Leo pulled out a file and a newspaper from his bag, then said:
"Just call me Leo, Fox. This is the G.I. Bill, and this here is the recently passed Housing and Infrastructure Construction Act from the state legislature. These two bills offer policy support for civilian infrastructure and residential housing construction from different angles. The people in high places might be unreliable, but they can't ignore the voices of the voters.
The very fact that these bills passed proves that there's a strong demand for housing. Take us for example—except for Joseph, who has a big enough house, the rest of us don't even own homes. My whole family is still renting.
As for what you said about a sluggish economy—I agree. But I believe that this slump is exactly the pain that precedes recovery, the contraction that follows the war economy. The war is over. We won. The economy will definitely bounce back, and that day isn't far away."
Leo took a sip of his beer before continuing:
"People haven't spent money for four years. Their wealth has grown. It's not just their growing kids—they, as parents, don't want to cram so many people into a single home anymore. That's our opportunity. We get in early, gain experience, and when the recovery hits, we'll make a fortune."
Leo's words had the younger men fired up, but Fox remained calm. He picked up the G.I. Bill from the table and said:
"Leo, I don't think you've actually tried to use this bill. Charlie and I went to a few banks in town last month to apply for a loan—it was a nightmare."
Charlie chimed in, "That's right. I'm trying to get married. The banks all acknowledge the bill, but the review process is so slow. I asked again yesterday—they said it'd take at least another month."
Leo nodded, listening quietly as Fox went on:
"Leo, I respect your take on the economy, and I agree that there's huge demand for housing in our town. But I think the recovery will take a long time. The government is offering $2,000 low-interest loans to help us buy homes or start businesses.
But just like Charlie said, the review process is extremely slow. Many people are giving up on applying altogether. And even if the money comes through, $2,000 just isn't enough for a house."
Daniel, annoyed at Fox repeatedly challenging their captain, began spinning his beer glass—his fists were itching. Desmond was also irritated but had to admit that Fox had a point. Coming from a farming background, he instinctively understood that starting a business was no easy feat. So, he voiced his concerns.
"Leo, you know Dorothy and I are getting married next month. We've been house hunting. In Lynchburg, building on private land costs around $13,000. Even a fixer-upper in town goes for about $5,000. That's not a small sum."
Leo narrowed his eyes, studying Fox. This chubby guy, true to his name, was a fox in sheep's clothing. That seemingly honest face couldn't fool Leo. He'd already spotted the cunning glint in his eyes.
This guy wasn't here to team up—he was here to sabotage.
And Leo was right. Fox did have an agenda.
Before the war, Fox had been a project lead at David Real Estate. Thanks to his logistical talent, he ended his military career with the same rank as Leo. While stationed in Europe, he had seen—and helped move—huge quantities of gold back to the U.S. From all the paperwork and logistics, he realized just how much America had gained from the war.
He also saw the G.I. Bill before most people even knew it existed. With eyes opened wide by wartime experience and political exposure, Fox smelled the money embedded in the bill and decided to take his shot.
Ignoring his commander's pleas, he left the military and returned to Lynchburg. He also turned down an offer from his old employer, David Real Estate.
That's right—Fox had been offered a job the moment he returned. But he had bigger plans. He wanted to start his own real estate company.
He had connections, capital backing from a powerful figure, and a burning ambition. But one man can't build a company alone. Fox targeted his fellow townie Charlie, who introduced him to Joseph and the others.
Fox was impressed by their combat skills and leadership. This was America, where farmers once pulled out Maxim guns over land disputes. In real estate, he knew such conflicts were common. He needed powerful allies.
But just when he cast his net, he realized the fish were already in someone else's bucket—Leo's. And Leo was in real estate, too.
That was unacceptable. A tiny town like Lynchburg couldn't support three real estate companies.
So Fox showed up with two goals: undermine Leo's vision and poach his people.
Like Leo had said earlier—there's just not enough talent in Lynchburg.
At first, Fox had been confident. He figured Leo was a greenhorn—good at fighting, maybe, but clueless about business. Probably just a hot-headed kid trying to "do something" with his buddies, like the old Lynchburg Gang—a bunch of wannabe gangsters.
Fox thought he could crush Leo with just his first question. How could a high school dropout know anything?
But Leo's answer had caught him off guard. He was articulate, informed, and even aligned with Fox's own data-backed insights from Europe.
And what had Leo seen in the Pacific? A bunch of deserted islands and hole-digging Japanese.
Still, Fox's second question had made some impact. The team didn't fully dodge his trap. Desmond's uncertainty showed that Leo's group had cracks—morale could be shaken.
Fox subtly glanced at Joseph. What he feared most was Leo shoring up his team through him.
"Joseph, I assume buying a house isn't a problem for you?" Leo asked suddenly.
The table went silent. Everyone knew Joseph, as the sheriff's son, wasn't short on money.
Blushing slightly, Joseph replied, "N-no, not a problem at all. Actually, I have some land outside of town."
"I remember you said you went to Reevesdale High, right? Your class, the one above and below you—that's about 300 kids. They're all from farming families outside of town. Don't tell me none of them plan to build homes."
Leo's comment left some of the guys confused. Sean and the others kept poker faces, but inside, they didn't love where this was going. Nobody likes to see their friend get ahead too fast.
Scratching his head, Joseph avoided their glances and replied, "Yeah, well, I was thinking... if we start this real estate company, maybe the first project could be my house."