An entirely enclosed transparent pavilion stood in the garden of Wayne Manor.
Its curved roof was made from WayneTech's latest bulletproof, heat-resistant material, like an enormous glass bowl turned upside down on the lawn.
Inside the pavilion, flowers and white ribbons hung intertwined, silverware lay neatly arranged on snowy silk tablecloths, and champagne glasses were stacked into a pyramid.
Beside them, a dessert table stretched along an entire wall, with cakes, macarons, and fruit tarts arranged in tidy rows, their delicate colors mouthwateringly tempting.
Dressed in a black tailcoat, Alfred was carrying out his final checks.
The invited socialites wore gowns and long dresses in every color. Some bared their shoulders, some had slit skirts, and some had necklines plunging all the way to their stomachs.
The male guests' suits were equally elaborate, as though they were quietly competing to prove they were no worse than Bruce.
When Oswald appeared in the pavilion, the crowd fell silent for a moment.
He wore a bespoke suit with a small Iceberg Pin fastened to his lapel. His trousers were pressed into razor-sharp creases, and his shoes were polished enough to reflect the people around him.
His figure looked a little straighter, as though he had squeezed in a few extra workouts. Although shadowy dark circles still lingered beneath his eyes, his overall appearance better suited the head of the Cobblepot family.
He made a circuit of the venue, his gaze passing from one face to the next, but saw no sign of Ririko.
He took out his phone and called her number.
In the basement of Wayne Manor, Ririko stood at the edge of the Control Console, watching Bruce squeeze his pectorals, biceps, abs... into his black bat suit.
His upper body was still bare, and those solid muscles made the