While Annan played games with the Informant at the door, Black Widow spoke up. "I want to ask you something."
Wilson hurriedly replied, "Of course. Please go ahead."
"What kind of man would leave a beautiful woman who likes him alone all night?"
Wilson looked impressed. "He must be a leader with a clear sense of purpose, whose will nothing can shake!"
Annan returned in time to hear them and smiled.
If the Broken Mountains didn't still need him, Annan would have tried to recruit Wilson for Free City... Perhaps he could try after this was over?
Black Widow gave Annan a helpless look. "Darling, is it all taken care of?"
"If he doesn't want his superiors to know he messed up, he won't say a word."
"What if he's a loyal lapdog?"
"Loyal? Here?" Annan didn't believe it. He waved a hand and opened a portal. "All anyone here cares about is money, and loyalty to money isn't loyalty at all."
"I agree. Everyone here is a slave—a slave to money." Little Smo stepped through the portal.
Annan was surprised. "You found out that fast?"
"After you went to Golden City, Lord Olmedo summoned me. He said you'd be unable to resist helping the locals and told me to be ready."
"Heh. I only gave them a chance to see whether they'd take it."
Annan looked at Wilson. "And you clearly did."
Wilson was still excited when Annan rose from his seat. "Wilson will tell you the details. I'm going to the Mercenary Guild to find Illymoyas."
"Leave it to me."
"Black Widow..."
Annan was about to ask her to stay and protect Little Smo and the others, but she seemed to read his mind. "Are you planning to give the game away?"
"What?"
"Two of us came in.