Rise of Underdog

9

“Don’t let your guard down. Watch them closely,” Daniel added with firm resolve.

“Right. I’ll go now,” Ethan said, taking his leave from the father and son, who had momentarily forgotten the chessboard in front of them.

In another corner of the city, Thomas was devising a more effective plan—to take control of Henry first. Since one of the final decisions rested in Henry’s hands, it made more sense to control him.

Henry was merely the deputy minister, which meant Thomas needed to reach the minister first to ensure Henry would follow orders and stick to his game plan.

With precision and focus, Thomas set off on his sharp mission.

Meanwhile, Ethan had already begun tracking potential movements that could unfold shortly—particularly those likely orchestrated by the cunning Thomas. Ethan couldn’t afford to fall behind.

He needed to anticipate any move Thomas would make.

He turned his focus toward Henry’s residence, which, unsurprisingly, wasn’t an easy place to infiltrate. Even from the outside, security was tight and impenetrable.

But with his skill, Ethan managed to sneak around the perimeter, spending only a brief time observing.

Eventually, he caught a view of Henry’s front porch.

At first, nothing seemed unusual. It was quiet, with only a few guards standing outside.

But a few minutes later, several cars began arriving one by one, parking in Henry’s front yard.

It was suspicious, though Ethan didn’t spot any vehicle with Thomas’s license plate among them. Still, he kept watching with sharp attention.

Not long after, the cars started leaving one by one. Henry followed shortly after, looking visibly rushed.

Ethan grew more curious. Something wasn’t right.

“Something’s off,” Ethan muttered, now feeling a sense of danger.

He managed to follow the car carrying Henry. Apparently, the deputy minister had received a special summons from his superior.

Ethan crept closer, trying to eavesdrop on the conversation—hoping to catch any hint that might concern him or the results of the recent candidate evaluation.

He heard fragments of the conversation, faint but clear enough. And what he heard confirmed Robert’s warnings: Thomas was planning something underhanded—bribing and intimidating the judges.

It was clear now. Thomas was determined to make Ethan fail.

Ethan’s fists clenched automatically. Anger flared inside him upon hearing such deceit with his own ears. They planned to sabotage him, packaging it as if it were a legitimate final decision resulting from the test process.

But he vowed not to back down. He couldn’t afford to lose now—not this way.

He had to outsmart them. He needed a fast, effective counter-strategy to ensure their plan fell apart before it could succeed.

Still, as he watched Henry’s expression during the meeting, he noticed something—guilt, or perhaps resistance.

Ethan had a feeling that Henry’s conscience didn’t sit well with the orders he had just received.

He’d need to keep observing Henry’s next moves—there was still a chance Henry wouldn’t go through with the unethical orders. Yes, that possibility still existed.

As the conversation ended, Henry stepped out, his face noticeably tense and conflicted. He wore an expression that couldn't easily be masked.

Ethan found it disheartening. It was clear—Henry was torn.

He wanted to do the right thing, but the system had bound him into someone else.

Ethan understood very well the turmoil raging inside Henry right now. It must be incredibly difficult for him, having to make such a choice—one that certainly wasn’t easy. Between doing the right thing and upholding the truth, even if the consequence meant dismissal or being embroiled in scandal, or taking the safer route, carrying on as usual while burdened with a guilty conscience.

Ethan kept watching Henry’s movements as the man returned to his car. Through the rear window, he saw Henry seemingly on a call with someone. It looked as if he was desperately searching for hope or a way out of the entanglement he found himself in. Maybe for Henry, this whole thing felt sudden and unpredictable, even though situations like these were probably not uncommon in their circle.

Unwittingly, Henry’s car ended up parked in front of Robert’s house. Ethan was stunned, unable to believe how Henry could suddenly think of going to Robert. But apparently, their relationship went way back. Ethan realized they were more than just colleagues or professional connections. There was a bond between them—something deeper, like an old friendship that had weathered many storms.

He saw Henry and Robert greeting each other warmly. This time, Robert was alone, without Daniel by his side.

"I know why you're here, my friend," Robert said, patting Henry on the shoulder.

Ethan's eyes widened as he witnessed this closeness he had never known about.

"Yeah, you must have guessed that Thomas Sinclair is up to his old tricks again—driven by his outrageous ego," Henry replied, his face weary and full of frustration.

Ethan was even more taken aback by what Henry had just admitted. Thomas was indeed the kind of superior who would recklessly do anything to satisfy his own ego, without sparing a single thought for the many lives caught up in the scandal. All he cared about was feeding his vanity—not empathy, not justice.

Robert merely gave a faint, knowing smile.

"It all comes back to your conscience. But I’ll find a way around it—if you’re really set on seeing the truth upheld. Just know it won’t be without risk. Do you understand?" Robert asked, making sure of Henry’s resolve.

Ethan could hardly believe that Robert was now fully on his side. Whether Robert was loyal to him or simply to the truth itself, Ethan felt undeniably supported by his integrity. Robert was fighting tooth and nail to help Ethan advance in the competition—one Ethan hoped to win. Robert truly was the best support system, and Ethan had made the right choice in trusting him. At least until Thomas’s cunning schemes struck him down.

Wait—Ethan reminded himself that he shouldn’t appear during this conversation. He chose to stay hidden and listen in secretly. Even if he ended up meeting Robert face-to-face later, he would have to pretend he knew nothing of this. Let Robert be the one to tell him everything directly. That way, it would all be resolved with a carefully crafted solution. Ethan felt he had a lot to learn in this ruthless game—from Robert, the man with an arsenal of life strategies.