be called Löwenpark anymore."
"What's the new name?"
"You'll find out soon," he said. "But I think you'll like it."
As he ended the call, he walked back to the window.
In the fading light, the park's old entrance sign was gone. A steel framework now arched overhead, the shape of something new taking form.
Löwenpark was disappearing.
And rising in its place—
Elysion Park.
Lucas stood near the center of Explorer's Landing, watching the transformation unfold around him. Globe & Griddle's structure was already half-complete. Fresh lighting fixtures had replaced the rusting old ones, and the new signage had arrived in sleek crates marked "Installation – Day 3."
In the distance, the once-forgotten carousel stood still and silent.
He opened the system with a thought. The menu snapped into focus.
> [Attraction – Classic Carousel]
Condition: 47%
Theme Level: 2/10
Suggested Options:
Restore and repaint (€95,000)
Moderate theming upgrade (€180,000)
Full transformation – "Global Explorer's Delight" (€240,000)
🗺️ Theming: World animals, subtle steampunk elements, vibrant canopy
Lucas didn't hesitate. He selected the full transformation. If Elysion Park was going to be something special, the details had to matter — especially in the entrance.
> ✔ Renovation confirmed. Completion in 6 days.
🎉 Expected local satisfaction boost: +12%
A message followed instantly.
> [System Notice: Larger Renovation Opportunity Available]
Would you like to renovate the entire park in a basic, non-themed format?
🧼 Includes:
Repaired pathways
Repainted structures
Cleaned attraction exteriors
New trash bins, lighting, and signage
📉 No theming added — visual only
💰 Cost: €850,000
🕒 Completion time: 7 days
🎯 Expected park-wide satisfaction boost: +10%
Lucas narrowed his eyes. It wasn't glamorous, but it would make the whole park feel fresher — even before they started adding heavy theming. He approved it.
Then he turned his attention toward the haunted house.
The system reacted instantly.
> [Attraction – Haunted House]
Condition: 58%
Current Theme: "Classic Gothic"
Options:
Light upgrade (€250,000)
Thematic transformation – "Elysion Expedition: Cursed Ruins" (€475,000)
Convert to hybrid attraction (Haunt + Puzzle) (€690,000)
Selected: "Elysion Expedition: Cursed Ruins"
Themed jungle ruin with ancient spirits and traps.
Strong thematic synergy with park vision.
🎉 Projected boost: +14%
⏱️ Completion in 10 days
It felt good. The entrance would be immersive. The haunted house would feel like a real experience. And the whole park — from benches to bricks — would feel clean and cared for.
That evening, as Lucas stepped out of the staff guesthouse and stretched, the system pinged again.
> [Income Feature Activated]
Daily park revenue from tickets will now be tracked.
🧾 Every day, your system balance will increase by:
🎟️ 5× total ticket revenue
💡 This money is system-exclusive and may only be used for:
Renovation
Theming
Attraction upgrades and expansion
💬 System funds cannot be withdrawn or used personally.
Lucas smiled. That made things clear — the park would only grow if it performed. No shortcuts. Just strategy.
He opened the overview one more time:
> 💰 Current system funds remaining: €4,955,000
The investments were piling up, but so was the momentum. By March, when Elysion Park would reopen its gates, it would no longer be a crumbling relic of the past. It would be something bold.
Something ready to be remembered.
Lucas walked deeper into the park, past the polished streets of Explorer's Landing, until the charm began to fade. The sound of drilling and construction slowly gave way to silence—interrupted only by the creaking of old metal swaying in the wind.
There it was.
The park's lone roller coaster.
The Wild Mouse.
It stood on an aging concrete pad, a relic from another era. The boxy cars were parked in a crooked row, their paint chipped and faded. The supports were rusted at the joints, and some of the handrails along the queue line were literally held together with duct tape.
Lucas tapped into the system.
> [Attraction: Wild Mouse]
Manufacturer: Gerstlauer
Year Built: 1993
Type: Compact Wild Mouse Coaster
Condition: 38%
Guest Comfort: ★★☆☆☆
Capacity: Low
Known Issues:
Abrupt transitions
Noisy and outdated braking system
Queue lacks any shade or theming
Guest Reviews Summary:
"It hurts."
"Not worth the wait."
"Screams fun, rides like a shopping cart."
Lucas winced. The coaster was over two decades old, and it showed. Still, it was the park's only thrill ride—and removing it outright would be too costly.
He explored the options.
> 🛠️ Suggested Actions:
Minimal patch-up (paint, bolts, safety check): €180,000
Full mechanical overhaul (new brakes, wheels, ride control): €400,000
Full removal & replacement: Quote required (min. €3.5 million)
He hesitated, then selected the full overhaul. The ride's layout wouldn't change, but the experience would. Smooth wheels, updated controls, modern sensors. It wouldn't be great—but it wouldn't be awful either.
> ✔ Full overhaul confirmed
Cost: €400,000
Completion time: 8 days
Satisfaction boost: +11%
The system then added a prompt:
> Would you like to apply visual theming to this attraction?
🎢 Proposed Theme: "Global Escape"
A runaway mouse darts through landmarks across the world — from icy Alps to lost jungles.
Includes:
Repainted cars with international flag motifs
Decorative station & queue theming
Background music loop (adventure style)
Optional animatronics (future add-on)
Cost: €150,000
Theming synergy with Explorer's Landing: 80%
Lucas grinned. It was campy, but fun—and it tied neatly into the entrance area's travel and discovery vibe. He approved the theme upgrade.
> ✔ Theme applied: "Global Escape"
Total cost: €550,000
Completion time: 10 days
Projected excitement rating: Moderate
Visual impact: High
The visualization changed. The track remained, but the setting transformed: playful murals, international postcards on the station walls, signs in multiple languages, and a cartoon mascot—an explorer mouse in goggles and a scarf—charging across the world.
The ride still wouldn't be thrilling, but it no longer had to be. It could be charming.
And charming was a start.
---
Later that night, Lucas reviewed his budget. The investments were piling up fast, but he felt no regret.
They weren't rebuilding the past.
They were transforming it.