Ririko put her sunglasses back on, blocking Elizabeth's gaze as she appraised her like merchandise.
She straightened up and said calmly:
"I have two conditions. First, I want to join the Court of Owls. Second, I want 60% of the profits from any project I take part in."
This was her new plan. Rather than struggle to protect the Waynes' money and that dumb Penguin's power, she might as well be more ambitious and infiltrate the higher reaches of power directly.
She wanted a say in how power was wielded in this world. Then she wouldn't have to worry about when Wayne would be brought down or when that dumb Penguin would be driven out of office.
But... she would have to tread more carefully with this.
Elizabeth listened in silence, then explained as though speaking to an ambitious girl who knew little of the world:
"Though you do possess certain... abilities beyond those of ordinary people, that doesn't mean you can demand whatever you please.
60%? Do you know how many cities the Court of Owls' operations span, or how many supply chains they involve? You can't claim a figure like that just by opening your mouth."
The corners of Ririko's lips lifted slightly.
Of course she'd pulled that 60% out of thin air. That left room to negotiate.
She stepped forward and told the arrogant old woman:
"Then don't blame me when I carve your so-called Sparrow Court out of Gotham, Metropolis, Star City, Blüdhaven... one city at a time, inch by inch.
I'll infiltrate every family and peel them apart layer by layer... and the first thing I'll do is scrub the Crown name clean off Gotham."
Elizabeth looked at her, rapidly calculating the advantages, disadvantages, costs, and the credibility and danger of the person before her.