Chapter 141: Rules

Liliana moved closer, her smile warm. She gently placed a hand on my shoulder, her touch light but intentional. "Welcome, Mr. Somnus," she said softly, "please sit so we can talk."

I took a seat across from her, feeling her eyes on me the entire time. She remained standing for a moment before gracefully sitting back down, never breaking eye contact.

"So, what's this club really about?" I asked.

Her smile didn't falter, but her response was measured. "Before I can explain the inner workings of the club, you'll need to officially join. That comes with a commitment—a $50,000 donation to the club every month."

"That's $600,000 a year. Isn't that a bit much?"

She tilted her head slightly, as if amused. "The benefits far outweigh the cost, I assure you. There's a multitude of services available to our members, not to mention the meetings themselves. They're enough to justify the sacrifice. Trust me, you'll come to see it as a small price."