Victor endured the final ceremony with a slight smile on his lips, quietly enjoying the expressions of helpless rage worn by the Templar representatives. Their rise to influence had been quick and efficient, even given the extreme circumstances. They'd been quicker than the authorities to deal with him at the end of the war, leaving him little time to react. Still, it was a shame that their prized experiment was unable to make the voyage. Victor was not the kind to hold grudges if they stood in the way of opportunity. Bloodlance was an important piece in the political game and Victor would have relished the opportunity to get his hand in that basket. Or even just to see the product of his own stolen research in action.<br/><br/>Quiet footsteps interrupted his musings, and something was pressed firmly into his hand. For a split second Victor was filled with alarm, but he slid the object up his sleeve without so much as a flinch; a muscle memory from a profession he'd long abandoned. He kept his eyes fixed on the ceremony, frowning as he observed the stranger out of the corner of his vision, while his questing fingers confirmed what he held; he would likely not have recognised the archaeologist if it hadn't been for his signature drab smile, and the identical smell from their previous encounter.<br/><br/>The pen meant an immediate reply was expected. Frowning deeply now, Victor checked to see that no one was looking. Most eyes were on the final moments of the ceremony, and nearby somebody had apparently tripped, which also drew a few gazes. Satisfied, he turned to face the balustrade as Barr was, unsure of the situation he was in.  Resting both arms on the smooth surface, he removed the pen from his sleeve and carefully unrolled the slip of paper...<br/><br/>Victor went rigid as he read the tiny words on the slip. His expression did not change, but his reply was long in the coming, and he used some of his influence to mask the proceedings, the paper seemingly appearing in Barr's hand with the twitch of a nearby shadow. A short exchange of the paper followed, interrupted only when an old sailor walked gruffly up to Barr and pinned him against the rail, demanding to see the paper. He could find nothing wrong with it however, it seemed, as he returned grumpily to his work shortly after. Victor did nothing, but he fixed the old man's appearance in his mind. Barr murmured something as he passed by, lighting a cigarette, though he received nothing but an unruly scowl from Victor in return, who continued to watch him and as he melded back into the crowd, eyes boring into the back of the small man's head.