How would they face the public now? If news got out, they would become the biggest laughing stock online. Everyone hoped for it to be false news because it should never have happened in the first place.Simon sighed and said, “It’s real.” “Slam!”Someone slammed the table and bellowed, “Damn it! Howard Green, that fucking bastard! He lied to us all!” Everyone else was silenced by the news. Howard was ruthless, and it somehow left them at a loss of action. Simon spoke up, “That’s enough. We need to start thinking of a solution first. We cannot drag this out. We have to explain this to the public as soon as possible. If they found out about the problem themselves, things would only get worse.” Everyone wore a bitter look on their faces. Simon had asked for a solution, but none of them had any. In order to solve the problem, the fastest and easiest way would be to arrest Howard and execute him. However, the man had left the country with money, firearms, and manpower. It wo
“In that case, it’s decided.” The next day, Simon gave Stephen a call. “Stephen, visit Ethan. We have to speak to him directly.” The people who had proposed seeking Ethan’s help during yesterday’s meeting gathered once more, waiting for a chance to speak with him. Stephen quickly drove to Drakthorn Ridge Mansion. As soon as he got out of the car, the doors were opened, and he strode inside to see Ethan reading a book on the couch. He frowned. Ethan looked extremely calm, as if he had been anticipating Stephen’s arrival. “Ethan Rivers!” Stephen strode over, saying, “The federal government demands a meeting with him!” Ethan put down his book while Stephen set up the video call. Several men appeared on the screen, all of them looking intimidating and stern. No ordinary man could look them in the eyes without flinching, yet Ethan looked at all of them, unfazed. He asked, “What is this about?” It was the first time the men in the meeting room had seen Ethan in person. Th
Everyone in the meeting room fell silent. It was Stephen who released Howard and provided the man with money and firearms, and the folks in the meeting room supported his decision. Hence, technically, Stephen was the culprit, and they were his accomplices. Stephen’s face burned with embarrassment. He had not said a word, but every word he heard was like a knife to his heart. “Ethan, I know you’re unhappy, but this concerns the city. You can’t just make a decision because you’re upset. You will regret this,” he said with clenched teeth. Ethan almost burst out laughing.He said, “Because of your decision, Shawn Hill, Eric Morningstar, Brandon North, and Danny Brooks ruined North Hill City. Because of your decision, again, Seaside City is facing a crisis. And now you want to teach me how to make the right decision?” Then, he looked straight into Stephen’s eyes as he continued, “You destroyed the economy of North Hill City and caused the mess in Seaside City. Are you really tell
“Those are just your excuses! You’re just taking your frustration out on innocent people!” Simon bellowed, You’re such a coward! We asked you for help because we thought you were still redeemable, but you’re beyond saving!”Ethan smiled. “To be honest, you’re just afraid of being laughed at when the others learn the truth.” “Ha! You have quite a sharp tongue, but what good is that? You abandoned Seaside City and let Howard roam free!” Simon argued. Ethan closed his eyes. Seeing that, Simon grinned. He believed he had won. With Ethan speechless, it seemed he had no other option but to restore balance in Seaside City! The others also shared the same thought until Ethan suddenly opened his eyes. “Yeah. You’re right, but you people are shouldering the responsibility this time. You released Howard, lost Dennis, and destroyed Seaside City. Just wait and see what the history books will remember you.” Ethan’s comment shocked everyone in the meeting room. The meaning of his words
Howard went from a hero to a traitor overnight. With money and firearms, he fled the city, which exacerbated the mess in Seaside City. The one who caused the mess, Dennis, the mayor of Crestwood, also fled with the money he scammed from the people, evading capture and leaving no trace behind. However, the one who released Howard back to Seaside City was not Stephen but someone else. When the news hit the internet, everyone online was left in shock. Many rubbed their eyes and pinched their faces, struggling to believe what they saw. Howard was labeled a traitor and had taken off with money and firearms? The one who caused the mess, Dennis, was also roaming free?“What on earth is happening? Howard Green is a bad guy now?” “I thought he guarded Seaside City for three years. Why did he flee with money and firearms?” “What happened?” In just two days, Howard had gone from a bad guy to a hero and ultimately a traitor. The rapid shift in his identity was too much for people to h
However, there was nothing George could not say. Stephen’s status trumped him. Even if he had complaints, he had to stomach it. If he somehow upset Stephen, the Quinns would surely sanction him, and he would lose more than he bargained for. George sighed. He felt like he was digging his own grave. “Stephen may be blind, but what about the others in the federal government? Shawn Hill, Eric Morningstar, Brandon North, and now Howard Green? All of them were publicly praised, and now look, they all turned out to have issues! “Even if the main problem this time isn’t with Stephen and the federal government, they should share some of the responsibility!” Even though Simon came up with a solution of finding a scapegoat, the public was not buying it. At the federal government’s office, everyone remained silent. Even with a scapegoat in place, they were still blamed for it. They dared not imagine what the reaction would be if the public knew the truth. Maybe it would turn out exac
“Riveria’s GDP has dropped from its previous 15 trillion to 13.2 trillion.” More than a million people had lost their jobs, countless businesses had gone bankrupt, public welfare in cities had taken a hit, and people were losing their homes. “If Riveria’s GDP continues to plummet, we will lose the title of the most developed province and stray further away from our target of 20 trillion!” Simon was rendered speechless. He knew Riveria was in a mess because of Stephen. He and George had conspired to frame Ethan, intending to claim the fruits of success Ethan had planted long ago. By stealing all the credit and hard work from Ethan, he aimed to get a position in the cabinet and ensure his name would go down in history. Yet now, instead of reaching 20 trillion, they should be relieved it had not plummeted faster than it already had. “Is Stephen really up to this? Should we replace him?” someone asked, looking at Simon. “No! This is not entirely his fault,” Simon argued. “Our
“Is there something else?”Stephen thought there was something Simon had forgotten to tell him. However, when he looked at his phone, his eyes widened in shock.That number belonged to Howard, and he could not believe the man had the nerve to call him!Immediately answering the call, Stephen gritted his teeth and said “Howard Green, damn you!”“Haha!” Howard laughed.“I’ve never killed before, yet you label me a murderer. Tell me. How many people have lived happy lives in the three years I protected Seaside City? You didn’t even look into it before throwing me in prison.“I admit that I’ve done many wrong deeds in the past that deserve punishment, but… Stephen Quinn, you arrested me at will and made up false charges of me, and now look at what you’ve done to Seaside City. How many families have been destroyed because of you? Don’t you deserve to be punished too?”Stephen stood frozen and speechless.What Howard did in the past was indeed wrong, but compared to Stephen, what Ste