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Chapter 116
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The Guardian's Return Chapter 117
Then, he pushed the reporters aside and left.After Stephen left in a hurry, the scene erupted into chaos.“Is he going to abandon Seaside City? Abandon us?”“Was everything he said just a lie?”“Why didn’t he answer the question?”Everyone was doubtful. The moment Stephen left, he hurriedly pulled out his phone to call Simon.Simon had been watching the broadcast, so he knew everything that had happened and even found the situation tricky.Howard had made two major moves. The first was bribing someone to go to the scene and play the recording. Since the scene was broadcast live, many people heard it, and that alone was causing enough trouble.The second was him uploading a video online. The video contained a conversation between Stephen and Dennis, proving that Stephen knew about the situation in Seaside City all along.That video shattered their plan to use a scapegoat! It could even backfire on them and make the consequences more severe!Even though the video was quickly
The Guardian's Return Chapter 118
At the thought of getting Ethan’s help, Stephen instantly perked up.However, after thinking about how the people from the government headquarters had contacted Ethan before for help, Stephen grew disappointed again. “Will he really help?”He was not confident. “Maybe I should just forget about it.”Putting aside whether or not Ethan would help, he felt embarrassed simply asking Ethan for help.He was part of the Quinns, a prominent and influential family from Metropolis, whereas Ethan was just an orphan raised by someone unknown, with no power and background. He was just an ordinary person.If it was revealed that he went to Ethan for help, he would become a laughingstock.“Let’s think of something else. As the saying goes, where there’s a will, there’s a way. There must be something I can do.”Stephen unlocked his phone.Online, the situation between Howard and Stephen was still trending. Many were feeling guilty about Howard. Howard had protected Seaside City for three yea
The Guardian's Return Chapter 119
Stephen wiped the sweat from his forehead, swallowing hard. The situation was way worse than he had expected.Discussions about him were everywhere online, demanding him to come forward and tell the truth.“No. This can’t go on. I have to ask Ethan for help!”Stephen was frightened. He thought he could find a way to solve the problem, but after reading the comments online, he gave up on that idea.He quickly took out his phone and called Simon.The call soon connected.“Dad, I have an idea.” Stephen said, “I’m thinking of asking Ethan for help.”“Ethan?” Simon frowned. “Why Ethan?”Soon, it clicked. The situation started because of Ethan and Howard, so it could be easily resolved if Ethan intervened. The easiest way would be for Ethan to have Howard say that everything was false and was just lies that Dennis and he orchestrated. That way, Stephen would be completely off the hook. Since Howard would never return to the country anyway, there would be no consequences for him.“
The Guardian's Return Chapter 120
All Stephen could do was have his bodyguards chase away the reporters as he quickly boarded his flight.It was dark when he returned to Riveria, and as soon as he stepped out of the airport, he saw Rachel waiting for him outside. Instead of saying anything, he quickly got into the car.When he walked over, he could feel many people watching him. Even from several dozen meters away, he thought he could hear them pointing at him.Stephen did not dare to linger.“Let’s go home.”With that, Rachel drove him back to the villa. Once home, Stephen finally let out a long breath.Rachel handed him a glass of water and asked, “Are you okay, darling?”“I’m fine.”Although that was what Stephen said, he felt bitter inside.George, who was also there, asked, “What’s your plan now?”He, too, felt helpless about the situation in Seaside City. To fix those issues would require a lot of effort.At that moment, he could not help but miss Ethan again. Nothing like that ever happened when Eth
The Guardian's Return Chapter 121
“You should be visiting the doctor instead of coming to me. I can’t do anything about your condition,” Ethan said while putting his book down. He knew about Seaside City and why Stephen came to him. Hence, when he spoke, his words carried two meanings.The first interpretation was literal: Stephen should see a doctor for his cough instead of coming here. The second was more subtle: Stephen needed to learn how to deal with the problems he had caused, rather than seeking help from him. Stephen, unfortunately, did not understand Ethan. His expression turned bitter as he sat down on the couch. “I’m here with good news.” Ethan had a look at his face and said, “Hm. I guess it’s really good news. It explains why you have that look on your face.” “We have decided to let you go,” Stephen said with a cold grunt. Then, he stared at Ethan, hoping to see excitement or gratitude, but all he saw was an expressionless face. “You seem awfully calm knowing that you can leave.” Stephen coul
The Guardian's Return Chapter 122
If Shawn Hill, Eric Morningstar, Brandon North, Dennis Lewis, and Howard Green were already leaving Stephen with no way out, what about the big players in the pool? People like the South Regent wanted to dye the entire province in its own blood. Stephen, who still had no idea how serious the situation had gotten, got up and bellowed, “You know what Howard did. Why can’t you talk to him? Is it that hard for you to help? You know Dennis is a ticking time bomb and what Howard has contributed, yet you say nothing. “You’re actually partially responsible for what happened to Seaside City. Are you really just going to sit back and do nothing?” Stephen took a deep breath to regulate his emotions. “If you’re willing to help, we will give you more money. In fact, you can get more than just money, you can get women and young men—whatever you like!” Money, women, and freedom were the three more tempting things to a man, so Stephen believed Ethan would say yes to him this time. “I tol
