Chapter 19 #3
“So you are involved, then.” Garrett’s green eyes darkened. “The Federation will not stand for such treachery, Mr. Bai. You and your partner must cease providing guns to the rebels, immediately!”
Loku laughed. “You have no authority to forbid anything here, and I doubt you’ll want to bring it to the attention of the Imperial Palace,” he said. “Then you would have to admit to conducting a clandestine operation without the approval of the Garaian government.”
“We may not be able to do that now, but we will take action,” Director Chen said firmly. “Please, brother-in-law, look past your greed. Have you no honor?”
“Do not bring honor into this,” Loku growled.
“We may be family, but I do not owe allegiance to your boss here.” His eyes flashed, and he held Director Chen’s gaze for a long moment.
But when she did not back down, he reluctantly relaxed against the cushions again.
“Why should we lose out on all this profit? If Ma-San does not sell these guns, there are a dozen other arms dealers who will trade with anyone willing to pay the price. If it happens that the customers are Northian, well, that is your problem, not mine. It is up to your authorities to prevent their entrance and use in your Federation. Even if you did appeal directly to our new Mage-Emperor, it is unlikely he will be able to do anything about it. His plate will be very full as he assumes his new role.”
“This is all true,” Iannis said mildly, “but you are mistaken if you think this problem only affects the Federation.”
“And how is that, exactly?”
“The firearms are the least of the problem. Our sources tell us that the person manufacturing the guns is not simply selling arms. He is also producing and distributing dangerous diseases that the Resistance has developed as weapons specifically to kill mages. Mages like you and your family.”
“That’s preposterous!” Loku protested, his eyes going wide. “Ma-San holds no grudge against mages. Why would he do such a thing?”
“For the same reason that you are willing to sell arms to Federation rebels, I suppose,” Iannis said with a shrug.
“You don’t care for anything that does not directly affect you, and he likely takes the same shortsighted position when it comes to these diseases.
Or perhaps your partner secretly hates mages and plans to use these diseases to kill you and take over your fireworks business. ”
“That is ridiculous,” Loku said stiffly, but the fear and anger in his scent belied his words. “Ma-San may be greedy, but he is not a fool. He needs me.”
“Are you willing to risk your life on it?” I asked.
Loku scowled at me. “Of course not.” He stroked his moustache, thinking deeply.
Eventually, he let out a sigh, his scowl falling away.
“I cannot simply brush aside what you are saying—that would make me just as foolish as you are accusing Ma-San of being. I will investigate these claims of yours, and if it turns out that they are true, I will help you get rid of the threat.”
“Excellent,” Iannis said, smiling grimly.
“Remember, time is short. Once you find out that our information is accurate—and you will—we must discuss the best way to locate and destroy the local lab producing these substances. We do not want to endanger civilians if we can avoid it, or draw too much attention to either of us.”
“Of course,” Loku said smoothly, though I had a feeling he wouldn’t give a damn if innocent bystanders did come to harm.
“While we’re on the topic of investigation…” Henning said, speaking up for the first time. “Have you heard about a group of three Northian mages visiting this area about six weeks ago? We have not heard anything back from them.”
“This is a big port, there are always some foreigners visiting town,” Loku said carelessly. “All kinds of misadventures tend to befall foreign tourists. I don’t know anything of those men.”
“He’s telling the truth,” I told Iannis, who nodded almost imperceptibly.
“If you like, I can inquire with Ma-San’s wife about your missing friends when I visit her this evening,” Asu offered. She smiled at Henning, ignoring her husband’s disapproving frown. “I can see that you are very worried about them.”
“I am,” Henning said. “I would appreciate the help, ma’am.”
“My wife is very gracious,” Loku said, patting Asu’s hand and giving her a patronizing smile that she did not react to. “However, I do not think she will learn much, as the women in Ma-San’s house know nothing about his business. A man does not tell his secrets to his womenfolk, after all.”
Asu and Chen exchanged a look, and I restrained myself from rolling my eyes.
I had no doubt that Asu would have a lot to say about her husband’s own business practices in private, though of course she wouldn’t speak out against him while he was right there.
I was glad Iannis wasn’t such a sexist tyrant—we might have a vast power disparity between us, but at least he treated me with respect, and he valued my intelligence, ability, and opinions.
If this was Loku when he was well behaved, and with guests, how did he treat Asu behind closed doors?
She didn’t look like the type to talk about private affairs readily, but maybe we could persuade her to give up something we could leverage against Loku.
I hope she does tell us something useful, I thought. Because the way that Loku regarded us, as if we were fresh meat, told me that we were engaged in a game of cat-and-mouse that was far from over.