Chapter 884 Setting The Bet
Out on the track, crews from other teams began pushing their drivers’ cars into position according to their assigned numbers. Hera’s car was number 18, placing her somewhere in the middle of the lineup. Her crew waited patiently until the 15th car was in place, then began moving her car forward to the starting grid.
As usual, Hera’s manager, Betty, called to remind her to start the livestream before the race so her fans, especially those who couldn’t fly to Paris to watch in person, could still experience the thrill online through Hera’s perspective from inside the car.
Fortunately, Xavier and the rest of Hera’s team, already familiar with the setup, had installed the livestream equipment earlier. Since the livestream was primarily for promotional purposes, the rest of the crew hadn’t been briefed on it, as it wasn’t related to any technical aspect that could interfere with their work.
Once Hera’s livestream went live, her page was instantly flooded with viewers. On the backend, Betty and Daisy monitored the growing stats while Betty continued to push subtle promotions to boost support. In truth, she didn’t need to do much; Hera’s racing fan club was already hard at work promoting her across platforms.
Many were speculating about the race’s outcome, wondering if Hera might be the top contender. With global eyes on the event, her participation alone was a point of national pride, drawing in even more curious spectators eager to cheer her on.
Most notably, the current record-holder for that very race track was also participating, along with several world champions, making the event feel like a true clash of titans, something the racing community and fans were buzzing about.
Hera stood out as the only woman who had earned a place among these elite racers, which only added to the hype. With the growing excitement, betting pools were opened worldwide, drawing in fans eager to place their wagers.
Unfortunately, Hera’s name was near the bottom of the rankings, with just 500 votes compared to the millions cast for the top three fan favorites, who were expected to dominate the race.
While many long-time fans knew of Phantom, the mysterious and legendary driver, public opinion was divided. Some believed Phantom was just a marketing gimmick meant to stir attention and boost fame. Others rejected the idea that Phantom could be a woman. When Hera’s identity as Phantom was revealed, some turned against her entirely, driven by sexist notions that women couldn’t possibly compete in a male-dominated sport like racing.
On top of that, many people hadn’t yet heard the news that Phantom’s identity had been officially revealed as Hera. Since she was racing under her real name now and not using the Phantom alias, a large portion of the audience simply didn’t realize who she truly was.
Seeing the dishearteningly low number of supporters backing Hera on the betting platforms, her fans quickly rallied on social media, determined to show their support and shift the momentum in her favor.