"Why?"
"Why what, Ves?"
"Why bother with this charade of a partnership?"
"Do you think I'm insincere?"
"It's very hard for me to trust you. Spies like you tend to say one thing only to mean something else entirely."
Calabast nonchalantly shrugged. "Like I said. It benefits me more if I get to ride on your shuttle than to report you to the authorities. I don't want to blackmail you or exploit you, Ves. That's a short-sighted approach that will only lead to further animosity between us. You're small and weak right now, but how long will that last with the Metal Scroll at your disposal? Eventually, you'll grow up to become a formidable mech designer with a lot of sway who can easily turn the tables on me. Even if I'm careful and employed a lot of safeguards, it only takes one mistake for me to slip up."
"So you just expect me to smile and nod while you are butting into my business?"
