Volume 3: The Rise to Power
Summary: Jack launches a public relations campaign, using the power of media to expose Richard's scandals and provoke widespread public outrage.
Late at night, in a rented cheap apartment in Brooklyn, dim light filled the room. The air was thick with the bitter scent of cheap coffee and the faint aroma of instant noodles—an unmistakable sign of countless sleepless nights. Jack sat hunched over his laptop, eyes locked onto the dense lines of code and files on the screen. Sweat beaded on his forehead, strands of hair falling messily across it. His knuckles were white from hours of typing, and bloodshot eyes bore into the glow of the monitor like those of a surgeon meticulously dissecting a patient—except his scalpel cut through data, searching for the final blow against Richard. In those tired yet burning eyes flickered both vengeance and hope for the future.
"Olympus… more complex than I imagined," Jack muttered under his breath, scrolling rapidly through layers of encrypted transaction records. These hidden files were like tangled threads—demanding immense patience and skill to unravel. This vast organization lurking deep within Wall Street coiled around the financial system like a serpent, its tentacles reaching into every sector, manipulating the economy's lifeblood. And Richard? He was merely one of its fangs—poisonous, greedy, and ruthless.
Wrapped in a thin blanket, Emily curled up on the corner of the couch, watching Jack nervously. The orange-yellow light cast shadows across her pale face, highlighting her exhaustion. She bit her lip repeatedly, eyes darting restlessly. "Jack… are you sure we should keep going? They're… they're terrifying. We're just ordinary people. If we fight them, won't we be crushed beyond recognition?" Her voice trembled like a leaf caught in autumn wind—still haunted by fear of Richard, whose shadow loomed over her like an unshakable nightmare.
Jack stopped typing and turned toward her. He crouched beside her, gently taking her cold hand in his. He could feel the sweat pooling in her palm—the raw texture of fear. "Emily, I know you're afraid. I understand. But this isn't just about my revenge anymore—it's about everyone Richard and Olympus have exploited. The hardworking families, the hopeful entrepreneurs—they've all been trampled under Olympus' greed. They feed off society's blood, destroy justice, and if we don't stop them, more lives will be ruined."
His gaze was unwavering, his voice steady and strong. "And do you really think stepping back now would make them spare us? You know Richard better than anyone—he doesn't tolerate threats. He'll lie in wait like a venomous snake, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. So we must fight—for ourselves, and for the innocent."
Emily looked up into Jack's determined eyes, as if seeing the first rays of dawn after endless darkness. Her fear began to fade, replaced by a resolve forged in desperation. She tightened her grip on his hand, clutching it like a lifeline. "Okay… I'll follow your lead. Whatever you decide to do, I support you. I just… I don't want to go back to being controlled again. I don't want to be his puppet or help him commit any more crimes."
"Then let's reveal Richard's true self together and expose these dark forces once and for all!" Jack stood and returned to his computer, scanning through Kevin's files—emails, financial statements, call logs. Finally, he found the breakthrough.
"I got it! Recently, Richard has been spreading false rumors to suppress the stock price of that biotech company we acquired. He's been attacking their R&D projects maliciously." Excitement crept into Jack's voice. "This is our chance. We can launch a public counterattack. Let everyone see how Richard manipulates the truth for his own gain!"
"But how?" Emily asked anxiously. "The major media outlets are controlled by Richard. He's bought influence with money. They won't report anything against him. Even if they did, he'd bury it."
Jack smirked. "Who said we need traditional media? In the digital age, public opinion is more powerful than ever. We'll use the internet, social media—we'll let the truth spread on its own! We'll ignite a people's war, turning every ordinary citizen into our ally!"
Jack immediately contacted Kevin, instructing him to monitor the messages Richard's company posted across financial websites and social platforms—especially the smear campaigns targeting the biotech firm. He needed to capture every flaw, every lie, and tear them apart. At the same time, he had Emily reach out to journalists and editors she knew—those who owed her favors or held grudges against Richard—to ask for their attention and support.
Kevin lived up to his reputation as a hacking genius. Within minutes, he infiltrated Richard's corporate servers, retrieving damning evidence: screenshots of hired trolls attacking the biotech company, fake posts on forums, even transaction records between Richard and online influencers proving his manipulation of public opinion.
Jack, leveraging his deep knowledge of finance, wrote clear, logically structured articles exposing Richard's schemes. He translated complex financial jargon into accessible narratives, making the truth understandable to the average person.
They split their efforts—Jack posted the articles on major financial forums, while Emily shared them with her contacts in the media. Using anonymous accounts, they spread the truth far and wide. Soon, discussions about Richard exploded online.
"Shocking! A Wall Street Elite Exposed for Fraud!"
"Where's the Conscience? Spreading Lies Just to Crash Stock Prices!"
"The Dark Side of Capitalism! Hold These Corrupt Businessmen Accountable!"
Comment sections overflowed with anger and condemnation. Online communities formed virtual alliances, united in condemning Richard's actions. Financial analysts joined the conversation, dissecting his tactics, pointing out flaws and risks, calling for regulatory intervention. Their voices became a tidal wave, crashing against Wall Street's carefully maintained order.
Richard's company stock plummeted as investors rushed to sell, triggering further panic. Confidence in Richard collapsed entirely. Once hailed as Wall Street's golden boy, he was now a pariah, cursed by the public.
In his high-rise office atop Wall Street, Richard raged like a wounded beast. The room was in ruins—priceless antiques shattered, paintings torn to shreds. He paced furiously. "Jack… damn that Jack! I'll make him pay. I'll make him wish he were dead!"
He frantically dialed his phone, ordering his PR team to contain the narrative and instructing his legal team to sue every alleged rumor-spreaders. He tried to crush the backlash with money and power—but it was too late. The speed of the internet far exceeded his control. The truth had already spread like wildfire.
The next day, several mainstream outlets published investigative reports detailing Richard's smear campaigns, stock manipulation, and illegal transactions. The reports sparked national outrage, prompting official investigations. Richard's empire was crumbling.
Jack sat on a worn-out sofa, watching news coverage of Richard's downfall on TV. A faint smile tugged at his lips—one filled with triumph, but also caution. "Game's just beginning, Richard. Think the public attack is over? No, this is only the beginning."
He knew this was only the first battle. Behind Richard stood Olympus, and they wouldn't let him fall easily. He still needed to find the final pieces of evidence—the ones that could bring down Olympus itself. He had to drag their hidden sins into the light.
Just then, his phone buzzed—a message from an unknown number:
"Want to know the truth about Olympus? Midnight tonight. Meet me under the old oak tree in Central Park. You'll get the answers you seek."
Jack gripped the phone tightly, his eyes flashing with mixed emotions. He knew it might be a trap—a carefully laid snare. But he had no choice. For revenge. For truth. For the innocent. He had to go.
Taking a deep breath, he turned to Emily. "Get ready. We may be facing something much bigger. This time, we're dealing with the real enemy."
Outside, New York's streets glittered under neon lights, forming a surreal mosaic of color and chaos. The city hummed with anticipation, unaware of the storm brewing in its heart.
Jack walked alone through the empty streets, clad in a black trench coat and wearing a cap pulled low over his brow, vanishing into the night. He knew someone was watching—but he didn't care. He knew the true path of vengeance had just begun.
At Central Park, the ancient oak stood silently, waiting. Secrets about Olympus lay hidden beneath its branches—and so did danger.
With unwavering steps, Jack moved forward—toward the forest of shadows, toward his fate.