The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 488

Chapter 488: Chapter 488 Rafael And Minerva On The Run 11
With a low grunt, he carefully lowered both men, doing his best to support their weight quietly.

He then peered through the doorway to check for any other guards inside.

Finding none, the three of them slipped into the cell area undetected and began searching for Minerva.

Once inside, they were immediately hit by an overpowering stench, reminiscent of a pigsty, that made them feel dizzy and sick.

Muffled sobbing echoed through the dimly lit corridor, adding a haunting backdrop to the scene.

Moving cautiously, the three men advanced down the line of cells, peering through the narrow openings.

Each cell contained at least five girls of varying ages, their faces filled with despair and fear.

With every step, they searched anxiously for Minerva, their urgency heightened by the grim surroundings.

Rafael’s bodyguards clenched their fists, feeling their anger rise with every cell they passed.

Each scene was a painful reminder of the cruelty these young captives endured.

When they spotted an eleven-year-old girl among the prisoners, the sight was almost too much to bear.

Their jaws tightened, teeth grinding as they struggled to keep their rage in check, determined not to let it compromise their mission—but the fury was unmistakable, burning through their silent resolve.

Even Rafael struggled to stay calm, but he knew they couldn’t afford to act recklessly.

They weren’t heroes, and attempting a rescue now would only risk their lives and jeopardize the mission.

Heroes might sacrifice themselves to save others, but Rafael and his team needed to survive to ensure Minerva—and all the other captives—made it out safely.

They had already called for backup, and once outside, they could alert both their own team and the authorities to raid the entire compound. Staying alive and focused was their best, and only, option.

After steeling their resolve, the three of them pressed on down the corridor.

At the far end, they spotted a figure lying motionless in the shadows.

One of the bodyguards nearly overlooked her due to the darkness, but Minerva’s white dress stood out starkly against the dark.

When Rafael realized that the unmoving figure in the last cell was indeed Minerva, he feared she might still be unconscious from the drugs.

Without hesitation, he and the others retrieved a small pouch filled with delicate wires and picking tools.

Rafael expertly began to work on the lock, his hands steady and focused.

After unlocking the cell, Rafael swiftly handed the tools to the nearest bodyguard and stepped inside.

He gently lifted the girl lying on the bed, confirming that it was indeed Minerva.

She was so disoriented that she barely registered her surroundings, and her weak, labored breathing made Rafael’s heart sink.

A deep frown creased his brow as he realized something was seriously wrong with her.

One of the bodyguards quickly approached, pulling out a piece of cloth and a small bottle filled with a solution from his pocket.

He wrapped the bottle in the cloth and handed it to Rafael.

Carefully, Rafael held the cloth containing the solution near Minerva’s nose, ensuring it was far enough away not to overwhelm her senses.

It took two minutes of inhaling the solution before Minerva finally stirred, her eyes fluttering open weakly.

She struggled to breathe, barely responding to her surroundings, and Rafael’s concern deepened.

The two bodyguards exchanged worried glances, recognizing that something was seriously wrong.

While disorientation is typical for someone who has been drugged, Minerva’s condition suggested she might have been overdosed.

It appeared they had likely drugged her a third time to prolong her unconsciousness.

If that was the case, it would explain her current state—she might have woken up only to be sedated again before she could fully regain consciousness, leaving her in this vulnerable condition.

As the pampered princess of the Briley family, Minerva had never experienced such treatment before.

The first time she woke up was during a transfer into a different car in the mountains.

Sensing her awakening, the kidnapper quickly drugged her again.

The second time she regained consciousness was as darkness fell over the horizon, and she was jolted awake by the sound of loud sobbing surrounding her.

Her head throbbed painfully, and her limbs felt weak, refusing to respond to her commands.

Unfortunately, when she opened her eyes, she found guards patrolling the cells to ensure their captives were awake and eating before being transported along their secret routes.

They approached Minerva’s cell and, upon seeing her looking back at them, made the decision to drug her once more without consulting their superior.

They left her there, helpless and alone, as they went about their same old duties.

Before Minerva finally succumbed to unconsciousness for the third time, a profound sense of hopelessness enveloped her.

She felt utterly helpless and feared that she might never see her family again.

As darkness descended, she reflected on every wrong decision she had made, including the bullying of others, and a wave of regret washed over her.

Yet, she grappled with uncertainty, questioning whether her actions warranted such a cruel fate.

In those final moments of awareness, she was consumed by deep regret, fear, and self-pity, feeling as though she were losing not just her consciousness but a part of herself as well or maybe, even dying.

Only when she heard her brother’s confident voice did a flicker of comfort and renewed confidence spark within her.

Slowly, she began to open her heavy eyelids, but her limbs remained unresponsive, and she struggled to form words.

Sensing her difficulty, Rafael encouraged her to inhale the solution a bit longer before gently taking it away.

He then assisted Minerva in putting on a bulletproof vest, mindful of her inability to move on her own.

Meanwhile, one of the bodyguards discreetly returned to the main entrance to ensure the area was still clear, while the other remained in the corridor, keeping an eye on the situation with the captives.

They waited a bit longer for Minerva to regain her ability to walk before they began to move cautiously.

However, just as they were about to make some distance, they heard voices pleading from behind the bars.

“Hey, are you guys getting out of here? Take me with you! Please!”

“Me too! I want to see my family!”

“Don’t leave us here!”

The desperate cries echoed in the corridor.

The collective voices of women began to echo from the cells, sending a cold sweat in Rafael and his team’s bodies.

It wasn’t that they wanted to abandon them; the reality was far more complicated.

They couldn’t risk bringing so many people with them.

With just the three of them, they lacked the capacity to protect everyone, and many of the captives appeared too weak to move swiftly or quietly—some couldn’t even stand properly.

Their options were limited, and the urgency of the situation weighed heavily on Rafael’s mind.

Rafael and his team didn’t have the luxury of time to explain their predicament.

They received a message from Sasha, warning that the guards in the dining hall were nearly finished with their meal, which meant they needed to escape as soon as possible.

With urgency pressing upon them, Rafael and the others quickened their pace, trying to block out the frantic pleas of the women in the cells.