Volume 2: The Rules of Survival in the Underground World
Summary: In order to move freely and gather information, Jack assumes a new identity and begins to establish himself among the homeless community. He starts observing his surroundings, searching for any opportunity he can exploit.
Chapter 1: A New Identity
The icy wind slicing through Lower Manhattan carried with it the stench of industrial fumes and rotting food, clawing at Jack's exposed skin like a pack of starving wolves. He shivered violently, trying to curl deeper into the thin cardboard box that barely shielded him from the cold. Yet the chill seeped through, relentless—threatening to freeze him from the inside out. The memory of his once-expensive Armani suit now felt like a distant dream. It had been replaced by a filthy, grease-stained T-shirt pulled from a dumpster, and a pair of jeans that reeked of decay.
This was Jack Stone's new identity: a nameless, desperate homeless man scraping by in the shadows of a glittering city.
Just three months ago, Jack had been a rising star on Wall Street, commanding millions in high-stakes trades at Goldman Sachs. He had wealth, power, prestige—and a beautiful fiancée who promised to stand by him forever. Now, all of it was gone. A meticulously orchestrated conspiracy had crashed down on him like a tsunami, sweeping him from the heights of success into the abyss of ruin. Fabricated charges, damning evidence—all carefully placed—had stripped him of everything overnight.
What hurt the most was Lucy. The woman who had whispered sweet promises into his ear, who had vowed to spend her life with him, abandoned him when he needed her most. She vanished without a trace, taking every penny he had left—and the very funds that could have cleared his name. She didn't just steal his money. She stole the last remnants of his faith in love.
"Jack… Jack Stone…" he muttered softly, his voice hoarse and hollow, as if speaking the name of a stranger. "Heh… What a cruel joke this name has become—a failure's epitaph."
He closed his eyes, letting the sting of the wind burn away the flood of painful memories. He had to forget the name Jack Stone. Forget the past, the glory, the lies. If he wanted to survive—if he wanted revenge—he had to fully embrace this new world. A brutal, freezing underworld governed by its own merciless rules.
After the initial waves of despair and rage passed, Jack surprised himself with how quickly he regained his composure. He realized that wallowing in grief would only drag him further into darkness. He had to find a way to stay alive—and while staying alive, uncover the truth. Find those who betrayed him. And make them pay in blood.
First, he needed a new identity—one that could function within this hidden world. He began observing the other homeless people, studying their habits, learning their ways of survival. He discovered that scavenging from dumpsters was a basic skill, knowing how to sleep unnoticed by cameras and patrols was essential, and possessing even a rusted knife meant having some say in a world ruled by strength.
His first challenge? Food.
Once, Jack had dined exclusively at Michelin-starred restaurants, demanding only the freshest ingredients. Now, he had to swallow his pride and dig through trash bins for scraps—leftovers discarded by others. This was a double torment, both physical and psychological. It was an utter rejection of the life he used to live.
With clenched teeth, he made his way to the back alley of an Italian restaurant. The dumpster overflowed with rotting food, emitting a thick, nauseating odor mixed with mold and decay. His stomach churned, but he reminded himself—endure it. For survival. For revenge.
He slipped on a pair of torn gloves found in the trash and started rummaging. Spoiled vegetables, rancid meat, greasy napkins… Each item turned his stomach more than the last, but he couldn't stop. Without food, tonight would mean going to bed hungry.
Then he saw it—a half-eaten slice of pizza, still clinging to a few black strands of hair. He hesitated—but only for a moment. Then he grabbed it.
"Delicious," he whispered bitterly to himself, his eyes filled with sorrow and resignation. He shut his eyes, forcing himself to ignore the disgust, and devoured the pizza like a starving animal.
As he prepared to leave, a harsh voice shattered the silence behind him.
"Hey, kid! What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Jack spun around sharply. Three large, menacing homeless men were staring him down. Their clothes were tattered, their bodies reeking of sweat and filth. Each held a weapon—wooden sticks, a rusted metal rod, and a gleaming switchblade.
The leader was a muscular brute with a scar running across his face. He spat angrily. "Newbie? This is our turf. You wanna scavenge here? Pay us protection first!"
Jack understood immediately—this was his first test in the underground world. He had to prove he wasn't weak, that he wouldn't be prey. Otherwise, he'd never survive in this brutal place. He took a deep breath, keeping his voice calm and steady despite the tension in his chest.
"I don't have any money," he said evenly, his tone low but firm. Once a Wall Street elite, he still carried a natural confidence beneath the grime.
"No money?" the brute sneered, raising his club. "Then trade something else! Or maybe you want to feel my fists instead?" The two others laughed, their eyes full of mockery and menace.
Jack knew there was no escape. In this dog-eat-dog world, only strength determined survival. He had to fight. He had to win. Only then could he carve a place for himself in this new reality.
His fists tightened. Years of disciplined gym training tensed his muscles. His eyes sharpened.
"If that's the way it has to be," Jack growled, his voice hard and resolute—like a cornered beast ready to strike. Without hesitation, he lunged forward and threw the first punch at the scarred leader.
And so, amid the filth of a garbage-strewn alleyway, Jack Stone's battle for survival in the dark underbelly of New York City had begun…