Rise of Underdog

6

Thomas grew increasingly defensive as the questions began to choke him. The longer it went on, the more those questions haunted his mind. Until finally, Thomas truly felt frustrated. He had no options left other than to resort to illegal means—specifically, bribery. He felt it was something he had to do, with no other way out. The bribes had to be delivered to several people—yes, more than two at once.

Of course, it wasn't just about the amount of money being given. The real weight lay in the conflicting principles. Especially since he had to deal with Henry, a man who held considerable power in the country. Reaching someone like Henry would never be easy. But the most difficult part was facing Robert, a man firmly rooted in his convictions. It was certain—Robert would not be easily swayed.

Thomas sat in his car parked on the side of a quiet street. His eyes stared blankly ahead, but his mind was flooded with calculations and anxiety. In his hand was a thick brown envelope filled with cash—not a small amount, yet still not enough to guarantee the success of his plan.

He had tried every formal route—requests, proposals, even official meetings—all of which ended in polite rejections. He had run out of options. And now, the only path left was the shortcut he had always avoided: bribery.

Thomas knew this wasn’t just about paying someone off. This was about going against his own principles—sacrificing the idealism he had held onto with pride for years. But this time, he felt cornered. He had no choice.

“Henry will take it,” Thomas muttered to himself, trying to convince himself. “He’s used to operating in grey areas.”

Henry, a powerful figure behind the desk of authority, was known for his flexibility. Winning someone like Henry over wasn’t too difficult—if you knew the right approach. But what made Thomas anxious was another name—Robert.

Robert was not the kind of man who could be bought. He didn’t care for connections, let alone money. His values stood tall like a concrete wall. On many occasions, Robert had openly criticized the practice of bribery—even among his own peers. Approaching someone like that was akin to stepping into a lion’s den.

Thomas took a deep breath. He knew giving the envelope to Henry wouldn’t be enough. Henry might open the door, but the gate wouldn’t fully swing without Robert’s approval.

So, he crafted a strategy. He had to be smart, not confrontational. Robert didn’t just need to be convinced—he had to be made to believe that what Thomas was offering wasn’t bribery at all, but rather a mutually beneficial collaboration.

That night, Thomas sent Henry a message, requesting a private meeting. He didn’t include any details in the message, only hinted that he had an “interesting proposal” that couldn’t be refused.

A few hours later, Henry replied. Short and curt: “Tomorrow at 10. Office.”

Thomas stared at his phone screen, then closed his eyes. He knew that tomorrow would be the first step toward something he could never walk back from. Once he stepped into this circle, he would not come out the same man.

Deep inside, a small voice asked: Will this save me—or destroy me?

But Thomas had no time to hesitate. All he had left was a single determination—to break through the wall, no matter the cost.

"Why? You seem quieter than usual today," Ethan asked, sensing he was just one step away from victory.

"Shut your mouth, Ethan Caldwell. Don't be so smug!" snapped Thomas, his eyes blazing with hatred and barely contained rage.

Ethan seemed to relish the moment, as though he had been waiting to mock Thomas’s bewildered expression. Yes, Thomas looked like a tragic comedian gripped by deep unease. But Ethan didn’t need to do much—he just added a little fuel to the fire with a mocking smirk.

Thomas understood the signal Ethan was sending. His fists clenched tightly at his sides, shaking with emotion.

Thomas took a deep breath, trying to contain the firestorm brewing in his chest. But Ethan’s words felt like hot nails being hammered into his skull. He hated it when someone like Ethan—sly, cynical, and opportunistic—thought they could read him completely.

“What? You think I’ve run out of options?” Thomas asked, narrowing his eyes at Ethan as if he could tear him apart with just a look.

Ethan shrugged casually. “Not exactly, Thomas. But of all the people I’ve gone up against, you’re the one who looks the most... defeated. Exhausted.”

The words hit Thomas like a punch to the gut. His eyes sharpened, and his face flushed with fury.

“Don’t ever think you can provoke me that easily,” Thomas growled. “I know your game, Ethan. You only have courage because you’re protected by powerful people behind you.”

Ethan chuckled, stood up from his chair, and slowly approached Thomas. “And you? What do you have now? Just a bag full of stale idealism that’s gotten you nowhere?”

Thomas stood as well, his body taut like a panther ready to pounce. His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked. But he knew striking Ethan now would only make everything unravel faster. He had to stay cool, no matter how hot his blood boiled.

“Listen closely, Ethan. You may get to laugh today. But don’t be too quick to celebrate,” Thomas said sharply. “This game isn’t over. You’ll see who the real loser is.”

Ethan leaned in closer, that ever-present smirk still tugging at his lips. “I look forward to it, Thomas. I enjoy watching people like you fall—slowly—along with every shred of dignity they thought they had.”

After saying that, Ethan walked away without looking back, leaving behind a suffocating silence that lingered between the walls of the room.

Thomas remained standing, his breath heavy, his body still tense. But his eyes… his eyes burned with determination.

No. He would not give up. One day, he would silence that smug smile.

And for that, he had to endure. He had to take the most difficult step he had ever faced: infiltrating the circle of power using the very methods he despised.