“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
However, he did not care.With the upcoming ‘gift’, every lie Stephen had prepared would ultimately shoot himself in the foot.Dennis handed over a memory card to Howard and said, “I know what you’re planning. There’s a video in there. It contains the whole footage of Stephen’s visit to Crestwood, including the part where he was poisoned and dumped in the trash by us.“If everyone finds out that he met me, got beaten up, and then tossed out like garbage, imagine how they’ll see him. I’m looking forward to it.”Dennis relished the drama. He had nearly 10 billion worth in assets now, and it was enough for him to squander for the rest of his life.“Thanks.” Howard took the card and walked away.Meanwhile, Stephen, who had yet to learn what Howard and Dennis were planning, felt incredibly uneasy.“Forget it. They’re not even in the country, so they can’t do anything even if they want to. They’re too busy running for their lives. Why would they waste time on me? I’m sure they’re just
The mayor led Stephen to the car and headed to the first shelter.In the car, the mayor asked quietly, “How much money and supplies did you bring this time?”Stephen smiled. “10 million, and some canned food, tents, and so on.”The mayor instantly fell silent.Only 10 million and stuff like canned food and tents? If those supplies were from someone else, the people would be grateful and appreciative. However, they were from Stephen!Whose was responsible for the downfall of Seaside City? It was Stephen! Seaside City would not be in this situation if he had not arrested Howard. His reckless move had caused Seaside City’s GDP to plummet by 1.2 trillion.With the city crippled, stabilizing it and restoring its infrastructure would cost billions, but he only brought 10 billion. It was the same as injuring someone and only handing over a dollar when the treatment could cost tens of thousands. What was worse was that Stephen’s family was rich, and Stephen himself held a high position.
“I believe that as long as we work together, we’ll surely overcome this crisis! Dennis Lewis can’t knock us down, and Howard Green can’t defeat us either. The final victory will be ours...”After his speech, Stephen raised his fist into the air. Applause roared from both the audience in the livestream and the hall.The audience cheered for Stephen while many in the hall were moved. Stephen’s words deeply resonated with them; even if they had complaints, they had put them aside. Now, they were filled with hope for the future.“How can there be someone so dedicated in this world? I’m going to cry.”“I have to say, Stephen is a real man.”“Although Seaside City has encountered some issues, with Stephen around, everything will be resolved.”“Seaside City will rise again!”The internet was filled with high praise for Stephen.By then, the reporters had also approached with their prepared questions.“The issues in Seaside City aren’t exactly trivial. Do you really have the confidenc