The Guardian's Return (Ethan Rivers) novel Chapter 47

Chapter 47 

Since the mayor of North Hill City was from the town of Lytton, the townspeople could do whatever they wanted without any scruples. 

Many illegal businesses had sprung out from the dark corners in less than a week. Some small companies were even raided by thugs who destroyed their officers and stores. 

Eric and his men arrived and arrested some of the thugs, but in less than a day, the arrested thugs would appear somewhere else, raiding and destroying other people’s properties. 

In addition to the casinos and moneylenders, the whole city plunged into chaos. While more than a dozen small companies were forced to close down, the medium–sized companies decided to leave North Hill City overnight. Some of the investors wanted out as 

well. 

All the chaos happened because of Lytton’s operating casinos, moneylenders, and even smugglers, forcing some other companies to join their illegal businesses. 

If the other companies refused, the thugs would destroy their officers and properties. There was no point calling the police either because Eric, the police commander, and Shawn, the mayor, were in it together. 

At first, Eric and Shawn were rather hesitant to go on a rampage, but as Brandon paid them more, they decided to turn a blind eye to the chaos. On top of that, the town of Lytton extended its reach to other factions, helping them run casinos and clubs. 

When Stephen learned what had happened to the city, he was shocked. 

“How is this possible? How could a city with Eric policing and Shawn governing spiral out of control like this? Is this made up?” he snapped, unwilling to believe what he was hearing. 

The cancer of the city, Ethan Rivers, had been removed, and his men were also fired. Since the city had been cleansed of its poison, the danger was supposed to be over. Especially with Eric and Shawn still in power, North Hill City should be thriving! 

Stephen decided to investigate the situation for himself, and it frightened the soul out of him to see businesses going bankrupt and investors leaving the market, • 

A city without investors meant no businesses operating, and no businesses meant no jobs for the people, resulting in them ending up on the streets. 

As the number of jobless people increased, public security would be affected, and people would start to leave the city. Without them, the economy would plummet. 

If the situation continued, the city would be in shambles in no time, and as part of Riveria, their GDP plummeting would be a massive blow to the entire province. How would Stephen explain it to the federal government then? 

+25 BONUS 

He was sweating nervously. At that moment, he suddenly recalled what the former lieutenant governor and others had said when they resigned. 

“Riveria can be without Ethan Rivers, but Rivera cannot be without Ethan Rivers. Without him, Riveria would be over.” 

Immediately, Stephen bought a flight ticket to North Hill City. He could not afford for the city to be in ruins because it would severely affect his future, and he could not waste another second. 

As he had informed Shawn of his visit, Shawn was there to pick him up when he arrived. 

The moment he got into the car, he asked Shawn, “Fill me in on the situation in the city. How did things get so bad?“. 

Shawn had talked to Brandon and the townspeople of Lytton to come up with the perfect 

excuse. 

“Based on my investigation, the men causing chaos in the city used to be Ethan Rivers‘ men. Now that Ethan Rivers is locked up, they have lost their protection, so they’re making one last desperate grab for power, trying to drag the city down with them.”