“As far as I can tell, you’re the one acting like a menace here,” Emily said. It wasn’t quite true, but she had Glamazon in a bind, and while Emily knew that pressing harder wasn’t the wisest thing to do, she couldn’t think of anything else. “So tell me about the Cabal.”

“I . . . I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Glamazon said.

Emily stepped forward, dropping Athena’s hand so she could stand right in front of the Hero. She was shorter than Glamazon. She didn’t feel it though. “Jezebelle. Tell me.”

The Hero cursed under her breath, but her shoulders deflated as she did. “Look, they said I had to keep things to myself.”

“If you don’t tell them that you told me, then it won’t be a problem,” Emily said.

“Why do you want to know?” Glamazon said.

“Because they’re Villains. Villains operating in my . . . in this city.”

Glamazon shook her head. “No, no, they’re not Villains. Silver Fox told me about them. They help Heroes for a small price.”

“And they help Villains, too,” Emily said. “They’re playing both sides.”

“I don’t believe you,” Glamazon said.

“That’s your problem,” Emily returned. She almost let out a very inappropriate laugh. It was such a dismissive thing to say. She should have been mortified—instead she felt a thrill run down her spine as Glamazon flinched.

“God, what is your problem?” Glamazon said.

“I’m beginning to tire of being messed with,” Emily said. “I’m thinking that maybe I should start doing something about it.” She licked her lips. “We can start by having you tell me what you know.”

“I don’t know much, all right,” Glamazon said. She crossed her arms and glanced around. “Just— They texted me. I asked Fox about it, and he said they were legit. They wanted me to do this sponsorship thing. The price was . . . I mean, not the best, but not bad either? And they told me where that luck guy would be today. And they were right.”

“You’d really go so far to protect someone who only gave you that much?” Emily said.

Glamazon huffed. “At least one of us understands the concept of loyalty.”

The Hero twitched, her breath coming in gasps, and her eyes widened to an almost comical size before they rolled up into the back of her head and she crumpled to the ground.

“What.”

“Ah, oops?” Athena said.

Action Reward!

For defeating a powered opponent by intimidating her into unconsciousness, you have been awarded:

+1 Skill Slot!

Emily blinked at the prompt, then waved it away before eyeing the still-breathing form of Glamazon on the ground before her. “Did . . . did you just knock her out?”

“Not my fault,” Athena said. “She’s all weak and stuff. Barely even pushed.”