"You did not answer my question," Skullic noted.
"I had intended to do them alone, for the most part," Oliver agreed, with a slight bit of hesitation. "Though, there seems to be a good opportunity in them for training my retainers when they are ready."
"Wrong," Skullic said firmly, shaking his head. It was certainly a little surprising for Oliver to be so firmly refuted on a point that he was sure was quite well worked out.
"How do you mean?"
"You correctly interpreted these missions as opportunities. Indeed, they are, once you ignore the fact that you could die on any one of them. But you've misinterpreted what kind of opportunities that they provide," Skullic said, just as Mary arrived back with a tray full of tea. Oliver noticed that she'd made a third cup for herself as she set the tray down on Skullic's desk. Skullic made no comment on it.
