Four days had passed since Kevin joined the Nexus Collective.
The $3 million advance had arrived almost immediately, giving him the financial breathing room he desperately needed. The first thing he did was drive to the Toon Bank and pay off the entire $450,000 loan he had taken, clearing his debts completely and receiving a clean slate. With the pressure of monthly repayments gone, he felt lighter than he had in weeks.
Next, he used a large portion of the remaining funds to purchase the surrounding land around Krusty Farm. Most of it was undeveloped wild fields and empty plots, perfect for his vision. In total, he acquired over 450 acres, a massive expansion that would allow him to build a full-scale processing factory, plant entire groves of Truffula Trees, create dedicated areas for the Martian cows and Abyssal Chickens, set up large jellyfish rearing facilities, and for his other endeavours in the future.
The land cost him $1.85 million, but it was worth every dollar. He immediately contacted Bob and Manny from Fix-It-All-Construction. After a long meeting with detailed blueprints, they agreed to take on the massive project: a modern factory complex inspired by Willy Wonka's scale, complete with automated production lines, storage warehouses, and research labs for new ingredients. They also planned extensive farm improvements, irrigation systems, expanded barns, and high-tech coops.
He also got to meet Mario and Luigi, who worked as specialized plumbers and pipe-laying experts for the company. They were assigned to handle all the underground infrastructure. Seeing the famous brothers in hats and overalls was surreal, but Kevin was glad for their expertise.
Bob gave him a confident thumbs-up. "We'll throw everything we've got at this. With our full crew, it should be done in about a month."
The total estimated cost for the factory and farm upgrades came to $2.4 million. Kevin still had plenty left from the advance, plus the restaurant's steady income. He was playing it carefully, but the foundations for a true empire were being laid.
Now, Kevin was behind the wheel of his Dodge Charger, driving west toward Springfield, the neighboring city to Toontownsville. The sun was bright, and the road stretched ahead. He planned to stay there for days. First, he wanted to inspect the abandoned commercial property from the lease contract he had received as a reward. He intended to renovate it into a second branch of the Krusty Krab. He also planned to visit Roger Rabbit's house to begin his Toon Force training, which would officially start this weekend.
As he drove, Kevin smiled to himself. A surge of excitement ran through him at the thought of visiting. He knew, from countless hours spent watching cartoons, that Springfield was home to the Simpsons, and he planned to embark on a full tour. He also remembered its contentious history with the neighboring town of Shelbyville. A strong rivalry had existed between them since their founding, rooted in the clashing visions of Jebediah Springfield and Shelbyville Manhattan. Manhattan's eccentric wish to establish a city where "men were free to marry their cousins" had been denied by Springfield, leading to the creation of Shelbyville as a rival settlement.
He had to admit, it was a rather strange tale.
After a long but smooth drive, he finally arrived in Springfield. Following the GPS to the address on the lease contract, he pulled up in front of the property.
The building was a single-story structure with a distinctive orange-tiled roof and light brown walls. Several large windows lined the front, giving a good view inside, while a double-door entrance sat at the center. On the side was a drive-thru window marked by a faded arrow and the words "ORDER HERE." In front of the building stood a large, weathered sign featuring Krusty the Clown's grinning head holding a "KRUSTY BURGER" logo.
The restaurant sat in a sizable but cracked parking lot, surrounded by sparse greenery, a few tired bushes and trees that had seen better days.
"Krusty Burger, huh," Kevin said with a chuckle as he stepped out of the car. He knew this place well from The Simpsons. It was infamous for its questionable meat quality, cost-cutting measures, and frequent health violations. There were already branches in Toontownsville, but this location had clearly been abandoned for some time.
He unlocked the front door using the key he had received with the contract and stepped inside. The interior was dusty and dim, with tables and booths still in place but covered in a layer of grime. The order counter was intact, though the registers were missing.
The kitchen area in the back had old grills, fryers, and storage spaces that would need thorough cleaning and upgrading. The floors were tiled in the classic Krusty Burger style, but many tiles were cracked or missing.
There was even a faded mural of Krusty on one wall, smiling maniacally while holding a burger.
Kevin walked through every section, taking notes on his phone. The building had good bones, solid structure, decent layout for a fast-food restaurant, and enough space for both dine-in and drive-thru. With the right renovation, this could become a successful second location.
He spent over an hour surveying the property, mentally planning the changes he wanted: modern kitchen equipment, fresh paint, new signage, and a brighter, cleaner atmosphere.
Satisfied with his inspection, Kevin locked up and returned to his car. He knew he'd need to find a local construction company, as Bob's crew was already stretched thin.