Volume 3: The Rise to Power
Summary: Jack hires a hacker to infiltrate Richard's corporate systems and uncover more incriminating evidence.
Still burning with anger, Jack burst into Isabella's apartment, swiftly overpowering Richard's henchmen and rescuing her just in time. Holding her trembling body close, he felt his resolve for revenge harden even further.
"I'm sorry, Isabella," Jack whispered softly, guilt evident in his voice. "This is all because of me."
Isabella shook her head, clutching the edge of his jacket tightly. "No, Jack. I believe in you. I want to help. People like Richard deserve to be punished."
After calming Isabella down, Jack regained his composure. He knew brute force wasn't sustainable—Richard's network was too vast and powerful. To truly bring him down, Jack needed a smarter, more covert strategy. He needed a breakthrough—an irrefutable weakness that could crush Richard once and for all.
"Has Kevin found anything new?" Jack asked.
Isabella nodded and pulled out her phone, dialing Kevin immediately.
"Kevin, what's Richard up to? Any new developments?" she asked.
"Jack, Isabella—are you both okay?" Kevin's voice was laced with concern. "Richard is doing everything he can to control the narrative. He's also pulling strings in government circles, trying to shut us down before we dig any deeper."
Jack frowned. Richard's countermeasures were even more aggressive than expected.
"Have you found anything more concrete about his illegal transactions?" Jack pressed.
There was a pause before Kevin replied, sounding discouraged. "Not yet. Richard is careful—every transaction is disguised, making it nearly impossible to trace the real flow of money."
Jack's heart sank. To take down Richard, they needed undeniable proof of his crimes. Without tracing the money, everything else was just speculation.
"Keep digging, Kevin," Jack said firmly. "Don't miss a single clue. And listen—find me a top-tier hacker."
"A hacker?" Kevin sounded confused. "What do you need one for?"
"I'm going to breach Richard's company servers and uncover his hidden secrets," Jack said, his eyes filled with determination.
Kevin took a deep breath, finally understanding. "Alright, I'll try. But top hackers are rare—and expensive."
"Money isn't an issue," Jack replied without hesitation. "I'll pay whatever it takes if it means exposing Richard's crimes."
After hanging up, Jack turned to Isabella. "You know people in certain… unconventional circles. Can you find me someone trustworthy?"
Isabella thought for a moment before nodding. "There's someone—'Ghost.' One of the best underground hackers in New York. But he's elusive, rarely shows his face, and has a temper. He doesn't work with just anyone."
"We have to try," Jack insisted. "Tell him—if he helps me expose Richard, I'll pay him well."
The next day, Isabella led Jack to a rundown internet café in Brooklyn. Dimly lit and filled with the smell of cigarette smoke, the place was plastered with random flyers and looked completely unremarkable.
"This is where Ghost often appears," Isabella whispered. "He likes to stay hidden, observing from the crowd."
Jack scanned the room. Students, homeless men, jobless drifters—it was impossible to tell which one was the legendary hacker.
"How do we find him?" Jack asked.
Isabella smiled mysteriously. She walked over to a computer and typed in a sequence of commands. A skull logo appeared on the screen, followed by the words:
"What do you want?"
"This is Isabella. I brought a friend. We need your help," she said into the microphone.
A short silence passed before the screen responded:
"I know. You're after Richard. He's not easy prey."
"I know," Jack stepped forward, addressing the screen directly. "We need your help finding evidence of Richard's illegal transactions."
Another pause. Then:
"Payment?"
"If you can get us the key evidence, we'll pay you one million dollars," Jack said without hesitation.
The skull blinked a few times before another line appeared:
"Deal. But this will take time. Richard's firewalls are strong. Breaking them won't be easy."
"No problem. Speed matters, but quality comes first," Jack replied.
"Come back here in three days. I'll have an answer."
With that, the skull vanished, and the screen returned to normal.
As they left the café, Jack couldn't shake his unease. He didn't know if this mysterious 'Ghost' could be trusted—or whether he'd succeed in penetrating Richard's defenses.
Three days later, Jack returned to the same café, anxiously waiting as time crawled by.
Finally, the familiar skull appeared on the screen.
"I found it."
New text followed:
"Richard is using an offshore company in the Cayman Islands to conduct illegal transactions—massive amounts of money. Here are the detailed records and bank account information."
A file window popped up, containing extensive transaction data and banking details. Jack quickly downloaded it onto his USB drive and began reviewing the contents.
His shock grew with every line he read. Richard's crimes were worse than he had imagined—illegal transfers, money laundering, tax evasion. This evidence alone would be enough to put him behind bars for life.
"Thank you, Ghost," Jack said to the screen. "We'll honor our agreement. One million dollars will be transferred to you."
The screen responded:
"No need for thanks. I only did what needed to be done. Be careful—Richard won't go down easily."
"I understand," Jack replied.
Armed with the evidence, Jack felt a wave of relief wash over him. This was the smoking gun he needed to destroy Richard. Now, the next step was clear—he would release the truth to the public and ensure Richard faced the full weight of the law.
"Kevin, I've got it," Jack called excitedly. "I have Richard's proof of illegal transactions. We're launching our final attack."
Kevin's voice came through, thrilled. "That's incredible, Jack! What should we do next?"
"We leak everything—to the regulators, to the media. I want the world to see Richard for who he really is," Jack declared. "This time, I'll make sure he loses everything."
Just as Jack prepared to act, another unexpected call came in—this time from an anonymous number. Isabella answered, and the caller issued a chilling warning: If Jack continues his investigation, harm will come to her.
Hearing the threat, Jack's fury reignited. Richard dared to threaten Isabella again?! There was no way he would allow it.
"Isabella, don't worry," Jack held her tightly, whispering in her ear. "I'll protect you. I'll end this soon—and make Richard pay."
He knew the coming battle would be fiercer and more dangerous than ever. But he was ready. With his intelligence, courage, and unwavering determination, he would defeat Richard and reclaim his future.
And Ghost's involvement had become the decisive turning point in this war.
Jack believed in one thing—justice would prevail, and the truth would shine through.