The man was silent as well, before bringing his fingers to his lips for a moment.

"Well..." he muttered.

"See, that's the thing." he said.

"Firstly, it has to be a female lantha, and a male draydin." he told her. "The female draydin body wouldn't be able to carry to term because of... well... obvious size differences in the long run." he went on.

"However, if the draydin drinks a special concoction of Gigantus Goldenrod syrup, river water filtered through a Thornbark Tree root, and a little bit of crushed Yondew Leaf powder, then they can grow larger in size, comparable to the average human male... well, at the time." he continued.

"My Aunt Liyani and her lover just wanted ONE night where they could be away from the war, and spend some intimate time together." he continued.

"And it really DID turn intimate, in every sense of the word." he muttered.

"Seems lantha and draydin DNA are juuuuust compatible enough for cross-breeding to work."

"Hmmmm." the man muttered.

"I KNOW I was told it." he said.

"Liyani mentioned it to me a number of times in the past." he went on.

"Hmmm, I know it started with a C... I think? Maybe?" he mumbled further.

"I just remember he was of the Verian house."

The lantha's eyes widened for a moment.

"....I..." he stammered.

"So THAT'S it." he said.

"THAT'S why you ring such an aura of familiarity in me." he commented. "Why you almost seem to radiate with some sort of... familial familiarity." he went on.

"We ARE family." he said.

"We're cousins!"

"What do you mean?" the lantha asked.

"Change anything? It's kind of a big deal for a lantha or draydin to meet ANY sort of family nowadays." he commented, before pausing a moment.

"Wait a second..." he said.

"You're getting into this underworld of shady dealings?" he asked her, gesturing to the stuff on the desk.

"Why?" he asked her.

"Are things really that bad for you to start THIS kind of life?"

"That's fair enough." he replied.

"And no, things aren't that bad for me." he told her. "In fact, one could say I'm making quite the decent living for myself, as I was able to readily give you that money earlier." he reasoned.

"No, no, this is just part of my war on humanity." he told her.

"Humans are filthy vile disgusting viruses on this planet, and they need to be exterminated." he said. "That being said, I am just one individual." he lamented.

"And outright attacks will draw attention. So I use this particular trade system to spread out various poisons and such in the form of their little pleasure substances." he continued.

"No kids, though. Children are innocent, and I WILL go after those that sell to children." he then growled, before clearing his throat slightly.

"But yeah, those are my reasons." he said.

"And I would strongly advise you to stay away from Stardust." he told her.

"She's the right-hand woman and moll of the 'kingpin' of this city. It's best not to embroil oneself so quickly in these affairs." he suggested.

He raised his eyebrow when she said that.

"Say what?" he asked.

"You need to speak with the kingpin?" he asked further.

"...why...?" he then asked her.

"The kingpin is... well, he's a pretty big deal. For a human, anyway." he told her. "He pretty much runs this city from the shadows." he went on.

"If you really need to see him, I'm the good books with Stardust." he then said further.

"I can get you to him." he continued.

"I'd need to know what your business with him is, though."

"......uh-huh." the lantha muttered.

"He is." he told her.

"So's Stardust." he said.

"But his goons and grunts aren't. Don't think they even know of mages and mana." he added with a shrug.

"How soon do you need to see him?" he asked her.

"Normally it takes... well, a miracle to get an audience with him." he continued. "But some sweet talk to SD, and we're in to see him."

He just sighed, and shook his head slightly.

"Sure." he told her.

He then took out his cell phone, and dialled a number, bringing the device to his ear. He waited for a few seconds, and then seemed to change his attitude on a dime.

"Heeeey sexy lady." he said.

"Listen, any way I can see the 'pin?" he asked.

"Got someone that he'd be very interested in."

"Awww..." the man pouted.

"And here I thought that my word was enough for you." he said.

"Aw well." he went on.

"Got a new 'chef' for him." he told her.

"One that can do what nobody else can do." he continued.

"...a draydin."

"....must be that time of month." he mumbled after he had hung up.

"Anyhoo." he said, looking at Aila.

"Tomorrow." he told her.

"It's gonna be at 11:30, and you're coming with me to the meeting place." he said.

"That's the only way you'll be getting to see the 'pin so quickly." he went on.

"That work?" he asked.