Chapter 74
Danny took a page out of Brandon’s playbook in making money, even taking things one step further.
He could profit from factories expanding to North Hill City by inflating the numbers for the relocation of factories. For example, he could claim a relocation grant of 10 million dollars and pocket the remaining nine million after moving one factory.
He could also make money smuggling people in. Since business owners favored foreign workers due to their ultra–low wages, the locals would find fewer job opportunities.
Then, considering many wished to leave North Hill City to find opportunities elsewhere, Danny could help them get out of the country for a fee.
His plan allowed him to reap financial rewards from four separate sources, and his money pot would only grow. Alongside the money from selling properties, he earned two billion dollars in just a few days.
The downside would be the growing influx of foreign workers and a drop in the local population. Due to the foreign worker’s limited access to education, they often wandered the streets and contributed to North Hill City’s deteriorating public safety.
When push came to shove, Danny would take off with his family and flee abroad, just like Shawn and his pals.
That morning, Stephen read an update on North Hill City from Danny. Everything seemed to be in order. Danny even mentioned a supposed disruption to North Hill City’s economy in the report, urging Stephen not to take the rumor seriously as the matter was being
resolved.
Stephen nodded in satisfaction. Judging by the report, North Hill City was heading in the right direction.
There was no need for him to read any updates so long as the city remained trouble–free. Hence, he decided to visit Ethan.
“He may have gotten a house, but he’s on house arrest. I wonder what he feels about the situation.”
He believed Ethan was going through hell and probably off his rockers living in the middle of nowhere with no one to talk to.
Stephen took a ride to Drakthorn Ridge, and when passing a security point, he asked, ” How has he been lately?”
The watchman made a face and, after much thought, said, “He seems normal.”
To the security officers‘ knowledge, Ethan had a routine he kept to. He would wake up at 6
Chapter 14
+25 BONUS
a.m. and make breakfast, He was out of the house for a run around the mountain at 8 a.m. and home by 9 a.m.
Ethan had even started a vegetable patch in the yard. The security officers had no idea where Ethan procured the seeds, but the plants had sprouted.
After days of observation, the security officers believed Ethan was enjoying life.
“Normal?” Stephen smiled faintly. “That’s the most abnormal behavior. I think he’s going mad.”
Then, he pulled up outside Ethan’s gates, got out of the car, and checked out the three- story high villa.
N
“Tsk, tsk. It’s such a waste to give him a huge villa, but he must feel lonely living here all by himself.
“A big, empty house can be a bad thing too.‘
Stephen looked inside and noticed the front door left wide open.
“Huh? Why doesn’t he close the door? Maybe he’s worried no one would find his body when he’s dead.”
Stephen chuckled to himself, pleased with the idea of locking Ethan up.
As he stepped into the residence, he caught a whiff of a faint scent. It was the aroma of tea.
“Where is the smell coming from?”
He followed the aroma to the living room where Ethan read a book with a pot of tea on the table next to him.
“You’re not dead?” Stephen was surprised.
Without tearing attention away from his book, Ethan responded, “Why should I be when you’re alive and kicking?”
Stephen was taken aback by the sarcastic remark.
“Heh. All you can do is talk big since you’re stuck here.‘
He drew close and sat on a chair.
