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Chapter 22
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The Guardian's Return Chapter 23
"What's wrong?"Stephen noticed George's unusual reaction, so he curiously took the document for a quick look.Instantly, he too was dumbfounded. They were bank transaction records showing Ethan's payments to the widows and the widows' spending habits!Every month, Ethan had been transferring between 80 to 100 thousand dollars to each family, plus the annual tuition of 200 thousand dollars, without fail!In other words, Ethan gave each family nearly 1.5 million dollars yearly, which was just for one family. There were seventy to eighty families there, meaning the total amount added to at least 105 million dollars!"105 million!”"105 million dollars every year!"For a moment, George could barely breathe as he was overwhelmed by that astronomical figure.Stephen's jaw dropped, and for a moment, he was lost for words. His earlier comment on how much Ethan could afford to give now felt like a boomerang that had circled back to smack him right in the face. The embarrassment stung b
The Guardian's Return Chapter 24
If Ethan were to vie for George’s position as governor, that would be unacceptable Luckily, George had discovered Ethan’s intentions quickly and acted even faster. He had nipped Ethan’s aspirations in the bud!"I’ve really underestimated him. Who would have thought he had such a strong ability to win people over?"George sat on the sofa and took a sip of his coffee, which calmed him down a little."What does Ethan Rivers have to do with Riveria's success? It's all thanks to my wise leadership. Without me, Riveria would have fallen into chaos."Not long after, Stephen returned, bringing some important news he had uncovered."I've made some big discoveries," he told George. "I found out that Ethan owns more than ten properties in Horizon Heights, among which are eight villas.""Oh?" George perked up immediately.More than ten properties, among which were eight villas, was no small number. Although Horizon Heights was not the most luxurious community in Riveria, it was by no mean
The Guardian's Return Chapter 25
“Especially when he’s lying on a mountain of money. How can we let someone like this stay in power?"He'll eventually bring Riveria to ruins!"Several officials nodded in agreement, finding what Stephen said was spot on.Stephen led the rest to the front of a villa that was one of Ethan's properties. Though uninhabited, it was clean and tidy, indicating that someone frequently maintained it.He made a call, summoning the community manager to open the door. Seeing it was an official visit, the manager had no choice but to comply.“Click.”As the door opened, the scene inside left everyone stunned. The villa was completely devoid of furniture. Instead, it was filled with suitcases! Every space was packed with suitcases, leaving only narrow pathways to walk through."My God."Several officials felt dizzy. How much money could there be if all those suitcases were packed with hundred-dollar bills? Could the amount even be counted?"This isn't just corruption. It's mega-corruption!"
The Guardian's Return Chapter 26
The bank employee nodded and slowly opened the envelope with his white-gloved hands. There were no money or gold bars inside, just a letter. The handwriting was not particularly beautiful, but it was neat and looked written with care.The employee subconsciously read it aloud, "Dear Mr. Rivers, hello. I'm thirteen years old this year. Our teacher told us that you built our school, provided us with delicious meals, and even prepared clothes for everyone…”The smile on Stephen's face faded, and the officials around also looked shocked."A thank-you letter?"Stephen snapped out of his daze and rushed forward, grabbing the letter to examine it carefully. It really was a thank-you letter!"Impossible!"He hurriedly tore open other envelopes."Thank you, Mr. Rivers. Our family has finally moved on from the earthquake. My sister has started smiling again and often mentions you…”"Respected Mr. Rivers…”"Thank you…”Each envelope contained a letter, and every letter was a note of gra
The Guardian's Return Chapter 27
“Would someone like Ethan be involved in corruption?""Why would he?""If a person of his status and prestige so much as mentioned he was short on cash, people would probably line up to give him money?"Stephen felt dizzy listening to those comments."How could this be? How could none of these suitcases be filled with money?"He simply could not believe that what they found were thank-you letters.While he was grappling with his confusion, another official came running from outside, shouting, "We've made a new discovery at one of the other villas."Stephen's eyes immediately lit up, like a drowning man grasping at straws."What discoveries? Did you find money?"The official was taken aback, not expecting such a strong reaction from Stephen, but he replied, "Not money. They're letters from readers and viewers."Stephen was dumbfounded. "Readers? Viewers?"What was all that about? The thank-you letters were already pretty bizarre, but now there were readers and viewers too?T
