Rise of Underdog

5

"You think you can just walk in here and impress everyone?" Thomas's voice cut through the tense silence like a blade. His narrowed eyes locked onto the male protagonist, searching for any sign of weakness.

The male protagonist leaned back slightly in his chair, his lips curving into the faintest hint of a smirk. "I don't think. I know."

A muscle in Thomas's jaw twitched. The arrogance, the sheer audacity—it was infuriating. He had suspected this man had some kind of connection to Henry, but the way he carried himself, the unwavering confidence, made it unbearable.

Thomas glanced around the room. The other examiners, though maintaining their professional composure, were clearly intrigued by the unfolding tension. He needed to make sure this interview didn’t turn into a spectacle in favor of the male protagonist.

"Let's begin." His tone was sharp, his fingers tapping against the polished table. He exchanged subtle glances with the other examiners, silently signaling them to apply pressure.

A man in a gray suit adjusted his glasses and leaned forward. "You claim to have extensive knowledge in strategic operations. Explain how you would handle a large-scale security breach in a high-risk corporate environment."

The male protagonist barely hesitated. "The key is containment and controlled communication. First, secure all potential exit points while ensuring no unnecessary panic spreads among personnel. Then, isolate the breach, analyze its origin, and determine whether it's an internal failure or an external attack. Simultaneously, establish a direct line of communication with upper management to ensure real-time updates while keeping misinformation at bay."

His voice was smooth, confident, not a single stammer or sign of uncertainty.

Another examiner, a woman with short dark hair, interjected. "That's textbook. Anyone can recite protocol. What makes you different?"

The male protagonist’s smirk deepened. "Because I don't just recite protocols. I adapt them. You can prepare for a hundred different scenarios, but the real challenge is thinking on your feet when the unexpected happens."

The examiners exchanged looks. Even those trying to remain neutral were clearly impressed.

Thomas exhaled slowly, keeping his irritation in check. "Adaptability is meaningless without execution. Give me an example where you had to make a split-second decision that went against standard protocol—and it worked."

The male protagonist’s eyes met his, unflinching. "A high-level executive was targeted during an off-record overseas visit. The official protocol was to evacuate immediately. But pulling him out without assessing the full scope of the threat would have compromised the entire operation. Instead of retreating, I had the convoy split into three, sending two decoy teams in opposite directions while I personally oversaw a discreet extraction through an unmonitored sector. The attackers took the bait. The executive made it out unharmed."

A brief silence filled the room. Some of the examiners looked genuinely surprised.

Henry, who had been mostly observing, finally spoke. "Impressive. You prioritized both safety and operational integrity under extreme conditions."

Thomas clenched his fists beneath the table. He had expected Henry to remain silent longer.

"Luck," Thomas muttered, his voice low but cutting.

The male protagonist chuckled. "Luck doesn’t get you out of a fully planned ambush. Strategy does."

The air grew thicker with tension. Thomas forced a tight smile. "Fine. Let’s dig deeper." He turned to the others. "We’re here to assess his capabilities, not be entertained. Next question."

A bald man near the end of the table spoke. "You’re given command over a failing security division. You have three weeks to turn things around. What’s your first move?"

"Fire everyone who doesn't belong."

Some examiners blinked at the blunt response.

"Elaborate," Thomas snapped.

The male protagonist rested his elbows on the table. "A failing system is never just about resources. It’s about people. Inefficiency, complacency, internal conflicts—they drag the entire operation down. I evaluate every individual, keep those who can adapt, and replace those who can’t. A new structure means nothing if the foundation is rotten."

A slow nod came from one of the more senior examiners. Thomas, however, was growing visibly impatient.

"So you believe in cutting losses over rehabilitation?"

"I believe in results," the male protagonist countered. "You don’t win wars by giving every soldier unlimited chances. You cut dead weight and move forward."

The examiners exchanged glances. Some looked approving. Others, skeptical.

Henry folded his hands. "That’s a bold approach."

The male protagonist tilted his head. "Boldness gets things done."

Thomas’s fingers curled against the table. The arrogance was suffocating.

"One last question." He leaned forward, his voice dangerously calm. "If you're faced with an order that goes against your personal moral code—but following it could secure a critical victory—do you obey?"

The male protagonist’s expression didn’t waver.

"That depends. Is the victory worth losing myself?"

Silence.

Henry exhaled, something close to admiration in his eyes. The other examiners shifted, murmuring among themselves.

Thomas forced himself to keep his expression neutral, but inside, his frustration boiled.

The interview should have been an interrogation. Instead, this man had flipped it into a showcase of his strengths. And worse, Henry seemed to be genuinely pleased.

The other examiners, still recovering from the weight of the male protagonist’s responses, exchanged subtle glances. Some nodded at Thomas, a silent agreement passing between them.

It was time to remind this arrogant man that confidence alone wasn’t enough.

"Scores will be finalized shortly," one examiner announced.

Thomas stood up, smoothing his suit. "Ensure they're accurate."

The others took his cue, each discreetly marking their assessments. A few exchanged looks before writing their final evaluations.

Henry observed quietly. He had been patient throughout the entire process, but as he glanced down at the evaluations being submitted, a sharp glint passed through his gaze.

One by one, the scores were tallied. Some were surprisingly low—too low for the performance that had just unfolded.

Thomas knew exactly what was happening. The examiners were playing the game, aligning their decisions with his unspoken intentions. The male protagonist wouldn’t pass.

The final results were about to be announced when Henry suddenly pushed back his chair and stood. The room fell silent.

He adjusted his cufflinks, eyes settling on Thomas with an unreadable expression. "It’s been an interesting discussion," he said smoothly. "I’ll take my leave now."

Then, with a single glance at Thomas, he turned toward the door.

The message was clear.

Thomas’s breath caught.

Henry hadn’t openly challenged the results. He hadn’t needed to. His departure itself was a statement—one that made it clear where his support lay.

And that meant trouble.

Thomas swallowed, his grip tightening around the edge of the table. The other examiners shifted uncomfortably, suddenly aware of the implications.

Had they made a mistake?

The male protagonist, watching Thomas closely, leaned back with a smirk. "Still think I don’t belong here?”