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Chapter 5
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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
The Guardian's Return Chapter 10
However, he did not dare to say that out loud.All he did was look at the door and shout, “Leave the door open so Mr. Rivers can come and go as he pleases, got that? Also, get some curtains to cover that iron door. We’ll replace the door soon.“Say, is it me, or is that lightbulb dim? Isn’t it time we upgraded the bathroom? I’ll have a hot water system and a bathtub installed tomorrow!”Liam muttered to himself, loud enough for everyone to hear, as if he was venting his frustrations to someone else. He genuinely felt sorry for Ethan. After everything Ethan had sacrificed, that should not be his fate.Meanwhile, the inmates in the other cells were bewildered, not knowing what was going on. They all pressed their faces against the bars, trying to look outside. Just who could be so important for Liam to make such a big fuss?After ensuring Ethan was settled, Liam left, not wanting to disturb the man further. Once outside, he called the lieutenant governor, Zane, and asked about the situat
The Guardian's Return Chapter 11
“You’ve just taken office, so they'll have their opinions about you and target you at every turn. That is why you have to find a way to publicly take Ethan down.”Stephen put down the toast, thought about it, and realized George was right. Since he had just arrived, his only supporters were George and Rachel.He needed to kick Ethan down to prove his capabilities and show everyone he was far stronger than Ethan! Then, managing Riveria would be much easier. Even achieving a GDP of 20 trillion might not seem so far-fetched.Stephen asked, “Do you have any ideas on how to do that?”George smirked. “Of course. That’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about today. Ethan owns several properties in Regal Estates, the most upscale neighborhood in Riveria. That’s where all his mistresses live. “At the right time, invite those close to Ethan and expose him right in front of them. Then…” George trailed off and smiled slyly.Stephen caught on. It was about publicly humiliating Ethan.No
The Guardian's Return Chapter 12
“What?” Liam was shocked by the startling news.“Mr. Rivers, are you joking?” Liam found it hard to believe.Ethan chuckled. “You’ll soon find out if I am.”Then, he finished his breakfast and left.By noon, Stephen’s office was already filled with officials who had previously worked with Ethan. Even the lieutenant governor, Zane, was present. He had his arms crossed, looking visibly angry. Anyone could tell it was best not to provoke him at the moment.When the others saw Zane’s mood, they became curious. “What’s going on?”Noting everyone had arrived, Stephen said, “I know all of you have a good relationship with Ethan Rivers, but I have some news. Ethan has been arrested for embezzlement and bribery.”Except for Zane and Liam, that announcement shocked everyone present.“Ethan embezzled and took bribes?”“That can’t be!”“Is there some kind of mistake?”They had all seen Ethan’s work over the years. He was always hands-on with everything. He was even the first to arriv
The Guardian's Return Chapter 13
“Who does he think he is? The king?”Many of them did not know Ethan well, so they started believing Stephen, thinking that Ethan really was corrupt. Satisfied with their reactions, Stephen said, “Follow me.”Then, he glanced at Zane, adding, “Now, I’ll take all of you to see Ethan’s ‘harem’ and show you just how corrupt this supposedly indispensable Ethan really is!”Everyone noticed that Stephen’s last remark was aimed at Zane. They all turned to look at Zane, but the latter said nothing and looked completely disinterested.In fact, he had tuned out. For all he cared, Stephen could yap all he wanted. Riveria was about to go down in flames anyway.Seeing Zane’s silence, Stephen felt even more smug. He was relishing the moment, especially after Zane mocked them the previous night, saying that Riveria was doomed without Ethan. Now it was time to show just how worthless Ethan really was!With the file in hand, he entered the first building, starting his search on the first floor.
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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
The Guardian's Return Chapter 871
A large number of people from Riveria poured into their cities. It was already difficult to find a job, but now that a bunch of outsiders were coming to compete for positions, employment was even harder.Furthermore, after arriving in a foreign place, many of those outsiders strayed and turned to robbery and theft. Some even slept on the streets, occupying public facilities and disrupting everyone’s daily lives.People from the surrounding cities of Riveria found it unbearable. They began cursing Riverians on the internet.Meanwhile, in Riveria, people had endured enough grievances in their daily lives. Their living conditions were far from satisfactory, and they held in a lot of frustration.Now, people were scolding them online, calling them beggars and telling them to go back to Riveria and wait for their death.How could they tolerate that?They immediately retaliated online. The arguments escalated, growing more intense by the day.Eventually, people from Riveria even trave
The Guardian's Return Chapter 870
Many crops had fallen sick in Riveria. The corrupted grains in Breeze City and destroyed fertile land had already dealt a huge blow to Riveria. Now, with more crops falling ill on a large scale, grain production had decreased, and fruit yields had dropped drastically. There was a problem with the livestock as well. An unknown disease spread and the affected livestock would basically end up dead, with no way to treat them and unfit for consumption. To everyone in Riveria, it was a huge blow. Prices of all food items began to rise, especially fresh vegetables and fruits. Their prices were comparable to meat. Even a single raw egg was 5 dollars, and boiled eggs for breakfast cost 7 dollars each. After hearing about it, Stephen tried to control the price, but it would cost money. Several cities in Riveria had been ruined under his management. He did not have any money left. He would not have needed to outsource infrastructure projects to other companies and corporates if he had mon
