Mr. Xiao's smile held the same silent calculation it always did when he spoke of matters that would later appear in official reports as simple administrative decisions.
He adjusted his posture, one hand resting lightly on the edge of the desk, and the motion seemed to settle the room into the shape of the conversation he had already decided to have.
"Quite simply, actually," he said. "I'm sure you've heard of the city of Argos Breach."
Timothy nodded, though the motion carried none of the interest the subject seemed to invite.
His arms remained folded, shoulders set in the particular line of someone who preferred to listen without appearing to. "The coastal crime capital of the west? It'd be hard to miss. Some of their activity used to reach this far before the chaos of the last few months began to pull everything inward."