The Guardian's Return Chapter 123
“Just go. It’s getting late,” Ethan said. Stephen had no memory of how he left the place. He only regained his senses when he felt the cool mountain breeze on his sweaty face. He turned around for a glance at the mansion. An uncontrollable fear flickered in his eyes before he rushed down the hill. On the way back, he could not help but give his father a call. “I offered him money, women, and freedom, but he rejected all of them. He doesn’t want to help.” Simon gasped when he heard the news of Ethan rejecting the offer. “What? Why did he reject you?” “He said he doesn’t need any of those.” “He doesn’t need any of those?” Simon thought he had heard wrong. A man locked up in a mansion on the mountain had no need for money, women, and freedom? He pondered, but he could not figure it out either. He simply thought Ethan was bluffing. However, Ethan’s rejection made things more difficult for Simon, and he could not think of a better solution for the time being. “Go home
The Guardian's Return Chapter 124
Simon never wanted to take that step, but Ethan’s refusal left him no choice. “Dennis has agreed. He will delete the video and take a new one to clarify everything. It might not be as useful as Howard clarifying himself but at least it's something,” Simon said. Upon listening to the good news, Stephen slumped back onto the couch. With the weight lifted off his shoulders, he felt a great relief. He was safe and had overcome the crisis. Once Dennis made the clarification, everything would be better. Stephen also could not believe that his savior would also be his enemy. After Dennis poisoned him and tossed him into the thrash, he had sworn to capture Dennis at all costs, but now he found himself having to rely on the very man for help. He knew that insult would be with him for the rest of his life. Maybe others would believe everything was fake, a prank video just to slander him, but he knew it all really happened. He could fool everyone but not himself. Meanwhile, Simon br
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The Guardian's Return Chapter 880
Thanks to Stephen’s shout out, many tourists came to the town to join the festival. Stephen watched the bustling crowd, lost in thought, when two familiar figures suddenly appeared.Stephen trembled as his eyes widened in disbelief. They were Snow and Lily!He snapped out of his daze and rushed into the crowd. However, when he was standing right where he had seen them, they were gone. He looked around him, but with so many people moving around, he could not look far.“Was it just my imagination?”Stephen calmed himself down. He had been through so much lately that he was starting to hallucinate. How could Snow and Lily be there anyway?Believing he needed some rest, he booked a room and took a nap. When he lay down on the bed, he quickly fell asleep from all the exhaustion.He dreamed about Snow and Lily, as well as Rhys. However, Rhys was surrounded by thick fog that obscured his face.Stephen looked at him and asked, “Did you ever think of giving up?”Rhys said, “There are so
The Guardian's Return Chapter 879
“He’s amazing.” Stephen asked excitedly, “Where is he now? I’d like to meet him.”The mayor took a deep drag of his cigarette and blew it out. “You can’t.”“Huh?” Stephen did not understand.The mayor replied, “He’s dead.”Stephen froze. Rhys, the person hailed as the second Ethan Rivers, was dead? “How could that be?”The mayor gazed at the sky outside the door. “It’s been like this since ancient times. Heroes never live long enough to grow old in this world. He got cancer and passed away not long after Riveria achieved peace. We started this festival to honor him and other heroes.”The mayor’s voice was filled with regret.“He was a good kid. It’s such a shame.”Stephen was lost in a daze. Just moments ago, he was thrilled to hear of Rhys’ past, thinking he was saved. If he could find Rhys, the problems in Riveria would be solved easily. However, Rhys was dead. In fact, he had been gone for several years.Stephen’s so-called hope never existed.“How could this be…” He cou
The Guardian's Return Chapter 878
The mayor looked out at the blue sky, lost in thought.“Since she chose you, I’ll step aside,” Rhys said as he handed his friend the keepsake his childhood sweetheart had once given him when they swore their love.“Besides, given these chaotic times, love isn’t something I can afford to dwell on. I have to live up to the expectations people have of me. I can’t let them down.” He looked at the girl one last time and took a deep breath before saying, “Goodbye.”His family was destroyed at a young age, so Rhys longed for peace more than anyone. He always wanted to be part of the effort to protect Riveria.The year he graduated from university, the Grand Marshal passed away. All of Riveria was in despair, believing that Riveria was doomed. However, Rhys was determined to join Ethan’s forces.In multiple operations, he displayed excellent skills, strategic thinking, and intelligence, allowing Ethan to take notice of him and guide him. In turn, Rhys learned a lot from Ethan.“Study the
The Guardian's Return Chapter 877
The mayor nodded and explained the origin of the festival and its name.“Riveria used to be a chaos-filled land, but many unsung heroes stepped up to make it better. The peace we enjoy today is all thanks to their selfless dedication.“The name Rhys Festival comes from a man named Rhys Estrela. He was once a subordinate of Mr. Rivers, who made great sacrifices for Riveria. There’s a local saying that goes, ‘A single spark can start a prairie fire.’ We always believe that as long as we don’t give up, Riveria will surely thrive.”Those words sent a chill down Stephen’s spine. The mayor mentioned Mr. Rivers, and while others might not know who that was, Stephen knew—it was Ethan! It meant that the festival was related to Ethan. To top it off, the festival was named after Ethan’s subordinate, Rhys Estrela, a name Stephen was unfamiliar with. He had been in Riveria for half a year but had never heard of that name before. He had no idea what Rhys did to leave his name behind like that.
