That’s why no one was holding him back from exploring the underground world, where crime thrives. He found excitement in leading dual lives, with no one aware of his true nature. He felt a sense of disdain that no one had yet grasped who he really was or what he was truly capable of.


    His friends and he never interfered in each other’s business or lives because they didn’t feel the need to. Each of them was capable of standing on their own, no matter what chaos came their way. It was the first time Rafael had asked Luke for a favor, which initially didn’t intrigue him much. However, upon learning that Hera was involved, his curiosity was piqued, and he felt a genuine need to understand why they required his help.


    Luke was like a predator in sheep’s clothing, blending in with his prey to observe their lives before striking. However, his feelings for Hera were different. He felt a genuine attraction and pull toward her that he had never experienced before. He was certain his friends felt the same way, and he was eager to understand what drew them all to her. This newfound feeling was something he had been missing for a long, long time, and it intrigued him deeply.


    Otherwise, given his nature, he would have certainly eliminated anyone who tried to take what he considered his—Hera being one of those things—even if it meant staining his hands with his friends’ blood. Surprisingly, though, he didn’t feel repulsed by the idea of sharing his interest in Hera with his friends. Despite his hostility toward Leo, he didn’t have the urge to eliminate him either.


    In fact, he felt a rare sense of belonging and calm whenever Hera was around. He realized it must be her unique influence on them, a special quality that allowed her to navigate this world in her own way, just as he and his friends wielded their own talents to be leaders in their respective fields.


    With great expectation and anticipation, Luke headed to the address provided by Rafael. He thought he would be prepared for anything, but he was taken aback to discover that Hera and Rafael were dining in the highly exclusive Pavilion #1 and having a serious discussion with the notoriously elusive and reclusive Gerald Troy. The sight shattered his usual calm and self-awareness, leaving him stunned and disoriented.


    What surprised him the most was theck of exnation. As soon as he was led to the private room and took his seat, Rafael handed him a folder of reports without a word. Hera gave him an urging look, indicating he should examine the report to understand what was happening. With no one willing or able to exin, Luke opened the folder and raised an eyebrow upon seeing the contents.


    Instead of feeling disgusted or unsettled, he was surprisingly amused by the sight of familiar yet strikingly unfamiliar contents inside the folder.


    He remained silent, flipping through each page with a serious gaze as he scrutinized the reports. His usual warm and inviting smile had vanished, reced by a darker expression of amusement and scrutiny—an unfamiliar side of him that Rafael was seeing for the first time. Rafael assumed that Luke’s reaction was a coping mechanism, simr to how he himself had reacted when he first encountered the severity of the crimes detailed in the file.


    Hera watched Luke with a knowing gaze, waiting for him to finish reviewing the content before they proceeded with the discussion on how to handle the situation. She hadn’t intended to escte matters, but she sought answers, feeling that these developments might somehow be linked to the original ending of the novel or she should say, the original ending of the Hera depicted in the novel.