Volume 9: Showdown on Wall Street
Synopsis: Jack has gathered enough evidence to launch his final strike against Richard's true mastermind. He will use every resource at his disposal to drag the hidden sins into the light of day.
Chapter 9: Financial Strike
Alicia stared in shock, unable to believe what she was hearing. The father she had always loved and respected—could he really be working alongside someone as despicable as Richard?
"This… this can't be real!" Alicia shook her head, refusing to accept Jack's words. "My father is an honest lawyer. He would never do something like this!"
"Alicia," Jack said gently, "I know how hard this must be for you to believe. But everything I've told you is the truth. I'm willing to show you all the evidence—his phone records with Richard, bank transfers, and other related documents. You can even meet the people your father helped destroy."
Doubt clouded Alicia's eyes. She struggled to reconcile the image of the man she knew with the monster they described. "Even if it's true… even if my father really did these things… what can I possibly do? I'm just a student…"
Jack sighed, seeing the pain in her expression. He understood how difficult it was for a daughter to confront such a truth about her own father. "Alicia, I'm not asking you to do anything. I only want you to know the truth—to understand that your father is helping a criminal escape justice. Perhaps you can talk to him, convince him to stop before it's too late. Or you can choose silence. But I hope you realize—your silence may allow more people to suffer."
Isabella stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on Alicia's shoulder. "Alicia, Jack is right. Your father may have been deceived by Richard or forced into this for some reason. Either way, he must answer for his actions. And you—you have the right to know the truth, and to decide what to do next."
A long silence followed. Then, finally, Alicia lifted her head, determination flashing in her eyes. "Alright… I believe you. Show me the evidence. I want to see everything."
Relieved, Jack and Isabella immediately presented all the information they had—detailed call logs between Claus and Richard, suspicious bank accounts under Claus's name, and files proving his involvement in Richard's illegal operations.
Alicia studied each document carefully, her face growing paler with every page. There was no denying it now—the man she had trusted her whole life was complicit in serious crimes.
"I… I need time," she whispered, overwhelmed. "I need to process this."
"Of course," Jack replied. "We understand completely. Take all the time you need. If you ever want to reach out—if you need help—we'll be here."
As they left Brewster Apartments, Jack exhaled deeply. "I hope she finds her way through this."
"She will," Isabella assured him. "She's smart, and she believes in justice. Once she accepts the truth, she'll make the right choice."
Now, Jack turned his focus back to the battle ahead. While he waited for Alicia's decision, he couldn't afford to sit idle. He had one last move to make—one that would strike Richard where it hurt most.
"Isabella," Jack said firmly. "Call Kevin. I need to speak with him. It's time we launched Operation Financial Strike."
"Understood," Isabella nodded.
Operation Financial Strike was a plan Jack had secretly developed during his time as a homeless man—using his deep knowledge of financial markets and insider experience to dismantle Richard's empire from within. The strategy involved exploiting market loopholes, shorting all of Richard's companies, and triggering a financial collapse that would leave him ruined overnight.
It was a high-risk maneuver. One wrong move, and Jack could lose everything. But he had no other option. This was his moment to go all in.
Soon, Kevin arrived at Isabella's apartment.
"What's going on, Jack?" he asked.
"It's time," Jack said. "We're launching Financial Strike."
Kevin's expression darkened. "Jack, are you sure? This is insane. If it fails, we lose everything."
"I know," Jack replied calmly. "But Richard won't stop hunting me—and neither will I. The only way to end this is to destroy his financial foundation completely."
Kevin hesitated, then finally sighed. "Fine. I'm with you. What's the plan?"
Jack laid it out in detail—how they would use leverage, how to short Richard's stocks, how to exploit options and futures for arbitrage. As he spoke, Kevin's eyes widened in awe.
"This plan…" Kevin muttered. "It's absolutely insane. But… I love it."
Over the following days, Jack, Kevin, and Isabella worked tirelessly to prepare for the operation. They analyzed every financial report of Richard's companies, identifying weaknesses and vulnerabilities. They reached out to traders and brokers, quietly building a powerful short-selling network.
Time passed. The plan took shape. Jack felt like a sniper in the shadows, waiting patiently for the perfect shot.
Then, the opportunity came.
A tech company called Global Tech, one of Richard's key subsidiaries, had recently announced the development of a revolutionary new chip. In reality, the product didn't exist. Richard had used false marketing to inflate the stock price and reap massive profits.
Jack knew it was the perfect target.
He immediately contacted Kevin. "Start the operation. We short Global Tech—now!"
Kevin mobilized their entire network. Massive sell orders flooded the market, and the stock price began to plummet.
Richard quickly realized something was wrong. He poured money into propping up the stock—but he underestimated the scale of Jack's attack.
The fall of Global Tech was like a dam breaking—unstoppable. Every dollar Richard threw in was swallowed by the market like a stone dropped into the ocean.
Within days, the stock lost 80% of its value. Richard suffered catastrophic losses—nearly bankrupt.
But Jack wasn't done yet. He knew Richard was just a pawn. Now was the time to expose the deeper conspiracy.
He began investigating Global Tech's insider trading records, searching for clues that would lead him to the true mastermind behind it all. He believed that once he found that person, he could bring down the entire system.
At the same time, Alicia made her decision.
She called Jack. "Mr. Jack, I've made up my mind. I'll try to convince my father to turn himself in. If he refuses… I'll go to the authorities myself."
Jack listened, filled with gratitude. "Alicia, thank you. Your courage will change everything."
The financial strike had begun. The path of justice was unfolding.
And Jack was closing in—on the truth, and on his final enemy.