Moments later, Malakai found himself inside a large office space. Shelves lined the walls, packed with neatly arranged documents.
At the center stood a grand desk, broad, polished, and flanked by two chairs: one for the master of the estate, the other for his guest.
Malakai sat on the latter while Mamush settled into his seat with the ease of a man entirely at home.
Mamush had ordered tea for both of them. The fragrant steam rose gently between them, warming the air as an almost comfortable silence filled the room.
"So, here we are, Ninth Vein," Mamush finally said. "I'll be happy to answer any questions you might have. I have nothing to hide."
'How should I go about this?'
'In my experience,' Valentine's voice echoed in his mind, 'the best way to handle men who lie for a living is to catch them off guard. So I guess… ambush him?'
'You mean your experience watching dramas?'
'Ahem… doesn't matter.'
