Xen raised his arm just a bit over his head, HexTech balanced easily in his palm as the shorter girl made a few fruitless grabs for the little miniature-weapon. When she gave up and adopted her suitably sulky pose, he lowered the limb and crossed his arms, hip jutting to the side as he stared over the tops of the spectacles at her. The more she said, the more his customary playful smirk reappeared on his face, though this time with some genuine pleasure rather than just removed amusement; he followed her huffy little walk back to the counter, his own lanky legs using a slower but longer-strided pace to land him there at the same time. As she removed the core implants from her manhandled knapsack, he noted with no small relief that they were quite unharmed- he also noted the fat wad of currency that cushioned them, though its own worth was dwarfed by the worth of its charges.<br/><br/>Calmly, and with an expression that made it seem like he was laughing at some hidden joke, he waited only two beats before answering,<span style="color: #FFBF00"><span style="font-weight: bold">"Of course I do,"</span></span>in reference to the worth of the implants. There was another brief pause as he tilted his head, leaning forward with his elbows on the counter, the picture of lackadaisical nonchalance,<span style="color: #FFBF00"><span style="font-weight: bold">"And of course I can,"</span></span>this time referencing how much he could afford to offer.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FFBF00"><span style="font-weight: bold">"But I won't,"</span></span>he continued lazily, lifting his elbows but still standing with a definite "S" to his spine,<span style="color: #FFBF00"><span style="font-weight: bold">"because I don't have to."</span></span>He popped the HexTech into the small box with Mar's KACI-sensor and closed it, then turned his gaze back to the lively blue eyes of his would-be client, arms crossing loosely.<br/><br/>His own eyes narrowed momentarily, but his tone of voice was very honestly questioning; not intimidating, not threatening in the slightest.<span style="color: #FFBF00"><span style="font-weight: bold">"So, knowing that, let's say you leave. If you can avoid Mar, and any other officials who have potentially been alerted to this,"</span></span>he gestured to the cores, briefly,<span style="color: #FFBF00"><span style="font-weight: bold">"long enough to get to another techpawn who won't immediately alert the Enforcers over a fortune in the hands of a northerner, who is looking to sell it out of her backpack,"</span></span>he paused again, mostly for sarcastic effect,<span style="color: #FFBF00"><span style="font-weight: bold">"What do you suppose <span style="font-style: italic">they</span> would offer for the liability of taking on something that hot?"</span></span><br/><br/><span style="color: #FFBF00"><span style="font-weight: bold">"Beyond that,"</span></span>he continued without waiting for a response, the sarcasm dropping away to something that bordered on actual disbelief,<span style="color: #FFBF00"><span style="font-weight: bold">"what would you if I decided to just <span style="font-style: italic">take</span> them?"</span></span>He would hardly do something of that nature, of course; such things were for petty pawnsharks and two-bit con men, so far beneath his level they were not even in the same class. However, the principle of the thing was valid- any officials she decided to contact for his "theft" of her merchandise were probably connected to him in some way, and if they weren't, their bosses would be. Even if it turned to immediate violence, between Gil and the defenses rigged (provided they hadn't all shorted with the damn HexTech), he was more than prepared for a small army. One didn't become a criminal kingpin without certain cautionary measures, especially when one played both sides of the field.<br/><br/>He ran a hand through his bangs, then turned to her with a half-incredulous smile.<span style="color: #FFBF00"><span style="font-weight: bold">"What are your options?"</span></span>His tone and gaze indicated that he did expect a response to this one, and was very interested in hearing it.<span style="color: #FFBF00"><span style="font-weight: bold">"What's worth... all this?"</span></span>He gestured to the implants, himself, the store... he would have gestured to the entire situation, had it been a physical thing.