Chapter 221: It’s Over, It’s All Over...

Chapter 221: Chapter 221: It’s Over, It’s All Over...

Ethan Sloan had just been publicly embarrassed by Nathaniel and was already in a foul mood. Being interrupted by a subordinate only worsened it. "Why are you barging in like a maniac?!" he snapped.

The subordinate panted heavily. "Chairman Sloan, that plot of land... that plot of land is being re-evaluated!"

Ethan wondered if a re-evaluation meant its value was going to increase. Joy appeared on his face. "Well? What are the results?!"

"The government... officials..." The subordinate, having clearly sprinted all the way there, was panting so heavily he could barely speak. He skipped straight to the main point. "The government officials are looking for Young Mr. Lancaster..."

"The government is looking for Theodore? Do they want to jointly develop it?!"

This possibility instantly clicked in Ethan’s mind. There was precedent for this; if the government wanted to boost the local economy in a specific region, they would initiate infrastructure projects there. Now that the land was in Theodore’s hands, if the government wanted to develop the area, they would indeed have to cooperate with him!

If they could establish a connection with the government... The thought alone filled Ethan with uncontrollable joy. "This is wonderful news! Theodore really has an excellent eye for investments. When we acquired that land, so many people opposed it, and Nathaniel even backed out. Only Theodore stood his ground. I definitely chose the right heir."

The crowd subconsciously looked at Nathaniel.

Yvonne couldn’t help but mock, "A bastard will always be a bastard. Even after growing up in the Sloan Family, he’s still terribly short-sighted—unlike our Theodore."

Old Mr. Lancaster feigned a composed tone. "Yvonne, you shouldn’t put it that way. Theodore was, after all, meticulously raised by us. How can you compare a chosen one to the mud in the gutter?"

For a moment, everyone’s gaze toward Theodore grew even more envious. Doted on by the Lancaster Family and supported by the Sloan Family, he had successfully acquired this plot of land right after returning to the Sloan Family. He had made a brilliant debut, forcibly overshadowing Mr. Sloan.

Old Mr. Lancaster and Yvonne felt a shared sense of glory, and Laura Jennings was equally thrilled. Theodore nodded gently with a refined smile, giving off an impression of being neither haughty nor humble.

The subordinate was dumbfounded. Wait, why were they already celebrating?!

Still immersed in the joyous atmosphere, Ethan cheerfully patted Theodore on the shoulder. "Theodore, now I can safely hand over the Sloan Group to you with peace of mind..."

"Chairman Sloan!" the subordinate couldn’t help but interrupt. He had finally caught his breath. Not waiting for Ethan to finish, and unwilling to let them continue this display of a loving father and a filial son, the subordinate frantically roared, "Chairman Sloan, it’s not good news! It’s not good news!"

The corners of Nathaniel’s lips curled up slightly.

Ethan looked thoroughly displeased and scolded angrily, "What do you mean it’s not good news?! If Theodore getting government support isn’t good news, then what is?"

Laura was also dissatisfied. "I know what this is! Nathaniel deliberately sent you here to cause trouble, didn’t he? Nathaniel, you are too petty. You just have to ruin a joyous occasion by calling it bad news! Aren’t you just jealous because you didn’t get that piece of land? How could I have given birth to a son like you? Nathaniel, you’d better—"

The subordinate was in a state of utter panic, his lips trembling. "N-No, Chairman Sloan, something went wrong with the land!"

His panicked voice cut off Laura’s angry shouting.

Ethan abruptly snapped back to reality and frowned in displeasure. "What could possibly go wrong? The money has been paid in full, and the development rights are already in Theodore’s hands. How could there be a problem?! Not to mention the government has its eyes on that land!"

Laura raised her voice as well. "Exactly! What could go wrong? If you spout any more nonsense, watch me tear your mouth to pieces—"

The subordinate opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but was blocked by Laura’s shrill voice. He tried to speak several times but found he couldn’t drown her out. The people on the other end of his phone were pressing him urgently, yet no one here would listen to him. In a moment of desperation, the subordinate grabbed the microphone and completely overpowered Laura’s voice at maximum volume.

"Because there is an ancient architectural complex buried right underneath that plot of land! The complex is massive and might be tied to an ancient imperial city. Because of that, the land can’t be developed anymore! All that money just went down the drain!!"

Those words echoed through the microphone and the speakers, reaching everyone’s ears. The crowd was instantly stunned, unable to process the news for a long time.

What did he mean... there was an ancient architectural complex buried beneath the land?

If an ancient imperial city was excavated, it would naturally be placed under strict protection. Commercial development would be absolutely out of the question! However, Theodore was no philanthropist. He had bought that land specifically for commercial development. Otherwise, how was he going to make money?

Ethan snapped out of his daze with a violent shudder. "Crestfall was indeed the capital of a small nation in ancient times, but that was thousands of years ago! How could any ruins be left?! Even if there were, they would have been discovered ages ago!"

The subordinate suddenly found his words flowing smoothly. "But the fact is, they dug up artifacts! The government has now strictly prohibited any commercial excavation or development. Anyone who defies this order will be charged with destroying cultural relics and sent to prison!

"Chairman Sloan! When Young Mr. Lancaster insisted on buying this land, so many people urged you to reconsider, but you wouldn’t listen. Now look what’s happened! That investment has completely gone down the drain!"

Ethan trembled inwardly, a strong premonition of disaster surging within him. It was impossible. Theodore couldn’t be this unlucky. How could he just happen to stumble upon this so-called buried imperial city that hadn’t been unearthed for all these years? It had to be a mistake. It was definitely false!

RING RING RING...

Suddenly, a call came through on Ethan’s work phone. He answered it, but halfway through listening, all the color drained from his face.

THUD—

Ethan collapsed back into his seat. Only one thought echoed in his mind. It was over.

"What’s the situation? Ethan, say something!" Laura was frantic and indignant. She was convinced that Nathaniel was just jealous of Theodore and was deliberately fear-mongering!

Old Mr. Lancaster could no longer sit still. "Ethan, since you personally inspected that land, there shouldn’t be any problems. Stop listening to people’s nonsense!"

The subordinate laughed out of sheer anger. He had invested his own money into this land as well. Now that he had lost everything, his temper flared up. Pointing right at Old Mr. Lancaster’s nose, he cursed, "Nonsense? If you want to be Theodore’s oblivious cash cows, that’s your business! But what right do you have to drag the Sloan Group down with you?! Do you have any idea how much the Sloan Group has lost this time?! You keep talking about changing the heir, but with Theodore being this short-sighted, how could he ever compare to Mr. Sloan?!"

Old Mr. Lancaster’s face turned livid. "Ethan, tell him—"

"It’s over... It’s all over..." Ethan muttered to himself. "There really is an underground palace. We can’t develop the land..."

Those few words shattered Old Mr. Lancaster’s tough facade. His eyes widened abruptly, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

It was actually true... It was actually true. What were they going to do now?

It was unclear what Theodore was thinking, but after a long while, he finally adopted an unfazed and composed demeanor. "At this point, our only option is to negotiate a refund. Since we are the developers, the government wouldn’t go so far as to let ordinary citizens like us suffer a total loss."

The corners of Nathaniel’s lips curled up again.