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After persistent silence, Ravi seemed to understand that Hector wasn't going to answer him and decided to change the subject. "Have you heard about the developments in Hoss?"

Hector shook his head.

"Apparently, Jercash has been causing the Vanguard no end of difficulty up there," said Ravi. "They've had to deploy three separate marshals in order to contain him, and even then, he's still proving problematic for them."

"...Is that the kind of intel that you should be sharing with me?" said Hector.

The man gave a dismissive shrug. "Why wouldn't it be? You're not with the Vanguard, are you?"

Hector breathed half a laugh. "So your superiors wouldn't be upset if they found out what you just said to me?"

Ravi's smile was a mischievous one. "Mm, that would depend on which superiors you're talking about, I imagine. Just don't mention it to anyone outside the Freeman Fellowship--unless you secretly hate me, which I sincerely hope is not the case."

"I won't," said Hector with another small laugh.

Ravi had a way of making people like him. That much was obvious by now--and not just because of his own interactions with him, either. Nearly everyone the guy spoke to seemed to be exceptionally courteous or otherwise pleased to see him. Doormen, waitresses, receptionists, janitors, cooks, staff members working for other politicians--it didn't seem to matter who they were or what they did. They all liked him. Hell, even when he and Hector ventured out onto the town for lunch, random passersby would stop and say hello with big smiles on their faces or little anecdotes to share about their lives, as if speaking to an old friend.

Of course, a lot of them also stopped to stare or greet Hector, wanting to get a picture with him, but that was beside the point.