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The Guardian's Return
The Guardian's Return
Author: Old Pumpkin

Chapter 1

Author: Old Pumpkin
“Ethan Rivers, we’ve received a report accusing you of multiple crimes, including embezzlement and bribery. Please come with us.”

At Villa 88, Grand Tomson in Riveria, two uniformed officers stood before Ethan, their eyes fixed coldly on him.

“Do you have the wrong person?” Ethan frowned.

He was the future son-in-law of the governor, currently managing the entire province on the governor’s behalf. Over the past three years, he had worked tirelessly to increase the GDP of Riveria by fivefold.

Thanks to him, Riveria was transformed from a poor backwater into a developed province with a GDP of 15 trillion dollars!

“There’s no mistake.” A cold voice suddenly sounded from the front.

Ethan was stunned to see the speaker. It was a beautiful woman, who was the governor’s daughter and his fiancee, Rachel Lowe.

Rachel approached slowly, her gaze indifferent as she looked at Ethan. “I was the one who made the report. They’re here to arrest you.”

When he heard her and saw the look in her eyes, everything became clear to Ethan.

There was a time when Riveria was chaotic due to its proximity to the border of Draconia, plagued by drug trafficking, smuggling, and other crimes. The neighboring cities wanted nothing to do with Riveria, and Riverians were often looked down upon when they went.

Yet, with its 15 trillion GDP, Riveria was now an economic powerhouse, making it the most developed province in the country! It was no longer a place others ridiculed but a massive pie everyone wanted a piece of.

Rachel’s father, the current governor, had completed his term and was recognized as one of the greatest governors in history, destined to be remembered for generations.

Many major cities were eager to establish ties with the Lowes, and Ethan had heard rumors that a prominent family from the capital wanted a marriage alliance with them.

As Ethan had no background and was about to marry into the Lowe family, it seemed they now wanted to discard him, claim his achievements for themselves, and ally with a powerful family from the capital to climb higher up the social ladder!

Ethan applauded when he saw through everything.

“What a clever scheme. However, do you really think you can manage Riveria without me?”

Before he took charge of Riveria, the province was overrun with local tyrants, not to mention the foreign threats lurking at the borders.

There was a town named Lytton, with over ten thousand residents, that united and took out over a hundred million in online loans. Even to this day, they were bitter about not receiving high compensation for the newly-built highway that went through their town.

There was also Crestwood, a city with more than fifty thousand residences that once exported large quantities of weapons abroad.

Zimmer Realty, a company that took on a major development project, collected billions in advance sales and had been looking for ways to skip town ever since.

Aquapolis was famous for its clear rivers, beautiful scenery, and abundant aquatic resources, but many had been wanting to set up chemical plants on the land.

Then, beyond the border, a warlord known as ‘South Regent’ was always looking to establish a trade route through Riveria for weapons, drugs, and human trafficking.

Currently, Riveria was on edge, with tension high everywhere. Ethan was the only reason things had not spiraled out of control. However, if he were to disappear, there would be no one to keep those forces in check, and the consequences would be unimaginable!

“Haha!” Rachel laughed at Ethan.

“Who do you think you are?” She looked at him with disdain. “You’re just an orphan. If it weren’t for my family providing you with food and shelter, you would’ve starved to death long ago. All the skills you have, you learned them by stealing from us. If someone like you can manage Riveria, we can do even better without you. Do you really think Riveria can’t survive without you? That the world will stop turning if you’re gone?”

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  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 2

    “Besides, the Quinns from the capital will have a marriage alliance with us. Once Stephen Quinn comes to Riveria, he’ll easily raise the GDP to 20 trillion within a year!”Rachel walked over to the table and continued with a smile, “The Lowes’ affairs are none of your concern. You should worry about yourself now.”She smiled faintly. “After all, you’ll be spending the rest of your life behind bars.”One of the officers then took out a pair of silver handcuffs.Ethan knew that the Lowes must have planned it thoroughly. There was no chance they would let him walk away today, but he did not plan on walking away anyway. He was feeling a bit tired, after all. Over the past three years, he had constantly worked to attract investors, protect the environment, and maintain the delicate balance with the various forces. Now, he finally had some time to rest.Ethan looked at them calmly and said, “I’ll walk out myself.”The two officers frowned and moved forward to handcuff him. However, w

