The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 97

Chapter 97: Chapter 97 Betting
Upon hearing about the upcoming race, Bry’s father assumed the role of the race’s officiator. As Hera, Xavier, and Zen prepared their horses, Bry’s brother darted around the village, spreading the word about the race and inviting everyone to come and watch.

The racetrack wasn’t particularly large, so Hera and the others had to complete a few extra laps. Bry’s father made sure to communicate this to Hera and the others.

Many villagers came to watch the show. In the past, Bry’s father and uncle used to organize the village’s weekly get-together for some fun and betting on their chosen horses and riders.

Since Bry’s uncle had an accident during a national race, this weekly gathering had come to a halt, and Bry’s father had been occupied with other matters. However, with the news that Diamond would be racing against the other two favorite horses, many villagers showed up to watch. Aunt Sabby and her husband even set up a betting table, drawing eager bets from the other villagers.

Hera found herself torn between laughter and tears upon realizing that their race had become another attraction. Even the online viewers were eagerly anticipating it, prompting the director to seize the opportunity to engage more viewers and make them feel like they were part of this unexpected event.

He swiftly set up a betting corner where viewers could actively place their bets and track the winnings in real time. The director’s grin widened from ear to ear as more people joined the bet, and he watched the winnings rise in real time alongside the increasing viewership displayed on another screen.

‘I really struck a gold mine!’

Not content with just that, he instructed his team to release a post on their official social media account featuring a captivating image of Hera, Xavier, and Zen on their horses, facing each other as they made their bet. The post was accompanied by a clickbait title designed to intrigue other viewers and draw them into the excitement of the event.

With everything meticulously planned out, he could only hope that the trio would deliver a stellar performance, ensuring that the viewers would thoroughly enjoy the spectacle rather than turn against it.

[AuntieNextDoor: Wow! Have you noticed the surge in participants in the betting corner? It’s insane! But of course, I’m betting on my beloved little sister Hera… (๑˃́ꇴ˂̀)]

[HeraismySister: Same here! I’ve used up my allowance for the whole month to support sister Hera because Xavier’s fans are going all out with their bets. I don’t even know if they’ve sold their houses or something, considering how high the betting is getting there.]

[PasserbyGod: What are you talking about @HeraismySister? The tables have turned! Have you not seen the latest betting odds for Hera? ʕ≧ᴥ≦´ʔ Haha]

When they checked the betting corner, it was clear that Hera’s side was winning by a landslide in terms of the amount bet on her name.

[NorthernDuke: Bet $5 million on Hera]

[GoldenLight: Bet $5 million on Hera]

[EntertainmentKing: Bet $5 million on Hera]

[FatherOfCaduceus: Bet $5 million on Hera]

[Dave_Carson: Bet $1,000 on Xavier]

…

The Director found himself speechless. While he initiated the betting corner and set a random maximum bet amount, he never anticipated that these wealthy individuals would wager millions on this unofficial event. Beads of sweat formed on his brow as he worried about potential repercussions, fearing being called out or investigated for facilitating illegal gambling. To his dismay, even the country’s minister joined in the fun, placing a bet on Xavier.

What began as a lighthearted diversion had quickly escalated into something beyond his control. Despite his best intentions, the situation had spiraled out of hand, exacerbated by his own actions in sending a social media post. Now, with everything seemingly spinning out of control, he felt powerless to rectify the chaos that had ensued.

He found himself uncertain whether the minister’s involvement was a deliberate psychological game or simply fooling around like the others.

[EntertainmentKing: @Dave_Carson Oh, I didn’t realize you were struggling financially… (￢_￢)]

[Dave_Carson: @EntertainmentKing

(ȍ ³ȍ)╭∩╮]

[Dave_Carson: @EntertainmentKing @GoldenLight @FatherOfCaduceus are you not going to support your friend? (¬‿¬)]

[EntertainmentKing: …]

[FatherOfCaduceus: …]

[GoldenLight: …]

Fortunately, the Director had connections in the government. He explained the situation and assured them he was willing to comply with any necessary requirements for immediate one-time clearance. Despite receiving an earful and a few curse words, his friend eventually composed himself and began communicating with the relevant department to expedite the clearance process. They realized they couldn’t ignore the situation, especially since the country’s minister had participated in the betting. If they didn’t grant at least a one-time clearance, it would create even more complications.

Their minister faced the threat of being embroiled in a scandal, which could be exploited by his political opponents. Meanwhile, in the chatroom, the said minister found himself in a heated exchange with Rafael and others who were criticizing him for his seemingly insignificant wager.

He joined in solely to back his friend, fully aware of the risks to his position. Yet, he believed he could justify his involvement since his bet fell within reasonable bounds, unlike his more audacious friends who seemed unconcerned and did not give a shit with the potential consequences.

Unaware of the online buzz, Hera, Xavier, and Zen lined up at the starting point, exchanging sidelong glances. Zen sported a smug smirk, brazenly flaunting it, adding an air of challenge to the atmosphere.

Hera leaned forward, drawing closer to Diamond’s body to ensure she wouldn’t be dislodged as they surged onto the racetrack. Xavier and Zen mirrored her posture, granted only a brief window to establish a connection with their horses. In this respect, Hera held the advantage; having spent the previous day bonding with Diamond, she was more attuned to her horse’s movements.

Zen and Xavier remained composed, not making a fuss about the situation. Instead, they dedicated themselves to understanding their respective horses before the race commenced. Despite the presence of onlookers, none of the three competitors felt overwhelmed; they remained focused as if entering a zone of their own.

When they heard the fire signal, they all dashed forward and were only looking forward, as Diamond who has a good track record came into the forefront of the other two, followed by Xavier and then Zen but there was not that much of a distance between the three. It was almost a neck-to-neck race.

The villagers who are closely watching were all silently sucking a mouthful of breath as they clutch the piece of paper containing their bets.

“Giddyup!” Hera urged Diamond to pick up the pace. She sensed that Diamond had more speed to give, urging it to push further. Diamond obediently followed her commands, their movements synchronizing seamlessly as if they were one on the racetrack. Before long, they had opened up a considerable distance between themselves and Xavier.

Xavier, however, revealed a few tricks of his own, swiftly increasing his speed to match Hera’s pace, effectively keeping up with her and leaving Zen trailing a few feet behind.

Rather than feeling nervous, Hera was exhilarated by the challenge presented by Xavier. She sensed Diamond’s eagerness to push the pace further and she didn’t hesitate to oblige, urging the horse to accelerate once more.

As soon as she picked up the pace, Xavier would mirror her movements, maintaining close proximity. Hera couldn’t shake the feeling that Xavier was intentionally taunting her, perhaps hoping to goad her into impatience and pushing her horse beyond its limits, risking exhaustion.

But Hera’s attention was solely fixed on Xavier; they didn’t notice that Zen had caught up to them and was now leading the race. As they completed the first lap, with only two laps left, the remaining rounds would be the deciding factor.

Hera had overlooked the fact that Zen’s Andalusian horse was traditionally used as a warhorse, making it naturally strong and resilient. Gritting her teeth, she realized her mistake, having solely focused on Xavier.

Now, she and Xavier trailed a few feet behind Zen. Looking at it from a different perspective, Hera realized she was at a disadvantage. Xavier’s Akhal-Teke horse boasted both speed and endurance, likely waiting for Diamond to exhaust itself before making a move. Meanwhile, Zen’s horse was more than capable of keeping up with Xavier.

‘SHIT! I became careless!’

Hera leaned in closer to Diamond once more, feeling its breathing and muscles with her hand, trying to determine Diamond’s condition so she’d know what to do next.