“No can do, Mr. Monty. I’ve already spoken to the finance team over at the company and they’ve all given me the same answers. After reporting to the bank, no outsider is allowed to withdraw a single cent without the legal representative’s signature.”
Valentine had a vexed expression on his face as he hung up the phone and spoke to Conrad who was pacing around the room.
Conrad took a sharp breath and said, “Which means the 2.5 billion dollars we went to such great lengths to obtain has now genuinely become equity capital in Jasper’s hands.”
Valentine hurriedly said comfortingly, “Don’t be so pessimistic. At least the money is in the company’s account and not Jasper’s bank account.”
Ignoring Valentine’s comforting words, Conrad muttered to himself, “Now the most troublesome part is that we don’t know if Jasper did it on purpose or if it was a coincidence… What did our people in the bank say?”
“I’ve checked with them. It’s not just Agricultural Bank, but the remaining four major banks have also been doubling down on security lately.
“This is related to the recent spike in non-performing loans due to banks’ reckless lending to companies. The notice to enhance overall risk control was distributed by Central Bank to the headquarters of the four major banks at the end of last month.”
When Conrad heard that, he sat on the couch and closed his eyes without speaking.
After a moment’s thought, Valentine said softly to Conrad, “Mr. Monty, if that’s the case, this might have perhaps been a coincidence.”
“Coincidence?”
Conrad opened his eyes and said quietly, “I’ve never believed in coincidences, nor am I willing to attribute everything to mere coincidences. I would rather believe this was one of Jasper’s schemes.”
Valentine said awkwardly, “So what should we do next?”
“We can’t do anything…”
“It’ll be a mistake to do or even say anything more since we’ll be at risk of exposing ourselves completely. Let’s see what Jasper does first.”
Conrad’s eyes glinted as he spoke.
“After all, this money was obtained through a loan using Cloud Rider. I didn’t fund the money myself.
“At the very most, we’ll have it remain in the company’s account and have it go to whoever it belongs to when the scheme is exposed in the future. The bank can file a lawsuit against the two state-owned enterprises for that. My ultimate goal is still to trap Jasper’s funds…”
…
The ICBS branch in Nauritus City.
In the president’s office.
Raymond Lovell knew he had only become president of the best-performing branch in the province, the city center branch, because of John, who was one of the most influential people in the Southeast Province branch. He had always been looking for a way to repay John and the chance finally arrived for him to do so.
Raymond had just hung up the phone when someone knocked on his door.
“Come in.”
Raymond spoke calmly. Ever since becoming president of the city center branch, he felt as though he could finally become the dignified man he had been waiting a long time to become.
The person who entered was the manager of the bank’s Risk Management Department.
“President Lovell, we’ve discovered a major problem in the account that Cloud Rider Mining Company opened at our bank during our inspections today,” the manager said in a panic.
Raymond calmly took a sip of his coffee and smiled as he said, “Don’t panic, Wesley. Tell me calmly what’s going on. The sky isn’t falling on us is it?”
Mr. Wesley smiled bitterly as he said, “It’s a major problem, and the sky might as well fall on us if this is made public!
“The company registered its equity at 5.3 billion dollars, but when we checked the account today, we saw that the account has only transferred the 2.5 billion dollars it obtained from a loan with the Agricultural Bank’s branch in Southeast Province. Not another cent has been transferred into the account. How can I be calm when 2.8 billion dollars is missing?”
