Episode 5 - Blackwood Dreamland
The morning sun shone through the tall windows of Kenny Blackwood’s office, casting a sharp reflection on the white marble floor. The room was quiet. The only sound was the gentle 'clink' of a spoon stirring coffee in a cup.
Kenny sat in his favorite black leather chair, staring at the big screen in front of him. On it was the 3D design of his latest project.
“Blackwood Dreamland,” he whispered. “A dream that will change the face of this city.”
The screen showed a luxury residential complex with everything. There would be a huge mall, an international hospital, luxury apartment, business park, elite schools, a beach club, and even a theater for international performances. Everything was designed with care and high attention to beauty.
A senior architect stood beside him, pointing at a few details on the screen.
“We’ve already spoken to the landscape team. The seaside area is perfect for the beach club. We can use the sunset view.”
Kenny nodded slowly. “Good. I want everything to be perfect. No room for compromise.”
The architect smiled nervously. “But, Mr. Kenny, to be honest… a project this big will cost a lot.”
“I know,” Kenny cut in. He turned toward the window. “That’s why we can’t build it alone. We need their help.”
He meant foreign investors. The ones with deep pockets and high expectations.
**
That afternoon, Kenny stood on a presentation stage in a five-star hotel. The room was full of investors from different countries. Some of them already knew the name Kenny Blackwood from Blackwood Holdings, the most aggressive and ambitious property developer in the city.
He opened the presentation with a calm and confident tone. “Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for taking the time to attend this important presentation,” he said, his voice steady as his eyes scanned the room.
“What we’re about to show you isn’t just another development plan. It’s a vision that could redefine the way we live, work, and connect in this city. I hope you’ll see not just the numbers and designs, but the opportunity behind them.”
He started to open the presentation slide, “This project will be the new icon. Not just for the city, but for the whole country. We want to create a place for living, business, entertainment, and health. All connected in one area,” Kenny said with full confidence.
Slide after slide appeared. The animated visual presentation amazed everyone. Some investors whispered to each other, others wrote things down.
But the mood started to change when one investor from Japan raised his hand.
“Mr. Blackwood, this is all very interesting. But where exactly will this project be built?”
Kenny didn’t answer right away. He opened a new slide. A city map appeared, and he zoomed into the southern part.
“On a piece of land around 200 hectares... in this area.”
Some investors leaned forward and pointed at the screen. One of them spoke up, “Isn’t this a slum area? My staff told me there are still many people living there.”
Kenny stayed calm. “We are in the middle of acquiring the land. We already own some parts. The rest is under negotiation.”
But doubt had already crept in. The investors who looked excited before, now spoke quietly among themselves. The status changed from “ready to fund” to “on hold.”
**
After the presentation, Kenny stared blankly at the now-dark screen.
“Too soon? Or are they just too slow to see the opportunity?” he murmured.
His assistant, Patrick, walked up. “Some of them are still interested, Sir. But they want a guarantee the land will be cleared before they sign the contract.”
Kenny let out a small laugh. “Same old story. They love the project, but they’re scared of the city’s reality. Not good risk-takers…”
“What will you do, sir?” Patrick asked.
Kenny turned to him, that usual cold and calculated smile spreading across his face.
“We have about one year and seven months. That’s more than enough.”
**
On the other side of the city, Rae Riveira sat alone in her tiny editing room. Her laptop screen still showed old clips, but her mind had drifted far away. That’s when her phone rang.
“Vina?” she answered quickly.
“Rae, I just got something big,” Vina’s voice was tense. “That huge project everyone’s talking about... it’s called Blackwood Dreamland.”
Rae sat up straight. “Sounds a little megalomaniac.”
“And more than that... the location, Rae. They’re planning to build it over fourteen slum communities on the south side of the city.”
Rae went silent, trying to take it in.
“Fourteen?” she repeated quietly.
“Yes. I don’t have all the names yet. But they say the total area is over two hundred hectares. They’ve already started quiet surveys. And apparently, part of the land has been locked in by their legal team.”
Rae looked at the city map pinned to her wall. Some of the places she had circled before now felt even more important. But she hadn’t realized something very personal, one of those areas included the small neighborhood ........... where her mother still lived.
“If they’re going to clear all of that... how many families will be forced to leave? And how?” she muttered, more to herself than to Vina.
“Rae... do you still want me to try getting those internal documents?”
“Yes. Anything you can find. Even just photos. We can’t rely only on guesses.”
“Alright. But Rae... please be careful, okay? I know you’re brave, but this... these people play dirty.”
“That’s exactly why I can’t stay quiet.”
After the call ended, Rae leaned back in her chair. Her thoughts raced. It felt like she was standing right in front of a storm, and she had no idea how close the eye of it really was.
**
That night, Kenny sat alone on the balcony of his penthouse. A cigarette burned in his hand, the smoke forming rings that quickly vanished in the sea breeze.
“Fourteen neighborhoods…” he whispered.
He picked up a red folder from the small table beside his chair. Inside was a list of neighborhoods, maps, and names of community leaders. One of them was called 'The Old Fishing Village'.
He looked at that name for a moment, then gave a small, cold smile. “This one... has to go too.”
He flipped open a logistics notebook. “In six months, we start with the five outer villages. Four through formal relocation... one with a more special way.”
He closed the folder. There was no hesitation. No guilt.
Kenny Blackwood didn’t just build cities. He shaped them the way he wanted. And if something had to be destroyed to make space for something bigger, he would do it. Again and again.
**
Meanwhile, Rae was already building her strategy. She highlighted old news articles and mapped out all of Blackwood’s projects from the past four years. She printed a large city map and started pinning colorful post-its.
“If West Haven was built after that fire... and now they’re targeting the south... they’ll probably use the same pattern.”
She grabbed a red marker and drew a big circle around the southern part of the city.
“I need more than just theories. I need documents. Real proof.”
She thought about Vina. All her hope now rested on that woman. If Vina could bring internal Blackwood documents, everything would change.
Rae could make a video backed by real evidence, not just opinions or clips.
“But we don’t have much time,” she murmured. “If Kenny really wants to clear out fourteen neighborhoods, they’ve already started making plans.”
Kenny’s face flashed in her mind, his cold smile, the way he looked at people like he already knew how the story would end.
“This time... I have to move faster than him,” Rae said firmly, switching on her small camera. She began recording her daily investigation log, for documentation. Or maybe... as her final proof.