The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 339

Chapter 339: Chapter 339 Asking For Help
Now that Luke was present and appeared to fully grasp the situation, Hera needed to take charge of the conversation. She was the only one with a deep understanding of Luke’s connections to the underground world.

“Luke, thank you for meeting with us. The issue began when Mr. Troy had to investigate everyone in the restaurant on the day of the drugging incident, trying to identify the mastermind. He discovered that Rafael’s sister was entangled in something, as detailed in the report you’ve seen,” Hera began, nodding at him. Since he had chosen to sit on her left side, she was able to observe every nuance of his expression.

She could clearly see his deep golden eyes swirling with intense passion as he focused on her, undisturbed by the presence of others. Luke nodded in response to Hera’s introduction, encouraging her to continue while taking a sip of the tea she had served him.

Hera continued, “Mr. Troy asked me to act as the intermediary between him and Rafael to ensure that he doesn’t come across as trying to blackmail or exploit Rafael over this situation. Additionally, Mr. Troy and I are acquainted from a previous incident, and since I was also a victim in the drugging case, it seemed appropriate for me to be involved.” Hera sensed that under Luke’s intense scrutiny, failing to clarify her connection to Gerald could provoke a reaction—whether it be detrimental to Gerald or causing Luke to dismiss her explanation entirely.

As a friend of a transmigrator who had shared the details of their world and their future developments with her, Hera was well aware of Luke’s true nature and identity. Despite his outward appearance as a gentleman—warm, refreshing, and seemingly incapable of harming even an ant—he was, in fact, an underground international mafia boss known for his impatience and brutality.

The saying that every seemingly pitiful person hides a dark and shameful past holds true. Similarly, behind every smiling facade often lurks a tiger, waiting patiently for its prey to fall into its trap before it strikes.

Even the current Alice is unaware of this information about Luke, as she hasn’t yet reached the part of the novel where he reveals his true nature while protecting her from the villain pursuing them after their battle against the Averys and their subsequent fall from power.

This is why Luke is the primary male lead. Not only does he possess the greatest strength, influence, power, and wealth among the male leads, but he also has the most significant character development ahead of him, with deep-seated darkness within. The main story revolves around his journey through this darkness, with Alice playing a crucial role as his saving grace and redemption for the crimes he has committed.

What crimes? Luke’s level of unscrupulousness surpasses that of the other male leads, as he is an international mafia boss entangled with global criminals. His criminal activities include drug trafficking, human trafficking, hitman services, and smuggling firearms. He also controls a significant sea route, where cargo ships travel between countries. This means he holds dominion over his own maritime territory, where even coast guards and pirates dare not venture without his consent, as crossing him would result in immediate and devastating consequences.

However, even though these crimes were committed by his subordinates, it hardly makes a difference. Luke never intervened to stop their actions and was fully aware of the results. His inaction and acceptance of the outcomes imply his complicity and responsibility for the criminal activities carried out under his command.

Luke was solely focused on the results, indifferent to the process and without a shred of guilt. His efficiency-driven mindset meant he pursued his goals without regard for the moral implications. This is why Hera was initially averse to involving herself with the male leads. Despite their stunning appearances and impressive attributes, the darkness and ugliness hidden behind their facade were enough to make her wary.

Isn’t this how male leads are typically crafted in novels? Authors often design their characters with a dark side, a troubled background, and various flaws, all to drive the plot and encourage the female lead to take action. The goal is to pull these male leads out of their darkness and show them a different perspective, illuminating the possibilities beyond the shadows they’ve created or found themselves in.

Hera struggled with this aspect because she wasn’t a fan of novels or stories created to entertain others by showcasing characters’ struggles and journeys. Finding herself unexpectedly cast as one of these characters in a narrative she never fully understood was disconcerting. Her lack of interest in these matters became a flaw, making it difficult for her to navigate the complexities of her situation without Athena’s intervention.

That’s why Luke, currently holding the highest position in the underworld, would be the best person to ask for favors regarding this investigation. However, Rafael and Gerald were unaware of this crucial information, so Hera was careful to keep her knowledge to herself to avoid revealing too much. Despite having a good relationship with Luke and finding him amiable, she knew the importance of discretion.

There’s no telling how Luke might react if he discovered that she was aware of his dark secrets. In truth, those who maintain a smiling facade are often more dangerous than those who exhibit a stoic and cold demeanor.

After all, who would suspect a warm and charming man of having a few screws loose? That’s why they say that things that seem too good to be true often are—nothing more than lies and scams.

Especially now that Hera wasn’t certain about her influence over Luke and the other male leads, she knew their reactions to her varied, but she had no way to gauge their favorability or measure her success. Lacking a “love meter” or any system to assess her standing, Hera felt she was navigating blindly, relying solely on the incomplete information Athena provided.

What could Hera realistically expect from Athena? After all, Athena had read the novel only casually, without any foresight that she would one day find herself in that very story. It was unrealistic to expect Athena to remember every detail and nuance of a book she had merely read for entertainment.

“Then, why am I here?” Luke asked, his warm smile directed at Hera as he sipped his tea. His gaze lingered on her lips, sending her into a whirlwind of distracting thoughts. Hera feared that if this continued, she might accidentally reveal something she didn’t intend to. It crossed her mind that this might be Luke’s way of distracting her, making her lose focus on her response, and perhaps even prompting her to confess more than she planned.

Hera took a deep breath, clearing her mind of distracting thoughts, and began to explain. “After discussing among ourselves, we realized there might be a discrepancy in the evidence we’ve gathered. It seems possible that someone is using Minerva as a scapegoat, shifting the blame onto her while she might be just a pawn in this scheme. However, this is just speculation at this point. To understand more and figure out how to address this issue, we need someone with insider knowledge of the underworld. Unfortunately, Gerald’s men have been unable to penetrate the threshold and have ended up being killed instead.”

“Gerald?” Luke’s eyebrow arched playfully, but there was a hint of danger in his gaze that made, instinctively, Hera tense up. She quickly began to explain, her voice steady despite the growing unease.

“You see, he’s helped me several times and treated me like the sister he never had, similar to how Zen has. But calling him ‘Brother Gerald’ might be too intimate and could lead to rumors about our relationship. Using just his name keeps a hint of familiarity without raising too many questions. Don’t you think?” Hera chuckled awkwardly, which only made her seem more guilty. Luke’s gaze intensified, his eyes sparkling like stars. Sitting so close, Hera could see the turmoil swirling beneath his calm exterior.

She couldn’t elaborate further without worsening the situation, so she continued to update Luke on the events leading up to his arrival. “It just so happened that while we were discussing our concerns, Rafael recalled you mentioning in passing that you had connections in the underworld. Although we’re not sure how deep those connections run, having any link is better than none. That’s why Rafael decided to reach out.” Hera shrugged to emphasize their effort to explore all possible options without raising any suspicion unto hers.

If Luke wanted more information, he could ask Rafael directly. Among everyone in the Pavilion, she was likely the least knowledgeable and had the fewest connections or intel, which should keep her off their radar.