Chapter 327
Upon learning that the person standing before him was Riveria’s current governor, Martin was shocked. All they did was steal some fruits and livestock. How did it startle such a high -ranking figure?
However, quickly calming down, Martin smiled and said, “What brought you here? If you’d informed me beforehand, I would have prepared good food and wine to welcome you.”
“I don’t need it.” Stephen said coldly, “I don’t feel at ease enjoying your food and wine. I have a question for you. Did your villagers raid the orchards and farms owne companies?”
Martin thought, ‘So it really is about that.‘
He feigned ignorance. “I don’t know.”
Stephen slammed his hands on the table with a bang. “Are you sure?”
“I really don’t.”
y those
Although Martin did not directly participate in the raid, his wife and children went, and many of the involved villagers gifted him goods as tribute. Whether the villagers ate or sold those fruits and animals, it would only benefit the village. Therefore, he would never admit
- it.
He had received the payment when he leased the land to the companies, so he could not care less about the companies now. In fact, after those companies left, he could take back the land and lease it to the next company. No matter what, they would not suffer a loss.
Stephen pointed at the bags of fruits on his table and growled. “You don’t know? What are these then? You’d better confess now to avoid prison!”
Martin, however, was not disconcerted.
He said, “In that case, arrest all the people in this village. Everyone participated. It wasn’t just our village. I know another seven or eight villages involved. Can you arrest them all?”
Stephen was rendered speechless. Could he arrest them all?
That matter involved tens of thousands and perhaps even more. There was no way he could arrest all of them. As for recovering the stolen goods, it would be tough to retrieve them from so many people.
Stephen immediately felt a headache. At that point, he could only call the police and instruct them to demand compensation.
The police chief looked troubled. The incident involved too many people, and getting them to pay up would be even more difficult than returning the stolen goods.
Chapter 327
+25 BONUS
He could only say, “I’ll try my best.”
Stephen sighed helplessly and left with his men.
He could not understand it. Hill City was doing well, moving forward steadily with its development, and there had never been any trouble like that before. Why was everything suddenly falling apart now?
He picked up the phone to call the company owners, requesting they calculate their total losses.
“I’ve sent the police to demand compensation from the villagers. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get justice. I won’t let the fruits of your labor get stolen away just like that!”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Stephen froze. The phrase hit him like a bullet, dead center between his eyes. He could not help but think of Ethan. He said he would not allow people to steal the companies‘ fruits of labor, yet he himself had stolen Ethan’s fruits of victory.
It felt like the universe had sent a boomerang straight back at him, and he felt guilty. He hesitated, wanting to say something, but could only hang up the call in silence.
When he returned to his office, the reports from the companies started coming in, detailing the financial damage. The damages to the fruit trees amounted to 15 billion, and the farms suffered another 8 billion. Together, the losses added up to 23 billion!
Looking at the amount of money, Stephen’s heart sank.
That was just the base cost. If they had sold the products, the revenue could’ve been much higher, reaching at least 50 billion!
“Let’s just hope we can recover some of it,” Stephen murmured. “Even if not all, at least 10 billion.”
What he feared most now was that these companies, facing such massive losses, would pack up and leave Hill City. The city’s economy was so close to taking off now. Without those companies, it would never take flight.
“What’s going on?” Stephen wondered aloud, frustrated. “Something like this has never happened before. Perhaps someone was behind this.”
He thought of the South Regent.
