“Ventress has been pushing people hard,” Belinda said. “We don’t know if she’s compromised any of the people I sourced our assets from. If she’s figured out the target, or even narrowed it down, she may have warned the potential targets. Even if she hasn’t, you know the kind of people we’ve been stealing from. They probably tagged their valuables themselves.”

Sophie shook her head.

“I hate this,” she said. “I’m amazed we haven’t been caught already.”

“Thank the Adventure Society,” Belinda said. “Because you aren’t even iron rank, they’re refusing to let anyone higher than iron go after you. So the only bronze-rankers you’ll have to deal with are any that decide to chase you in the moment. That’s why you don’t want to get caught swapping your aura mask.”

“And if a silver comes after me?”

“I can’t imagine a silver who would deign to bother with you. They don’t want to be seen doing iron-rank work. But that’s why the disguise isn’t magical; it’ll hold up under magical scrutiny. So will the fake aura, so long as you don’t use any mana.”

“Are you sure about those pills?” Sophie asked. “The guy sells low-quality potions to poor people in Old City. Every other alchemist I’ve heard of rakes in money from rich people on the Island.”

“He knows what he’s doing,” Belinda said. “And just as importantly, doesn’t know what we’re doing. He doesn’t ask questions, because he’s sweet on me.”

“How sweet will he be when Ventress sends Darnell to break his elbows?”

“She can’t,” Belinda said. “He’s in the Alchemy Association and the Adventure Society.”

“And you?”

“What about me?”

“Are you sweet on him, Lindy? Is your judgement compromised?”

“My judgement has gotten us this far,” Belinda said, “and I’m hardly the one with the questionable taste in men. Could you pick one guy who wasn’t a con man or some kind of swindler?”

“They’re more fun.”

“Three of your lovers tried to sell you to Cole Silva. That would inspire most people to examine their taste in men, but you pick up every lying, scheming weasel that stumbles into view.”

“Not every one,” Sophie said. “And they weren’t lovers; they were just a bit of fun. And things didn’t exactly work out for them, did they?”

“The point is that you need to raise your standards. We aren’t in a great place to be socialising right now, but if you are going to pick a guy, pick a good one.”

“Then find me a good guy who’s also a lying, scheming weasel.”

Belinda groaned.

“I don’t think there is anyone like that,” Belinda said. “He’d have to be a crazy person.”

She pulled out a pocket watch to check the time, then put on her game face.