Chapter 19 - Counterattack
Jack sits in his office, eyes locked on his laptop screen as he goes through the data Kevin provided. Derek's finances are more unstable than he thought – heavy debts, shady dealings, and a lot of cash funneled through under-the-table transactions.
"Gotcha," Jack mutters, leaning back with a smirk. "Now, how do I use this?"
[Mission Update: Expose the rival's schemes. Evidence gathered: 50%.]
Chris enters the room, his expression grim. "Customers are still asking for refunds, and Derek's spreading even more rumors."
Jack nods, his jaw tight. "We're not playing defense anymore. Time to strike back."
[Hint: Utilize Negotiation Mastery to secure exclusive supplier deals. Cut off Derek's resources.]
Jack immediately gets on the phone, calling every major supplier in the area. Using his Charisma Boost and Negotiation Mastery, he manages to lock in exclusive contracts for key ingredients. Derek's bakery is effectively cut off from the best suppliers in town.
Meanwhile, Jack uses Financial Forecasting to predict Derek's next moves. The data points to Derek desperately needing a cash infusion – likely from a loan shark.
"If he's that desperate, he's going to slip up," Jack says, a dangerous gleam in his eyes.
[Mission Update: Sabotage Derek's loan application. Time remaining: 3 days.]
Jack calls Kevin again. "I need you to leak some... sensitive information about Derek's finances to the local lenders. Make it look anonymous."
Kevin chuckles. "Consider it done."
Jack hangs up and stares out the window, fists clenched. "You wanted to play dirty, Derek? Let's see how you like it when the tables are turned."