Chapter 8: Regaining Hope

Volume 1: Fallen from Grace

Summary: Jack earns some money through scrap collection and begins to rebuild his future. He resolves to uncover the truth behind his downfall.

Chapter 8: Regaining Hope

Jack leaned closer to Oscar, lowering his voice.

"We could partner up. Work together on this business. I have a strong background in finance—I can help you scale up and make even more money."

A flicker of greed passed through Oscar's eyes as he studied Jack carefully.

"You really think you can help me make more money?" Oscar asked, his tone low and probing.

Jack knew this was his moment. If he wanted to get closer to Oscar and uncover the truth about those mysterious documents, he had to seize it.

"Absolutely," Jack replied confidently. "Mr. Oscar, you may only see the surface of the scrap business, but there's actually a massive profit potential here. I can help you optimize operations, expand your channels—and turn trash into real gold."

He began speaking passionately about his "business plan." Drawing on his deep knowledge of finance from his days on Wall Street, Jack transformed the scrap industry into a promising investment opportunity. He spoke fluently about risk assessment, market analysis, and capital flow—each word radiating professionalism.

Oscar listened intently. Though he didn't fully understand everything Jack said, he could sense the enormous potential beneath the words. After all, he was just a man who had built his life from scraps—he'd never imagined that waste management could intersect with finance.

"Wait, wait," Oscar interrupted, raising a hand. "You're saying you can turn trash into gold? How?"

Jack gave a subtle smile. He knew Oscar was hooked.

"It requires specialized processing techniques and broader distribution channels. I can connect you with buyers willing to pay top dollar for processed materials."

"Buyers?" Oscar frowned. "What kind of buyers? Why would they pay high prices for junk?"

"Mr. Oscar," Jack said mysteriously, "you must understand—there are many things in this world that seem worthless at first glance. But once refined and rebranded, their value multiplies. These buyers are looking for specific raw materials—or certain kinds of information."

Oscar fell silent. He stared at Jack, his expression growing more complex. He was beginning to suspect Jack's true motives—but he couldn't ignore the lure of profit.

"Alright," Oscar finally said. "I'll give you a chance. But I need to see your commitment."

"Of course, Mr. Oscar," Jack replied smoothly. "I can start by doing a free evaluation of your current operations and offer improvement suggestions. If you're satisfied, we can talk about cooperation."

Oscar nodded slowly. The proposal made sense to him.

"Fine. Then come back tomorrow. I'll show you around the yard myself."

Jack smiled triumphantly.

"No problem, Mr. Oscar. See you tomorrow."

As he left Oscar's office, Jack felt a surge of excitement. He had taken the first step toward reclaiming his place at the top. It was just the beginning—but for the first time since his fall, he had a direction, and more importantly, hope.

Back at Isabella's small room, Jack shared the conversation with her.

"Jack, you're amazing!" Isabella exclaimed. "You've already earned Oscar's trust so quickly!"

Jack shook his head.

"It's only surface-level trust. Oscar is a shrewd man—he doesn't trust easily. I have to be careful if I want to find out the truth."

Isabella looked worried.

"What's your next move? Are you going to investigate the documents directly?"

Jack thought for a moment.

"That would be too risky. Oscar will definitely be on guard. I need to find another angle—a way to break through."

Suddenly, an idea struck him.

"Isabella, do you remember what you told me—that Oscar often receives mysterious phone calls?"

She nodded.

"Yes. What about it?"

"I think we can start there," Jack said. "If we can track down those numbers, we might find some clues."

"But how?" Isabella asked. "Oscar won't let us anywhere near his phone."

Jack gave a faint smile.

"I have a plan. We'll use Oscar's greed against him."

Over the following days, Jack actively offered Oscar improvements for the scrapyard. Using his experience from the financial sector, he helped streamline operations, reduce costs, and boost profits.

Oscar was deeply impressed. His trust in Jack grew steadily. He even started asking Jack for advice on business matters and invited him to important meetings.

At one dinner event, Oscar got heavily drunk. Leaning on Jack's shoulder, he slurred,

"Jack… you're my lucky charm! My business has been booming ever since you came along!"

Jack responded modestly.

"I'm just doing my best, Mr. Oscar."

Oscar shook his head.

"No, no. You're more than that—you've got brains, guts. I've decided—from now on, I'll leave all my business decisions to you!"

Jack feigned surprise.

"Really? Mr. Oscar, you trust me that much?"

Oscar nodded.

"Of course. I believe in you. But I also expect loyalty. Betray me, and I won't let you live it down."

Before Jack could respond, Oscar's phone rang. He glanced at the screen and his expression shifted slightly.

"Excuse me, Jack. I need to take this call." Oscar moved to a quiet corner and began whispering.

Jack followed quietly, hiding behind a pillar to listen closely.

"Yeah, it's me, Oscar," Oscar said into the phone. "How's it going? …What? A minor issue? …No, no mistakes allowed! …Understood, I'll handle it. …Remember, be careful. Leave no traces."

Jack's heart pounded. He was sure this call was connected to those secret documents. He needed to find out the number.

As Oscar ended the call, Jack stepped forward and pretended to accidentally bump into him.

"Oh, sorry, Mr. Oscar—I didn't see you there," Jack apologized.

Oscar frowned.

"It's fine. Just watch where you're going."

Jack bent down to pick up Oscar's dropped phone—just long enough to catch the caller ID on the screen.

He memorized the number quickly.

"Here's your phone, Mr. Oscar," Jack handed it back.

Oscar took it without a word, glancing at Jack briefly.

Inside, Jack was bursting with excitement. He had finally gotten the mysterious phone number.

The next day, he quietly gave the number to Isabella.

"Can you look into this for me?" he asked.

Using her underground contacts in New York, Isabella quickly tracked down the number's origin.

"Jack, I found something!" she said excitedly.

"This number belongs to a shell company registered in a small town in New Jersey."

"New Jersey?" Jack frowned. "Why there?"

"There's more," Isabella continued. "The real owner behind this company is someone named Richard Greene."

Jack froze. Richard Greene? Wasn't he the rival who had framed him?

Could it be that Richard Greene was pulling the strings behind all this?