The Deputy City Lord did not know whether to praise Spencer or scold him. In the end, he said, "You know, Spencer, I've always thought highly of you..."
Spencer curled his lip inwardly. He had used that line to fool people himself, but he still put on a show of being moved.
"If you've made contact with them, tell them to come see me..."
Spencer feigned surprise. "You..."
"Shh... Don't tell anyone."
"I understand."
Spencer left the City Lord's Mansion wearing the stunned look of a man who had just learned a secret, then hurried to the Saltfish Gang to see Francois.
"What do you think?"
Francois did not know the Deputy City Lord well enough to tell whether he genuinely wanted to defect or was testing them.
Spencer warned him, "If you want to get yourself killed, leave me out of it. That old man is a politician through and through. He could smile to your face while selling you out."
Francois considered this. "He wouldn't have said all that to you for no reason..."
"He suspects us!" Spencer shrieked, forgetting himself.
"Very likely."
"We have to kill him!" Spencer paced the room. "Once he's dead, we'll be safe!"
"Or completely exposed."
The Saltfish Gang was far too conspicuous now. The nobles only had to glance toward the Outer City to notice it.
"Then what do we do? Where are your reinforcements?"
"I don't know."
"No. I can't keep working with you." Spencer was visibly shaken. Francois was not surprised. Greedy men were usually afraid of dying, especially when colluding with Free City carried a death sentence.
"You don't want the money anymore?"
"What good is earning money if I don't live to spend it?"
At that, Francois turned, took a letter he had prepared only yesterday from a