The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 1012

Chapter 1012: Chapter 1012 Cunning Minds
What unsettled them most, however, was the fear that they might be agreeing to something they wouldn’t be able to uphold when the time came.

The second brother, brimming with confidence due to his strong ties with the military, finally spoke up. “I could understand if you were asking us to help that woman from earlier, that’s something we’d gladly do, it’s right up our alley. But the Averys? Don’t you think that’s asking for a bit too much, Dr. Zhane?”

The second Sullivan brother, now a major general, carried himself with far more confidence than his older brother, but only when it came to matters of the military. In that realm, he had authority and influence to spare.

However, in the world of business, he would be like a fish out of water, just as his brother would be in other fields. Even if they worked together, they doubted they could provide the Averys with what they truly needed.

After all, they had heard stories from their grandfather about the Avery family, an old and powerful giant that had thrived for centuries. Many had tried to forge connections with them, but only a rare few had ever succeeded.

For something so improbable to be happening now, to think that they of all people might be entangled with the Averys, was almost unthinkable. The thought alone stirred a deep sense of unease and skepticism among them, as they couldn’t quite imagine what such an alliance, or its consequences, might bring.

Zhane understood why they were reacting that way. Even he admitted that if Hera weren’t truly the sole heiress of the Avery family, he might not have believed it himself if someone had told him that the Averys would ever need his help, or that they might face trouble in the future.

It was difficult for outsiders to imagine the inner workings and hidden struggles of a powerful conglomerate family like the Averys.

But after spending considerable time with Hera, Zhane had begun to see the cracks beneath their polished image. The more Hera confided in them, the clearer the picture became, and he finally began to understand the kind of situation she and the Avery family were truly in.

He could understand why the Sullivan brothers struggled to grasp his true intentions. Still, since Hera had chosen to help the Sullivans, it spoke volumes about the trust she had in their character, both as businessmen and as individuals.

If Hera had no intention of forming a deeper, partnership-level connection with them, she wouldn’t have gone to such lengths. She could have simply offered assistance when necessary and limited her involvement to dealing with Sophia, who was harassing Leo. That would have been the easier and less complicated route.

But the fact that Hera chose to take things this far made her intentions clear to Zhane. It meant she had already looked into the Sullivans, likely through Gerald, and had found them to be honorable people, capable, loyal, and the kind who valued gratitude and integrity in their dealings.

To help them understand the situation a little better, Zhane decided to reveal just a small glimpse of the truth. He knew he was taking a risk; Hera had kept her identity hidden for a reason, and divulging private information could endanger her if it ever reached the wrong ears.

If the Sullivans turned out to be untrustworthy, or if anyone managed to piece together Hera’s true identity, the consequences could be disastrous. Still, after weighing the pros and cons, Zhane made his decision.

He would explain just enough to make them see the gravity of what was happening. If Hera became angry later, he would simply come clean and take responsibility for it.

“Actually,” Zhane began carefully, his tone calm but deliberate, “the reason we’re asking for your help with the Avery family is because… There may be a shift in their internal ranks in the near future.

And when that happens, those who have long been circling around them, waiting for an opportunity, will surely try to exploit the situation. They’ll create chaos, hoping to bite off more than they can handle.”

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing, “When that time comes, your help could make all the difference, and rest assured, such help won’t go unrewarded. So I suggest you don’t dwell too much on the aftermath.”

Zhane left it at that, intentionally withholding the most crucial details. He wanted them to ponder his words, to let their own instincts fill in the gaps and understand just how delicate and dangerous the situation truly was.

By approaching it this way, even without revealing all the crucial details, such as why the Avery family might face internal issues with their hierarchy or what Zhane’s words truly implied, the Sullivans would still grasp the essence of the situation.

They would understand that the Avery family was bound to encounter a major upheaval in the near future, one significant enough to force them to seek support from other families, even those smaller or less powerful than their own.

Such a revelation alone was enough to make the Sullivans realize the gravity of what was coming. It also presented an opportunity: when that time arrived, they could strengthen their ties with the Averys by openly showing their support and taking a clear stance.

At the same time, this served as a test for both Zhane and Hera to see whether the Sullivans were truly upright and trustworthy. Because when the Avery family eventually faced that turmoil, many would view them as weakened prey.

Those with greedy hearts would seize the chance to stir more chaos, hoping to carve out their own share of the Averys’ influence and fortune. They would convince themselves that they no longer needed the Averys’ connection if they could claim that power for themselves once the great family fell.

And once all of this came to pass, everyone would see where the Sullivans truly stood, and so would the families who had once sided with the Averys. This coming upheaval would test not only the Averys but also those around them, revealing the greed hidden in people’s hearts.

Zhane understood that the sooner they gathered allies to their side, the better their chances would be. Yet he also knew it was a double-edged sword; those same allies could just as easily turn against them when the tide shifted.

In the end, time alone would decide how everything unfolded. For now, all they could do was act with care and prepare for the worst.

Hearing Zhane’s words, the Sullivan brothers exchanged glances, understanding dawning between them. The Avery family might be powerful, but everyone knew that at its helm stood only the aging patriarch and the barely adult young heiress.

It was common sense among businessmen that such a combination made the family vulnerable and ripe for the taking once the balance tipped.

Zhane’s confirmation of the rumors and whispers they’d heard through the grapevine struck them like a wake-up call, especially for the eldest Sullivan brother, who was deeply involved in the business world. The implications were clear and dangerous.

The eldest Sullivan brother lowered his head in thought, his expression hidden, and the room fell into a heavy silence. No one dared to speak.

Zhane, however, kept his composure, or at least, he tried to. Leaning back against the soft sofa, he crossed one leg over the other and clasped his hands loosely over his knee, wearing the calm mask of a man without worries.

But beneath that facade, unease churned. He couldn’t help second-guessing his decision to share that information. It would be a lie to say he wasn’t nervous. If the Sullivans were the wrong kind of people, they could easily use this knowledge as a bargaining chip, exchanging it for favors or resources in the business world.

The information might have been fragmented, but it was valuable enough to draw the attention of other powerful families. It would give them reason to prepare for the inevitable storm surrounding the Avery family.

When that upheaval finally came, the ones who were ready would seize the advantage, as the saying goes, ‘Fortune favors the prepared, and opportunity never waits for those who are not.’

Zhane tapped his knee rhythmically, trying to steady his restless heart. Outwardly, however, he appeared calm, impatient even, as though he was simply waiting for an answer.

The quiet tapping and his composed demeanor only made the Sullivan brothers more uneasy, the air thick with anticipation as they watched their eldest brother wrestle with his thoughts.

Finally, the eldest Sullivan lifted his gaze to meet Zhane’s steady, unreadable eyes. Determination settled over his features; his decision was made.

“All right,” he said firmly. “We’ll do as you say. From this day forward, we’ll treat you and the Avery family as our benefactors for saving our youngest sister and for helping us when you didn’t have to.”

“Everything you’ve done for us will not go unreturned. We may not have much compared to the Avery conglomerate, but we’ll give our utmost. Just say the word.”