Volume 8: The Shadow War Escalates
Synopsis: Jack's position on Wall Street grows more stable, but his battle against the remnants of Richard's empire intensifies. A silent war unfolds in both the open and the shadows—and Jack faces greater challenges and dangers than ever before.
Chapter 6: Kevin's Investigation
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Jack's office, bathing the room in a golden glow. But the brightness did little to dispel the shadow that loomed over Jack's mind. He sat behind his massive desk, his expression heavy—like a stone buried beneath storm clouds.
He handed the sealed envelope from Isabella directly to Kevin without even opening it. Kevin was not just an old friend; he was Jack's most trusted ally in the battlefield of finance. A master of data analysis, expert at tracing money flows, and gifted with an instinct for danger lurking beneath calm surfaces.
"Isabella's sources are still sharp, but this is barely the tip of the iceberg," Jack said, his voice low and serious, edged with subtle anxiety. "We need to dig deeper into Golden Peak Group—especially their hidden ties to Robert Greene's remaining network."
Kevin took the file with focused intensity. His eyes—usually soft with humor—were now as sharp as a hawk's. He flipped through the pages quickly, fingers gliding over numbers like a pianist playing a complex symphony of deceit.
"These offshore accounts look clean on the surface, and the money trails are carefully designed," Kevin muttered after a moment, frowning. "Finding solid evidence will be like searching for a needle in a haystack."
"But?" Jack prompted.
"I can try tracking where these funds ultimately end up. If we follow them back far enough, we might find a weak point," Kevin replied.
Jack nodded slowly. "Then I'm counting on you, Kevin. Be careful. Golden Peak won't sit idle—they'll have countermeasures, and they won't hesitate to strike back."
Kevin smirked slightly, though his eyes remained cold and alert. "Relax, Jack. I've weathered storms worse than this. I know how to protect myself—and how to drag a rat out of its hole."
Over the next few days, Kevin vanished from public view like a ghost. He locked himself in his private workspace, working around the clock, surrounded by endless spreadsheets and financial models. Like a treasure hunter navigating a labyrinth of digits, he searched for hidden truths—and avoided deadly traps.
Meanwhile, Jack didn't waste time either. He managed company operations, stabilized stock prices under pressure from Golden Peak's covert attacks, and kept a close eye on John Smith. The intelligence about the mysterious European figure had lodged itself deep in Jack's mind like a thorn, gnawing at his peace.
One late night, as Jack bent over his desk reviewing reports, the silence of the office shattered with the sudden ring of the phone.
He grabbed it immediately. A familiar voice came through—urgent, tense.
"Jack, I found something interesting!" It was Kevin.
Jack's heart pounded. "What is it?"
"The funds from Golden Peak, after a series of complex transfers, eventually flowed into a small investment firm buried deep in the Swiss Alps—Alpine Capital."
Jack leaned forward instinctively. "Go on."
"The company appears unremarkable—small scale, standard operations, nothing suspicious… But—"
Jack's jaw tightened. "But what? Don't keep me waiting."
Kevin paused, confirming his findings one last time. "The real owner of Alpine Capital… is Emily Greene."
A chill ran down Jack's spine.
Emily Greene. He hadn't heard that name in years. She had always stayed in the background during Richard Greene's reign, the perfect wife who never sought the spotlight. Jack had assumed she'd disappeared quietly after her husband's downfall. But now, she was not only active again—she was funding Richard's remaining network through Alpine Capital.
"She's been hiding in plain sight," Jack murmured. "And she's far more dangerous than we imagined."
"There's more," Kevin continued. "I found some suspicious transactions in Alpine Capital's records—transfers going to private bank accounts in Eastern Europe. These accounts are heavily anonymized, almost impossible to trace. But I suspect they're tied to something illegal… possibly even mercenary groups."
Jack's face turned pale. If Emily was funding mercenaries, this wasn't just a corporate war anymore—it was a life-or-death battle.
"Keep digging," Jack ordered, his voice steady but laced with tension. "Track every penny. And Kevin—watch your back. If things get too hot, pull out. Your safety comes first."
"Understood," Kevin replied.
After ending the call, Jack leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. He felt like he was standing on the edge of a cliff, one wrong step away from falling into darkness.
He walked to the window and gazed out at New York's glittering skyline. The city was a giant chessboard, and everyone was a pawn. He had once been the player calling the shots—but now, he was being hunted.
He inhaled deeply, clenched his fists, and fixed his gaze on the horizon. He wouldn't lose. Not now. Not ever. He would uncover every secret, destroy every conspiracy, and reclaim everything that was taken from him.
In the following days, Kevin continued his relentless pursuit of the money trail. He was a tracker of rare skill—patient, meticulous, and relentless. Like a hound on the scent, he refused to let go.
Finally, he found a breakthrough.
He traced one of the accounts to a private bank in Romania. The owner? A man named Viktor—a notorious Eastern European mercenary leader known as Black Wolf, infamous across Europe for his ruthless efficiency and brutal tactics.
Kevin wasted no time contacting Jack.
"Jack, I got it," he said urgently. "The money from Alpine Capital ends up in Viktor's account. He's the head of Black Wolf—one of the deadliest mercenary organizations in Europe."
Jack's stomach twisted.
Emily Greene wasn't just planning a business attack—she was preparing a physical strike. Mercenaries like Black Wolf didn't just threaten assets or reputation. They threatened lives. His. His family's. His friends'.
"Damn it," he cursed under his breath.
He immediately increased security around himself and arranged protection for his loved ones. There was no room for carelessness—he couldn't afford to lose anything else.
"Kevin, stay alert. Emily might come after you too," Jack warned.
"I'll be careful," Kevin assured him. "But you need to be extra cautious. Black Wolf doesn't give up until the target is dead."
Jack knew the stakes had risen. He couldn't wait to be attacked—he had to strike first, dismantle Emily's plans, and eliminate the threat before it reached him.
This new phase of the shadow war would test not just his intelligence and courage, but also his endurance and determination.
He had to be ready—for the storm was coming.
And when it hit, there would be no turning back.