"You're in charge," Thorne acknowledged.
"What's your best guess on when we can resume operations? Are we talking days, weeks, months, or even years?"
"I'd say at least a few days, possibly weeks. Keep in mind, the guards aren't fond of this situation either. They'll be pushing against it, as will the uninvolved merchants. Plus, our contacts within the Palace will be working on it. I can't see it lasting more than a month."
"Do you think the restrictions will be lifted all at once or will they ease off gradually?"
"It could go either way, Viktor."
"Could we, perhaps, reopen one gaming establishment in a week?"
"It's possible they might turn a blind eye. But consider this: what happens when a customer runs out of money? We'd need a lender. And if he can't pay back the loan, he might resort to theft. We'd need a cleaner for that."
"We're currently without a cleaner anyway."
