Angel was no fool. Little Green's first two remarks had been routine explanations: money and goods exchanged, transaction complete.
The "free inquiry" she mentioned at the end was the point most worthy of Angel's attention—or rather, the point she wanted him to notice.
Little Green had seemingly mentioned "free" in passing, but Angel's Extrasensory Perception told him that she was inwardly filled with unease and tension.
Angel understood perfectly well that free was the most expensive price of all.
Still, he did not brush aside Little Green's expectations. Feigning surprise, he followed her lead and asked, "There's a free way to make inquiries too?"
Little Green steadied herself and immediately said, "Yes. Free inquiries are a benefit offered to members. It was an event only approved by our Hermit Society yesterday. Mr. Zuniga truly has good luck, arriving just in time for it."
Angel did not believe any of Little Green's claims at all and asked directly, "Then how can I make inquiries for free?"
Little Green revealed an elegant smile. "Free inquiries are a benefit provided to members."
"Membership benefits?" Angel looked puzzled on the surface, but inwardly he understood. So after all that circling around, this was about getting him to sign up for membership.
Once people got entangled with something like membership, there was generally a high chance of sunk costs. I've already signed up, so there's no harm in looking around; I've already looked around, so there's no harm in buying something.
Then, step by step, they would sink deeper.
Of course, that was not to say membership itself was wrong. If it could make people "sink," that meant the membership system had been designed quite well.
After all, people were not idiots. If something was truly terrible, they would still refuse it.
So when Little