He looked up and stared at her, before tilting his head to the side. "I am doing more adventuring jobs in a month than most dragons do in years to try and support my research into new spells. I need every piece I can get into my claws for any kind of progress, so why would I be reducing the percentage of treasure I get for a barely noticeable reduction in the threat to my well being? I have already said, in a zone of truth that never activated or reacted to a lie, that I have never hired the fire giants for any kind of raiding job. Hiring is hiring, regardless of how one pays the end tab."<br/><br/>He turned and looked up at the impartial dragon that had cast the zone of truth spell, before continuing. "Did the spell ever react or indicate that I had lied, or even attempted to modify the truth?"<br/><br/>The older dragon shook his head, and then looked back up at the dragon in charge. "Since my last statement apparently wasn't enough, I will expand it. I have never hired the fire giants for any job, nor have I ever attempted to expand my hoard or sphere of influence by actions against any dragon inside the Sphere's of Io, or against any who swear alleigence, serve, or otherwise work for the betterment of dragons inside the Spheres."<br/><br/>He looked up at the same dragon as before, who stared at him in surprise as if they hadn't expected him to make such a board attempt at denying the charges, before murmuring softly to Mykell, informing her that the spell hadn't indicated that he was lying, nor that he was trying to get around it. He turned and looked back up at the multicolored dragoness, and then over at the gold dragoness, before asking with a slightly snide tone. "Is there anything else you would like to try to bring down what little is left of my reputation, or have you two done enough damage to it today?"