"Alright, then follow me," Tony said. "I'll show you around the lab and explain the work you'll be doing. While the hours won't be longer than what you had at the Elite Hotel, there will still be plenty for you to do."
Tony didn't seem to mind that Lalatina had just arrived.
"Then Sara and I will head back," Sonia replied. "Afterward, could you ask J.A.R.V.I.S. to take Lalatina to my place?"
"Of course, it's a simple task," Tony assured her.
"Alright, see you later tonight, Lalatina," Sara said, waving goodbye as she left with Sonia.
"It's great that Lalatina will be staying on the island," Sara remarked as they walked away. "Mr. Stark can be a bit self-centered, but once he says something, he follows through."
"You'll be able to get Kassadin's approval, and not only will you stay here, but you'll gain even greater power," Sonia added, encouragingly.
"I want that, but I'm unsure if I can pass the tests," Sara admitted. "Plus, I've yet to meet Lord Kassadin. All I know are the rumors I've heard from others."
Sara felt a longing to settle on the Void Island, enjoying the job of a recorder while earning good money. Yet, she remained uncertain, especially after hearing stories of others who had desired to join the Void Church but left after failing to gain approval.
A year seems long, but when you're working daily, it can feel quite short.
"I can't guarantee anything, but I can assure you," Sonia said, "that Lord Kassadin is keeping an eye on everything on the island, including you."
"Lord Kassadin said that?" Sara asked, surprised. "I thought it was just you checking in on me."
"If it were just a coincidence, that would be too coincidental," Sonia replied, smiling. "So don't lose hope; just do your job well. Even if you don't pass, you'll still have had an experience worth a hundred and twenty thousand credits."
"Yeah," Sara nodded, feeling comforted by Sonia's words.
Once Sonia dropped Sara off at the Record Temple, she quickly made her way to the mountain villa. She had a very important task to complete: testing whether Kassadin had any issues with his sexual orientation.
If there were problems, then her hopes would be dashed. If not, she might have future opportunities.
At the mountain villa, Harvey noticed Sonia's return and casually asked, "Have you settled in the beautiful woman Mr. Stark brought back from the Elite Hotel?"
"Yes, her name is Lalatina. After work, she'll be staying with Sara; they'll be good company for each other," Sonia said, her eyes flashing slightly at Kassadin's mention of Lalatina.
If Kassadin referred to her as a beautiful woman, then surely his aesthetic judgment was in order.
"After walking around, I'm a bit sweaty. I'm going to take a shower, and I'll prepare dinner for you soon," Sonia said, glancing at Kassadin.
"Go ahead," Harvey replied, not thinking much of her need for a shower, as it was normal for women to value cleanliness.
Sonia noticed that Kassadin hadn't looked at her at all and felt a little disappointed. But she couldn't determine anything yet. She decided to change into something more alluring to test the waters.
With her mind made up, Sonia headed back to her room.
As Harvey played a game, he thought about Sonia's fitness—did she really sweat from just a short walk on the island?
"Sonia…" he called out, turning to ask her about it.
"What is it, Lord Kassadin?" Sonia appeared in an instant at Harvey's side.
Harvey was momentarily stunned by the sight of her in a bathrobe, her flawless skin partially exposed, and his gaze flickered.
A normal man can't see a stunning woman in front of him like that without any thoughts crossing his mind. However, he quickly reminded himself that Sonia's openness suggested she completely trusted him and knew he wouldn't think that way.
If he lost control and acted on any impulses, it would tarnish his reputation completely.
"Nothing much, just hurry up and shower; I'm thirsty," Harvey said, suppressing his feelings and maintaining a calm tone.
As Harvey turned back to the screen, he heard Sonia respond, "...Okay, give me ten minutes."
Seeing that Kassadin had only glanced at her face before resuming his conversation without any change in demeanor left Sonia feeling slightly disappointed, but she took his response seriously.
Sonia left, and Harvey let out a sigh of relief.
If it weren't for the Void's power cloaking his appearance, he might have inadvertently exposed his thoughts earlier.
Yet having Sonia casually walking around without defenses in front of him wasn't a sustainable situation. He felt it necessary to find the right moment to address this with her.
He also thought about how to find a way to release some of his desires. He feared he might one day lose control if he didn't.
Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Sonia examined her long, delicate legs and fair skin in the reflection of the bathtub water.
"Is it possible that Lord Kassadin has a problem with his orientation?"