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Chapter 32
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The Guardian's Return Chapter 33
Just one suitcase from Ethan had scared Stephen so badly that he was drenched in cold sweat, his shirt soaked through at the back.“But he should be suffering in prison now,” Stephen murmured. “He must be quite miserable at the moment.”Thinking about Ethan's current situation made him feel a little better.Meanwhile, in prison…“Move slower. That mattress is very valuable. Don't let anything happen to it. If Mr. Rivers doesn't sleep comfortably tonight, none of you will sleep!” Liam was directing others as they set up Ethan's “cell.”“Also, install a doorbell by the entrance so Mr. Rivers can call us easily.“Make sure the floor tiles are spotless.”Ethan, standing nearby, was left speechless. He had repeatedly informed Liam that such setups were unnecessary, but Liam insisted on improving his living conditions.Had Ethan not stopped him, Liam would have torn down the cell walls and combined several of them into one large room for him.Ethan said, "I'm now just a prisoner."
The Guardian's Return Chapter 34
The mass resignations further angered George and Stephen, who were already in a foul mood."Why am I dealing with this?" Stephen wondered, confused. He had just taken over, and a bunch of people quitting now was very detrimental to the region's stability.George, angry, felt like flipping the dinner table. He had absolutely no appetite. He could not believe those people had the nerve to use their resignations to pressure him into releasing Ethan. Did they think he could be so easily intimidated?"Good riddance," George said through gritted teeth, his tone icy. "With them gone, we can bring in our own people. Riveria will function just fine without them!" He already had plans to use that opportunity to groom his people, which would help him maintain control and manage Riveria in the future.The next day, news of the mass resignations had spread.In Lytton, a town in North Hill City, Brandon was attending the weekly town council meeting at Lytton's community center. Though not
The Guardian's Return Chapter 35
Brandon carefully orchestrated his plan. He specifically chose a few people to cross the border without much cargo, then deliberately leaked information about illegal border crossings.After setting everything up, Brandon called all the Lytton residents back."The trap has been set. Let's see how they handle it," he said with a smirk.News of the border crossings spread quickly. Due to the mass resignations leaving a shortage of officials, the information quickly reached Stephen and George.Both men’s expressions were grim."More illegal immigrants?"That might not have been a big deal elsewhere, but to them, it was a serious problem. During the three years that Ethan was in charge, there had not been a single case of illegal immigration!"Could they have been right?" Stephen could not accept it. Was Riveria changing with Ethan gone? Was Ethan truly indispensable? How else could people dare to cross the border illegally as soon as Ethan was out of the picture?"Don't overthin
The Guardian's Return Chapter 36
"I'll do an excellent job!" Eric declared, thumping his chest. "Rest assured, Governor Lowe. If I can't solve this case in three days, I'll offer you my head!"After the call ended, George was in a good mood. Individuals so committed were rare. It was all Ethan's fault for being short-sighted and suppressing such talent. What kind of trash were the previous commander and deputy commander for resigning when North Hill City needed them most?"But it's good they left. If they had stayed, they would only have made North Hill City worse," George thought out loud. Meanwhile, Eric hung up the phone and prepared to take action. He already had some suspicions about who would have brought people in illegally.From his previous experiences working with the commander and deputy commander, he was familiar with the various forces in North Hill City."It's highly likely that Lytton was involved in bringing these people in. If I investigate Lytton, I can wrap up this case in less than half a d
The Guardian's Return Chapter 37
"What's going on?" Eric kept staring in the direction Sky had left. He was confused as to why Sky had not returned after so long. In all his previous visits, such poor reception had never happened before. Previously, they would be warmly invited inside, offered air conditioning, and served tea. The tea was top-grade, and the water was from natural springs—all luxuries beyond the reach of ordinary people.If that was the treatment he had received prior to his promotion, Eric was eager to learn how they would treat him post-promotion.He assumed Lytton would receive him with open arms, offering him rare delicacies and precious local specialties… However, in reality, he was left sweltering under a tree."This doesn't seem right," he muttered, straining his eyes. He had hoped to solve the case in half a day, but now he had to revise his plans. He would consider it a success just to see the mayor within that time frame.Meanwhile, the air conditioning in the town council office wa
The Guardian's Return Chapter 38
Ethan tossed a list onto the table and continued, "Hand over the people on this list, and then, cease all your operations."Brandon picked up the list, and as he went through it, his face sank.The list included discovered moles and some of the town's most successful “businessmen”. They not only manufactured dangerous weapons but also had close ties with foreign entities, helping with human trafficking and smuggling goods.If Ethan took those people away, they would surely be sentenced to death. More importantly, it would have a massive impact on Lytton’s economic activities."You must be joking." Brandon tried to play dumb. "We don't have such people in Lytton."Ethan calmly replied, "Whether you hand them over or I find them myself makes no difference to me. But for you, the difference will be significant. I assure it."Brandon gritted his teeth.Ethan's message was clear. Whether they cooperated or not would not deter him in the slightest. He could easily find these people an
The Guardian's Return Chapter 39
Eric was at a loss for words. The situation was completely different from what he had imagined.With a parched mouth, he watched the passing residents and said to one of his officers, "Quick, go ask if they have any more ice pops."The officer, nearly fainting, replied, "I’m all out of strength."Eric clenched his fist. If his subordinates would not go, who else would? Himself? He was the commander! If he went, would that not mean his rank was just for show?"If no one's going, then we'll all stay thirsty," he declared. "I can endure it."He had plenty of time and resources to outlast them!In the distance, Sky and a few residents were in a house, enjoying the air conditioning and eating ice pops while watching Eric and his team."Those idiots won't wait until someone faints before they go looking for water, will they?" One of them chuckled.Another hour passed, and under the tree, some officers were now lying on the ground.Eric was reaching his limit. "Where are they? Why
The Guardian's Return Chapter 40
The other officers, still dazed, followed his lead. Just like that, this officer managed to lead everyone away.At that point, Eric was the only person under the tree shade. He waited and waited, growing increasingly anxious when Sky did not appear, but the thought of ice-cold water to drink soon calmed him down a bit.Unfortunately, after half an hour, not only was Sky nowhere to be seen, but his officers had also disappeared."Huh? Have they gone missing too?" he muttered. "Do they cannibalize people in this town?"He grumbled but remained seated, the thought of searching for his subordinates not once occurring to him.It was not until 4 p.m. that Eric, now barely conscious, saw Sky casually strolling toward him with an ice pop in hand.Sky had reported Eric’s activities, or lack thereof, to Brandon. "This commander is about to faint, and he hasn't called anyone."Brandon nodded. "Bring him to me."They had deliberately left Eric in the heat for so long, yet he did not call f
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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
