Volume 3: The Rise to Power
Summary: Jack learns that John was once a powerful figure on Wall Street and begins absorbing more knowledge about the financial markets from him.
Jack clenched the USB drive tightly in his hand, a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside him. The seed of revenge had taken root in his heart, but so had a lingering sense of unease. John was no saint—his alliance was laced with calculation. One wrong move, and Jack could find himself dragged into an abyss from which there was no return.
Back in his dimly lit basement hideout, Jack didn't rush to plug in the drive. Instead, he lit a cigarette and paced slowly through the cramped space. The flickering light cast long shadows across his determined face. He needed clarity. Only by thinking through every angle could he make full use of this "gift" from John.
Early the next morning, Jack contacted Li, a tech genius he had met in the black market and someone who excelled at hacking. If anyone could crack the contents of the drive, it was him.
"Li, I need you to decrypt everything on this drive—fast," Jack said, handing it over with a serious tone.
Li took the device, excitement flashing in his eyes. "Leave it to me, Jack. This is what I live for. Give me a day, and you'll see everything."
The waiting was unbearable. Jack forced himself to stay calm and began digging into John's background. What he uncovered was revealing—John Conner had once been Richard Wilson's right-hand man, instrumental in building the empire that became Richard Corp. They were not just partners; they had been close friends, mentors to each other—until a few years ago, when Richard abruptly ousted John under the pretext of "inadequate performance," leaving him disgraced and exiled from Wall Street.
There was clearly more to that story. Jack suspected it wasn't just a business decision—it was likely a carefully orchestrated move by Richard to eliminate a potential threat.
Sleep eluded him that night. His mind raced with possibilities. It felt as though he stood in the center of a vast labyrinth, and John's secret was the key to navigating its twists and turns.
By evening the next day, Li called with excitement in his voice.
"Jack, I did it! I've decrypted everything on the drive!"
Jack rushed to Li's studio and immediately opened the laptop.
The screen filled with files—emails, ledgers, photos, audio recordings. Each one pointed directly to Richard Wilson's crimes.
"There's a lot here, Jack," Li explained, scrolling through the data. "Money laundering, insider trading, stock manipulation… Richard's playing a dangerous game."
Jack scanned the documents, his heartbeat quickening. These were enough to destroy Richard's reputation—and land him behind bars.
One particular file caught his eye—a detailed list of offshore accounts scattered across the globe, their transactions frequent and highly concealed. Clearly, these were Richard's channels for money laundering.
"Li, track down the real owners of these accounts," Jack ordered urgently.
Li nodded and dove into the search. Minutes later, he looked up, his expression grim.
"All these accounts lead back to a company based in the Cayman Islands—Golden Sea Investments."
"Golden Sea…" Jack murmured. He recognized the name. Years ago, Richard had established a similar offshore entity for dubious financial dealings.
"Dig deeper," Jack said. "Find out who owns Golden Sea."
Li resumed typing furiously, lines of code flying across the screen.
"I got it!" Li exclaimed. "The owner of Golden Sea Investments is… Richard Wilson."
Jack's eyes turned cold. Just as he suspected—Richard was the puppet master pulling all the strings.
Beyond the accounts, the drive also contained audio files. Jack clicked on one, and Richard's voice came through—low, hoarse, and commanding.
"…How's it going?" Richard asked.
"We've done as instructed. Jack Harper has been removed. He's got nothing left. No chance of coming back," another man replied.
"Good. Remember, finish the job. Don't leave him any room to breathe," Richard ordered coldly.
Jack's fists tightened until his knuckles turned white. These recordings were undeniable proof of Richard's betrayal. At last, he knew the truth—and with it, the fire of vengeance burned even brighter.
Just then, Li gasped.
"Jack, look at this—one of the recordings is about John!"
Jack quickly played the file.
"…Are you sure you want to do this? John gave you everything. Without him, there wouldn't be a Richard Corp." A woman's voice spoke, familiar yet tinged with sorrow.
"Emily, you're too naive. John is old. His thinking is outdated—he's holding me back," Richard sneered. "And worse, he knows too much. I have to get rid of him before he becomes a liability."
"But… he was your mentor," Emily's voice trembled.
"Mentor? Ha. There are no eternal mentors—only eternal interests. I gave him enough to live comfortably. Isn't that enough?" Richard laughed bitterly.
Jack exhaled sharply. Now he understood the real reason behind John's downfall. Richard hadn't just wanted to remove a rival—he wanted to silence him permanently.
"Li, find out who this Emily is," Jack said.
Li searched again and soon returned with the answer.
"Emily Brown. Richard's personal secretary—and his mistress."
A bold idea formed in Jack's mind. Perhaps, Emily could be used against Richard.
"Li, back up all these files and encrypt them. And remember—tell no one," Jack warned.
Li nodded solemnly, fully aware of the gravity of what they were dealing with.
Jack left Li's studio and walked the empty streets, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders. He wasn't just fighting for himself anymore—he was fighting for justice for John, and for exposing Richard's crimes.
He looked toward Wall Street in the distance, a fire burning deep within him.
Richard Wilson, you won't escape this. I will make you pay.
In the following days, Jack quietly investigated Emily Brown. He discovered that her relationship with Richard wasn't as solid as it appeared. There were tensions between them—perhaps even resistance from Emily regarding Richard's actions.
Jack decided to approach her—to see if she could be convinced to help.
Meanwhile, Richard had begun monitoring Jack's movements. He sensed something was off. If he wanted to stop Jack's plan, he would have to act fast.
A storm was brewing over Wall Street.
That night, Jack returned to The Red Lips. He knew Isabella had extensive connections—perhaps she could help him reach Emily.
"Isabella, I need a favor," Jack said, leaning against the bar where she was mixing drinks.
Isabella set down her glass and studied him curiously. "Go ahead, Jack. If I can help, I will."
"I need to meet someone—Emily Brown, Richard Wilson's secretary."
Surprise flickered in Isabella's eyes. "What do you want with her?"
Jack only smiled faintly. "Just tell me if you can help."
After a pause, Isabella nodded. "I can try. But I can't promise anything. Emily doesn't come here often."
"That's fine. Just do your best," Jack replied.
She made a call, spoke in hushed tones, and hung up.
"She's dining tomorrow night at a place called Blue Ocean. I can arrange a meeting," Isabella offered.
Jack nodded, grateful. "Thank you, Isabella."
The next evening, Jack arrived early at Blue Ocean, ordering a coffee and taking a seat in the corner. The restaurant was softly lit, romantic and warm—but Jack's mood was heavy. He was about to step into a dangerous game.
Time ticked by. The restaurant grew busier, and Jack's nerves tightened with each passing minute.
Finally, a tall woman in a black dress stepped through the door. Elegant, poised—Emily Brown had arrived.
Jack inhaled deeply, stood up, and walked toward her. He was about to enter a world of risk, deception, and confrontation.
And there was no turning back.