Mr. 4,200 Pounds

"Are you saying you suspect another group has set its sights on Death's Key, just like us?" Seniors asked, looking at Scowl.

"Yes," Scowl replied. "I haven't told Huntley and the others about this suspicion. I suspect someone among them leaked the plan,

"which led to Maveti's death."

"How do you intend to prove your suspicion?" Seniors asked coolly.

"Simple." Scowl gave an icy smile. "Just go after 'Flame' again."

At those words, the pressure radiating from Seniors abruptly intensified. "You mean I should send another subordinate to their death?"

Scowl showed no fear. He smiled and said:

"I never said we had to send one of our own.

"Didn't John Smith's band of adventurers send Modo to join us under a false identity? All we have to do is 'accidentally' let this information slip to him, and make him think Maveti's death has scared us into holding off for now.

"Those greedy adventurers certainly won't let 'Flame' get away. They'll find an opportunity to strike. When that happens, whoever else is interested in 'Flame' won't just stand by and watch, either. They'll be drawn out, too. Once the three sides start fighting, we can swoop in and reap the rewards."

"What about the traitor?" Seniors continued. "How do we find the traitor?"

"For that, Beyonder methods would be more useful..." Scowl spoke slowly, his eyes half closed as he explained his plans.

Neph was straining her ears to listen to the conversation at the next table.

Keeping news secret at sea was unrealistic. At her request, "Hanged Man" Alger had found someone to collect the bounty on "Steel" Maveti on her behalf. She had generously paid Alger ten percent of the bounty as compensation.

News of Maveti's death had appeared in the local papers that very day, alongside speculation