Chapter 165

Chapter 165

"Jack."

"I've told you everything I know." Jeremy stared at Jack, his gaze burning with intensity.

"Just so we're clear—you better guarantee my safety."

At those words, Jack merely looked at Jeremy and smiled faintly, saying nothing.

Jeremy's expression changed instantly.

"You're not thinking of backing out on me, are you?"

Jack didn't answer right away. Instead, he methodically straightened his collar, then pulled out the chair across from Jeremy and sat down with deliberate ease.

"Backing out? Jeremy, you're seriously underestimating my professional integrity." Jack laced his fingers together on the table and leaned forward slightly, his penetrating gaze fixed on Jeremy's bloodshot eyes. "I never go back on my word. If I promised you safety, then you're safe."

Hearing that assurance, Jeremy's rigid shoulders relaxed just a fraction.

"However."

Jack's tone shifted abruptly.

His gaze turned cold as he fixed Jeremy with a hard stare. "Since you're one of Duke's confidants, I'm guessing you know plenty of his secrets."

"So you're going to help me with one more thing."

The momentary relief Jeremy had felt vanished instantly, his heart leaping back into his throat. He clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white.

"What thing?" His voice came out rough, like sandpaper scraping against wood.

Jack let out a low chuckle.

"You know, while I have the 'ability' to take down a senator—"

"The hard part is doing it 'legitimately'."

"You'll help me with that, won't you, Jeremy?"

At those words, Jeremy's face went ashen.

Jack was asking him to betray Duke completely.

But things had gone too far now. There was no way out.

"The East Side Settlement."

After letting out a resigned sigh, Jeremy closed his eyes and spoke.

"What?"

"The East Side Settlement—it's where they house refugees who've fled to our country, along with people who've been smuggled in."

"These people have no legal status. No rights."

"And that settlement? It's actually Duke Vaughn's slaughterhouse."

"He uses the refugees and illegal immigrants for unauthorized human experiments, and even… even treats them as a 'reserve bank' for live organ harvesting."

"You should be able to find evidence against Duke there."

Jack gave a slight nod.

"Good."

"Pleasure doing business with you, Jeremy."

"For now, I'm afraid you'll have to stay here. The accommodations are a bit rough, but they'll keep you safe."

With that, Jack left the interrogation room and headed straight for the infirmary.

When he arrived, Joseph had just finished getting bandaged up.

"How's the arm?"

Jack looked at Joseph and asked.

Joseph was gritting his teeth as the nurse tied off the bandage. Hearing Jack's voice, he quickly lowered his newly wrapped arm and stood up.

"I'm fine, boss. Just a flesh wound—didn't hit bone." He rolled his shoulder and flashed a pained grin. Though his face was pale from blood loss, his eyes remained sharp. "This little scratch won't slow me down."

Jack didn't respond, just watched him silently.

Joseph shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny and scratched the back of his head. "Boss, why are you staring at me like that? I'm really okay. What about Jeremy, though…"

"Jeremy talked." Jack's tone was as casual as if he were discussing the weather. "The person behind him is Duke Vaughn."

"Duke Vaughn?"

Joseph's expression changed immediately.

"The senator?"

"Yes."

"He's the founder of Fidelity Tower Technologies, right? And he's the one who proposed the bill to establish the East Side Settlement?"

"That's right." Joseph nodded.

"The settlement was built two years ago. It caused quite a stir at City Hall."

Joseph's brow furrowed slightly, a hint of recollection flickering in his eyes. "Duke Vaughn pushed it through under the banners of 'humanitarian relief' and 'urban cleanup.' He argued his case in the council chamber until he got that land approved. Everyone thought the senator was doing charity work, contributing to the city's public safety. After all, centralizing all those displaced refugees did solve a lot of problems."

"Charity?"

Jack shook his head slightly and gave Joseph a knowing smile. "Do you know what he 'really' built that settlement for?"

Joseph shook his head. "No idea."

The curve of Jack's lips vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling coldness.

"It's a pen for raising livestock."

Jack's voice wasn't loud, but each word struck like a blade, driving deep into Joseph's ears.

"Duke isn't some philanthropist. He's using those undocumented refugees and illegal immigrants for underground human experimentation. That so-called settlement is actually his slaughterhouse—a 'reserve bank' where Fidelity Tower Technologies stores live organs."

Joseph's face froze, his pupils contracting sharply.

"So that's what's really going on."

"What do we do now? Go arrest Duke directly?"

"No."

Jack shook his head gently.

"Duke is a senator."

"If we try to arrest him now based solely on Jeremy's testimony, his legal team will have all the evidence thrown out by tomorrow on grounds of 'false accusation' and 'procedural violations.' They might even turn it around and accuse 'us' of misconduct."

"To take him down, we need solid, irrefutable evidence."

"Got it."

Joseph immediately stood up. "I'll go to the settlement right now and investigate."

"You can't go."

Jack cut him off.

"Why not?"

Joseph asked, confused.

"You and I are probably already on Duke's radar. He'll be watching our every move. If you go now, you'll tip him off."

"Besides, I have something else I need you to do."

"Jeremy has already issued a special warrant to search Fidelity Tower Technologies."

"I'm bringing Robyn on as my consultant. Since I now hold shares in Fidelity Tower Technologies, you'll take my proof of ownership and go there with Robyn."

"I want you two to turn that place inside out and find everything."

"I've received intel that the shareholders of Fidelity Tower Technologies are already liquidating assets and preparing to file for bankruptcy."

"I need you to intercept them. These people are the financial backers behind Duke."

"Control them, and Duke loses his funding. That's like cutting off one of his arms. Taking him down after that will be much easier."

"Yes, sir!"

Joseph nodded respectfully.

But then he asked, "What about the settlement? Are we just going to leave it alone?"

"Don't worry about that. I have a better candidate in mind." Jack's face broke into a mysterious smile.