The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 827

Chapter 827: Chapter 827 Show Off
The thought alone made Rafael smile, a rare and genuine expression that caught even his assistant off guard. He was so used to Rafael’s usual sharp frowns, scowls, and steely demeanor that the sudden warmth in the room felt almost surreal.

Of course, since he was the one who thought of sending his own sister on the mission, received the photos, and even bribed her with his own money, Rafael had no intention of sharing this with any of the other five. This was his own foresight and initiative—they could cry and beg later. And if he was feeling generous, maybe he’d toss one or two of them a bone.

As for Dave, if he ever found out, he’d probably explode in anger. But just as Rafael expected, there wouldn’t be much Dave could do about it—except stew in silent envy.

After Hera and the others settled into the presidential suite, they rested briefly before deciding to leave the hotel and explore the streets for a while. Initially, Hera wasn’t in the mood to go out or have fun. She had planned to send her bodyguard to escort Athena, Liz, and Minerva to lunch without her.

But Athena, noticing how downcast Hera looked, gave her a gentle pep talk and practically dragged her along. She reminded Hera that, no matter how worried she was about Leo, they were already in Paris—the City of Love. Worrying endlessly wouldn’t change anything, and if Hera kept brooding, she might end up falling sick herself.

Athena pointed out that this was Hera’s first time in Paris, and it would be a shame to waste it. Besides, if Leo woke up and found out Hera had been moping because of him, he’d only feel guilty. With that in mind, Hera reluctantly agreed to set her worries aside for the moment and joined the others for a walk through the city.

At first, Hera struggled to shake off her worries, but thanks to Athena and the others, she eventually found her rhythm and began to enjoy herself. The group started hopping from one boutique to another, unaware that Alice was quietly following behind them.

Alice had originally gone out to stroll the streets while live-streaming, engaging with her fans and showing off the charm of Paris. But the moment she spotted Hera and her friends entering the Hermès store, her expression darkened—and a new idea sparked in her mind.

She decided to subtly follow them inside, planning to let her viewers witness what she hoped would be an embarrassing moment. While she had no doubts that Athena, Liz, and Minerva—being heiresses from wealthy families—could easily afford whatever they wanted, Hera was a different story in Alice’s eyes. She assumed Hera would be nothing more than a window shopper, too out of place to make a purchase. The thought of catching that on camera thrilled her.

Before entering the store, Alice discreetly hid her phone to avoid drawing attention from the staff. After all, luxury stores typically prioritize customer privacy and don’t allow filming inside—unless it’s a private appointment or the store happens to be nearly empty. Fortunately for her, the store wasn’t too crowded, but she still didn’t want to take any chances. She concealed her phone in a way that allowed the camera to keep recording the interior and the people inside.

Once inside, she pretended to be part of Hera’s group, careful not to get noticed by Hera or the others. She quickly crouched down near a display meant for the general public, feigning interest in the items there. The store’s finest collection was tucked away in a more exclusive area, accessible only to qualified clientele—something Alice wasn’t very familiar with.

As soon as Hera and the others entered the store, the staff promptly greeted them—initially in French. When Athena and the others didn’t respond, Hera stepped forward and replied in French, her voice calm and composed.

“Hi, I heard there are new limited-edition arrivals exclusive to this store?”

Though her words were phrased as a question, her confident tone made it sound more like a statement. The staff instinctively assessed her, wondering if she might be a high-tier member. In luxury boutiques of Hermès, lower-tier members can purchase items, but they have little say in what’s offered to them.

Even if they submit a wishlist through a sales associate, it’s rarely prioritized. Whatever is presented to them is all they get—take it or leave it. Purchasing these suggested items is the only way to build a transaction history and climb the membership ranks.

However, high-level members enjoy a different experience. They have first access to exclusive releases, can choose from a wider selection, and are prioritized when it comes to viewing and purchasing limited-edition pieces.

“May I see your membership card, ma’am?” the staff asked politely in French. She could tell that Hera and her friends weren’t locals, but recent experiences had taught her to tread carefully. She had seen what happened to a sales associate at Chanel who was fired after a viral video showed her refusing service to a millionaire influencer that was underdress. That scandal served as a harsh reminder in the luxury retail world: never judge a client by appearance alone.

With that in mind, the staff kept her tone civil and professional as she gently probed for more information to understand how to proceed.

Fortunately, Hera wasn’t the unreasonable type. She simply nodded and reached for her card without complaint.

Not long after, Hera calmly took out her Black Dragon card and handed it to the staff. The woman paused, momentarily taken aback. The card Hera presented wasn’t an Hermès membership card, and for a brief moment, the staff wasn’t sure how to respond. Her hesitation grew noticeable.

Just then, a faint snicker sounded from nearby.

The staff turned slightly and spotted a woman crouching not far from the group. “Madame, is she with you?” she asked Hera in French, gesturing discreetly toward the stranger.

Hera, Athena, Liz, and Minerva turned their heads—and finally noticed Alice, who appeared quite pleased with herself. Though she didn’t understand French, Alice had seen Hera hand over a card that didn’t bear the Hermès insignia. At first, she thought it might be a high-tier membership, but the words “Black Dragon” on the card told her otherwise. Smugly, she assumed Hera was bluffing—pretending to understand the staff just to impress everyone.

Alice’s disdain was written all over her face. And now that she had been spotted, she no longer needed to hide.

With an exaggerated scoff, Alice straightened up and strode confidently toward Hera. “Hera, did you even understand what she asked you? That’s clearly not a membership card from this store. Were you just pretending to know French?”

Instead of acknowledging Alice’s provocation, Hera didn’t even spare her a glance. She had no patience for nonsense right now—especially not from people who thrived on drama.

Turning calmly to the sales associate, Hera said, “Please have your store manager verify the card. The Black Dragon card is authorized for use in all luxury boutiques, including Hermès. Viewing my membership details and processing payment requires special permission.”

Her tone was firm but not confrontational—just clear and composed. Hera didn’t want to waste time entertaining misunderstandings, especially since not everyone was aware of the card’s significance. The truth was, luxury brands did know about the Black Dragon card—but it was so rare, so exclusive, that most staff had only ever heard of it in passing. Seeing one in person was almost unheard of.

The sales associate’s heart skipped a beat. Her eyes lingered on the sleek black card, taking in the gleam of the golden dragon insignia. Just from the craftsmanship alone, she sensed this was no ordinary Black Card—it was the stuff of legend.

Visibly electrified by the realization, she gave a respectful bow. “Excuse me for a moment, madame,” she said, then turned on her heel. Though she tried to maintain a graceful pace, her quickening steps were barely short of a sprint as she rushed off to find the store manager.

The sales associate had a strong feeling that today might be her lucky day—this client could help her hit her sales quota, or even surpass it. Excitement bubbled inside her as she hurried off to find the store manager, eager to confirm the card’s authenticity and have the manager on standby for the transaction.

While the staff was away, Alice seized the opportunity to needle Hera. Even without checking the comments, she could already imagine what many of her viewers were thinking—skeptical, amused, and waiting for Hera to embarrass herself.

Alice was convinced Hera misunderstood how Hermès’ system worked. It wasn’t like other luxury brands where a black card might open every door. At Hermès, a membership couldn’t simply be bought or granted on a whim. It had to be earned through consistent high-value purchases over time. Only those who met strict yearly transaction thresholds could level up and gain access to exclusive perks, including viewing limited-edition pieces.

So in Alice’s eyes, Hera waving around some mysterious black card without an official Hermès membership was laughable. She assumed Hera thought money alone could bypass the system—but Hermès didn’t work that way. And Alice was more than ready to watch her crash and burn.