The air smelled of oil and desperation. The underground bunker J. Cat had found himself in was lined with old computer monitors, their cracked screens flickering with market graphs, economic reports, and breaking news feeds. Across from him sat a group of ordinary people—workers, students, small business owners—faces tense with confusion and worry. The financial system was crumbling, and everyone wanted answers.
Cat leaned back in his chair, flipping a gold coin between his fingers. "Let me guess," he said. "You're wondering why the stock market crashing even matters to you when you don’t own a single share?"