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Chapter 875

์ž‘๊ฐ€: Old Pumpkin
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.

โ€œPleasure doing business with you.โ€ 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.

โ€œHow did the
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  • The Guardian's Returnย ย ย Chapter 876

    Hearing Stephenโ€™s positive response, the people in Riveria calmed down slightly.โ€œI hope they can recover the money soon.โ€โ€œI took out a loan on my house to invest. If we donโ€™t get it back, my family is done for.โ€โ€œLetโ€™s believe in Stephen. No matter what, he was the Grand Marshalโ€™s mentee.โ€โ€œHe did a good job running Riveria before. Iโ€™m sure he can do it again.โ€โ€œYeah. This is just a minor issue compared to before.โ€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 Returnย ย ย Chapter 877

    The mayor nodded and explained the origin of the festival and its name.โ€œRiveria 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.โ€œThe name Rhys Festival comes from a man named Rhys Estrela. He was once a subordinate of Mr. Rivers, who made great sacrifices for Riveria. Thereโ€™s a local saying that goes, โ€˜A single spark can start a prairie fire.โ€™ We always believe that as long as we donโ€™t give up, Riveria will surely thrive.โ€Those words sent a chill down Stephenโ€™s spine. The mayor mentioned Mr. Rivers, and while others might not know who that was, Stephen knewโ€”it was Ethan! It meant that the festival was related to Ethan. To top it off, the festival was named after Ethanโ€™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 Returnย ย ย Chapter 878

    The mayor looked out at the blue sky, lost in thought.โ€œSince she chose you, Iโ€™ll step aside,โ€ Rhys said as he handed his friend the keepsake his childhood sweetheart had once given him when they swore their love.โ€œBesides, given these chaotic times, love isnโ€™t something I can afford to dwell on. I have to live up to the expectations people have of me. I canโ€™t let them down.โ€ He looked at the girl one last time and took a deep breath before saying, โ€œGoodbye.โ€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 Ethanโ€™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.โ€œStudy the

  • The Guardian's Returnย ย ย Chapter 879

    โ€œHeโ€™s amazing.โ€ Stephen asked excitedly, โ€œWhere is he now? Iโ€™d like to meet him.โ€The mayor took a deep drag of his cigarette and blew it out. โ€œYou canโ€™t.โ€โ€œHuh?โ€ Stephen did not understand.The mayor replied, โ€œHeโ€™s dead.โ€Stephen froze. Rhys, the person hailed as the second Ethan Rivers, was dead? โ€œHow could that be?โ€The mayor gazed at the sky outside the door. โ€œItโ€™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.โ€The mayorโ€™s voice was filled with regret.โ€œHe was a good kid. Itโ€™s such a shame.โ€Stephen was lost in a daze. Just moments ago, he was thrilled to hear of Rhysโ€™ 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.Stephenโ€™s so-called hope never existed.โ€œHow could this beโ€ฆโ€ He cou

  • The Guardian's Returnย ย ย Chapter 880

    Thanks to Stephenโ€™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.โ€œWas it just my imagination?โ€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, โ€œDid you ever think of giving up?โ€Rhys said, โ€œThere are so

  • The Guardian's Returnย ย ย 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 Ethanโ€™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 himโ€”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. โ€œIโ€™m here!

  • The Guardian's Returnย ย ย 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. โ€œStop teasing him,โ€ Victor said. Stephen looked at them. โ€œWhat do you mean?โ€The South Regent tried to hold back his laughter. โ€œI tricked you. You didnโ€™t run in the wrong direction. We took the boat here.โ€Stephen glanced at the river and, true enough, saw a small boat. He was in such a rush that he did not notice it. โ€œWhere are they?โ€ Stephen could no longer care whether he was tricked. Right now, nothing was more important than finding Snow and Lily. โ€œThey left. Duh.โ€ The South Regent said, โ€œThe festival is almost over, so they left. Although you didnโ€™t run the wrong way, you were too late.โ€Stephen yelled, โ€œImpossible!โ€โ€œItโ€™s true. They left,โ€ Victor added. โ€œNonsense!โ€ Stephen stood on his tiptoes and scanned his surroundings. โ€œSnow! Lily! Where are you?โ€Victor shook his head. โ€œDid you really think

  • The Guardian's Returnย ย ย Chapter 883

    Stephen slumped to the ground, the strength drained from his body. Even his consciousness was fading away. Due to a misunderstanding, he lost Snow. For temporary happiness, he had missed Lily. He had been living in pain and regret, always fantasizing about the day he would find the two women, apologize to them properly, and provide them with a happy life. But now, just when he had finally caught a glimpse of them, they slipped away from his fingers. And before he even managed to find them, he was informed of the news that they did not love him anymore. These revelations felt like a thousand knives stabbing directly into Stephenโ€™s heart, so agonizing that he could hardly breathe. It was even worse than death. โ€œHow did it end up like this?โ€ Tears streamed down his face as he muttered, โ€œI havenโ€™t found them. I still owe them an apology. Whyโ€ฆโ€ He had lost Snow and Lily forever. They were alive and well, but they no longer had anything to do with him. From now on, they would b

