The half-elf account manager assigned specifically to the Benge family had arrived full of excitement but left in disappointment. By the time she departed Sir Benge's estate, the sweet, professional smile had vanished from her face.
On the carriage ride back to the company, the half-elf used an encrypted communication orb to report the news to Ivankov. Through gritted teeth, she said:
"Mr. Ivan, Old Benge didn't agree to let us withdraw cash. He also demanded to pull out his investment, claiming that something had happened to his family."
"Hm?"
Ivankov was in the office building packing his things, preparing to go on "vacation" in Ice Bay. At the news, he immediately furrowed his brow.
He asked:
"Doesn't he know that withdrawing his investment outside the plan means not only forfeiting any dividends but also losing 20% of his deposit? How could someone who's spent his whole life as a loan shark, thinking of nothing but profit, make such an absurd choice at a time like this?"
"I explained that to him, Mr. Ivan, but he insisted. I had no choice but to placate him for now and say I'd have to file a report about it."
"Ah, Kiki, this was just a test, and you've just given yourself away."
Hearing the employee's response, Ivan sighed. He wasn't panicking. Instead, he spoke in a teaching tone:
"The more serious the situation, the less you can afford to panic. The right move would've been to issue him a withdrawal waiver on the spot. You need to keep the initiative. The more forcefully you act, the more he'll doubt himself. By stalling, you've only convinced that cunning old man that something's going on."
"I'm sorry, sir. I..."
Kiki, the half-elf follower of the Goddess of Wealth, immediately realized what she'd done wrong.