"What are you standing around for? Sit!"
Kinlock was left rather bewildered by Nie Yun's sudden warmth.
That was just polite talk. I said it, you heard it. Surely you didn't actually believe it?
Were all members of the Machine Race this naive?
Besides... he really wanted to tell him that he was already standing...
But considering the pirates' fearsome reputation, he wisely abandoned the idea of setting the record straight about his height.
Standing on tiptoe, Kinlock carefully settled his backside onto the chair, trembling as the pirate leaders scrutinized him.
"Lord Pirate King, why be so polite to him? This fellow is no better than Kloros, and he's of no use to us. I say we throw him into a star and burn him to ashes. I'm sure the Ryan Race warriors under your command would be delighted."
Flint grinned, his teeth gleaming menacingly.
Kinlock nearly fell off his chair in fright.
Flint, you bastard! We worked together before. Even if our friendship was fake, it was still something. How could you kick me while I'm down?
Nie Yun, however, gave Flint an appreciative look, thinking how deftly the fellow handled people.
Knowing perfectly well that Nie Yun must have an ulterior motive for treating Kinlock so politely, most likely to squeeze out whatever value he had left, Flint had obligingly stepped forward to play the bad cop.
He had also used the opportunity to distance himself from Kinlock and dispel Nie Yun's concerns...
What a talent!
If he could get Flint to serve him sincerely, his work with the Pirate Alliance would become much easier.
"Commander Flint's suggestion is a little extreme, but I do have to consider the feelings of the Ryan Race warriors under my command. After all, they bear quite a grudge against you..."