Luckily, I have just the thing for Eva. (Item required)

You're talking about music, right? What a shame.

"That's right. You're not as quick as I'd expect a man of your means and resources to be, Player. Heh... If we had some, I'd at least give it a shot, but-"

I put on a smirk of my own, pulling a device out of my pocket I doubted Eva had seen before. It was an old-model portable cassette player, pink in color, with a pair of headphones attached. I relished the look in her eyes as understanding finally dawned on her...

As a matter of fact, Eva, I did come prepared. A man doesn't just come to an island, offer a woman an untold fortune to play along with his silly game, and forget one of the pieces! I'm confident that you'll be able to find your rhythm to the track I've loaded up here.

The mother sighed, growing red again as the realization of what she was being asked to do came closer and closer. "How high is your bar for this, exactly...? If you're expecting a professional performance, tell me now so I don't humiliate myself..."

I'm mostly grading on effort here. Show me a spirited performance, and maybe I can offer you some pointers to help you hone it in time for tonight, when it'll really count.

I saw Eva's brow tense as she accepted the device, putting the earphones in. "I'm not going to be able to use my hands like this..."

Just one, right? You don't need both hands for this. I did my best to reassure Eva, realizing I was snapping a bit as she was still dragging her feet so close to the start of the main event.

"Tch. Just keep in mind I'll need my hands for the real thing, all right? I'll basically only be doing half of it like this..." Finally, blessedly, Eva hit the "play" button on the music player, raising an eyebrow as she heard what I selected. "Ah... This type is popular with young people, isn't it? I told George he needs to have interest in this kind of music if he wants to fit in with kids his age, but how long ago was that, now...? Oh, that young man is almost grown, so quickly...!"

Speaking of young men who need to grow quickly (I didn't say), are you feeling it? Anything at all?

"Hm? Oh, yes. Moving to this is so easy, I imagine even Natsuhi could manage something. You just... swing your hips a bit like this to start, right? And move the knees a bit... Heh, I can see her falling down if she tried it, hehehe!" Eva seemed to be enjoying herself, if a bit mean-spiritedly, as she held the device in her hands while bending her knees and gyrating her hips.

Mmm... I was barely listening to her. Not that her commentary didn't add anything to the experience, but... Seeing Eva in her Ao Dai, which I always found to be a bit evocative while still appropriately conservative, turning and shaking her broad hips at me.. I wanted those baggy white pants out of the way so I could see her lovely bare legs...!

I told Eva it was looking pretty good already.

"I'm not even doing anything with the upper body like they showed in the class, though... You bunch the elbows at the chest, hold the forearm up, and..." she muttered to herself, clinching the motion by shaking her impressive chest between them. I watched the golden eagle pattern on the dark fabric shake as she leaned closer with frustrated look of concentration on her face, as she tried to match music that only she could hear. If she was throwing in a flirty wink instead, I thought it would be just about perfect.

I told Eva that was not bad at all.

"It needs to be better than 'not bad,' though, right? To make Battler say something as ridiculous as that... S-say, now that I think of it, you said you'd have a music player ready, right? Do you have anything else ready? Like... a costume?"

I don't think you need to worry about that. Let me just say I'm sure I'll stir the young man's imagination. It'll be up to you to secure the kill. Think about it, Eva... A woman like you, one of his aunts, forcing him to yield to his lust and say what you want... All so you can secure that entire fortune, all for you and your family... Exciting, isn't it? Almost like being a real witch.

Eva actually giggled at this, turning to brace herself against a nearby tree and rotate her hips with jerking motions. I saw her wink back at me, then run one hand across the back of her dress (the one that wasn't holding the device against the tree). I couldn't help but imagine the curve of a bare hip as I saw the move, and I could tell she was watching me watch, in spite of my mask. Her gloved hand slapped her own ass, lightly and playfully. She tittered once more, then glanced around, as if to confirm once more that this wasn't a prank and that no one else was watching. "Oh yes, Mr. Player. I'm getting excited, now... After all, I've already got you eating out of my hand, don't I? How could Rudolf's kid stand a chance? Hehehaha...!" She paused, facing the tree and speaking in a strange voice. "That idiot of yours is going to give me everything I've been owed, Rudolf! Krauss, Rudolf, Rosa... Aren't you sad you didn't get this kind of opportunity? Shouldn't you juuust..."

She glanced back with her eyes sparkling, remembered I was there, and wrapped it up. "Ahem... Don't worry about any of that. Suffice to say, I think you made a good choice for the vessel for your witch, whatever that's supposed to mean. Get what you have to ready... I'm going to practice a bit longer and see how to perfect this."

Sounds like a plan... I'll go get things ready. When you're prepared, head to the VIP room. I'll make sure it's unlocked and ready for you. Try to be there around 9, and don't wear yourself out.

"Oh, don't worry about that, Player. In spite of the traveling, I'm feeling more energetic than I have in a good, long while! Being a witch might not be so bad, after all." Eva cackled as she grabbed the gun and swaggered away with a confident new shake in her hips. "Oh, and, obviously, if you tell anybody about this, I'll make things bad for you. Okay? See you later, Masked Man! Bring your money with you!"

That was fun to watch, but I hoped she would adjust herself back to her ordinary energy level so nobody asked questions before the time came. For now, I had a lot of work to do. I had resources, but I was only human... I'd definitely be ready to rest a while when I finished.