The Guardian's Sword

The slum's issues had plagued Dorodo for so long that the slum on the west was
Dorodo's cancer. Several previous mayors had tried addressing it but failed.

It was a good thing that Commander Lennon had now personally gotten involved
in the slum's governance!

However, why did her father's expression look so ghastly?

"Dad, is there something wrong with this?" Lillian pondered before asking
tentatively.

Ronald put down the newspaper, took along breath, and said, "Of course.
Commander Lennon wants to fight poverty and make life better for the poor in
the west. There's nothing wrong with that. He's a good and kind man to have
such ideas..."

"But the problem is that the slum is so complicated that I'm afraid he won't be
able to handle it!"

The slum is complicated?

Can't handle it?

Lillian looked increasingly puzzled.

Is the life of the poor in the slum so difficult not only because of economic
reasons but also other factors?

Lillian immediately asked what was confusing her.

Ronald glanced at his daughter with resignation and amusement before
commenting, "You're too naive, Darling... I've protected you so well that you
haven't been through anything bad. It made you think too simply of things."

After a pause, Ronald explained to his daughter in detail.

"Besides the mayor Quentin's family, there are five influential families in Dorodo
called the Dorodo's top five families..."

"They are the Wosh family, the Montana family, the Walker family, the Stewart
family, and the Lambert family. The Wosh family is represented by Benedict
Wosh, the director of Dorodo People's Hospital, and the Montana family is led by
Madam Monica Montana. Elijah Walker is the patriarch of the Walker family; Cole
Stewart is the patriarch of the Stewart family, and Dylan Lambert is the patriarch
of the Lambert family..."

"To tell you the truth, the top five families have businesses in the slums. The
Wosh family runs pharmaceutical factories, The Montana family owns textile
mills, The Walker family runs coal mines, The Stewart family owns iron mines,
And the Lambert family has fertilizer plants. Do you know why the top five
families open companies or factories and run businesses in the slum?"

"That's because the poor's labor is cheap. The slum contains more than 2,800, or
nearly 3,000 people, and at least two-thirds work in the top five families’
companies... What do you think the top five families would think if Commander
Lennon insisted on improving the quality of life and the status of the poor in
Dorodo?"

"If the poor's quality of life improves, will they still be satisfied with their current
wages? Will they be satisfied with the current welfare, working facilities, and
environment?"

"So Commander Lennon's ideas and actions are arguably damaging to the top
five families’ interests. It's equivalent to cutting out a piece of the top five families’
cake, and a big one at that!"

"I'd be surprised if the top five families could accept it!"

Ronald felt a little tired after such a long speech.

Lillian immediately poured her father a cup of hot water and handed it to him.