The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 77

Chapter 77: Chapter 77 Autumnvale
Hera’s gaze briefly brushed past Xavier before swiftly moving on to survey the other participants. However, her gaze abruptly locked onto the one individual she least wanted to encounter at that moment.

The individual didn’t avert their gaze; instead, they met Hera’s eyes head-on, boldly conveying their animosity towards her through their piercing stare—a moment caught unforgivingly by the camera lens.

None of the guests were aware of the fact that they were being broadcasted live, as the director ensured that only the crew was privy to it, and everyone remained tight-lipped. They all knew firsthand how nasty the director could be when crossed, so no one dared to challenge him, no matter the circumstances.

“Ahem!” The throat-clearing cut through the chatter, drawing Hera’s attention and commanding silence from the group. “Everyone, if I could have your attention, please,” came the authoritative voice.

All eyes turned towards the man in his mid-40s, who possessed a robust build akin to that of a bear. His full beard added to his rugged appearance, complementing his muscular physique, which was accentuated by the faint trace of hair visible on his arms and exposed chest.

He exuded a fierce presence, resembling more of a modern-day Viking than a mere bear.

“Now that everyone is here, it’s time to head to the village where you’ll be staying for the next 7 days,” he announced. Turning to the other crew, he signaled for them to approach the participants. With this cue, the crew moved closer to the participants to collect their devices, ensuring that no one would have the chance to contact the outside world during the duration of the Variety Show.

“What’s the meaning of this?!!!” A shrill female voice echoed through the place as the staff attempted to confiscate the cellphones from the participants.

The Director remained resolute, meeting the instigator’s gaze without flinching, despite being aware of the individual’s influential connections. “I trust that each of you has signed the contract?” His gaze swept across the group before he continued. “And I assume you’ve all read its contents thoroughly…”

“If you refuse to adhere to my rules, you’re welcome to leave. However, keep in mind that doing so will incur the contract being terminated and you are liable for the termination fee,” he stated firmly, his demeanor leaving no room for further debate.

The person who initiated the disturbance was restrained by their assistant, who whispered into their ear. Reluctantly, everyone surrendered their devices to the staff. Hera, unfazed, proceeded to Daisy after handing over her device.

“Daisy, thank you for accompanying me here. Make sure to take care on your way back and get some rest before hitting the road.”

Daisy nodded enthusiastically. “Of course, Sister Hera. I’m glad I could be here for you. Do your best!” She balled her fist in front of her chest, giving Hera an encouraging look that elicited a soft chuckle from her.

Hera felt the sting of burning gazes directed at her back, whether friendly or not was something she currently didn’t care about; she just wanted to mind her own business. She watched as Daisy drove off with her car, the other assistants leaving one after the other.

“Alright! Since no one is leaving, we’ll start our first task.” He paused, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “As everyone knows, ‘The Quest’ is a Variety Show where we let our guests experience what locals of certain areas experience on a daily basis. You will live a normal life…”

“Which also means, starting at this point… You’ll all need to act, do, and experience how the people of our target village live,” he announced, gesturing towards the road behind him. He maintained the suspense by not revealing everything at once or being too direct.

“This road leads to the village, and… There’s no taxi or other mode of transportation aside from household tractors, trucks, water buffalo, or horses if you’re lucky,” he explained. “But since we are coming from the outside, you all need to travel this road and reach the village on your own.”

Dumbfounded, most participants stared blankly at him, but he didn’t seem to mind. He hopped back into the OB van, and they drove off down the bumpy road without looking back. Only the cameramen assigned to certain celebrities remained, keeping their live streams going.

Their luggage lay by the side of the dirty road, abandoned for the moment.

The first to make a move was the silent Xavier. Carrying nothing but a large black tactical backpack, he strode down the muddy path, following the Director’s van.

Naturally, after a moment of shock, the other guests were furious upon hearing the task ahead. They couldn’t even see the village from where they stood, yet the Director expected them to walk there with just a brief introduction.

Anger was an understatement; most of the participants were respected actors and actresses eager to promote their latest films, and idols seeking to expand their fan base through the Variety Show. They expect hardships but not from the very beginning of the Show, where their body has yet to adjust.

Most of the female guests were clad in fashionable sandals and boots, ill-suited for trudging through the mud. One woman, in particular, made the stupid choice of wearing heels and lugging two large suitcases along.

The staff had failed to specify any luggage limits, leading everyone to assume they could bring items for their comfort. However, only the smart ones like Xavier had the foresight to pack efficiently, opting for essentials and prioritizing practicality over excess baggage, prepared for any location they might encounter.

Hera made a strategic choice in selecting a fabric suitcase equipped with retractable backpack straps and wheels, offering versatility for various terrains. With this adaptable luggage in tow, she followed closely behind Xavier as they walked on the muddy road.

Hera wasted no time and set a steady pace, mindful of the rising sun and the potential heat of the afternoon. With uncertainties about the distance to the village and the challenges ahead, she aimed to make progress while the weather remained tolerable.

She consciously limited her conversation to stave off thirst, carefully preserving the 2-liter cold water Amy had packed in an aqua flask. As they walked, she remained observant, scanning her surroundings in search of wild berries or other edible fruits to supplement their journey.

Regrettably, she found no bushes of wild berries along the road, only towering trees enclosing them. With the monotonous scenery stretching ahead and the ceaseless complaints from those behind her, boredom began to set in as she walked.

Glancing ahead, she noticed that Xavier had maintained his pace for the past 30 minutes without breaking a sweat or pausing for a drink or rest, while the others were already falling behind.

After an hour of relentless walking, Hera finally arrived at the entrance of the village, ‘Autumnvale’. Exhaustion weighed heavily on her legs that they were trembling like a newborn calf, and she had already consumed half of the water from her flask.

Had she not mustered the determination to push herself all the way to the village entrance, she might have ended up like the other participants, now seated in the middle of the muddy road, their impractical clothing a hindrance. Despite Hera’s occasional glances back, they were nowhere to be seen.

Now, only she and Xavier remained standing at the village entrance. Xavier stood tall, his forehead barely glistening with sweat, and he showed no signs of heavy breathing, as though his journey had been a leisure stroll through a park for sightseeing.

As they pressed onward into the village in search of the Show’s crew, Hera observed children assisting a shepherd dog in herding the sheep. The diligent dog ensured the flock stayed organized, preventing them from wandering off on their own.

The adults bustled about, loading sizable milk containers onto the truck, presumably destined for delivery. Alongside, smaller 500g glass containers of milk hinted at their purpose for local market sales.

Simply by glancing around, Hera discerned that they would be living a ranch farm life for the next seven days. Despite occasional wafts of the unmistakable stench of animal poop carried on the breeze, the air overall felt refreshingly clean. She was already enamored with the entire atmosphere.

“Now!” The Director’s booming voice snapped Hera back to attention, causing her to halt in her tracks and turn to face him.

“We have our first two participants who have reached the village. Take this opportunity to select your reward,” the Director announced, the specifics of the rewards still undisclosed, but generously offered nonetheless.

Hera couldn’t help but tilt her head to the side, puzzled by the Director’s mention of a reward when there was nothing visible in front of them except for the crew and a few villagers.

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PS: I’d like to offer an advance apology, as I anticipate potentially falling behind in the update process once more. Unexpectedly, my other novel has just been signed, requiring me to double my efforts to keep both books updated daily. Nevertheless, I’ll do my utmost to stay on track! Here’s to me—cheers! ଘ(੭ˊᵕˋ)੭* ੈ✩‧˚