A fixer stood between the mercenary and the client.
The usual rule in the business was for the client to pay the fixer, who then paid the mercenary their share.
Clients rarely bypassed the fixer to pay mercenaries directly.
"You did good work. Here's a tip."
Boz shook Panam's hand, then gave Su Xiao a wary look. "We're out of here."
The Sixth Street Gang members piled into their vans and sped off as though fleeing the plague.
Only after they had driven a long way did someone in the van cautiously speak up.
"Boz, wasn't that the guy who hangs around with Jack?"
Boz snapped irritably, "Like I fucking need you to tell me. I figured that out ages ago."
"So we're just leaving?"
"What else? You want to challenge him to a Wild West showdown?" Boz said testily. "The Clementi Family going down wasn't bad for us. Quite the opposite. We took advantage of their destruction to grab a lot of their turf. From that perspective, he actually did us a huge favor."
He glanced at the others and continued, "I know what you're thinking, but don't go picking fights with enemies we shouldn't provoke. I've asked around about that guy. He's an honored guest of Rogue's, chatting and laughing with her like an old friend. And so far, he's completed every single job he's taken."
"He's never shown his strength in front of outsiders, but he's definitely no ordinary street punk. Since there's no conflict of interest between us, leave him alone. Understood?"
Faced with Boz's fierce demeanor, his men wilted. "U-understood."
After scolding his men, Boz sank into thought.
If that woman had made a connection with Su Xiao, it meant she had found herself a backer. She was no longer an outcast among the Nomads,