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Chapter 837
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The Guardian's Return Chapter 838
“A clear conscience?”Victor, the South Regent, and the others only felt amused when they heard Stephen say those words.After slandering Ethan, imprisoning him, stealing his identity and his achievements, then ruining Riveria like this, he had a lot of audacity to say he had a ‘clear conscience’.“We’re no match for him,” the South Regent said. He thought that his skin had become thicker and his mental endurance had increased after being tormented by Ethan for years, but he still fell short compared to Stephen.Stephen’s behavior now could not be described as shameful. He was simply completely shameless!“It doesn’t matter,” Victor chuckled. “The more confident he sounds now, the more people will support him, and the harder he’ll fall when his lies are exposed.“Every word he says now will eventually turn into bullets that he shoots at himself. We’ll still be the ones who will benefit.”The South Regent nodded in agreement.Online, things were still escalating.Thanks to Dani
The Guardian's Return Chapter 839
If headquarters publicly commended Stephen for his efforts, that was equivalent to officially confirming his identity.It would only benefit them!Using this opportunity, they could bring more companies into Breeze City and use Stephen’s reputation to boost the city’s economy. There was a high chance that they could bring the city back to life.“This is great!” Stephen trembled with excitement. After enduring so much, he finally had a chance to turn things around!Simon took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. “You need to seize this opportunity.”“I know.” Stephen nodded. He knew how crucial this chance was. It might be his only opportunity. He had to grab it!If he could make Breeze City better, combined with his past contributions to Riveria, people might stop doubting his abilities, and his past mistakes could be erased.At that point, no one would object if he searched for Snow. In fact, people might even support him and help him find her.There was also Lily. With his sta
The Guardian's Return Chapter 840
Stephen nodded. “This benefits us in so many ways. Now, I can openly search for Snow and Lily. Most importantly, Ethan has no choice but to speak out. If he stays silent, I’ll keep slandering and defaming him, further ruining his reputation in the eyes of the public.”At that moment, Stephen felt slightly emotional.At the beginning of the year, everything had gone wrong for him, and he was frustrated and depressed. Unexpectedly, he got a series of good news.Lily was still alive, headquarters wanted to commend him and confirm his identity, and the public was on his side.Everything was falling into place!It was as if heaven itself was helping him seize everything from Ethan and crush him into the dirt.“If he sees this news, he’ll probably be so angry that he dies on the spot.” Stephen muttered, “It’s a shame I don’t have time to see him in person. His reaction and expression would be hilarious.”Meanwhile, in the villa on Drakthorn Ridge...“How despicable can Stephen be?” S
The Guardian's Return Chapter 841
The unemployment rate would soar, making it hard for young people to find jobs. Salaries would shrink, welfare benefits would be cut, debt rates would rise, and consumption rate would downgrade...Every aspect of life would be affected, and none of them would be able to escape.Ethan said calmly, “In just a few days, the people of Breeze City will experience the consequences of believing in Stephen.”The internet had elevated Stephen to a pedestal he never should have been at. However, Stephen lacked humility and truly believed he deserved all of this. Once the lies were exposed, he would fall—hard.Ethan said to Hugo, “There’s something I need you to prepare for.”Hugo immediately stood up. “Please tell me, Mr. Rivers. I would do it, even if I have to walk through fire!”Ethan had saved his life, and he was willing to give his life for Ethan.Ethan said, “No need to go that far. You just need to ask him a few questions at the award ceremony.“First, ask him what day Riveria’s
The Guardian's Return Chapter 842
Meanwhile, Victor was also making his move.Daniel, Caleb, and the South Regent had already taken action. Next, it was his turn. However, his role was not to confront Stephen but to destroy Stephen’s evidence.He knew that Stephen had forged several years’ worth of transaction records to make it look like he had been living in Riveria the entire time, and Victor’s job was to expose that. On top of that, he had told George to record Simon and Stephen’s conversations in secret. Ethan also gave him a few tasks yesterday.First, he was to take control of all security personnel, and no one was to make a move without his command. Second, he was to control all journalists and make sure the live broadcast was not cut off. Third, he would bring Hugo to the stage.Victor did not understand what Ethan’s plan was, but since he was ordered to do so, he made all the preparations. Now, all that was left was to wait for the commendation ceremony.At night, Simon, Stephen, George, and Rachel gat
The Guardian's Return Chapter 843
The next day, Simon and Stephen were busy as the commendation ceremony was tomorrow. It was a major event not only for Stephen but for the whole of Riveria.Many business owners saw an opportunity. Since Breeze City was at its lowest economic point, entering at that moment meant enjoying various incentives and gaining Stephen’s favor.Once the commendation ceremony took place, Breeze City, under Stephen’s leadership, would become the center of attention. By then, getting a foothold in Breeze City would no longer be easy since everyone would want a piece of it.Early in the morning, Simon and Stephen started receiving messages from major companies wanting to invest in Breeze City.Simon and Simon were thrilled. They realized they had underestimated the benefits that the commendation ceremony would bring. Businesses were proactively reaching out for collaboration without them having to do it. “Our fates have turned,” said Stephen. “After so many failures, our good days are finally
The Guardian's Return Chapter 844
Stephen would surely lead Riveria to new heights, and the Quinns would become Metropolis’s most powerful and influential family. Building a good relationship with Stephen would only bring benefits.When Simon heard that Stephen’s friends were calling for him, he went home alone.Stephen met with his friends from the various families of Metropolis and smiled. “Why are you all here?”The group surrounded him, showering him with praise.“Steph, you’re amazing. I didn’t know how incredible you are.”“Yeah, no wonder you could answer those riddles so easily.”“You’re my idol now. I admire you so much!”“Steph, did the Grand Marshal give you any advice? Tell us, too!”Stephen felt incredibly pleased with himself, being the center of attention and receiving endless praise.“It’s all in the past. It’s nothing worth mentioning. Since you’re all here today, let me treat you guys to a meal.”Victor was included in the group. He wanted to laugh when he saw how arrogant Stephen was, but h
The Guardian's Return Chapter 845
‘Jason probably doesn’t know that Lily is still alive. That’s why he hates me.’ Stephen thought, ‘If I bring Lily back, Jason would surely thank me.’He imagined the scene of himself holding Lily’s hand and returning her to her family.He was undoubtedly a hero, having contributed significantly to Riveria. Furthermore, he was the heir of the Quinn family and the Grand Marshal’s only successor. With those titles and achievements, bringing the supposedly dead Lily back would make her entire family kneel before him.Even Jason, who had dared to insult him before, would have to lower his head and show him respect.After saying goodbye to everyone, Stephen left.The group sighed as they watched him leave.“Stephen is on a whole different level than us.”“Yeah. We need to learn from him.”“Stephen is amazing. He’s undoubtedly the best among the younger generation.”On his way home, some passersby recognized Stephen’s car and waved at him. “Stephen, thanks for everything you’ve done
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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
