After seeing Constantine off, Merkel took a rag and scrubbed the chair and table he had used over and over again. The disgust was practically written all over his face.
Just as he finished all that, the second visitor arrived right on schedule. When Merkel went down to greet him, he saw Bruce standing outside the manor gates.
Bruce had made an appointment, so Merkel was considerably more welcoming. He stepped forward to open the gate for Bruce, and once Bruce entered the manor, he headed straight for Schiller's study as if he knew the place by heart.
Upon entering the study, Bruce's gaze fell on the abacus. Watching Schiller continuously flick its beads while studying a bill, he immediately knew what today's topic was.
"You're here? Sit." Schiller pointed at the chair opposite him. After Bruce sat down, Schiller glanced at him and was just about to speak when Bruce beat him to it. "My paper will be finished tomorrow."
Schiller sighed and tried to speak again, but Bruce added, "I've written over three thousand words."
Schiller opened his mouth once more, and Bruce said again, "I definitely didn't go off-topic this time, and I carefully proofread all the notation."
Schiller sighed. "You've even learned to answer before I ask, but that isn't what I wanted to talk about today."
A rare trace of surprise appeared on Bruce's usually expressionless face. He looked at Schiller as though he were staring at a parrot that had grown a second head overnight.
Schiller held out a hand to Bruce. "The itemized bill we discussed over the phone, for rebuilding and compensating for Gotham's damaged buildings. Where is it?"
Bruce took out a document and handed it to Schiller. Schiller accepted it, but the moment he opened to the first page, he