Edward glanced sideways at the enormous wooden sculpture and warned Arthur:
"Be careful with that. It's a statue of Poseidon. You couldn't afford to pay for it if you broke it."
Arthur pulled a small metal flask from the back pocket of his jeans, unscrewed the cap, and took a swig of whiskey before saying disdainfully:
"Sea god? He's just some old geezer."
Edward was about to explain the legends of the Seven Seas and the sculpture's artistic value when Arthur lowered his head, his gaze landing on Ririko's face.
He coughed abruptly, nearly spraying out the whiskey he had just swallowed.
He hurriedly wiped the liquor from his lips with the back of his hand, then broke into a hearty grin:
"Hey, gorgeous. I'm Arthur Curry. How about we grab a drink?"
Ririko brushed back her hair and gave him an alluring smile.
This wild man was the most direct one she had ever met, and his infatuation value had shot straight up to 8. But she had no interest in a temp worker, so she calmly said, "Maybe next time."
Arthur laughed good-naturedly, not at all upset by her rejection. "Sure. Anytime you like."
He lifted the enormous wooden sculpture with one hand and headed toward the stage, as easily as if he were carrying a light piece of luggage.
Watching him walk away, Edward shook his head. "These workers really need to improve their manners."
Gotham had already begun to heat up in May.
Ririko, Dick, and Harvey were in the school library, crowded around a long table with a laptop open in front of each of them. Several half-read reference books lay scattered across the table.
Ririko and Dick needed to submit two psychology-related term papers before June, and neither was making reassuring progress.
Ririko