The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 274

Chapter 274: Chapter 274 Another Trouble
Hearing the undertone in Dave’s statement, Rafael raised an amused eyebrow as he looked at him. It wasn’t that he enjoyed seeing his friend in distress, but it was rare to see Dave on the receiving end. Normally, Dave was the one orchestrating schemes and playful antics, so seeing the tables turned on him was a moment of quiet satisfaction for Rafael.

More so for the people he has schemed against. They must have been dying to see him in a sorry state.

Dave noticed the smirk playing on Rafael’s lips and instantly felt incensed. He pouted and glanced at Hera, seeking some backup from her, only to find her disinterested in the matter. She was absorbed in studying the menu as if each choice were a matter of life and death, her brows furrowed and her left hand idly playing with her chin in deep thought.

Seeing Dave so aggrieved but no one to comfort him made Rafael guffawed right in front of him. “Serves you right!” He mercilessly threw at him.

Dave’s eyes widened. “How did I even offend this brute?” he thought to himself as Rafael kicked him while he was down. His chest heaved heavily with anger, wanting to curse at everyone, but then he remembered Hera was also there and he didn’t want to scare her.

After coming home last night, he realized that compared to Leo, he was not doing a great job at wooing Hera. He sensed that Hera might lean towards Leo if pushed too hard, so he began contemplating changing his approach. Reluctantly, he acknowledged Leo had outshone him last night, feeling like he was the least favored in the group. Even Rafael, whom he believed was his closest rival in this pursuit, now seemed to have gained an edge and Hera’s favor.

Feeling utterly defeated, Dave struggled to maintain his composure. As his spirits plummeted, he instinctively reached into his pocket and retrieved a strawberry candy, surreptitiously placing it on Hera’s lap. His sudden move startled Hera, prompting her to turn her head sharply towards him, her expression a mix of surprise and curiosity.

“I’m sharing my last piece of favorite comfort candy with you,” he said, smiling like a bashful boy. Hera was taken aback, pleasantly surprised by this side of Dave she hadn’t seen before—innocent and endearing. He seemed almost shy, as if he wished he could offer more but was constrained by his current predicament. Smiling back at him, she found herself touched by his gesture.

Dave’s small gesture reminded her of Bry, and it made her giggle softly. This gentle reaction warmed Dave’s heart and eased his nervousness, but his relief was short-lived. Unbeknownst to him, the people pursuing him had tracked him to the restaurant. Caught up in his attention on Hera, he only realized it when their table was suddenly surrounded by the Korean dignitary’s bodyguards, forming a formidable wall around them.

He felt his head throbbing as a snarl escaped his lips in annoyance. His gaze turned dangerous as he scanned the faces of the people surrounding them. Hera, though surprised, managed to keep her composure as she looked around, trying to grasp what was happening.

“Ehem!” A throat cleared behind the bodyguards, prompting them to step aside for an older man. He stood tall, his hair greying with age, and his sharp eyes conveyed a shrewd and calculating demeanor. He scanned Hera’s group before his gaze settled on the annoyed Dave. With repeated nods, he regarded Dave before letting out a satisfied chuckle. “Mr. Carson, I didn’t expect to see you here!”

Hera blinked, sensing the insincerity in the man’s words, clearly intended to corner Dave. Uncertain of the situation and why this man was targeting Dave, she could only watch silently from the sidelines. Meanwhile, Dave clenched his teeth in frustration, veins throbbing on his forehead as he struggled to contain his anger.

Observing Dave’s restrained reaction, Hera speculated that the man before them might be a politician or someone not from their country, judging by his slight accent and demeanor that didn’t quite match the locals.

“It’s quite a surprise to see you for the sixth time today!” Dave quipped, his voice tinged with sarcasm. His demeanor almost made Hera burst out laughing; Dave’s mischievous nature was evident, prompting her to wonder why he chose politics given his nonchalant and playful attitude. She had always imagined politicians as serious figures exuding an air of command and respect, yet Dave was quite the opposite.

The old man appeared unfazed by Dave’s obvious annoyance, responding with a hearty chuckle. “Indeed, why don’t we have dinner together to discuss the joint tourism project for our countries’ heritage sites? Coincidentally, my granddaughter is also here with me; she starts studying at University B this week. It would be wonderful if you could give her a tour, as this is her first time away from home. Afterward, I’ll need to return to my country once our tourism project is finalized.”

With a sudden realization, Hera understood the man’s intentions. She looked at Dave with a raised eyebrow and a faint smile, but Dave misinterpreted her expression, thinking she believed he might want to end things with her because someone else was showing interest in him.

“Sir, please choose your words carefully,” he began, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “Otherwise, my girlfriend might misunderstand and think I’m pursuing someone else while in a relationship.” He spoke without consulting Hera, consumed with irritation from being pursued all day without having eaten lunch or dinner, feeling increasingly agitated and fearing he might do something irreparable.

Most importantly, he didn’t want Hera to misunderstand him, so he planned to explain the matter to her later after the shrewd man left. For now, all he could do was hope that Hera would play along with him.

Hera and Rafael exchanged incredulous glances at Dave as if he had suddenly grown another head. Meanwhile, the old man’s gaze swept across the others at the table, focusing on two women seated there. His eyes locked on the youngest one, who possessed a striking beauty and an ethereal aura. She appeared serene and composed, yet her eyes conveyed a wisdom far beyond her years. It was evident she had been assessing him from the moment he entered, maintaining her calm demeanor amidst the surroundings without a trace of nervousness.

Hera met the old man’s gaze squarely, maintaining her composure without batting an eye. Sensing his appraisal, she offered a warm smile. “Hello, sir. Thank you for looking after Dave and for your patience. I’m also a student at University B. Why don’t I show your granddaughter around and help her settle in?” Hera’s generous offer omitted any explicit mention of her relationship with Dave, leaving their connection open to interpretation.

Rafael understood that Hera was trying to assist Dave, so he refrained from mentioning their relationship. Meanwhile, Sandra and Logan appeared visibly perplexed, particularly Logan, who had not anticipated finding himself seated at the same table as the Young Minister of their country.

Seeing Hera not ostracizing him for using her as a shield, Dave’s lips bloomed into a smile and he shot Hera a grateful look before turning to the old man with confidence. “Old man, as you can see, my girlfriend is so considerate that she wants to tour your granddaughter around.”