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"Thank you for coming," said Mr. Vance as he turned around. He was a man of quite advanced years, and it showed. Gray hair, gray mustache, hunched posture, wrinkled features. His right hand gripped a cane, and he was missing an eye. Even in that sharp suit of his, he never really looked to be in the best of health. There was a reason that his enemies had taken to calling him the Shriveled Donkey.

Mr. Vance just seemed to find the name amusing, though.

Linus, not so much.

One of the Rainlords in front began speaking, a raven-haired man with steel gray eyes and harsh features. Linus hadn't yet learned all of their faces, but he was fairly certain this was Zeff Elroy, the one they called the Water Dragon of Sair.

"How's the battle going?" the man asked.

"There are good days and bad," said Mr. Vance, stepping slowly over to his desk. "Thankfully, we were able to push Abolish out of the city before the VMP's reinforcements arrived to assist them. We've managed to keep the fighting away from any civilians."

"If you're not asking us to head straight into combat, then you must feel that things are currently under control," said Elroy.

Mr. Vance gave a mild nod. "Yes. I was thinking of keeping you here as a secondary force, in case they breach the city. But if you would prefer to head to the front lines, that could be arranged, too."

"You are very accommodating," said Elroy.

"I understand that your situation is somewhat difficult at the moment," said Mr. Vance. "You would prefer not to make too large of a splash here in Vantalay, no? I don't mind thinking of you as an ace up my sleeve, if you'll pardon the gambling analogy."

Elroy made no response.

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It didn't escape Linus' notice, however, that that this Mevox was a slightly different color than most reapers. A bit darker, not quite so pale. Over his many years, Linus had seen several other reapers like that, ones with some kind of clear visual differentiation.

And they always meant trouble.

But not always the bad kind.

It was just so strange, because it highlighted the fact that, technically speaking, almost all reapers looked identical to one another. He'd heard as much from other servants, as well. No one ever had trouble telling them apart, but when it came to actually describing their visual features, it was a lost cause. Usually.

"I'd be lying if I said the money didn't matter," said Linus. He started walking again as the Rainlords finished filing into the hallway. "But Mr. Vance is an honorable man, doing important work here. This city would've been ransacked a hundred times over if not for him and his wealthy friends funding the RPMP."

'Vantalay also wouldn't be in the middle of a civil war if not for them, no?'

"Hmph. Sure. But it would still be at war with its neighbors. You're not about to tell me that you've decided to switch sides, have you?"

'Not at all. Just playing a bit of devil's advocate. It's a healthy exercise. Keeps us reapers sharp in our old age.'

Linus didn't press the issue further. They arrived at the end of the hall, and he knocked once on the door way.

"Enter," came Mr. Vance's voice from the other side.

Linus led everyone in. There weren't enough places for everyone to sit, but the enormous office had plenty of space.

Mr. Vance wasn't at his desk. Instead, the man was by the large windows on the far wall, overlooking the Ruby 88's square-shaped central plaza. The man had a good view of all thirty-four stories from here, and this was far from the first time that Linus had seen him standing there.

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He could see the confusion and curiosity on their faces. But no shock or horror.

Good. He hadn't made a mistake, then. Wouldn't have been very good if he scared them off before they could be of any help.

He did expect some questions, though. Having the same last name as one of the most dangerous lunatics in modern history tended to provoke them.

'Well, it's good to meet you, Linus. My name's Mevox. And this big fella here is my servant, Salvador Delaguna.'

No probing questions, huh? Well, it was probably just a matter of time. "Nice to meet you. All of you." He kept going down stairs.

'You wouldn't happen to be related to Max the Merciless, would ya?' said Mevox.

There it was. "Yeah," Linus said flatly. "He was my nephew."

'I see, I see,' said Mevox. 'And does that have anything to do with why you're no longer part of the Vanguard?'

"Sure does."

'Is this a sensitive subject? Would you rather not be asked about it?'

"You aren't the first to ask. Won't the be last, either. Fire away, if you're so curious."

'Sounds like you're very well-adjusted. But I don't wanna be nosy. Goes against my nature.'

Linus knew almost nothing about this Mevox, and yet somehow, he still knew that was a bold-faced lie. The snort from Salvador was a pretty affirmative clue, too.

'If I WERE to inquire further, though,' Mevox went on, 'I would probably want to know more about why you decided to work for this Vance fella. Guy like you? Can't just be about the payday, can it? Not that I'd think less of you, if it was.'

He exited the stairwell and entered a long corridor full of polished silver tiles and soft amber lighting. He stopped and turned to make sure that their guests were following.

To his eyes, the reapers were tall, gangly things--humanoid in shape but ethereally pale and far too slim. They had no mouths or noses, either, and their faces instead were full of extra eyes.