Light returned to Ririko's vision, and she found herself sitting in a magnificent room.
The crystal chandelier overhead was bigger than she was, and the oil paintings on the walls looked far more expensive than the ones in the Iceberg Lounge's lobby...
The carpet was so thick that her toes sank half an inch into it when she stepped on it barefoot, as though she were stepping on a freshly killed animal that still retained its body heat.
Sofia sat on the sofa opposite her.
She was still wearing her black mourning clothes, but she had undone her scarf, exposing her collarbones and slender neck.
She tilted her head as she watched Ririko, the corners of her lips lifting slightly, as though admiring a work of art she had paid a fortune for and found well worth the price.
Ririko glanced at the system panel.
[Current infatuation value: 10/100]
She was a little angry with Sofia for treating her this way.
"You promised to give me a million and get me into Gotham University... You're not backing out, are you?"
She stood her ground. This was the payment she deserved for risking her life to rescue Sofia-and dying once in the process. She couldn't give an inch.
Sofia listened without responding, though the smile remained on her face.
Ririko lifted her delicate chin. "As for the payment, if you really can't come up with that much all at once, you can pay in installments. But I'll charge interest."
"I'm fulfilling my promise right now..." Sofia said. "Your identity is now a distant relative of the Falcone Family. As for the person who's already been buried, I've covered that up for you with a false name."
She paused, her gaze settling on Ririko's face, its cheeks flushed with frostbite.