The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne
Chapter 60: The Malvain Family’s Sudden Disaster (2)

Chapter 60: The Malvain Family’s Sudden Disaster (2)

In the parlor of the Duke of Malvain’s mansion, Jason sat on a sofa, facing a fat man.

He was short, yet there was an undeniable presence of authority about him.

His brown hair was neatly trimmed, and his sharp black eyes conveyed a calm confidence.

He wore an elegant gray robe, though its beauty was slightly overshadowed by his protruding belly.

His name was Victor, the branch manager of Silver Dragon Bank for the southern region.

"Welcome, Branch Manager Victor. I hope you don’t mind my invitation," Jason said politely and with respect.

Although Victor was merely a branch manager, he was not someone to be taken lightly. The Silver Dragon Bank was the largest financial institution in the Great Velmora Empire, wielding immense economic power.

The bank’s branches operated in close coordination, with quarterly meetings ensuring regular communication.

Any misstep on Jason’s part could influence how the top executives perceived him.

Victor remained composed in the face of flattery, but a faint smile tugged at his lips.

"No need to worry, Lord Jason. I don’t mind at all," he said, taking a sip of tea.

Jason mirrored the gesture, taking a sip of his tea to ease the formality. He then asked, "Branch Manager Victor, I trust you already know why I invited you here?"

Victor gave a slight nod as he carefully set his cup back on the saucer.

"I understand, and I’m guessing you want to ask me a favor," Victor said casually, meeting Jason’s calm gaze.

"Yes, I do need your help, Branch Manager Victor," Jason admitted matter-of-factly. "But I’m also wondering—why the sudden change in our agreement? Wasn’t the due date still five months away? How did it suddenly shift to three days?"

The memory of the unexpected change ignited a flicker of anger in Jason, but he kept himself in check.

The relationship between the Malvain family and the Blue Moon Trading House was invaluable.

Thanks to their partnership, the Malvain family’s profits had multiplied many times over.

That was why Jason couldn’t afford to lose this alliance. He fought hard to keep his emotions under control.

Victor sighed softly before replying, "Lord Jason, I want to help, but unfortunately, I can’t."

Jason’s expression tightened. Clenching his fists to restrain his frustration, he asked, "Why not, Branch Manager Victor? Didn’t you sign the loan agreement last year? The deadline clearly states it’s still five months away!"

While his voice stayed steady, the anger behind his words was unmistakable to those listening.

Victor noticed but stayed composed.

"I know the deadline is five months away, Lord Jason. But what can I do? The order came straight from headquarters. I have no authority to change or cancel it," he said, his voice tinged with resignation.

Shaking his head slowly, Victor rested his elbows on his thighs and laced his fingers together.

"About that agreement... I’m starting to wonder if you actually read it, Lord Jason," he said with casual ease.

Blue veins throbbed on Jason’s forehead as he clenched his teeth, struggling to contain his anger. "What do you mean, Branch Manager Victor?"

Victor fixed him with a cold stare. "There’s a clause in the agreement that gives Silver Dragon Bank the right to change the terms at any time, without needing consent from the other party—that means you and the Malvain family. The terms have changed, and according to the agreement, you have no say in it. Am I right, Lord Jason?"

Jason’s eyes widened in realization. He recalled that clause—buried at the very end of the agreement.

What he once dismissed as a trivial detail had turned into a cruel knife, piercing both him and the Malvain family without mercy.

Before Jason could speak, Victor continued, his voice heavy with resignation, "As I said, this order came straight from the center. Even I have no authority to alter it. I’m sorry, Lord Jason."

Victor truly felt guilty. After all, he had gained greatly from the partnership between Silver Dragon Bank and the Malvain family.

Jason often sent him lavish gifts to maintain their good relations—all valuable, without exception.

Victor had gladly accepted every one of them.

But now, for reasons unknown, the bank’s headquarters in the capital had issued this sudden order. And Victor... simply had no power to refuse.

Hearing the sincerity in Victor’s words, Jason fell silent. The anger that had been rising inside him slowly began to ease.

His relationship with Victor had always been solid. He often sent gifts—not just as tokens of appreciation but also to strengthen their bond.

After all, their interests and goals were aligned. There was nothing to lose by maintaining a strong relationship with someone like Victor.

Given all the effort and kindness he had shown, it didn’t make sense for Victor to betray him. That meant his words were genuine.

Why is the Silver Dragon Bank’s headquarters targeting me and the Malvain family like this? Jason muttered, frowning.

Since the Silver Dragon Bank was a subsidiary of the Blue Moon Trading House, this decision had most likely been approved by the trading house’s leader.

From what Jason knew, the Malvain family had always maintained a positive relationship with the Blue Moon Trading House.

So, what could be the reason behind this sudden move?

Questions crowded his mind like chains, and sadly, he had no answers.

Shaking off his thoughts, Jason fixed Victor with a pleading gaze. "Branch Manager Victor, is there truly no other option? Could you at least help me negotiate an extension on this repayment?"

Five billion Sharn was no small amount—even for the Malvain family.

Though their cash flow exceeded thirty billion Sharn, it was already allocated for the southern region’s various expenses: city leaders’ salaries for the next three months, subsidies, and other essential needs.

Tinkering with any of those allocations would be like throwing the Malvain family into chaos.

This time, Victor didn’t immediately refuse Jason’s request.

He took a deep breath, nodded slowly, and spoke in a hesitant tone, "I’ll do my best, Lord Jason. If there’s any progress, I’ll let you know. But... don’t get your hopes up. I’m not sure if it’s even possible."

"Thank you, Branch Manager Victor! Whatever the outcome, I’ll accept it," Jason said, bowing slightly with genuine gratitude.

For the first time since the meeting began, the tension in his body eased.

They continued their light conversation for about fifteen more minutes before Victor finally stood.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Lord Jason," Victor said with a polite smile.

"The thanks should go to you, Branch Manager Victor," Jason replied with a wry smile.

Victor nodded in return. But as he turned to leave, his steps suddenly faltered.

He glanced back over his shoulder, eyes sharp, and said in a warning tone, "Lord Jason, I don’t know why the center issued this order. But... I suspect it has something to do with you and the Malvain family."

Jason frowned, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean, Branch Manager Victor?"

Victor paused briefly, then answered quietly but pointedly, "Most likely... you’ve crossed someone you shouldn’t have."

Without another word, Victor turned and walked away, leaving Jason frozen, eyes wide with shock.