Chapter 11: The Puppet MasterVolume Title: Volume 5 – Wall Street Rises Again
Volume Summary: Jack returns to Wall Street, only to find that the truth is far more complex than he imagined. Richard's remnants still linger, and a greater conspiracy awaits him. He must proceed with extreme caution if he is to eliminate these threats and restore order to Wall Street.
Chapter Title: Chapter 11 – The Puppet Master
Jack felt as if an icy hand had gripped his heart. Oliver Greene! The name exploded in his mind like a bomb, igniting every memory of betrayal, corruption, and darkness. He had spent countless hours imagining the identity of the hidden mastermind behind it all—never once suspecting it would be him: the legendary financier, founder of Greene Group, and widely known as the "Godfather of Finance"—Oliver Greene.
Greene! The man Jack had once admired, even idolized. He had modeled his own career after Greene, striving to become one of Wall Street's elite traders. Could it be that all his nightmares stemmed from this very man—the figure he once revered?
Jack forced himself to remain calm, masking the storm inside. "Mr. Greene? I'm honored to receive your call. How can I assist you?"
A soft cough echoed through the line, followed by Greene's gravelly, commanding voice. "Jack, you're smarter than I expected. I've been watching you—how you rose from nothing, clawed your way back to Wall Street. Your resilience and skill are impressive."
"Flattery won't get you anywhere, Mr. Greene," Jack replied evenly, though his fingers tightened around the phone.
"You're wondering why I called, aren't you?" Greene's tone carried amusement. "It's simple—I don't appreciate anyone disrupting the rules… especially not the ones I created."
Jack's stomach twisted. He knew exactly what Greene meant—the destruction of the Richard family, the exposure of the Poseidon Fund.
"I'm not sure I understand, Mr. Greene," Jack said carefully, buying time to assess Greene's intent. "I'm merely upholding Wall Street's integrity and fighting crime."
Greene chuckled—a sound devoid of warmth. "Integrity? You're still too naïve. The order on Wall Street is survival of the fittest. The Richards made mistakes, but they paid the price. There's no need for vengeance. You know too much now—and that puts everyone at risk."
"I just want the truth," Jack countered.
"Truth?" Greene's voice hardened. "Truth is often the most dangerous thing of all. Some things are better left buried. If you keep digging, you'll only bring disaster upon yourself—and possibly destruction."
"Are you threatening me?" Jack's voice turned cold.
"No," Greene replied slowly. "This is a warning. I admire your talent, Jack. If you walk away from this now, I can offer you a future. Join Greene Group. I can make you one of the wealthiest men on Wall Street. Everything you desire—power, influence, security—it can be yours."
Join Greene Group? It was both an invitation and a threat. Jack understood immediately—Greene was dangling an olive branch while silently warning him to stop his investigation.
"Thank you for the offer, Mr. Greene," Jack declined without hesitation. "But I have principles. I won't align myself with criminals."
"So, you've made your choice," Greene said flatly, his tone turning frosty. "Then don't blame me when the consequences come. Remember this, Jack—Wall Street isn't a game anyone can play. You think you've uncovered the truth, but what you see is only what I allowed you to see."
The line went dead.
Jack lowered the phone, his expression dark and unreadable. He had officially crossed Oliver Greene. A far more brutal war was about to begin.
Greene's words echoed in his mind like a curse: What you see is only what I allowed you to see. For so long, Jack believed he had uncovered the truth—but what if it was all part of a trap set by Greene? Had his entire investigation been manipulated from the start?
He walked to his desk, opened his laptop, and pulled up the files on the Poseidon Fund. He began re-examining every piece of evidence, questioning everything he had previously accepted. New details emerged—subtle inconsistencies that pointed toward something far more sinister.
He recalled what Isabella had once told him—that she had gathered rumors about Greene Group from the underground world, but all were silenced by Greene's overwhelming power. Was it possible that Greene wasn't just manipulating the Poseidon Fund, but hiding something far greater?
Jack decided to restart the investigation. He needed more information—enough to expose Greene's true nature and intentions. He had to move carefully; any misstep could cost him everything.
He picked up the phone and dialed Isabella.
"Isabella, dig into Greene Group—every detail. Their overseas investments, every member of the Greene family. This time, we go all in."
"I understand, Jack. I'll do whatever it takes," Isabella replied seriously.
After hanging up, Jack moved to the floor-to-ceiling window, staring out at the glittering city lights. Oliver Greene was an extremely dangerous adversary—one who wielded immense wealth, influence, and power. Defeating him would require sacrifice beyond anything Jack had faced before.
He took a deep breath, his eyes hardening with resolve. There was no turning back now. He would expose Greene, uncover the truth, and deliver justice—for himself and for every victim caught in this web.
Over the next week, Jack and his team worked tirelessly. They continued their financial assault on Universal Investments while secretly investigating Greene Group. What they discovered was staggering: Greene Group operated across multiple industries—finance, real estate, energy—with global investments spanning continents. More troubling were the frequent transactions between Greene Group and suspicious offshore companies, likely used for money laundering.
Jack also noticed Greene's deep political connections. Through generous campaign donations, Greene Group ensured favorable policies and protection from scrutiny. This explained why few dared to challenge them openly.
As the investigation progressed, Jack became increasingly aware of the scale of Greene's power. He was not just fighting a man—he was facing down a monster. One wrong move, and he would be swallowed whole.
Meanwhile, Richard's remaining loyalists began retaliating. They launched smear campaigns, attempted to sabotage Jack's operations, and issued threats against him and his team. Jack had to tighten security, ensuring the safety of everyone involved.
One night, as Jack worked late in his office, his phone rang.
It was Katherine.
Her voice trembled with urgency. "Jack, it's bad news! Mark has been kidnapped!"
Jack's heart dropped. Kidnapped? It had to be Greene. He was making his move—using Mark as leverage to force Jack to stop.
"What happened? Who took him?" Jack demanded.
"We don't know who, but we suspect it's Richard's remnants," Katherine said. "They stormed his apartment and took him. We've reported it to the police, but they think it might be a regular kidnapping."
Jack knew better. This was no ordinary abduction—it was Greene pulling the strings. He had to act fast.
"I understand. Keep the police involved. I'll handle the rest," Jack said calmly.
He hung up and immediately called Isabella.
"Find out who took Mark. Locate him. No matter the cost, I will get him back," Jack ordered.
"I understand, Jack. I'll do everything I can," Isabella promised.
Time was running out. Jack stared out into the dark night sky, his eyes burning with fury and determination.
The war had entered its most intense phase. He would stop at nothing to defeat his enemy, expose the truth, and deliver justice.
This time, the puppet master was Oliver Greene—and Jack had to rescue Mark from the hands of the very godfather of finance himself.