Silence.
"So, why did you bring me here?"
"Don't tell me it was just to get back at me..."
"Congratulations, you guessed it. It was just to get back at you, to mess with you, to toy with you thoroughly." Hearing Sparkle's words, Clara nodded and let out a soft, mischievous chuckle.
Sparkle: "..."
"So now that you've gotten your revenge, finished your teasing, and had your fun... can I leave?" Upon hearing Clara's words, Sparkle's mouth twitched. She had no real recourse but hoped to get away from Clara as soon as possible.
"No, you can't go." Under Sparkle's gaze, Clara heartlessly shook her head.
Sparkle: "..."
Seeing Sparkle's expression, Clara gave a light laugh. Then, placing a finger by her lips, she asked with feigned curiosity, "If I remember correctly, you still owe me seventy million, don't you?"
Hearing this, Sparkle forced a smile:
"What if I said no, that you remembered wrong? Would you believe me?"
"Of course I'd believe you~" Clara's reply took Sparkle by surprise, but the following sentence instantly made Sparkle realize she'd been overthinking things.
"Who in the entire universe doesn't know that Lady Sparkle of the Masked Fools is the most trustworthy, the least likely to tell lies and deceive people~"
"So, I naturally believe what you say, Lady Sparkle~"
Clara's entire playful, cheeky expression made it impossible for Sparkle to guess what was really going on in her mind...
"But then~"
"Lady Sparkle, the most trustworthy and truthful person in the universe, I wonder if you'd believe what little Clara here says?"
"For example..."
Clara pretended to think deeply for a moment, then, under Sparkle's watchful eye, spoke up:
"If I said Lady Sparkle owes me seventy million... would the most trustworthy, most truthful Lady Sparkle in the universe..."
"Believe it, or not believe it?"
Sparkle: "..."
"Of course I'd believe it~"
Listening to Clara's words, Sparkle knew that if she dared utter a single 'no,' she'd probably end up becoming a literal sparkler right then and there.
"Then pay up."
The moment she heard Sparkle's 'believe,' the smile vanished from Clara's face. Her expression turned utterly cold as she held out a hand towards Sparkle, signaling for the money.
"I..."
"I don't have the money..."
"No money?" Hearing this, Clara let out a cold snort.
"Weren't you quite the big spender when you got your fortune told before? How come you're broke now?"
"Don't tell me you..." Clara walked over to Sparkle's side, giving her a suspicious look.
"Don't tell me you were just messing with me?"
"No, no, I really don't have the money..."
"You can't expect a Masked Fool to make any serious money, right..."
Sparkle spread her hands, looking at Clara with a pitiful expression, as if trying to play on her sympathy.
"Hmm... that seems true."
Clara decided Sparkle made a fair point. Could a Masked Fool really make big money? Didn't Clara understand that herself?
Before latching onto Asta, her own little savings back then would have made even a dog shake its head in pity.
But thankfully, after attaching herself to Asta, those worries were a thing of the past~
And now... thinking of the balance in her account, Clara felt terrifyingly strong!
Besides...
Whether Sparkle could make big money had absolutely nothing to do with her.
"So, by that logic, you're not planning to pay back?" Clara crossed her arms and snorted coldly.
"I'll go earn money right now! The moment I get it, I'll transfer it to you!"
Seeing the smile on Clara's face, a shiver ran down Sparkle's spine. A strong sense of foreboding washed over her, and she hastily spoke up.
Having said that, Sparkle's form began to slowly fade, preparing to make a run for it, but Clara reached out and grabbed her, cutting off her escape route.
"You want to go earn money? Well, isn't that just perfect."
"I happen to have a major money-making project right here. If you're willing, once it's over, I can give you ten million credits as payment."
"Can I refuse?"
Without even needing to think, Sparkle knew that whatever Clara was proposing was definitely not going to be good news for her...
"Of course you can~" Hearing Sparkle's question, Clara agreed quite readily.
"After all, I'm not some devil, right?"
"So then~"
"I'll give you another choice..."
"Strip naked, and run around the surrounding area for..."
"Wait, wait, wait, I accept." Before Clara could even finish, Sparkle quickly agreed.
"Now that's more like it~" Hearing Sparkle's answer, Clara nodded in satisfaction.
"First you do this... then this... and finally this..."
...
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