Corporate Villainy: Trampling Protagonists as a Business Dad

Vincent arrived at the BikBok head office... not like there was another office. The first thing he saw was the condition of the building. Of course BikBok didn't have the entire building for themselves, but the conditions at this place were more dire than he had expected. Second thing he saw was the large amount of people gathered outside. This caused Vincent to frown even more.

Are these people trying to go on a strike or protest because the owner changed?

Seeing the fourteen people at the forefront sweating all over and out of breath and wearing a disturbing smile with red eyes, he almost came to that conclusion. If these people were not competent and wanted to disturb his business, he would not hesitate to make them regret it for life.

The cars came to a stop and ten bodyguards rushed out forming a protective shield. Vincent came out under their protection, his face still carrying a frown. As soon as he closed the door, a thunderous "WELCOME CHAIRMAN!!!" erupted from the crowd.

"FUCK!" Vincent cursed out loud but the sound was swallowed by the deafening greeting of the crazy employees. Even the bodyguards tensed up, reaching for their guns.

There was complete silence as the employees remained bowed down almost 90 degrees, seemingly waiting for something. Vincent was quick to realize. He took a deep breath and answered in a loud voice.

"Greetings. Now rise."

Only then did they all look up. Vincent was glad he didn't declare them as rebels or something too early. Next, the fourteen people standing in front came forward.

"WELCOME CHAIRMAN!"

Yeah, you're not catching me off guard again.

"Haven't we already done this? You may rise."

They all stood up relaxing a bit, but the next question made their bodies stiff and tense again.

"So... where is the CEO?"

As Vincent asked this, he saw some fists clench and tears well up. Vincent was confused at their reaction. Did he die or what?

Before he could ask, he saw people parting and making way for a fat... penguin? He was drenched in sweat—or water, he couldn't tell anymore. He was panting heavily. As he saw Vincent, he fell on his knees in front of him and started crying. Like really crying.

"Chairman. I'm so sorry. I really—sob—didn't mean it. It was a mistake. Sob—don't kill meeee."

Maybe because he was so exhausted for the first time in decades, or because he saw Vincent frowning, he broke down completely. Vincent felt speechless for a while. He looked around at people looking at the obese man with pity or shaking their heads.

After some time when the kneeling penguin had started breathing properly, he slowly asked.

"Who the hell are you?"

He really didn't know who this guy was.

"I—sniff—I am the CEO."

"You are what?"

"I'm the Chief Executive Officer of this company."

".... Okay."

Something was really wrong with this company. He would have assumed the whole company to be a protagonist with how braindead they were if not for the absence of system notifications.

Vincent let out a tired sigh. "What is your name?"

The obese man hesitated for a moment before answering. "Sundar... Sundar Chuchai."

"Alright. Get up."

"Chairman I have made a grave mistake, I ap—"

"NOW."

Then under David's silent cry of pain, Vincent effortlessly jumped onto the Phantom's roof, looking at all the employees who were staring confused at Vincent.

Standing atop the pristine white Rolls-Royce, his hair danced like waves. The setting sun painted his profile in soft golds and long shadows as he surveyed the sea of anxious faces below. When he spoke, his voice carried across the courtyard with calm authority that made everyone's spine straighten.

"Look up at me. All of you."

They all looked up, as he told them. That's what they had always done. Obeyed.

"I know what you're thinking. New owner, new rules, new fears. You're wondering if you'll have jobs tomorrow, if your families will eat next week, if this change will destroy everything you've worked for."

He paused, letting the weight of their concerns settle as their shoulders tensed.

"Let me be damn clear. I didn't buy this company to watch it burn. I bought it because I see potential where others see mediocrity. I see opportunity where others see obstacles. And I see people who are capable of greatness... if they choose to be."

His gaze swept across the crowd, meeting individual eyes. Their hearts were beating wildly.

"Under my leadership, BikBok will become something this world has never seen before. We will reshape how people connect, how they share their stories, how they see the world. But transformation requires dedication. It requires loyalty. It requires people who understand that excellence isn't negotiable."

The silence was profound. They felt something suppressed trying to break free.

"Work with me, give me your best, show me you deserve to be part of this vision, and I promise you'll look back on this day as the moment your life changed for the better. Your ideas will be heard. Your efforts will be rewarded."

Something they trampled on with every bow. Something they spit at with every abuse. Something buried beneath humiliation and forgotten dreams.They felt it rising. Like a pulse returning to a long-dead body.

Dignity.

For the first time in years, their spines straightened. Not because they were told to… but because something inside refused to stay bent.

Vincent's voice dropped to barely above a whisper, yet somehow everyone heard every word.

"But betray this company, slack in your duties, or think you can play games with me..." He smiled that particular smile that made people tremble. "And you'll discover why I have the reputation of being ruthless."

Vincent stepped down gracefully, his shoes clicking against the ground with finality.

"Now. Shall we see what you are working on? Oh and also, no more 90 degree bows or leaving your work to lick my ass. I'll fire you."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Huff huff... fuck. How come they're still following?" Jin muttered between ragged gasps as he ran.

Night had swallowed the outer roads whole. Dim streetlights threw weak circles of yellow across the cracked pavement, leaving everything else in pitch black. A handful of run-down buildings dotted the area, their windows boarded up or just plain dark. The main city's lights flickered in the distance like dying stars.

Behind him followed two men in casual clothes, equally out of breath.

"How come he's still running? At this rate he might actually make it to another city just on foot," one man said, reaching for his communications.

"No wonder chairman asked us refined level cultivators to follow this man. The young ones would have been long left behind," another said, aiming his pistol again.

He pulled the trigger but Jin almost miraculously moved his body to dodge at the perfect time.

"Fuck— huff— how can he even do that?" The first man's legs gave out as he fell down on his knees with communication device in hand.

They didn't know that Jin was a protagonist and even with low luck value, he could still avoid serious injuries. Them not dying from some random accident was already a miracle.

Seeing this, the other man didn't look back. He gritted his teeth and ran faster. Being played around by someone he thought was a random taxi driver, he was really angry now. But suddenly he saw the man in front stop and then turn around.

Jin's face was red with beads of sweat pouring down like rivers. He had a wide ferocious smile on his face as he channeled spiritual energy through his body. The man seeing this didn't hesitate to do the same.

He reached Jin with a powerful leap, aiming for his face. Jin twisted sideways, letting the punch whistle past his ear, then drove his elbow upward into the man's ribs. The crack was audible.

The cultivator stumbled but recovered quickly, sweeping his leg low. Jin jumped back, but not far enough—the kick caught his shin, sending him rolling across the dusty ground.

"Got you now, you slippery bastard!" The man lunged forward with both fists glowing with spiritual energy.

Jin rolled again, came up in a crouch, and launched himself forward like a spring. His shoulder connected with the man's solar plexus, driving the air from his lungs. As the cultivator doubled over, gasping, Jin grabbed his head with both hands.

"My turn."

Jin's knee came up with devastating force, connecting with the man's nose in a wet crunch. Blood exploded across both their faces as the cultivator's head snapped back. But Jin wasn't done.

He grabbed the man's wrist, twisted it until something popped, then drove his other hand into the cultivator's exposed throat. The man's eyes bulged as he clawed at his crushed windpipe, gurgling sounds escaping his lips.

"Your boss should have minded his own fucking business," Jin snarled, raising his fist to deliver the killing blow.