The Guardian's Return Chapter 28
“After all the sacrifices, the sleepless nights, and the dedication, how could someone like Ethan end up in prison? How is this fair?""Should we take this as a warning sign? Should we start thinking about quitting our jobs and going back to simpler lives?"If Ethan, who had done so much good, could be arrested, they feared an even worse fate if they did not pack up and resign!At that thought, many of the officials could feel their convictions wavering. Living an ordinary life would surely be better than spending the rest of their lives in prison.Having heard those comments, Stephen panicked and shouted, "Shut up, all of you! This is nonsense."Ethan's imprisonment is based on solid evidence."Someone asked quietly, "Then where's the evidence?"Stephen fell silent. He was left exposed and speechless. He realized he had been too hasty. If the investigation had been more thorough, this would not have happened.Suddenly, he remembered something crucial. When they started searc
The Guardian's Return Chapter 29
"Hello?” George was in quite a good mood. The situation had caught the federal government's attention, and there was talk about an investigation. If the situation proved true, not only would Ethan face punishment, but they would also be rewarded.That was perfect. Not only would it boost his presence in the federal government, potentially paving the way for a future cabinet position, but he could also gain nationwide recognition. It was a win-win situation with no downsides!"George, we have a problem!" Stephen was frantic. "A big problem!"The smile vanished from George's face. "What problem?" He was puzzled. Stephen was supposed to be opening the suitcases to check Ethan's embezzled funds, so why was there suddenly bad news?"Did Ethan have an accomplice who burned all the money? Or did someone help Ethan escape?"Stephen said, "It’s neither of those."George breathed a sigh of relief. "Then why panic? As long as we have Ethan, there's nothing to worry about.""There's no
The Guardian's Return Chapter 30
The reporter picked up the letter, initially puzzled about why he was being asked to read it. How could a single letter answer anything? However, as he read the contents, he felt a shock run through his body, and his eyes widened in surprise. "A thank-you letter? And it's addressed to Ethan Rivers?"His gaze shifted to the suitcases and he quickly crouched down to search through them. To his astonishment, he found that every single letter was a thank-you note from someone."No need to keep looking," said a bank employee standing nearby. "There are eighty-seven suitcases here, and each one is filled to the brim with thank-you letters."The reporter froze as realization dawned on him. Ethan Rivers was not a corrupt official! On the contrary, he was a great man who had helped countless people, so much so that thank-you letters filled an entire villa."Ethan owns over a dozen properties in this neighborhood, all filled with suitcases containing these letters."The reporter gulped,
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The Guardian's Return Chapter 882
Stephen spun around anxiously, glancing and trying to find the figure of the two women in the crowd. The South Regent and Victor could not help but laugh at the side. “Stop teasing him,” Victor said. Stephen looked at them. “What do you mean?”The South Regent tried to hold back his laughter. “I tricked you. You didn’t run in the wrong direction. We took the boat here.”Stephen glanced at the river and, true enough, saw a small boat. He was in such a rush that he did not notice it. “Where are they?” Stephen could no longer care whether he was tricked. Right now, nothing was more important than finding Snow and Lily. “They left. Duh.” The South Regent said, “The festival is almost over, so they left. Although you didn’t run the wrong way, you were too late.”Stephen yelled, “Impossible!”“It’s true. They left,” Victor added. “Nonsense!” Stephen stood on his tiptoes and scanned his surroundings. “Snow! Lily! Where are you?”Victor shook his head. “Did you really think
The Guardian's Return Chapter 881
The two people he thought about day and night and felt the most guilt for were on the opposite side of the river. The day he lost Snow, he searched desperately through the abandoned village, overwhelmed with agony. The day he lost Lily, his hair turned grey overnight, and he stood on top of the cliff on Drakthorn Ridge, the thought of jumping down crossing his mind several times. Later, when he stole Ethan’s achievements and gained the hope of joining the cabinet, he thought he had another chance to find them. That was until Riviera plunged into chaos again, and his chance disappeared. He thought he would never be able to find them for the rest of his life, yet now, there they were across the river. They were so close to him—only twenty meters away!Stephen trembled as he watched them gently raise their sparklers with bright smiles lighting up their faces. When he returned to his senses, he dashed past Ethan and rushed to the riverbank, waving his hands frantically. “I’m here!
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
