Volume 5: Wall Street Rises Again
Volume Summary: Jack returns to Wall Street, only to find that things are far more complex than he imagined. Richard's remaining influence still lingers, and a far greater conspiracy awaits him. He must proceed with extreme caution if he is to eliminate these threats and restore order to Wall Street.
Chapter 5: The Dangerous Deal
Jack opened his eyes to the cold, damp night of Brooklyn. The air at the dock was thick with salt and the stench of rotting fish. In the distance, seagulls cried out—like omens warning of the danger about to unfold.
"Is Lily's intel accurate?" Jack whispered, his voice low and steady. He wore a black jumpsuit, blending perfectly into the decaying surroundings.
Kevin tightened his grip on his gun and replied just as quietly, "Lily's information has always been reliable. They should be making the exchange inside this abandoned warehouse. But… Emily didn't specify exactly what they're smuggling."
Jack frowned slightly. The unknown was often more dangerous than the known. He signaled for Kevin to stay low, and together they crouched along the side of the building. Graffiti-covered walls and rusted doors spoke of years of abandonment.
Through a broken vent, Jack peered inside. The interior was dimly lit by flickering bulbs, barely illuminating the space. Dozens of armed men stood in formation around several large wooden crates. The deal was about to begin.
Richard's remnants were clearly not to be underestimated. These men were well-trained, heavily armed. Rushing in would be suicide.
"Wait," Jack stopped Kevin from moving too soon. "Let's observe first. We need to understand what's being traded and how many enemies we're dealing with before we act."
They remained hidden in the shadows, watching intently. Moments later, a black sedan pulled up outside the warehouse. Two figures stepped out—one tall and broad-shouldered, wearing sunglasses even under the dim light. His presence alone exuded menace.
"It's Marco!" Kevin gasped. "Richard's top enforcer! Why would he come here personally?"
Marco—the name sent a chill through Jack's mind. A ruthless killer, loyal only to power and money. If he was here, this deal was bigger than they had feared.
Behind Marco followed a man in an expensive suit, smiling nervously as he tried to ingratiate himself.
"Who's that?" Jack asked.
Kevin squinted. "That's Davis—the CEO of Universal Investments. What is he doing with Marco?"
Universal Investments. Jack knew the name well. A rising star on Wall Street, its sudden success fueled by mysterious funding. Could it be that Universal Investments was secretly linked to Richard's remaining network?
Marco approached one of the crates and roughly pried it open. Jack leaned closer, trying to see what was inside.
"Those are… high-precision chips!" Kevin sucked in a breath. "These are restricted exports! They're smuggling military-grade technology!"
High-precision chips—used in advanced weaponry and defense systems. Strictly controlled by governments. If they fell into the wrong hands, the consequences could be catastrophic.
A heavy weight settled in Jack's chest. This wasn't just a comeback attempt—it was treasonous activity threatening national security.
"Davis, everything checks out?" Marco's voice was deep and threatening.
Davis wiped sweat from his brow, bowing with fake enthusiasm. "Absolutely, Mr. Marco. Exactly as requested. Latest model, top performance."
"Good." Marco nodded approvingly. "And the payment?"
Davis quickly handed over a briefcase filled with cash. Marco flipped through the stacks, then gave a signal. One of his men took the case.
"A pleasure doing business," Marco extended his hand.
"The pleasure is all mine," Davis smiled eagerly, as if he had just completed a major victory.
The deal was done. Jack knew there was no time to lose. They couldn't let those chips leave the dock.
"Time to move," Jack whispered. Then, with a burst of motion, he charged forward.
"Police! Freeze!" Jack shouted, raising his weapon.
The sudden intrusion stunned everyone inside. Marco and Davis turned sharply, shock flashing across their faces.
"What the hell?!" Marco roared. His men snapped into action, weapons raised toward Jack and Kevin.
Gunfire erupted. Chaos filled the warehouse.
Jack and Kevin dodged bullets with practiced agility, returning fire while taking cover behind crates and pillars.
Marco ducked behind a support beam, his eyes narrowing at Jack.
"Jack Chen!" he growled. "Didn't expect to see you here."
"You're finished," Jack said coldly. "This ends tonight."
Marco sneered. "With just the two of you? Dream on."
He signaled his men, who launched a fierce counterattack.
Jack and Kevin were outnumbered, outgunned. They fought hard, using the terrain to their advantage—but the tide was turning against them.
Then, suddenly, gunfire erupted from the other end of the warehouse. Uniformed officers stormed in—reinforcements had arrived.
"Lily…" Jack realized instantly. She had called in backup at the perfect moment.
With police support, the battle shifted. Richard's remnants began to fall back.
Seeing the collapse, Marco turned to flee.
"Not so fast," Jack snarled, giving chase.
Marco was fast, but Jack was faster. He pursued relentlessly, cornering Marco near a collapsed stack of crates.
"No escape," Jack said, leveling his gun.
With a roar, Marco drew a knife and lunged.
"Die!" he screamed, slashing toward Jack's chest.
Jack sidestepped, kicked Marco hard in the gut, then drove a punch into his face.
Marco staggered back, blood dripping from his lip. As he tried to rise, Jack pressed his boot onto his chest, pinning him down.
"This is over," Jack declared.
He searched Marco's body, finding documents and identification, then handed him over to the arriving officers.
The battle ended. The warehouse was a battlefield of fallen bodies and scattered debris. Davis was also taken into custody.
Officers collected the smuggled chips and seized the cash.
Lily approached Jack and clapped his shoulder. "Nice work, Jack. You just saved New York again."
Jack smirked. "Just the beginning. Richard's network isn't fully dismantled yet. We've got a long way to go."
He looked up at the dark Brooklyn sky, determination burning in his eyes. The storm over Wall Street was only just beginning—and Jack would stand at its center once more.