Chapter 170: A Tragedy Prevented

?When the residents were summoned back, they approached the complex with a mix of cautious optimism and residual skepticism.

?Then they saw it.

?And stopped dead in their tracks.

?The six-story building before them barely resembled the rundown eyesore they had left that morning.

?Its exterior had been completely transformed. The faded, cracking paint was gone, replaced by a sleek, modern facade that looked right at home in a high-end district.

The fractured walls were pristine, the old windows had been replaced with reinforced smart glass, and the front entrance featured an elegant, contemporary design.

?Even the exterior lighting had received an upgrade.

?Soft, ambient luminescent strips traced the architecture of the building, while a state-of-the-art security gate guarded the main courtyard.

The entire complex looked so wildly different that several residents instinctively checked the surrounding street signs to ensure they were in the right place.

?Passersby along the street took notice as well. Some slowed their hover-cars to stare, while others stopped on the sidewalk, wondering why a building in an ordinary residential district looked as though it belonged in one of the Astral Dominion’s elite Core Sectors.

?Mr. Parker was the first to find his voice. "Is this... really our building?"

?Nobody answered him. They were all too busy staring with open mouths.

?Cassian stood nearby with his hands casually tucked into his pockets, watching their reactions with a faint smile.

He had expected them to be pleased, but their stunned faces suggested he had blown past their expectations.

?"Well, what are you waiting for?" he asked smoothly. "Go take a look inside."

?That was all the encouragement they needed. The residents surged toward the entrance.

?The first upgrade they encountered was the new security network. The outdated keycard scanner had been replaced with a biometric identification matrix linked directly to a building-wide defense grid.

Unauthorized access was now virtually impossible, and high-definition surveillance arrays covered every strategic angle.

?The main lobby was equally impressive.

?The worn, stained flooring had been replaced with polished, marble-finish tiles, the walls bore a fresh coat of high-grade paint, and warm lighting filled the space.

The entire lobby felt significantly larger, brighter, and cleaner.

?Then came the real test: the elevator.

?"It works!" Mr. Wayne called out.

?He pressed the call button, and the metallic doors glided open instantly.

?He stepped inside cautiously, as though expecting the cab to plummet. Instead, the elevator carried him to the upper floors with whisper-quiet smoothness, entirely free of the violent shaking and metallic screeches that had plagued it for years.

?By the time he returned to the lobby, he looked as if he had just witnessed a divine miracle.

?The plumbing system was another revelation. The corroded pipes had been replaced with high-pressure fluid networks, guaranteeing stable water pressure and clean supply to every unit.

The electrical infrastructure had been completely overhauled, featuring redundant backup generators designed to prevent power flickers entirely.

?Every individual apartment had received equal care. Damaged fixtures were restored, obsolete appliances were replaced, and interior walls were refreshed.

The construction firm had even reinforced structural points that had previously shown dangerous signs of stress.

?The five-hour renovation had resolved every single complaint the tenants had filed over the past several months.

?By the time everyone finished touring the building, their doubts had vanished completely.

?They emerged into the courtyard wearing broad smiles, excitedly exchanging remarks about their newly upgraded homes.

Mr. Parker couldn’t stop praising the pristine plumbing. Mr. Wayne was already calculating how much time he would save with a functional elevator, while Mrs. Diana looked thrilled with the flicker-free electrical grid.

?Eventually, their collective attention shifted back to Cassian.

?Mr. Atlas was the first to stride over, shaking his head in disbelief. "Boy, I have to hand it to you. You did an unbelievable job."

?He glanced back at the sleek building behind them. "I’ve lived here for years, and I’ve never seen this place look half this good. You fixed every single thing we complained about. If I’d known you were going to buy the building, I would’ve started complaining a lot sooner."

?Cassian chuckled softly. "Then I suppose I should be grateful you didn’t."

?Atlas laughed, giving the structure another admiring look before his eyes narrowed slightly. "Still, I do have one little concern."

?"Oh?"

?Atlas lowered his voice, leaning in with a conspiratorial grin. "With a building looking this fancy, I wouldn’t be surprised if you decided to jack up the rent."

?The surrounding residents went dead silent.

?They had been so caught up in the excitement of the renovation that the financial reality hadn’t even crossed their minds.

Slowly, several pairs of anxious eyes locked onto their new landlord.

?Cassian met Atlas’s gaze, his expression unreadable.

?Then a subtle smile touched his lips. "Well... that wouldn’t necessarily be a bad idea."

?"..."

?Atlas’s grin vanished instantly.

?"..."

?The rest of the tenants stared at Cassian in frozen horror. For a terrifying second, Atlas genuinely wondered if he had just joked his way into a rent hike for the entire building.

?Cassian let the heavy silence linger for a few beats before breaking into a smooth laugh. "Relax. I’m joking."

?A collective, audible sigh of relief swept through the crowd.

?Atlas pressed a hand over his heart, exhaling sharply. "Brat, don’t scare an old man like that! I thought I was going to have to pack my bags and move to the slums!"

?"Then perhaps you should think twice before giving your landlord ideas."

?"You’re the one who bought the place!"

?"And you’re the one suggesting price increases," Cassian pointed out effortlessly.

?Atlas opened his mouth to retort, thought better of it, and promptly shut it again.

?The surrounding neighbors burst into laughter.

?Cassian smiled along with them, glad to see their anxiety replaced by genuine relief.

The high-speed renovation had cost a solid sum of Astral coins, but to him, it was hardly a loss.

?These were people he had known for years. In his former timeline, they had perished when this exact building collapsed due to horrific structural neglect.

He remembered their faces, their voices, and the quiet lives cut short by a tragedy that should have been prevented.