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 3

    Ethan did not bother looking at them again and pulled out his phone instead. “Whether you call him or not makes no difference to me, but… whether I’m the one who calls him or you would make a significant difference for you.”The two officers gasped in shock. Just the comment he made carried more weight than the chef chewing them out for three hours straight!Seeing that Ethan was about to dial the chief’s number, they shouted in unison, “We’ll call him right away!”They then turned and bolted to find the chief, not daring to waste any time.A minute later, the police chief, Liam Yates, came rushing over. He felt a chill run down his spine when he saw Ethan sitting in the lobby.“Why is he here? He’s usually holed up in that villa. The last time he went out, he went to Crestwood alone and came out unharmed a few hours later. The entire town saw him off! Since then, Crestwood has been quiet and engaging in legitimate business!”The people in Crestwood were notorious for being tough

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 4

    Due to it being located at the border, the situation there was extremely unstable, and deaths on the mountain would go unnoticed.Liam could not help but ask, “Why are you going there?”Ethan glanced at him. “I don’t need to explain my actions to you. I’m only informing you because I’m currently under suspicion.”Liam gulped. “I’ll go with you! It’s too dangerous there. You need someone to protect you.”The two officers behind had long since lost their words. Seeing the chief treating Ethan like that, they also started to wonder if they should beg for forgiveness. However, Ethan ignored them and simply headed straight for the door.Liam sighed in relief as he watched Ethan leave. As his mind cleared, a thought immediately crossed his mind.“Who reported him? Who would dare to report him? It must be someone from the governor’s side!“Is the governor getting rid of him after securing his re-election? This is bad. Ethan doesn’t need Riveria, but Riveria can’t be without Ethan! It’l

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 5

    “Ethan has no talent. Riveria’s success is all thanks to my father!”The manager was stunned. Ethan had no talent? Riveria’s success was all thanks to George? He thought he had heard the most ridiculous joke in the world.Everyone in Riveria knew that George had no concern for the province. It was all Ethan’s efforts. Without Ethan, Riveria would not be a province with a GDP of 15 trillion dollars. Instead, it would be a poverty-stricken place plagued by trouble!If not for the fact that Ethan was George’s future son-in-law, they would not have voted to re-elect George. Even the hotel, which was the largest in Riveria, was founded thanks to Ethan.The manager frowned and said, “That’s not right. We common folks know Ethan well. Ask anyone, and they’ll sing his praises!”George and Stephen’s expressions instantly darkened when they heard everyone would sing Ethan’s praises. That was not the news they wanted to hear, and they needed Ethan’s reputation to be thoroughly destroyed.“S

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 6

    If Ethan was removed and the South Regent made a move again, would the cities at the borders survive?George and Stephen’s expressions were grim with anger when their plan was exposed.“Nonsense. Ethan is just an orphan with no skills. He even dropped out of high school. What contributions has he made?“On the other hand, Stephen is the son of the Quinns in the capital. Not only did he graduate from the top academy, but he also studied abroad for three years and gained exceptional skills. Ethan is nothing compared to Stephen!”Zane scoffed in disdain. “If he’s so amazing, the GDP of the capital should’ve long surpassed that of Riveria and become the top in the nation, right?”George was instantly silenced, and Stephen’s expression darkened further.“I only have one thing to say. Riveria when it’s managed by Ethan and when not are two completely different places. Ethan will have an easier life if he leaves Riveria, but without him, Riveria will crumble!”George slammed the table

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 7

    As Liam took a closer look, he gasped in shock. The street was filled with cars, and beside each car stood two to three men in suits, standing tall!All of them were dressed in suits and ties, looking like they were there for a job interview. Liam and his men were so startled that their hands instinctively moved toward their guns.Just then… “Welcome, Lord Rivers!” They all spoke in unison, their voices booming in perfect harmony.Dumbfounded, Liam turned to look at Ethan with his men, wondering if those people were there to greet Ethan.Their eyes widened with disbelief, and they failed to wrap their head around the situation. Who exactly was Ethan to be able to summon so many people in that chaotic place?Ethan, however, merely glanced at them calmly. “The South Regent promised he wouldn’t cross the border. Is he going back on his word?”A young man in a red suit quickly stepped forward, dropping to his knee and lowering his head respectfully. “You’ve misunderstood, Lord Rive

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 8

    “Whose grave is it?”The man quickly covered Liam’s mouth.“Shh! Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t. All you need to know is that while there’s chaos and bloodshed at the base of the mountain, no one dares to fire a single shot up here.”Liam’s eyes widened as he stared at the grave, finding it terrifying! There could be gunfire and explosions below, yet no one dared to disturb the peace of the place?“Master, it’s been a long time.”Ethan opened the bottle of whiskey and slowly poured it in front of the tombstone.“I came in a hurry this time, so I didn’t bring the good stuff, but I know you never liked drinking anyway.“You told me to look after Riveria for a year, but I did it for three. In those three years, I’ve watched Riveria turn from a chaotic place to a land where people can live in peace.“Your student, I, didn’t let you down. I’ve turned Riveria into the place you always dreamed of. I’ve done all I can, and now that Riveria is thriving, it’s time for me to move on.”