The Guardian's Return Chapter 876
Hearing Stephen’s positive response, the people in Riveria calmed down slightly.“I hope they can recover the money soon.”“I took out a loan on my house to invest. If we don’t get it back, my family is done for.”“Let’s believe in Stephen. No matter what, he was the Grand Marshal’s mentee.”“He did a good job running Riveria before. I’m sure he can do it again.”“Yeah. This is just a minor issue compared to before.”Most people expressed their trust in Stephen. They could tell that he was far more worn out than before. His hair, which had shown signs of turning black again, had faded back to white again. Some people even felt sorry for him.However, there were others who doubted his abilities. The scammers had fled abroad. Would Stephen be able to catch them, and even if they were caught, could the money be recovered? What if the scammers had laundered the money by auctioning off artwork?They voiced their concerns online. Some people agreed, understanding why they were worrie
The Guardian's Return Chapter 875
Stephen looked at the contract. Other than the high price, there were no other problems.However, the high price was a humiliation for both Stephen and the whole of Riveria.He wanted to refuse and even curse them, but he had no leverage against the other party and was completely passive in this situation. If he did not agree, the crops and livestock in Riveria would be finished.Stephen closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Even though he knew that many people would hate him, he still signed the contract.“Pleasure doing business with you.” The foreigners took the contract and chuckled. With that, they left.The meeting room was silent, Stephen being the only one left. He slumped into his chair, uncertain if he had made the right decision.Half an hour later, his phone rang, snapping him back to reality. He had more work to do.Many people in Riveria had been scammed into buying virtual currency, losing over ten billion. Stephen had to give the people an answer.“How did the
The Guardian's Return Chapter 874
Stephen had no choice but to use a translation device, continuing the discussion while they mocked him.Despite his utmost sincerity and effort, they refused to lower their price at all, confident that they had Stephen cornered.His only option was to take money from the Quinns and pour it into developing the medicine. However, he knew the Quinns well. There was no way they would take out billions at once for something like this, especially when there were other diseases to deal with as well.They were no match for Ethan, but the Quinns were nothing to them, let alone Stephen.“We’ll get to the point.”They spoke in Stephen’s language to make sure that he understood. “You’re not good enough. Only Mr. Rivers can manage Riveria. You can’t even protect the people around you. How do you plan to protect Riveria?”Stephen’s expression soured. He knew that they were telling the truth. He had no way to refute, and being stubborn would only make him look more ridiculous.“I’m not as good
The Guardian's Return Chapter 873
Stephen felt that he could come up with a solution that could save both Riveria and protect the Quinns.However, did such a solution really exist? He was not confident.“I’ll go back to my room first.” Stephen walked away.Back in his room, he sat at his desk, deep in thought.“A perfect solution...”Stephen could not think of one. The more he tried, the more his mind uncontrollably drifted back to the past.“No.” He shook his head. “I need to focus.”However, his mind and body had deteriorated from the multiple tragedies. His hair had turned grey, and he struggled to maintain focus.Stephen sighed and planned to think of a solution later. Now, he needed to address Riveria’s current problems.Crops and livestock were falling ill. He sent people to investigate the cause, but research required massive funding. Replacing the crops and animals with new ones would not be easy either.At that moment, foreign corporations suddenly announced that they had the right medicine to cure t
The Guardian's Return Chapter 872
In the past, George also thought that Riveria would not collapse even without Ethan. With himself and the Quinn family, Stephen could still bring Riveria to new heights.Now, he understood.What the former governor, Liam, and the others said was true: Riveria would fall without Ethan.Neither the Lowes, the Quinns, nor even all the families in Metropolis combined, could manage Riveria.Without Ethan, Riveria was doomed.Stephen lowered his head. If it were in the past, he would have laughed if he had heard such words, thinking it was a joke.How was he inferior to Ethan? Whatever Ethan could do, he could do too, and better at that!Now, he could not laugh.He realized the truth too.The first city’s downfall was a coincidence, the second was due to negligence, and the third was an accident, but what about the fourth? The fifth?He could come up with a thousand excuses, but it would not change the truth.The reality was that he was far inferior to Ethan. Only Ethan could save
