Volume 4: Counterattack from the Edge
Summary: Using his sharp instincts for financial markets, Jack begins secretly shorting Richard's company stock, inflicting massive economic pressure on him.
Jack stood at the southern edge of Central Park. The fountain was frozen, its cracked surface reflecting the dim city lights like shattered glass. He resembled a lurking wolf—silent, patient, and cold-eyed. The wind howled through the trees, tugging at his ragged coat, but he didn't flinch. Inside him burned the fire of vengeance, more than enough to ward off the biting cold.
The data provided by Pixel was like a set of keys, unlocking Pandora's box and revealing endless possibilities. Jack knew full well that to bring down Richard, brute force would never work. He needed to act like a precise sniper—using market volatility to strike Richard's weakest points with surgical accuracy, slowly eroding the foundations of his empire.
"Pixel, lock onto Taurus Fund," Jack whispered into his earpiece, adrenaline surging through his veins. That familiar thrill—the feeling of being in control—rushed back to him. It was the same sensation he used to feel when standing atop Wall Street.
"Taurus Fund? That's Richard's golden goose, man. You're playing hardball," Pixel responded, surprise laced with admiration. "No problem, I'll have it done in minutes. But Jack—are you sure about this? Going after Taurus directly is risky. If Richard catches on, you'll be exposed."
"The greater the risk, the greater the reward," Jack replied coolly. "Richard will never expect me to come at him head-on. The less likely he thinks it is, the more reason I have to do it."
Minutes later, Pixel's voice returned. "Jack, I've sent you all the detailed holdings and recent trading data for Taurus Fund on your tablet. I also threw in a few anonymous posts on some major finance forums—just subtle hints suggesting internal mismanagement and inflated earnings reports."
Jack pulled an old, cracked tablet from his worn-out backpack—purchased from a secondhand electronics store. Though battered, it had been upgraded by Pixel into a powerful analytical tool. Jack booted it up and began scanning the data with practiced efficiency.
Taurus Fund's portfolio was vast and complex, spanning energy, tech, and healthcare sectors. It held large positions in several blue-chip stocks—stable, but lacking explosive potential. Jack was searching for the weak link, the lever that could tip the balance.
His eyes finally settled on a solar tech firm named Solar Dynamics. Recently, the company had issued a profit warning, citing increased competition and rising material costs, forecasting a significant drop in quarterly profits. The news hit the market hard, and the stock price plummeted.
Taurus held a substantial position in Solar Dynamics—and worse, it was leveraged. If the price continued to fall, the fund would face severe losses.
"This is it." A glint of determination flashed in Jack's eyes. He would use Solar Dynamics' collapse as a catalyst, triggering a chain reaction that would drag Taurus Fund into chaos.
He quickly contacted an old acquaintance from the underground world—a trader known only as Kevin. Once a Wall Street legend, Kevin had mastered every derivative under the sun before being blacklisted for insider trading and forced into the shadows.
"Kevin, it's me. Jack," he said into his phone, his voice low but confident.
"Jack? Holy shit! You're still alive? I thought those debt collectors had already chopped you into dog food," Kevin shot back, surprised yet clearly pleased. "Alright, what do you need? I'm not doing charity here."
"I need you to help me place a heavy short bet on Solar Dynamics," Jack stated plainly, wasting no time.
"Shorting Solar Dynamics? Now? Are you insane? Sure, they released a profit warning, but their tech prospects are still solid. And with government support for renewables, long-term value is still there," Kevin replied, confused.
"Trust me, Kevin. I have inside information. Their stock is going to keep falling—faster and harder than anyone expects," Jack said firmly, carefully withholding the evidence of illegal activity he possessed while implying exclusive knowledge.
Kevin paused, weighing the risk. Jack had once been a Wall Street prodigy—his instincts were rarely wrong. Plus, Kevin had heard rumors circling around Solar Dynamics, though nothing confirmed.
"Alright… I believe you. Tell me your plan. How much capital do you need?" Kevin asked cautiously.
Jack laid out his strategy. He wanted to leverage derivatives to amplify the short position while using Pixel's fabricated rumors to deepen market panic and trigger mass sell-offs.
Kevin exhaled sharply. "Jack, you're insane. This is dancing on the edge of a blade. But damn, I love it." His voice dropped lower. "I'll try to raise funds—but don't expect miracles. My pockets aren't deep anymore."
Using his underground connections, Kevin scrambled to borrow money—even turning to crime bosses for high-interest loans. He understood the opportunity was rare; if successful, he could make millions overnight and reclaim his lost status.
Meanwhile, Jack worked behind the scenes. With Pixel's help, he hijacked several social media accounts and flooded the internet with exaggerated negative news about Solar Dynamics—highlighting supposed financial instability and operational failures. Panic spread rapidly.
Solar Dynamics' stock accelerated its downward spiral, triggering a wave of selling. More investors joined in, and the price collapsed like a crumbling tower.
Taurus Fund suffered massive losses. Richard was beside himself, scrambling to stabilize the situation. He poured huge sums into buying back shares, but it was useless. The market had spun completely out of control—every attempted rebound was drowned in a flood of sell orders.
"Who is it? Who the hell is behind this?" Richard roared in his office, sweeping expensive crystal decorations off his mahogany desk, shattering them against the floor. His handsome face twisted with rage and fear. He felt as if someone had slapped him across the face—and he didn't even know who had done it.
He immediately ordered his team to investigate the institutions and individuals shorting Solar Dynamics. Soon, a name appeared on the list—Kevin.
"Kevin? How dare that loser pull something like this? Isn't he already washed up? Could he be working for someone else?" Richard narrowed his eyes, sensing something deeper than mere market fluctuations. Years of experience told him that a larger conspiracy was unfolding beneath the surface.
He called Kevin immediately, demanding answers. Naturally, Kevin denied any involvement beyond personal investment decisions, vaguely claiming he acted on his own judgment and hinting at private information.
Richard wasn't fooled. He knew Kevin too well—he was a greedy gambler, not a visionary investor.
"Kevin, tell me the truth—who's pulling your strings? Because if you don't, I'll make sure you disappear from Wall Street forever," Richard threatened coldly.
Kevin felt the heat of Richard's fury but refused to break. He knew if he betrayed Jack, his fate would be far worse. "Richard, don't scare me. I'm just a free agent. I have the right to invest based on my own analysis. If you think I did something wrong, take it up with the regulators."
Richard slammed the phone down, his face dark as thunder. He decided to meet Kevin in person—to find the truth and show him the consequences of crossing him.
As Richard prepared to confront Kevin, Jack was already setting his next trap. He planned to exploit Richard's desperation, drawing him into an even deeper pit from which there would be no escape.
This was only the beginning.
The financial sniper strike was merely the overture. The real hunt was just getting started.