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 9

    As he drove, he was rattled to see the suited men lining the road. Firstly, he was terrified by the sheer number of men because their presence indicated that the South Regent’s power was far greater than he had imagined. However, what really shocked him was how deferential they all were to Ethan. Even someone as powerful as the South Regent treated Ethan with such respect!He could not help but think, ‘I wonder if the lieutenant governor has spoken to the governor. If the governor is still bent on locking Ethan up, Riveria will be in ruins.’In the evening, Liam took Ethan back to the station. His subordinates approached, looking at him, confused.“Chief, where should we put him?”They glanced at Ethan as they spoke. They could not possibly put someone like him in a regular cell, could they?Liam was also at a loss. The station was not equipped for long-term accommodations, let alone anything with a comfortable bed.Ethan, who had overheard their conversation, said calmly, “Just put m

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  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 920

    After everything was settled, the people from HQ went to Ethan again. They apologized to him and begged for his forgiveness.“We’ve dealt with everyone involved in this matter. Are you satisfied with the outcome, Mr. Rivers?”With that, they lowered their heads to the ground nervously. Their only hope now hinged on Ethan’s response.They did not dare to ask for much. All they hoped for was that Ethan would not leave the country.Ethan glanced at them calmly and said, “Send someone to help move my stuff down the mountain.”Hearing that, everyone was first stunned, and then ecstatic.“Of course!” they replied in unison.They understood what Ethan meant. He was staying! Although it was not his complete forgiveness, he was willing to give them another chance.They were all overjoyed. As long as Ethan did not leave, there was plenty of time to slowly make amends.They took out their phones and made arrangements to help Ethan move.After the call ended, they said, “We respectfully

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 919

    The day of Rachel and George’s trial came.The livestream began at 10 a.m., and hundreds of thousands of viewers joined instantly.Rachel and George slowly walked into the courtroom in handcuffs.Bang! The judge’s gavel fell, and the room went silent.It was not a lawsuit. It was a trial to expose the sins of Rachel and George.The judge read out their crimes one by one, until Rachel and George’s faces paled to the point that they looked like corpses.The viewers in the livestream finally saw the full picture.“So that’s it! The Quinns and the Lowes conspired!”“They deserve to die! How could they frame Ethan like that? Are they even human?”“The death penalty! They deserve the death penalty!”They were all furious.Many people had lost their families as a result of supporting Stephen and scolding Ethan. After watching the livestream, they realized just how deeply they had been wrong.They were accomplices to the Quinns and the Lowes' crimes in framing Ethan!Their current

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 918

    They suppressed their disgust and returned home, only to see their parents and wives’ panicked expressions.“What did you do out there?”“So many people came today, asking for you by name.”How were they supposed to answer those questions? They could not just say that they had insulted Ethan online.If they did, their parents would beat them to death before anyone else could.“It’s nothing,” they replied stiffly. They had no choice but to hide the truth. After all, they could not say that they had insulted Ethan, or that they had lost their jobs.However, the next second, their parents received text messages. After their parents glanced at their phones, their expressions instantly changed.It was a message from the bank, stating that their child had been listed as a defaulter and urging them to repay the loan immediately.“What have you done?” Their parents’ voices trembled.Seeing that there was no way to hide it anymore, they had no choice but to confess the truth.They los

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 917

    Seeing that message, they immediately felt as if their world had ended.Because they had insulted Ethan, they lost their jobs, were blacklisted, and could not find work again.“How could this be?”No one expected this outcome. They thought, ‘So what if I insulted him? Are they going to punish me for it? Besides, so many people are insulting him. They can’t possibly punish every single person who did it. At most, I’ll post a public apology and promise that I’ll never do it again.’However, now they were all fired. Everyone who had insulted Ethan had been dismissed from their jobs.It seemed like there were several tens of thousands of people involved! It was hard to imagine just how many people had lost their jobs in real life.“Why are they going this far? Aren’t they afraid of causing unrest?”Of course, HQ had considered that. However, they knew what was more serious.If Ethan went abroad and cooperated with foreign countries, the consequences would not be limited to a few pe

