Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">“I’d be open to a truce. So long as you point those guns away from us.”</span>
The metal man looked from face to face, and after a minute, they visibly relaxed, if only slightly. At the very least, their weapons weren’t primed and ready anymore.
<span class="mu-r">“That</span> <span class="mu-s">sounds</span> <span class="mu-b">reasonable.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“If you know about us, and you don’t want the converter, then why are you even here?”</span>
You asked. Prowler looked like he was dying to know too.
<span class="mu-r">“I <span class="mu-i">was</span> sent down here to retrieve the converter, but I’m not convinced that it really matters</span> <span class="mu-s">anymore. There’s a decent chance that you, me, and those kids we’ve been sent to chase</span> <span class="mu-b">have been used as bait to pave the way for Gloria’s plans.”</span>
Anastasia frowned at him.
<span class="mu-g">“What plans?”</span>
A small panel popped out of the metal man’s shoulder, and everyone tensed for a brief moment, thinking that he was going to turn on you. But all that came out of it was a beam of light that projected a slightly blurry image onto the wall. It portrayed Gloria’s hotel, but one of the conference rooms on the upper floors was a complete wreck!
The windows were smashed, and you could see glimpses of fire and smoke wafting out from the opening.
<span class="mu-r">“This happened a little while ago, when the other members of the family were meeting for their summit. Someone fired a precise, highly potent</span> <span class="mu-s">explosive projectile into the window from an impossible angle, killing Rollo and putting Silas in critical condition. Gloria and Roberto were miraculously</span> <span class="mu-b">unharmed, though. Cassandra missed it because of her injuries, but I think that was by design.”</span>
Glass stared at the metal man in disbelief.
<span class="mu-g">“That’s insane. This happened right after we left?”</span>
Prowler’s eyes narrowed at the image.
<span class="mu-g">“You think that Roberto was in on it?”</span>
The armored giant shrugged his massive shoulders.
<span class="mu-r">“Dunno. But I’m willing to bet that someone’s been playing games from the start. Cassandra being out of commission just long enough to dodge the heat from that scuffle</span> <span class="mu-s">between Rollo, Silas and Roberto, and her being out of the room when the bomb hit. It’s too much of a coincidence.</span> <span class="mu-b">And then there’s that business with Degli being run out of town by Elsa Bloodstone and your crew.”</span>
He paused to stare directly at Ana in particular.
<span class="mu-r">“So, you tell me. Do you think that Gloria planned all this, and that this ‘converter’ isn’t even all that important?</span> <span class="mu-s">Are we playing into her hands right now? Is this thing you’re after worth struggling and dying for, when your boss is making</span> <span class="mu-b">power plays up on the surface? She might just be the Kingpin of Las Vegas when you get back.”</span>
(Cont.)
