The Guardian's Return by Old Pumpkin

Chapter 188

Simon's heart pounded when he heard the phone.

He asked seriously, "What happened?"

George told him what went down in Aqua City.

The number of agritourism farms and hotels had grown out of control. They charged exorbitant prices to maximize profits, taking advantage of tourists and scamming them.

The factories had been dumping waste into the water, and in retaliation, frustrated tourists started littering everywhere.

People were releasing wild aquatic species into the waters, disrupting the local ecosystem and balance, and invasive foreign species overran the local habitat, devastating native populations. Without natural predators to control them, many local species faced the threat of extinction.

Fish, once a hallmark of the region, were dwindling in number, and their quality had dropped so much that even local markets did not want them anymore.

The worst thing would be the influence of illegal criminals sneaking across the borders, bringing in illegal goods, trafficking, scamming people, and even kidnapping. It had gotten so bad that the city's safety was at serious risk Simon's expression darkened when he found out what really happened.

"Where's Stephen?"

George said helplessly, "He's still the same."

up,

was facing its biggest crisis. The sports games had been put on hold and might be canceled, ultimately moving to another city next time. He could

and the other

to Stephen,"

in Stephen. How could Stephen, a Quinn, be defeated by

George's place and saw Stephen lying

up! Look at yourself!" he

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Chapter 188

did not budge

suddenly, the sharp sound of a slap

had slapped Stephen in the face, and the intense pain forced Stephen to

senses.

know Aqua City is in a mess? All this over a

bed? Get up and do your job! When you've gotten Riveria back on track and people start to see your success,

was shaken. Simon's slap and those harsh

say anything. Once he

the situation in Aqua City now?"

"You're asking now?"

he laid out the state of things in Aqua City, and as Stephen learned