The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne Chapter 689 Extraordinary Profits From Extortion

After a mere ten minutes had elapsed, Alex reappeared, his countenance veiled in solemnity.

"His Majesty has… given his approval," he vocalized, his tone heavy with unspoken burden.

A palpable shift rippled through Elina, Seira, Sylvia, and the assembled soldiers; their expressions contorted instantly. Nolan, however, remained an island of composure, as if this particular resolution had long been foreseen.

"Very well. Now, present the check."

Nolan extended his left hand, his directness bordering on audacious, almost enough to incite fury.

Alex's jaw tightened. He withdrew a check from his pocket and inscribed the sum: five hundred million.

With a final signature, he relinquished the document to Nolan with evident reluctance.

Nolan received the check, scrutinizing its contents with meticulous care.

Seira and Elina drew nearer, their gazes also sweeping over the details. Once all was confirmed in order, Nolan carefully folded the check, then grasped Elina's and Seira's hands, before stepping back a distance of three paces.

"You are permitted to take the ten thousand soldiers."

Alex emitted a frigid snort. Aided by the soldiers he had marshaled, he commenced the process of freeing Erkan's men, Erkan himself included.

"Erkan, are you unharmed?" Alex inquired with palpable concern as he severed the restraints.

Erkan responded with a shake of his head. "I am well. My gratitude for delivering me and my contingent from this predicament."

"It was merely a task His Majesty charged me with."

A quiet exhalation escaped Alex as he assisted Erkan to his feet.

"What is the state of affairs in the capital? Has the turmoil been quelled?"

"Hm?" Alex's brow furrowed in surprise. "How did you become privy to that information?"

Erkan moved to elaborate, but the words faltered on his tongue.

Abruptly, he clutched his head, beset by a wave of pain. "What is occurring? Why does it feel as though my memories are beginning to… dissolve?"

The contents of the letter—and the very identity of its originator—were progressively receding from his grasp.

Erkan strove to retain them, but inexplicably, he found himself powerless to do so.

Noticing Erkan's peculiar distress, Alex attributed it to a mere transient effect of his ordeal.

Erkan, a seasoned general of war, must have sustained a profound psychological impact from his defeat at the hands of Nolan and Elina, leaving him in a state of lingering shock.

Once all matters were amicably concluded, Sylvia conjured a portal, its maw extending dozens of meters wide. The soldiers proceeded through it in succession, vanishing from the scene.

Only Sylvia and Alex remained, with Erkan standing steadfastly beside Alex.

Alex cast a malevolent glare in Nolan's direction, issuing a stern admonition, "My fervent hope is that you return to whence you came in peace, Nolan Lorian."

Nolan offered a subtle, knowing smile. "Your well-wishes are appreciated."

The corner of Alex's mouth contorted slightly, yet he offered no further words. He promptly stepped through the portal.

Sylvia, too, cast a fleeting glance at Nolan, but remained entirely silent.

Following her disappearance, the portal imploded, ceasing to exist.

"Finally, it is concluded…" Seira breathed out, a sigh of profound relief escaping her lips as she rested her head against Nolan's arm. "You were truly flirting with death, Nolan. Had the Tower Master decided to strike, would we not all have perished?"

Nolan offered a dismissive eye-roll. "Such an outcome was virtually impossible. With Elina's contingent standing guard, she would never have initiated an attack unless she courted her own demise. Am I not correct?"

He directed a playful, somewhat provocative glance toward Malverna.

Malverna responded with a cold snort before vanishing from that very spot.

Seira, still visibly unsettled, whispered, "Are you not concerned she may retaliate against you, Nolan?"

She was acutely aware of Nolan's propensity for inciting ire. Not everyone possessed the fortitude to endure his particular brand of demeanor.

Her deepest apprehension was that Malverna might, in fact, launch an assault. Should such an event transpire, Seira acknowledged with dismay that she would be utterly powerless to intervene.

