"I mean exactly what I said. I didn't hide my movements. Everyone on Montreal Mountain knew I was here. I wandered around for three days, and apart from you, no one came looking for me."
"With all the important people watching, what made you think it was your turn to step forward? No offense, but when you told me you were Pulle Hernandez, the first thing I did was ask who Olin Hernandez was."
Pulle Hernandez's face flushed, then went pale. "Are you done insulting me?"
"No. I've got worse things to say."
Annan took a deep breath. "Even the important people are quietly observing, but there you are, jumping up and down, dressed like a feather duster. Were you trying to stand out even more?"
Pulle Hernandez looked furious, but he had no answer.
"So there must be someone else behind you. I don't know who he is, but he pushed you forward in a hurry. I imagine he wanted to test my intentions."
Annan leaned forward, pressing him. "Tell me who he is."
At that, Pulle Hernandez calmed down instead.
Annan didn't interrupt. He let Pulle weigh the risks in silence, unconcerned that anything unexpected might happen.
Usually, this was when the mastermind would kill his pawn to silence him. But this was the Judgment Hall... Who would dare carry out an assassination here?
To put it bluntly, if Pulle Hernandez really was silenced, that would make things easier. It would narrow the culprit down to a small circle.
"Annan Reeves, I always thought you were the kind of Sorcerer who had looks but no brains, no Wisdom, and got by entirely on charm," Pulle Hernandez said slowly.
Annan swung his feet beneath the table.
"You actually are clever. Just not clever enough. So... I won't tell you."