The leader of the Ironhook Gang did not get angry at Renato's rather confrontational words.
The smile on Pye's face did not even fade. He set the second polished crystal glass on the bar, then took a dark glass bottle from the cabinet below. It bore no label, only a wax-sealed cork.
He pulled out the cork and poured himself a glass first. Pale amber liquor slid slowly down the inside of the glass, and he asked unhurriedly:
"You're a noble from the New Continent? Newly arrived in the Sea of a Thousand Islands?"
"Why ask when you already know?"
He had made no particular effort to conceal his identity aboard the Hispaniola. Since Pye could learn about the rumored slaughter of the Sahuagin from those White Harbor sailors, there was no way he did not know Renato's background.
Pye chuckled softly. A ring on his finger suddenly flashed, and a blue-white ray struck the crystal glass, freezing the amber liquor into a single solid block.
He tipped the entire block of ice into his mouth. The crunching that followed set teeth on edge.
After swallowing the crushed ice, the gang boss noted that the warrior before him had shown no change in expression at his actions. He raised an eyebrow, as though confirming something, and continued:
"In that case, why don't we get to know each other first? Let me, as a local, introduce you to the island's customs before we discuss working together. How does that sound?"
"Otherwise, you won't know how 'dangerous' the target is, and you might think I'm setting you up. You could end up holding a grudge against the Ironhook Gang, leaving us with another enemy for no good reason. And I don't know what you're capable of either. If the target survives and