"Your concern is noted, but rest assured, such a scenario will not materialize. Place your faith in me," Nolan conveyed, his tone laced with reassurance.

Seira compressed her lips, choosing not to pursue the matter further.

"Brother," Elina addressed him, her voice tinged with worry, "What recourse do we possess should the check prove to be a counterfeit? Would you not suffer a loss?"

The possibility of forged checks was a recognized phenomenon, with numerous instances documented.

Nolan gently shook his head. "That is an impossibility. The checks utilized by the majority of royal houses and noble families are intrinsically linked to the Blue Moon Trading House—specifically, its esteemed Silver Dragon Bank. Any attempt at forgery would irrevocably tarnish their reputation, particularly concerning the acquisition of loans. I am confident that Gulvar would not be so imprudent as to jeopardize the Lyren family's standing with the Blue Moon Trading House."

Although the pervasive influence of the Blue Moon Trading House had not yet permeated the entirety of the continent, the sophisticated financial framework it had established—or more accurately, the system meticulously devised by Nolan—had already been widely embraced by numerous kingdoms and empires.

Central to this system was the implementation of checks for the withdrawal of substantial monetary sums.

Naturally, as a prerequisite for adopting this system, every kingdom and empire was obligated to establish a branch of the Silver Dragon Bank. This stipulation was universally accepted by all nations desiring to integrate the system into their own economies.

Furthermore, the Silver Dragon Bank consistently provided loan options with interest rates that were notably more favorable than those offered by most domestic trading houses within each respective kingdom and empire.

This highly attractive proposition proved immensely beneficial to a multitude of noble and royal families across the land.

Nevertheless, Nolan had implemented a rigid system of credits, ensuring that only clients with timely payments and proven reliability were eligible for the low-interest loans.

Unbeknownst to the majority, Nolan's family stood as one of Silver Dragon Bank's most significant patrons. This very fact instilled a sense of security in Nolan, alleviating any concern that Alex might attempt deception.

Reputation, after all, commanded a value far exceeding any material wealth.

Elina remained silent, her complete faith in her brother unwavering.

“Very well, everyone…” Nolan stretched, releasing the stiffness from his body. “Let us make our way back.”

…

“Hah… it appears the assassins have met with failure.”

Within the opulent yet dimly lit chamber, Karakh released a soft sigh. His gaze was fixed upon the report held in his right hand, a solitary word stamped at its apex: Failure. Below this, two images were displayed—a man and a woman identified as Nolan and Seira.

“That man is considerably more astute than I had anticipated. It is plausible he already comprehends my involvement in this affair,” Karakh mused, a chuckle escaping him as he casually discarded the document onto the table.

The bounty placed upon Nolan and Seira, an endeavor orchestrated by him, was intended for their complete annihilation.

Numerous assassins had accepted the lucrative assignment. Every single one had ultimately failed in their objective.

Karakh harbored no particular astonishment. Nolan was no ordinary individual; indeed, he represented the most perilous and shrewd adversary Karakh had ever encountered.

In the perception of the populace, Nolan was merely an inconsequential prince, utterly devoid of worth.

Yet, no one harbored the suspicion that he possessed a cunning intellect that even his own father, Gulvar, had failed to fully comprehend.

“However, it matters not.” Karakh slowly rose to his feet. “I doubt he will contemplate seeking retribution against me. He will now return to his empire, and the intricate plan we have both set into motion has already reached an eighty percent completion. Only the final phase remains—and that, inevitably, will require considerable time.”

The turmoil within the capital had subsided, unfolding precisely as he had foreseen.

Yet, beneath that veneer of tranquility, a potent rage continued to smolder, poised to erupt at any given moment.

And once it unleashed its fury, his father's reign as king would be irrevocably imperiled.

That would signify Karakh's opportune moment to seize control of the throne.

“Everything is proceeding with an almost dreamlike smoothness…” he whispered, a broad, triumphant grin stretching across his features.