Get me into Gotham University

Sofia's eyes, framed by clown makeup, flew wide open.

"Who are you, really?" she asked.

Ririko tossed her long hair.

"Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is that I can get you out."

Sofia stared at her, her gaze sweeping over her pretty face.

"My family has plenty of money, but I want to know why you're helping me."

Ririko said quietly, "Jerome has you under the lightest guard. You weren't his target."

Judging by her experience as an NPC, Jerome's real target was Bruce. After all, sparks flew every time they met; neither could stand the other.

As for Sofia... he loved making Oswald angry, and kidnapping someone from the Falcone family could get the bird man into trouble, so he had grabbed her as an afterthought.

"I'll find a way to let you go, but afterward, you'll give me a million. And," Ririko said, folding her arms, "get me into Gotham University."

Sofia hadn't expected her demands to be so straightforward.

"As long as I can leave this place, none of that is a problem."

"It's a deal."

Ririko held out her hand, her little finger slightly raised, like a child making a bet with a friend on the street.

Sofia looked at that little finger, hesitated for half a second, then hooked hers around it.

"Bruce is your real objective, isn't he?" Sofia said. "Do you like him?"

Ririko reached out and gently tipped her chin up, lifting her face, which was covered in white greasepaint and red blush.

"I like money," Ririko said with a smile.

Sofia gritted her teeth.

The Falcone family had plenty of money too. Why did Ririko only have eyes for Bruce Wayne?

Why was that boy worth all this scheming from this woman-and even Jerome?

Why did she, Sofia Falcone, only get brought here as an "extra" bargaining chip?

Was it because she was a woman? Because she wasn't the Falcone family's primary heir?

She suppressed her resentment.

[Infatuation Value +3, current Infatuation Value: 8/100]

Ririko narrowed her eyes, released Sofia's chin, and stepped back.

She knew Sofia's temper. The more dismissively she treated her, the tougher Sofia became, and the more she would want to prove her importance to Ririko in the future.

But that was for later.

She pulled open the bathroom door, switching her expression back to that irritating "scolding mode."

"Clean the floor, or you won't be sleeping tonight."

She turned at the bathroom doorway to look at the two Clown Army members standing on either side of the doorframe. Her gaze lingered on their feet for a second.

"Why are you wearing shoes in my room?"

Both Clown Army members looked down at their boots, caked with dust and mud, and their expressions froze.

"If you dare do that again, I'll have Jerome cut off your toes."

The two Clown Army members hastily backed out of the room. Neither wanted Jerome cutting anything off their bodies.

They both agreed on one thing: even the boss listened to this woman now, so they had better not cross her.

At the end of the first-floor corridor inside the Castle was a Recreation Room, where the amusement park had once entertained guests.

Inside stood a bulky old television with a curved screen and haphazardly connected wires.

After dinner, Ririko sat on the sofa in the Recreation Room with her legs tucked beneath her.

She wasn't interested in watching dated TV shows, but to give Jerome something to do and keep him from constantly thinking about playing games, she had no choice but to make him watch television with her to pass the time.

Jerome sat at the other end of the sofa, with at least enough room for two people between them.

He hugged a pink cushion with an ugly rabbit embroidered in the middle.

Bruce wore the black maid dress with lace trim and held a broom that had lost half its bristles, diligently sweeping the floor in front of them.

Jerome grabbed a handful of peanuts from a paper bag, cracked one open, tossed the nuts into his mouth, and casually dropped the shell on the floor.

Bruce walked over and swept the shell into a dustpan with the half-bald broom.

He had just turned away when another peanut shell landed on the floor.

Bruce turned back and swept it up.

Another peanut shell...

Every time, Jerome threw the shells into different parts of the room with perfect precision, making Bruce sweep back and forth without ever finishing.

After sweeping up the sixth shell, Bruce straightened and glared at Jerome.

Jerome held another peanut between his fingers, cracked it open with a pop, and flashed a smug grin.

He raised his hand as though shooting a basketball, and the shell traced an arc through the air-

Bruce raised his broom and, with textbook tennis form, smacked the shell back at Jerome, fast, hard, and dead on.

"You!" Jerome scattered the peanuts and flung aside the cushion, about to explode-

"The noise you're making with those peanuts is disturbing my TV time," Ririko said, turning her head.

Jerome could only pull the pink cushion back into his arms and set the paper bag aside, looking deeply aggrieved.

The news came on.

A female anchor in a dark suit sat in the studio:

"Bruce Wayne, heir to Wayne Enterprises, has been missing for more than seventy-two hours, and internal discussions about the succession have reached a fever pitch...

"Sources reveal that some shareholders believe the succession process should be initiated as soon as possible to ensure the company's operations remain unaffected."

Bruce stood in a corner of the Recreation Room, looking down at his broom as he listened to the news.

"Rumors suggest that Bruce Wayne has been abducted by criminals, but with no news of his whereabouts, doubts have been raised about his chances of survival."

Jerome snickered.

"Listen to that," Jerome said, never missing a chance to kick Bruce while he was down, despite being the one responsible. "Out of sight, out of favor. You're not even gone yet, and they've already written you off."

Bruce said nothing, but his jaw tightened.

The picture changed.

A middle-aged man in a dark blue suit stood before a row of microphones, with the lobby of the Wayne Enterprises building behind him.

A caption appeared at the bottom of the screen: William Earle, Deputy CEO of Wayne Enterprises.

"Wayne Enterprises will not be stopped by criminal forces."

William Earle's voice was steady and forceful, every word carefully rehearsed.

"The company has already begun actively working to select a successor. We are confident that, whatever happens, Wayne Enterprises will continue contributing to Gotham City's economic and social stability."

A reporter asked, "Mr. Earle, are you confident that you will become the company's successor?"

The corner of William Earle's mouth twitched as he did his best to arrange his facial muscles into an expression of "sincerity" and "humility."

"I will respect the outcome of the company's internal deliberations."

Ririko's gaze shifted from the television screen to Bruce's face.

Judging by his calm expression, he wasn't surprised by William's blatant ambition to claim the position of successor.

The picture changed again.

A man with graying hair sat on a sofa, his back still straight, with a wall of shelves filled with medical books behind him.

Thomas Wayne was giving a media interview in his study.

"My wife and I will keep searching for Bruce, no matter what."

Thomas's voice was hoarse and exhausted. "The company's succession isn't something I'm considering right now. Bruce is my son first and foremost. I'm looking for him as his father."

He looked into the camera, his deep-set eyes revealing an astonishing strength of will.

"Bruce... if you're watching this interview right now, you have to hold on. Your mother and I will find you, no matter what. We will never give up."

Jerome switched off the television.

"Tsk, tsk. A loving father and his devoted son. I'm so moved I could die."

He let out a sinister laugh, like a blade repeatedly trampling and tearing through Bruce's thoughts.

"Who would've thought... Daddy's good little boy... is here cleaning in a dress..."