Chapter 70: Speculations

"Why should they be favored!" Maroni raged helplessly in his office.

Opposite him stood Phoebe and Torion, the two "players" who had been knocked out in the Friendship Boxing Cup.

The two were still upset about not confronting Supreme Creative directly during the advertising campaign.

"If it weren't for their dirty tricks, the tobacco company's advertisement should have belonged to us!" Phoebe firmly believed her creative ideas were flawless.

Torion nodded in agreement, "That's right! Supreme Creative intentionally provoked us, then used these despicable tactics to get rid of us."

As the two complained, Maroni felt as if he were surrounded by two buzzing flies. "Enough!"

Phoebe and Torion immediately fell silent.

Maroni frowned, "I don't care whether Supreme Creative used dirty tricks or not. I only know we missed a huge opportunity! Phoebe, your bonus for this month is canceled, and Torion, your bonus is cut in half!"

Both of them felt a sharp pain in their chests.

"But this isn't over! We will definitely have another chance to confront them in the future!" Maroni said angrily, leaning his hands on the table and glaring at them. "If you screw up like this again next time, both of you can get out! Do you understand?!"

"Understood! Don't worry!" Phoebe and Torion quickly nodded and left the office at Maroni's gesture.

Maroni sighed and sat in his chair, thinking for a moment before picking up his phone and calling a contact named Fegus.

---

In the IPG conference room, the creative director, Higg, looked as grim as a tire covered in mud, showing no signs of color.

On either side of him sat Fegus and the heads of various advertising departments.

Ross, who was in charge of food, and Gilmer, who was responsible for tobacco, were also present. The difference was that Ross's expression was much more relaxed compared to before, while Gilmer was sweating profusely, nervously squeezing his fingers under the table until they turned pale.

"Let's hear it, Ross…" After an unbearable silence, Higg finally spoke, his voice a bit hoarse.

He had already vented a lot of anger during the previous full meeting.

Gilmer's department, like Ross's, had also seen their year-end bonuses halved.

This was also the reason Ross felt schadenfreude.

"Sorry, Director, it was my strategic mistake. I thought Supreme Creative had never worked in the tobacco industry, so it shouldn't…"

"Thought! Shouldn't! Do you know how much we lost? Tens of thousands of dollars! Combined, those three projects cost us millions! Does your annual salary even match that? If Supreme Creative continues like this, are we going to hand over all our projects? FXXK! YOU! YOU!" Higg pointed his fingers at the two of them. "The board has given a final order. If you lose another project, resign immediately! Get out!"

He couldn't help but cough a few times at the end. After seeing Supreme Creative's advertisements playing hotly on television these days, he felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, as if he had a fish bone stuck in his throat!

If this continued, he wouldn't be able to keep his own position. In fact, if it weren't for the board members behind him protecting him, he would have had to resign and apologize by now.

Damn it! Where did Supreme Creative come from? Why do they always compete with IPG for projects?

Thinking of this, he turned to Fegus and asked, "So how is the task I assigned you going?"

Fegus awkwardly looked at Higg. "Supreme Creative's personnel are too simple. Besides the founders Ethan and Jimmy, there's just a bunch of customer service representatives, and they are not worth bribing."

"I heard they are interviewing recently. I also sent someone to pretend to be an interviewee to check out their company, but unfortunately, they are interviewing on the first floor, and there's nothing there."

"Listen, I don't care! Fegus, I just want results! Whether it's Jimmy or customer service, as long as they can provide us with information, that's fine! Go do it, got it?"

Higg's fingers pounded heavily on the table, almost drilling a hole through the tabletop.

Fegus nodded. "But we are not without progress. Gilmer contacted Ethan and Jimmy's former employer, Lion Advertising. The manager, Maroni, has already informed me about Ethan and Jimmy. Here, take a look."

He handed over a document, and Higg took it and found the information on it was very brief.

It only noted that the two had worked as lighting technicians on set and that Ethan had a close relationship with the CEO of Heinz Group. Besides that, there was nothing particularly noteworthy.

"How is that possible! Fegus, so your investigation result says they started from scratch, got investment from Heinz Group with their creativity, and in just a few months became New York's hottest advertising creative company?"

Higg looked at him with a "Do you even know what you're talking about?" expression.

But Fegus could only helplessly respond, "At least from the current materials, that's what it looks like."

"No, no, no, absolutely not!" Higg shook his head and suddenly thought of something. "Hengmei! FXXK! It must be them!"

"What do you mean?" The others were stunned.

Higg explained as if he had received a revelation: "Hengmei has been eyeing the New York market, and their business overlaps with ours, but they have never competed with us. So they supported Supreme Creative to undermine us."

"How is that possible? If Supreme Creative can come up with such good ideas, why wouldn't they use them themselves?" Fegus was confused.

"You don't understand! Hengmei is currently embroiled in internal conflict! Their two presidents have been at odds, and who knows who might be the first to go! So they are desperately looking for performance to prove their own ideas, but look! This time, they didn't send out their best team for the tobacco advertisement; they just sent a few newcomers!"

Higg sneered, "What is the reason for this? It's because one of the presidents knows they can't compete with Supreme Creative, so they're just putting on a show!"

Gilmer frowned and added, "Are you saying that Supreme Creative is being supported and invested by one of the presidents?"

"Exactly!"

"If that's the case, then when Supreme Creative rises to fame, Hengmei could take advantage of that to acquire them, and that president could use this performance to take control of Hengmei and enter the management of Omnicom?"

Higg clapped his hands. "Exactly! Because the internal environment of Hengmei has been very poor recently, this president might be afraid of someone digging his corner and stealing his credit. So he used Ethan and Jimmy as a cover to establish Supreme Creative, but there must be real talent behind the scenes working for them!"

"No wonder I lost!" Gilmer suddenly understood and felt it made sense.

Only Ross looked confused. What does this mean? Is it like a fire in the city affecting the fish in the moat? Hengmei has no accumulation in the food industry either.

But regardless, this reasoning at least provided a sufficient excuse to report to the higher-ups!

No one knew Higg's true thoughts, and whether he really agreed with his speculations was unknown. All anyone knew was that he went to the board after the meeting, and when he came down, he had lost his worries, replaced by a warm smile.

It seemed that his previously shaky position had been secured again.

Meanwhile, on the CAA side, Ethan met Carl again in the restaurant.

He brought Ethan some good news!