The Manager failed to get a satisfactory answer, but he didn't dare to offend Jason and Lewis. He was caught in the middle, neither inside nor outside, and ended up leaving in embarrassment. Taking a deep breath, he entered the private lounge next door and reported the situation to Henry.
After Henry heard the report, his face darkened slightly, and the broad-shouldered young man sitting beside him grew visibly furious.
"Mr. Henry invited them out of kindness, and they still refused? That's really presumptuous."
Henry raised a hand to quiet him, thought for a moment, and then said calmly:
"Go again. Tell them this—one more enemy is never better than one more friend. We're actually optimistic about New Vision Media. I hope they can continue to grow smoothly."
On the surface, the words sounded supportive, but underneath, every sentence was layered with threat.
The Manager didn't dare delay, so he passed along the message again. After a while, he returned, hesitant, before speaking carefully:
"Mr. Jason said, thank you for the goodwill, but their streamer isn't feeling well tonight, so they'll have to decline."
The broad-shouldered young man was about to explode with anger again, but Henry stopped him with another wave of the hand. He smiled faintly.
"Don't sugarcoat it. Tell me his exact words."
Manager winced. He had no choice but to relay the truth:
"Jason only said one word this time—'Get lost.'"
Earlier, he had translated that into "Thank you for appreciating, I'm really sorry for feeling unwell." His effort was almost admirable, but Henry had seen through the cover instantly.
The broad-shouldered young man slammed the table."They really don't know what's good for them! I think they need a proper investigation."
"Enough," Henry snapped, glaring at him. "What are you, a federal agent? You think you can sic the government on anyone who crosses you? Do you have any idea what abuse of power looks like?"
The young man lowered his head, chastised.
"Still," Henry added, his tone calm but sharp, "the advertising industry has plenty of shady dealings, especially these small media companies. A little compliance check wouldn't hurt."
That was the difference between an amateur and a seasoned operator—Henry knew how to speak in polished, official-sounding language. His words made it sound like fair regulation, not a personal vendetta.
In the lounge next door, Lewis sighed helplessly.
"Jason, even if you wanted to refuse, you could've done it more tactfully. I was thinking we'd just nod politely, but you went nuclear."
Jason leaned back casually, a faint smirk on his lips.
"The first time I declined, I was polite, wasn't I? I refused clearly, but they kept pushing. That's not courtesy—that's disrespect. Why should I keep showing respect when they don't respect me?"
Lewis rubbed his temples. "I've heard Henry isn't the type to forgive. We might need to call in some favors to deal with this."
As he spoke, he pulled out his phone and started dialing.
Meanwhile, Jason also took out his phone and sent a message to Vice President of the university:
"Vice President, does our school encourage student entrepreneurship?"
To his surprise, he immediately called him.
"Jason, are you thinking about starting a business? Of course we encourage student entrepreneurs. There are all kinds of grants and support programs."
Jason replied casually, "I'm not thinking about starting one. I already have. I invested few million dollars in a media company."
There was a loud clatter on the other end of the line, as if something had fallen. After a coughing fit, Frank's voice returned, strained but calm:
"Since you've already invested, why are you asking me this? Do you need help with the paperwork? Want me to make a few calls?"
Jason's tone turned sharper.
"There's a guy trying to make trouble for me—Henry, from the Business Regulatory Office. I'm just a college student, new in this game. Can you help me handle it?"
Jason knew exactly what he was doing.
Some people naively thought of the university vice president as just another academic. But in reality, the president and vice president of a major American university carried heavy political weight—often tied to state-level committees, think tanks, and even federal advisory boards. Many had gone on to become senators, governors, or Cabinet members.
He was no ordinary administrator. He was a player in the game of power.
And Jason intended to bring him in.
The Vice President of State University, wasn't just some academic figurehead. His position was politically charged—roughly equivalent to a deputy secretary in the state government. With his seniority and deep connections, no one would be surprised if, in a few years, he stepped into a Deputy Governor or State Secretary role.
Jason had considered all this from the moment he made his hefty donation to the university. By presenting himself as a bright young student entrepreneur, he had taken his first step into converting financial influence into political backing.
The skirmish with the student union earlier had only been a test. His real objective lay in shielding his business ventures from outside interference.
On the phone, Frank chuckled after listening to Jason's request.
"What a so-called 'fledgling' student you are. Don't play weak with me. With your strength, you're hardly an ordinary college kid."
But then his tone softened, serious but reassuring."Still, since you're one of our own—a standout student and an alumnus who's already donated two million—you can't be maliciously tripped up at the very start of your career. I'll make a call for you."
"Thank you, Vice President Evans," Jason replied simply. He didn't need to embellish.
Once the call ended, Frank immediately dialed another number—this time, to the Deputy Director of the State Commerce Commission.
On the other end, a hearty laugh rang out."Frank! What's the occasion? Finally got time to call me? How about we meet up for a game of cards sometime?"
Frank smiled politely."Too much work at the university these days, no time for cards. But we'll get together soon, I promise."
"I'm calling because of something else. I've got a student who just launched a business, and it seems like he's running into some trouble…"
Before the Deputy Director could get the wrong idea, Frank added quickly:"Listen, I'm not asking you to cover anything up. If his company's got real problems, it should absolutely be investigated. But if someone's just out to trip him on purpose, I won't sit by and let it happen."
The laughter on the other end stopped. The Deputy Director's voice grew serious:"Don't worry. I don't tolerate anyone using public office for private vendettas. Not under my watch."
Meanwhile, in the private lounge, Henry had just finished making a phone call, instructing his subordinates to start "digging" into Vision Media.
But before his order could even be carried out, his phone lit up. When he saw the caller ID—Deputy Director Hamilton—he immediately sat up straighter, his back rigid.
In the state's political hierarchy, the ranking went something like this: Cabinet-level → Deputy Secretary → Regional Director → Local Director. Henry was just a local-level administrator. And the Deputy Director wasn't just above him—it was his boss's boss's boss.
Henry quickly hushed everyone around him and answered."Deputy Director, what can I do for you?"
Hamilton's voice was blunt and to the point:"Did you authorize an investigation into Vision Media? What exactly did you find wrong with this company?"
Henry froze. His subordinates hadn't even started moving yet. How could Hamilton already know?
Even if they had started, there was no way news could've reached the Deputy Director this fast. And even if it had… why would he personally call Henry, of all people, and question him directly?
His thoughts raced.
Could it be… Jason? Who was this kid, to make Deputy Director Hamilton himself intervene?
Henry's face turned pale. A cold sweat broke out across his forehead.
There are 60 chapters ahead in my Patreon, with 2 daily chapters. If you are interested can check it out.
patreon.com/B_A_3439