Rise of Underdog

7

Thomas knew that once he set foot on this path, he would no longer be the same man.

But to prove himself, to wipe the grin off Ethan’s face and shake the foundation of the system that hid rats like him...

He would do whatever it took.

"Soon, we’ll be listening to the results carefully," said Ethan as he patted the older man’s shoulder and walked past him arrogantly.

“Bastard!” Thomas hissed, turning sharply toward Ethan, his voice low but laced with venom.

Ethan turned slightly, glancing over his shoulder with a smug smile that cut deeper than words. “Control your emotions, Thomas. You know, in this room, it’s the emotional ones who get eliminated first.”

That sentence made Thomas clench his fists tighter. The veins in his neck bulged, but he restrained himself. He knew that if he snapped now, everything would fall apart—not just the reputation he had built, but also the covert plan he was executing.

“Ethan, sooner or later, you’ll fall too. And when that day comes, I’ll be standing right at the front to witness it,” said Thomas in a deep, firm tone. “Don’t think you can hide behind your power and dirty money forever.”

Ethan didn’t respond. He simply raised a hand casually as he walked toward the internal boardroom door. His posture was upright, but in the way he walked—too calm, too slow—Thomas could sense one thing: Ethan wasn’t entirely confident.

And Thomas would use that as his opening.

A moment later, the door opened from the inside. A young woman in a formal suit stepped out and signaled that the evaluation meeting was ready to begin. Everyone who had been waiting immediately moved to enter.

Thomas took a long breath, trying to calm his thoughts. He knew that once he stepped into that room, everything would change. He would be sitting with those who held the power to determine the fate of the project he had fought so hard for—now under threat because of Ethan and his cronies.

As he took his seat, his eyes immediately met Robert’s. The older man sat at the far end of the table, calm and neutral as always. No smile, no greeting, but also no tension. Robert had always been the impenetrable wall.

Henry sat not far from Robert and gave Thomas a slight nod. Not much, but enough to indicate that the “package” Thomas had sent earlier had been received. But was that enough to turn the tide? Thomas still didn’t know.

Once everyone was seated, the meeting began.

“As scheduled, today we’ll hear the final evaluation of the procurement proposal,” said Robert bluntly. His voice was deep, flat, but each word carried weight.

Thomas sat upright. His heart beat faster. This wasn’t just about a proposal. This was about his pride. About surviving among players who knew no mercy.

Ethan, two seats away, sat back with his arms folded across his chest, a smug smile playing on his lips.

Ethan turned again toward Thomas, his face cold and blank—devoid of any visible emotion. The gaze was like a silent blade, sharp and mocking. Then, without a word, he turned away and walked straight toward Robert, the man who had always been the moral compass and unshakable authority in the room.

Ethan’s steps were full of confidence. But behind each stride was anxiety he struggled to conceal. He knew Robert wasn’t someone who could be swayed easily. Even after all his efforts, including subtle whispers from insiders, Ethan still felt he needed one more push—one line, perhaps, that could make all the difference.

Robert was standing near the window, gazing outside briefly before noticing Ethan’s presence.

“Robert,” Ethan greeted briefly.

Robert turned, his expression calm as always. “You want to discuss something?”

Ethan nodded slightly. “Regarding the evaluation results. I know the final decision is close to being finalized, but… I just want to ensure that everything we’ve presented is truly considered—especially the strength of our distribution network, which is far more prepared than the others.”

Robert didn’t respond right away. He looked at Ethan for several seconds, as if weighing the real intent behind his words. “You know I don’t like being pressured, Ethan.”

“This isn’t pressure. Just a reminder—that sometimes, we must choose not only the cleanest option, but the one most ready.”

Robert squinted, then gave a slight nod. “I’ll consider it.”

That was all. Nothing more. But it was enough to give Ethan a bit of breathing room. At least Robert hadn’t shut the door completely.

Ethan turned and walked back to his seat. Along the way, he glanced at Scarlett—the young woman from the secretariat team who had, over the past few days, seemed to give him silent support through her sweet smiles.

Scarlett had no power in the final decision, but for Ethan, earning sympathy in every corner was part of the strategy. He returned the smile with a small nod.

But as he sat back down, his eyes met Thomas’s sharp stare. No smile there. Just a gaze filled with tension and a slow-burning vengeance.

Ethan took a slow breath and leaned back in his chair. He knew this game was far from over. But he also knew—the more steps he took, the more enemies he created.

Today, behind diplomatic faces and polite smiles, everyone was crafting their own script—to win. Ethan just had to make sure he was the last one standing.

His steps halted briefly when his body nearly brushed against someone at the doorway. He looked up and… in that very instant, time seemed to stop.

In front of him stood Scarlett—not just a figment of his thoughts, not just a smile caught from afar. Scarlett was real, present, and looking directly at him.

Her wavy black hair fell neatly over her shoulders, and her eyes—the same eyes that always seemed to hold many secrets—met Ethan's with a mixture of surprise and nervousness. A faint smile seemed about to bloom at the corner of her lips, but vanished as she realized how awkward the situation was.