The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 340

Chapter 340: Chapter 340 What Do I Get In Return?
After studying her for a moment, Luke returned to his warm smile and nodded at Hera. “As long as he’s not getting too familiar or showing any improper interest, I won’t read too much into it.” He added with a hint of jest as he sipped his tea, casting a fleeting glance at Gerald. However, to anyone listening—including Hera—his words carried more weight as a subtle threat than as a light-hearted joke.

Even Rafael had never seen this side of Luke before, but he inferred that Luke must be recognizing the intensifying competition for Hera’s attention. It seemed clear that Luke felt the pressure as other suitors stepped up their game. Rafael guessed that if Luke didn’t raise his own efforts in courting Hera, he risked not only losing her but also watching others advance their relationships with her. This realization, Rafael suspected, would deeply affect Luke’s pride and sense of masculinity.

Luke has likely come to understand that his previous approach in courting Hera fell short compared to the boldness of others. As a result, he’s allowing his more assertive side to emerge and is gaining some backbone. Honestly, Rafael can’t fault Luke for this shift in behavior, especially since Rafael himself feels uneasy knowing that Hera is surrounded by so many potential suitors.

However, this isn’t the real issue at the moment. Rafael tried to refocus the conversation because the situation was far from trivial. It wasn’t just about his sister; there was a criminal group involved. If his sister is indeed being framed, her life could be at risk. Even if her name is cleared later, she might still be targeted by those behind the scheme or by the criminal group seeking revenge for being cornered by the police.

The brutality of the killings and their repeated nature suggest that those responsible have significant backing and aren’t afraid of being caught. This spells trouble for both Rafael and his sister. Despite his concerns, Rafael couldn’t shake the unsettling thought that Luke might be connected to the underground world where such brutality is prevalent and might get himself in trouble sooner or later too.

The last person he expected to be connected to this part of the society, Luke looked like the sun that gives everyone hope and helps in the charity events to help the helpless was actually connected.

Rafael wondered to himself, ‘Could Luke be involved in this dark side of society because he wanted to end such brutality? Perhaps he’s sending his people to clean up the mess from within.’ As he watched Luke calmly sipping his tea, seemingly unfazed by the tension in the room, Rafael couldn’t shake the feeling that Luke was treating the situation as if it were something easily resolved by him.

Rafael cleared his throat to refocus everyone’s attention. “Ahem! Now that Luke is here and Hera has already explained the situation and reviewed the report, can I entrust you with the investigation, Luke?” Rafael fixed his gaze expectantly on Luke, who responded with a smirk. However, Rafael couldn’t quite discern the meaning behind it.

“What’s in it for me to take on this investigation?” Luke asked, his tone neutral and his gaze fixed on Hera. It was as if his question was directed at her, and he would only consider accepting the task based on her response.

Hera bit her lower lip because she could feel Luke’s intense gaze lingering on her face and when she subconsciously bit her lips, Luke’s golden orbs rested on her lips and turned darker with a glint.

Hera sensed that Luke’s thoughts were veering towards something inappropriate, so she quickly released her lips from between her teeth. Despite this, Luke’s gaze remained fixed on her lips as he continued, “As Gerald mentioned, the underworld is incredibly dangerous and difficult to infiltrate, with his people suffering significant losses. If I’m going to put myself and my team at risk, there needs to be something of greater value in it for me, don’t you agree?”

“We’re all businessmen here, and I shouldn’t need to explain the importance of sincerity in our circle, whether among friends or not. When it comes to matters of life and death, monetary value pales in comparison. Therefore, any return for this work must be something truly worthwhile,” Luke added, his gaze remaining fixed on Hera.

‘What a liar! This wouldn’t even pose a challenge for him, let alone a real danger! In fact, he is the danger himself. With just a flick of his finger, he could send someone to their death. He was the primary reason the Avery Consortium fell apart in the novel and why the main antagonist, despite his own considerable power, wealth, and influence, couldn’t win. So, Luke, where did your absurd claims even come from? You’re just trying to scam us!’ Hera fumed internally, struggling to maintain her composure on the outside.

Since only she knew Luke’s true identity, she couldn’t openly complain about his shameless behavior. Although she had known from the start who Luke really was, his actions and apparent warmth towards her had caused her to forget his darker side. Now, she felt trapped, though she knew Luke wouldn’t harm her, as she was currently sharing the female lead’s fate. Still, it left a bitter taste in her mouth.

‘These male leads are more shameless than the other, really.’ Hera added in her mind as Luke still looked at her, maybe he could somehow understand where Hera’s thoughts were lingering and was now looking at her with an amused gaze as he waited for an offer to be placed on the table.

“Why don’t you go ahead and state your requirements, Luke? Or better yet, just let us know what you expect in return, and we’ll see if Rafael can meet those needs,” Hera suggested, shifting the responsibility to Rafael. This way, she could subtly distance herself from the compensation discussion and avoid being directly involved in providing the reward.

She feared that if she didn’t speak up, Luke might actually ask for her as his reward and just the thought of it made her stomach churn uncomfortably. Although Luke operated more as a figurehead in the underground world, his accumulated power indicated that he was indifferent to other matters and had little regard for the consequences.

His people’s brutality was also his responsibility, and his inaction implied consent. The thought of Luke’s dual life, straddling both the light and dark sides of society, only served to remind Hera of how dire her own fate could be if she failed to change her circumstances.

“What if I asked for you as my reward, and nothing else?” Luke said, his lips curling slightly as he stared at Hera with a hint of raw desire. Even Rafael, observing from the side, could see the intensity in Luke’s gaze. Rather than feeling possessive or angry, Rafael surprisingly found himself empathizing with Luke’s emotions. He even felt a compulsion to vie for Hera’s attention, despite knowing it wasn’t the right time for such distractions. Rafael had expected a strong reaction, possibly even wanting to overturn the table in anger at Luke’s blatant flirtation, but instead, he found himself intrigued and unsettled by the situation.