"What stops me from handing you over to every guild that's going to hate this plan?" Leona asks, the smile still too easy for the threat. "A genius head is worth more than four Plates on the black market. A lot more."
Zhang Xi doesn't move, but her face hardens enough for me to notice. Leona stays relaxed, like she asked my opinion on the drink. That's the problem with people who are too strong. Past a certain point, they start treating danger like small talk.
I let the question breathe.
"Nothing stops you."
Leona raises an eyebrow.
"Nothing?"
"Nothing. You could sell my name to the Deepwarden, to Silver Flow, or to any guild bothered by clean air and new money. You could even sell my head, if you find a buyer willing to deal with the consequences." I set the Crest of Azurea to one side and touch one of the Plates with a finger. "But that profit happens once."
Her smile shrinks, just a little.
"Go on."
