The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne

Chapter 1019: Prime Minister Mikazura’s Hidden Agenda

”Forty billion Sharn?”

Nolan could no longer keep his composure.

”Are you sure?”

”I’m sure, Master. Do you think I’d give you the wrong information?”

Shion rolled her eyes. She stood up, walked over to her desk, and picked up a letter lying on it.

”Here’s the letter,” she said, handing it to him.

Nolan took it and read through it.

A moment later, he smiled, then burst out laughing.

”Crazy... absolutely crazy!”

He folded the letter and placed it on the table.

”This is great news! Forty billion Sharn in fresh capital will definitely accelerate the Blue Horizon project!”

The Blue Moon and White Lotus Trading Houses weren’t short on money.

They actually had a massive amount of funds set aside for the Blue Horizon project.

But if someone was willing to invest that much money, Nolan certainly wasn’t going to turn it down.

Shion smiled as well, seeing how happy Nolan was.

”By the way, Prime Minister Mikazura isn’t asking for a large stake in the project. He’s only asking for a ten percent ownership share. What he wants most is for the project to also be implemented in the Eastern Empire of Izanagi once it’s completed in the Great Velmora Empire.”

”I see.” Nolan regained his composure and smiled. ”Honestly, he’s pretty smart. He knows a good business opportunity when he sees one.”

Shion blinked curiously.

”What do you mean, Master?”

Nolan took a sip of his wine before explaining, ”I’m sure the Blue Horizon project will succeed. In five years—no, three years—it’ll be finished. By then, people from all over the capital will be able to travel outside the city by train. Naturally, the value of the Blue Horizon project will go up. You get what I mean, right?”

Nolan gave her a meaningful smile.

Shion was startled for a moment before smiling back.

”I understand.”

The investment required for the Blue Horizon project was around sixty to eighty billion Sharn. That amount was enormous, but in reality, it wasn’t all that much.

If the project succeeded, the money they spent would be nothing compared to the profits they could make.

In the future, if Blue Moon and White Lotus decided to take on a similar project, the required investment would certainly be even higher. It could reach one hundred to two hundred billion Sharn.

The forty billion Sharn provided by the Eastern Empire of Izanagi was essentially a down payment to secure the future continuation of the Blue Horizon project.

If the project succeeded, that amount would actually be quite small compared to the profits they could make.

”Oh, right. I’m curious about something.”

Shion picked up her wine glass and took a sip.

”The Blue Horizon project hasn’t been underway for very long, and I’m sure outsiders shouldn’t know about it yet. So, how did the Eastern Empire of Izanagi, all the way on the eastern continent, find out about it?”

Nolan fell silent for a moment as he thought about his mother, Isabella.

A smile appeared on his face before he replied, ”I’m curious about that too. It’s possible there’s a spy in the capital who leaked this information to the Eastern Empire of Izanagi.”

”Hmm... You’re right. That makes sense.”

Shion nodded.

Nolan said nothing. He didn’t want to reveal that his mother was actually a ”princess” of the Eastern Empire of Izanagi. There was no need to tell her.

”All right, I have to go now.”

Nolan finished his wine in one gulp and stood up.

”Huh? That fast?”

Shion puffed out her cheeks in disappointment.

”Can’t you stay a little longer?”

”Unfortunately, no.”

Nolan set his glass down on the table and patted Shion on the head.

”I have a lot to take care of. I’ll leave the rest to you.”

Without waiting for a response, Nolan turned around and disappeared from view.

...

”The Imperial Palace has sent a group, my lord. Princess Elina is leading them, along with Princess Freya and Young Lady Evalyn of the Lionheart family.”

A tall, handsome man reported to Jason, who was sitting in front of him.

”Oh? They’re coming pretty quickly.”

Jason nodded slightly, his expression unchanged.

”When will they arrive?”

The man straightened up.

”In five days.”

”Five days?” Jason frowned slightly. ”That’s a little longer than I expected, but it’ll be fine.”

The man hesitated before asking, ”Are we just going to sit here and wait?”

Jason chuckled.

”Of course not. We should give them a proper welcome. What do you think, Sergan?”

A playful look appeared in his eyes.

Sergan immediately understood what Jason meant and smiled.

”I understand. I’ll take care of it.”

Jason nodded and waved his hand.

”Go ahead.”

Sergan suddenly remembered something and added, ”My lord, I forgot to report one more thing. It concerns those noble families. How should we handle them?”

Jason shook his head indifferently.

”Get rid of them by any means necessary. I don’t feel like talking to anyone right now.”

Hearing that, Sergan said nothing and immediately disappeared from the spot.

...

”Hey, how long is Lord Jason going to keep hiding!? Hurry up and open the gate!”

”My land has been destroyed! Duke Malvain, come out!”

”My family... my family!”

Nobles of all ranks continued shouting at Jason from behind the fence.

They were furious, some even crying and shouting, all desperate to get a response from Duke Malvain.

Unfortunately, the guards weren’t about to let them in so easily. Still, the nobles’ anger was getting harder and harder to control.

More nobles joined them every day, and the guards were starting to struggle to keep them back.

Suddenly...

”Let them in.”

A voice came from behind the guards.

They were startled and turned around in unison. A man with short red hair was casually walking toward them.

”You...”

One of the guards was about to say something, but the man stopped him.

”Don’t ask questions. Let them in. This is the Duke’s order.”

Hearing the words ”the Duke’s order,” the guards lost their nerve and quickly stepped aside.

The nobles were finally allowed to enter, and they couldn’t hide their surprise.

But their surprise quickly turned into joy—and then anger.

”I must see Duke Malvain! You lot, follow me!” a viscount said excitedly.

”All right!” another noble replied, his eyes full of determination.

”Wait.”

The red-haired man stopped them.

”Duke Malvain isn’t here right now.”

”What did you say!?” the viscount exclaimed in disbelief.

He glared at the man.

”You must be lying! Duke Malvain must be inside!”

”That’s right! You’re lying!”

”Damn it! Enough of this nonsense! I’m going to see him!”

The others were already fed up and tried to push their way inside, but the man stopped them.

”I’m not lying to you. But Duke Malvain has given me permission to deal with your problems. Come with me.”

Without waiting for their reply, he turned around and walked away.

The nobles hesitated. They weren’t sure if they could trust him. But after thinking about it for a moment, they decided to follow him.

What they didn’t notice was the faint smile on the man’s face.

A cold, terrifying smile.