์ตœ์‹  ์ฑ•ํ„ฐ

  • The Guardian's Returnย ย ย Chapter 920

    After everything was settled, the people from HQ went to Ethan again. They apologized to him and begged for his forgiveness.โ€œWeโ€™ve dealt with everyone involved in this matter. Are you satisfied with the outcome, Mr. Rivers?โ€With that, they lowered their heads to the ground nervously. Their only hope now hinged on Ethanโ€™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, โ€œSend someone to help move my stuff down the mountain.โ€Hearing that, everyone was first stunned, and then ecstatic.โ€œOf course!โ€ 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, โ€œWe respectfully

  • The Guardian's Returnย ย ย Chapter 919

    The day of Rachel and Georgeโ€™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 judgeโ€™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 Georgeโ€™s faces paled to the point that they looked like corpses.The viewers in the livestream finally saw the full picture.โ€œSo thatโ€™s it! The Quinns and the Lowes conspired!โ€โ€œThey deserve to die! How could they frame Ethan like that? Are they even human?โ€โ€œThe death penalty! They deserve the death penalty!โ€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 Returnย ย ย Chapter 918

    They suppressed their disgust and returned home, only to see their parents and wivesโ€™ panicked expressions.โ€œWhat did you do out there?โ€โ€œSo many people came today, asking for you by name.โ€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.โ€œItโ€™s nothing,โ€ 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.โ€œWhat have you done?โ€ Their parentsโ€™ 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 Returnย ย ย 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.โ€œHow could this be?โ€No one expected this outcome. They thought, โ€˜So what if I insulted him? Are they going to punish me for it? Besides, so many people are insulting him. They canโ€™t possibly punish every single person who did it. At most, Iโ€™ll post a public apology and promise that Iโ€™ll never do it again.โ€™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.โ€œWhy are they going this far? Arenโ€™t they afraid of causing unrest?โ€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 Returnย ย ย 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!โ€œWhere else would she be?โ€ 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.โ€œYou really have some nerve." The people from HQ sneered. โ€œYou fooled us all completely.โ€โ€œYouโ€™ve been hiding Ethanโ€™s contributions all this time, havenโ€™t you?โ€โ€œYou two are nothing but disasters to this country! You deserve to die a thousand times over.โ€George kept his head down while Rachel sobbed. โ€œI was wrongfully accused!โ€โ€œShut up! Are you still trying to fool us at a time like this? You were wrongfully accused? By who? Sim

  • The Guardian's Returnย ย ย Chapter 915

    They brought this on themselves, forcing themselves into a corner with no way out. โ€œAh!โ€Simon could not take it anymore. He suddenly ran towards the window, trying to end his life. Fortunately, the officials quickly stopped him. โ€œDonโ€™t be reckless! Think about Stephen. Youโ€™re all he has now!โ€That sentence made Simon stop. Now, Stephen and Simon were each otherโ€™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, โ€œIโ€™d like to file a report on someone.โ€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. โ€œShit!โ€ Someone exclaimed. โ€œI heard Rachel bought a flight ticket overseas. Could she have fled?โ€The room was filled with dread. If Rachel ra

  • The Guardian's Returnย ย ย Chapter 914

    Seeing that Stephen was awake, the others rushed to get the doctor. The doctor was astonished as well. Stephenโ€™s sudden awakening was nothing short of a miracle. However, after examining him, the doctorโ€™s expression darkened. Stephen had regained consciousness, but the prognosis was far from hopeful.โ€œHe canโ€™t move,โ€ the doctor said. โ€œAs of now, heโ€™s paralyzed.โ€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. โ€œHe might never be able to leave the bed again.โ€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 Returnย ย ย 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 Simonโ€™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 Returnย ย ย Chapter 912

    Due to Harrisonโ€™s previous incident, the officials reacted quickly by sending Stephen straight to the hospital.After an emergency rescue, Stephenโ€™s life was saved. However, he paid a heavy price. When the doctor walked out of the emergency room, the officials asked, โ€œHow is he?โ€โ€œThe situation isnโ€™t looking good,โ€ the doctor said grimly. โ€œHis body is in a bad state, and due to long-term emotional distress, he suffered a brain hemorrhage from the emotional shock.โ€œHeโ€™s still in a coma, and we canโ€™t say for sure when heโ€™ll wake up again. It depends on his will to live.โ€The officials drew a sharp breath. โ€œDo you mean he might end up in a coma forever?โ€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 Harrisonโ€™s desperate pleas to Ethan back in his villa. โ€œIโ€™m willing to trade my life fo

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