Originally translated from the Thai language.
Lu Rong struggled to suppress the tempest erupting beneath his skin. His face twitched, his forced smile deforming into the desperate snarl of a cornered animal. Realizing his logical arguments were crumbling, he decided to play his final card: the weight of seniority.
"Personal attacks are beneath a professional of your standing, Mr. Gawin," Lu Rong barked, though the edges of his voice frayed with an uncontrollable tremor. "You are pivoting to mask your blatant lack of international seasoning. You still haven't given us a straight answer: why should this board gamble the destiny of the CK Group on a novice CEO like you?"
Gawin took a slow, deliberate breath. His composure was no longer just a mask; it was an impenetrable fortress. He met Lu Rong's gaze with a terrifyingly steady focus.
"Mr. CFO..." Gawin began, his voice as smooth as glass. "Long-standing experience that leads an organization into a dead end and shatters market confidence... in my dictionary, we don't call that 'seniority.' We call it Strategic Failure."
He let the words hang in the air, allowing them to cut through the ego of every director in the room. He adjusted his posture, radiating a cold, executive gravitas.
"I didn't come here to sell you on empty promises or flowery rhetoric. I came here with a hunger to prove new results—results guaranteed by the exponential growth rate of Wonder Package over the five years I have personally helmed it."
He flicked a finger toward the LED screen, where the CK Group's hydrogen project graph bled a long, agonizing line of red.
"I may have fewer years under my belt, but those years have been defined by Validated Growth—growth confirmed by hard data in hyper-competitive markets," Gawin's eyes swept the board with absolute certainty. "If this board still desires to see red ink running across a failing scoreboard, then by all means, continue with the 'vast experience' that put it there. But if you want a partner who builds a tangible future, operates with transparency, and delivers soaring green numbers... then that person is standing right in front of you."
Gawin turned a razor-sharp gaze back to Lu Rong, his eyes delivering a silent verdict: Your era is over.
"This partnership is a Strategic Alliance, backed by a global capital network ready to propel the CK Group into a position of true global dominance," Gawin declared, his vision and delivery so magnetic that every eye in the room was locked onto him. "If you want to see the future of energy take flight, Wonder Package is the engine that will get you there with stability and realism."
The Thai CEO offered a confident, knowing smirk. A wave of applause rippled through the boardroom—no longer hesitant, but fueled by a genuine belief that the venture with Wonder Package was the only viable path forward.
Lu Rong's face contorted as he prepared a frantic rebuttal regarding the "nebulous" source of Gawin's funds, but he was silenced before he could speak.
"That is enough, Mr. Lu Rong."
Dr. Li Ming's voice cut through the air like a gavel. He cast a warning glance at his CFO before turning to Gawin, his appraisal having shifted from curiosity to profound respect.
"Thank you, Mr. Gawin, for a presentation that was as aggressive as it was enlightening. You have shown us how the CK Group can truly step into the new world of global energy." Li Ming rose slowly. "Members of the board... I am calling a thirty-minute recess. we must deliberate on this new proposal with the utmost scrutiny."
The heavy doors swung open, and the suffocating pressure of the room finally began to dissipate. Gawin turned to catch Tum's eye. They shared a subtle, knowing smile. The board had been reset; the pieces had been moved. On this grand chessboard, the balance of power had just shifted permanently.