"Are you done talking?" Hera’s composed and indifferent voice resonated through the open space. It wasn’t loud, yet it carried enough weight to silence the gathering instantly. Though her expression remained neutral, her words and tone commanded authority, compelling everyone to heed her.
All eyes turned toward Hera. While so had faced her admonishnts in the past, this ti her tone bore a newfound weight of authority, tinged with an edge of dominance and impatience that commanded attention.
Hera had no intention of intimidating anyone, but she couldn’t help but find their argunts and reasons utterly foolish. It made her wonder how the female lead and the second female lead could be so naive, and how they managed to contend with the cunning villain and villainess of the novel when their motives were so transparent and they were as easily read as an open book.
She felt as though she was squandering her brain cells on people like them, not to ntion wasting everyone else’s precious ti. But what irked her even more was the way Alexi looked at her—as if she had betrayed him or as if there was still sothing lingering between them. ’The audacity of that man!’ she thought incredulously.
Hera’s question caught everyone off guard with its commanding tone, reminiscent of a queen awaiting the jury’s final opinions before delivering her decisive verdict. Her voice exuded authority and impatience, yet it seed entirely natural—as if leadership and authority were ingrained in her very being from birth.
Her aura underwent a subtle transformation, a deanor she had never before revealed. While the viewers captured only the facial expressions through the cara, those standing in Hera’s presence felt the weight of her commanding presence. It was an unspoken yet palpable energy, reminiscent of top CEOs or leaders, leaving a distinct impression on those around her.
Who among them hadn’t encountered powerful businessn or politicians before? Each person present had encountered various influential figures, making them keenly aware that Hera’s aura wasn’t rely a facade crafted to intimidate others; it resonated with genuine authority and presence.
The other participants quickly fell silent and averted their gazes, intimidated by the prospect of eting Hera’s eyes. Though she appeared composed, her expressionless face marked a stark contrast from her usual deanor—a calm and gentle countenance often tinged with a hint of playfulness.
"Are you done talking?" Hera repeated her question that cut through the tension, her gaze sweeping over the faces of those who had been regarding her with judgntal eyes. It lingered on Minerva and Alice a mont longer before her lips curved into a mocking smirk. "I couldn’t care less if you want to slander , but dragging the Director and the crew—who are working tirelessly to ensure the fairness of the show—into it is simply uncalled for."
Drawing from her experience in custor service, Hera recognized the "sandwich approach"—complint first, then deliver the critique, and end with another complint. Who could possibly fault her for employing such a tactic? With finesse, she could even reverse the dynamic with these two. Hera’s villainous mind began to churn, her lips curling into an evil smile. To onlookers, she appeared as an alluring succubus, ready to lead them willingly into the depths of hell, their descent unprotested and willingly embraced.
However, Hera’s sandwich approach wasn’t aid at Minerva and Alice but rather at the Director and the Crew. She showered the crew with complints and staunchly defended them, all while subtly criticizing Minerva and Alice for their hasty judgnts and thoughtless remarks. Naturally, the crew and the Director would rally to her side, not only to vindicate themselves but also to assertively put Minerva and Alice in their rightful place.
Without allowing Minerva and Alice a chance to interject, Hera observed their mouths opening and closing before she continued speaking. "As you’re well aware, the entire cabin—aside from the bathroom—is under constant surveillance with high-resolution caras. These caras in selected parts only deactivate in the dead of night. And if you’re insinuating that there was an opportunity for soone to pass a ssage, then consider this: all caras surrounding the cabins, aside from those in the participant’s rooms, remain active and functional even after midnight. So, feel free to review the footage at your leisure. You’ll find no evidence of any staff seeking out in the wee hours or of any clandestine excursions on my part."
Hera’s discovery about this was purely coincidental. One night, while she ventured to the kitchen for water, she noticed the telltale red light of a cara still blinking well past midnight. This observation led her to realize that, apart from the participant’s bedrooms, the other surveillance caras remained fully operational.
Hera paused, taking a mont to steady her breath after speaking at length before continuing. "And if you’re suggesting that the Director or the crew might have conveyed a ssage to outside, rest assured that caran accompany us everywhere, ensuring constant surveillance. I’ve never attempted to evade any cara or engage in suspicious activity, as you’ve insinuated." She punctuated her statent with a thoughtful hum.
Hera rested her fingers on her chin, adopting a pensive pose before speaking again. "If you’re insinuating that the show was orchestrated for my debut, then I could just as easily make the sa claim about you, Minerva, and Alice. Minerva has a supportive brother who’s ready to facilitate her debut, and as for you, Alice, well, I could suggest that you have a sugar daddy backing your endeavors." Hera’s tone dripped with mock disdain as she sneered at them.
"I do not!!!" Alice exclaid almost instantly upon hearing Hera’s implication about her having a sugar daddy. Her eyes darted to Xavier’s face, hoping for reassurance, but found none. Her heart clenched painfully at his indifference, yet she refused to back down from Hera’s accusation. "Please, Hera, exercise caution with your accusations; they could unjustly tarnish others’ reputations," Alice’s voice rang with indignation, though it remained soft and tinged with a hint of pleading.
"So, you knew?!" Hera t Alice’s gaze with a contemptuous snort. "You were fully aware of the potential damage to an artist’s reputation, and yet, you spoke as if it were fact. You had no evidence to support your claim, yet you uttered it without considering the consequences for my reputation?" Hera’s words were direct and unsparing, leaving no room for ambiguity.
Alice’s face drained of color as her lips quivered, her mind struggling to process Hera’s direct confrontation. She hadn’t anticipated such a bold challenge, especially not in front of the caras. Her eyes welled with tears as she hung her head, feeling unjustly accused. "I’m sorry, Hera. That wasn’t my intention. I apologize for my thoughtlessness," she murmured, fidgeting nervously with her fingers.
The tremble in her voice and the look in her eyes, as she apologized, were enough to elicit pity from everyone present. It was clear she had recognized her mistake, and no one wanted to make things harder for her as a result.
However, with more fence-sitters among them, no one spoke up in Alice’s defense. They remained passive, awaiting the outco. Hera scoffed at the sight of their indifference and pressed on, refusing to acknowledge Alice’s apologies or give her another glance. "For those simply curious about my success in the scavenger hunt and finding four Easter eggs, it’s quite simple to explain," she declared, diverting the conversation away from Alice.
Hera’s laughter rang out lodiously before she proceeded with her explanation. "In truth, I simply utilized an exchange system with the villagers to acquire the necessary items, allowing to complete the scavenger hunt in just under two hours. However, it took longer to return as I scoured every nook and cranny of the village in search of the remaining two Easter eggs. The discovery of the final two was purely fortuitous—a stroke of luck, if you will, and perhaps even a blessing in disguise."
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