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 916

    George thought that Rachel had already escaped abroad, so he was not afraid when he arrived.Now, when he saw Rachel there as well, he completely panicked.This was not what he had expected!“Where else would she be?” someone from HQ asked.George looked nervous and stammered, unable to say a word.With Rachel caught and him being brought here, it was clear that HQ already knew the truth. Coupled with his fear of Ethan and his helplessness in the face of reality, he no longer had the strength to make up any excuses.He had resigned himself to fate.“You really have some nerve." The people from HQ sneered. “You fooled us all completely.”“You’ve been hiding Ethan’s contributions all this time, haven’t you?”“You two are nothing but disasters to this country! You deserve to die a thousand times over.”George kept his head down while Rachel sobbed. “I was wrongfully accused!”“Shut up! Are you still trying to fool us at a time like this? You were wrongfully accused? By who? Sim

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 915

    They brought this on themselves, forcing themselves into a corner with no way out. “Ah!”Simon could not take it anymore. He suddenly ran towards the window, trying to end his life. Fortunately, the officials quickly stopped him. “Don’t be reckless! Think about Stephen. You’re all he has now!”That sentence made Simon stop. Now, Stephen and Simon were each other’s support and burden. Simon slumped on the ground weakly. Right now, they both wanted to die, but neither of them had the courage to follow through. All they could do was live on in pain. After a long silence, Simon said, “I’d like to file a report on someone.”To obtain some kind of reward and survive a little longer, Simon decided to turn in George and Rachel. When the officials heard him, they were stunned. They did not expect Rachel to be involved in framing Ethan. “Shit!” Someone exclaimed. “I heard Rachel bought a flight ticket overseas. Could she have fled?”The room was filled with dread. If Rachel ra

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 914

    Seeing that Stephen was awake, the others rushed to get the doctor. The doctor was astonished as well. Stephen’s sudden awakening was nothing short of a miracle. However, after examining him, the doctor’s expression darkened. Stephen had regained consciousness, but the prognosis was far from hopeful.“He can’t move,” the doctor said. “As of now, he’s paralyzed.”Stephen could open his eyes, but the rest of his body was unresponsive. He could not move his limbs or his neck and mouth. The only part he could move freely was his eye. Even his breathing was dependent entirely on medical equipment. “He might never be able to leave the bed again.”Upon hearing that, Stephen closed his eyes in despair, tears continuously rolling down his cheeks. He had fought so hard to wake up, only to realize he had missed his final chance to meet Snow and Lily. Worse yet, he also lost the ability to move. From now on, he would be confined to the bed and hooked up to machines just to stay alive.

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 913

    His father died a miserable death, his son was in a coma, and the Quinn family was shattered, leaving only Simon behind to finally realize all his mistakes. However, it was too late. Harrison could not come back to life, the Quinn family could not be whole again, and Stephen could not recover. Simon would forever be haunted by pain, despair, and regret for the rest of his life. At that moment, in complete darkness, Stephen heard Simon’s voice. He was conscious but failed to open his eyes or speak; he could not move a muscle. He wanted so badly to sit up and tell Simon that it was not solely his fault. They were all wrong, and this was their retribution!Just then, two women walked into the ward. When the officials saw them, their eyes widened in shock. For a second, no one even breathed. They were Snow and Lily!The officials thought they were seeing ghosts. Those women were supposed to be dead. Why were they there? Snow and Lily noticed their shocked gazes and offered them

  • The Guardian's Return   Chapter 912

    Due to Harrison’s previous incident, the officials reacted quickly by sending Stephen straight to the hospital.After an emergency rescue, Stephen’s life was saved. However, he paid a heavy price. When the doctor walked out of the emergency room, the officials asked, “How is he?”“The situation isn’t looking good,” the doctor said grimly. “His body is in a bad state, and due to long-term emotional distress, he suffered a brain hemorrhage from the emotional shock.“He’s still in a coma, and we can’t say for sure when he’ll wake up again. It depends on his will to live.”The officials drew a sharp breath. “Do you mean he might end up in a coma forever?”The doctor nodded. No one saw coming that Stephen would fall into a coma, with little chance of ever waking up again. However, it also meant he did not have to die anymore. He would be alive but confined to a bed. Suddenly, they thought of Harrison’s desperate pleas to Ethan back in his villa. “I’m willing to trade my life fo

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