Aziz waggled a blistered finger at the wage mage. "That’s going to be my secret, for now." he said smugly. "If Mitsuhama wants the answer, they’ll have to pay for it." He held up a hand to still Belanger’s protest. "Not a lot of money, mind you. I’m not greedy. Just enough to put me back in business again, say, three hundred thousand nuyen or so. I’d like a new shop, one with a private thaumaturgical lab in back. I’m sure Mitsuhama can spare the nuyen. The corporation can draft a contract to bring me temporarily on board as a private thaumaturgical consultant, and make it all nice and legal. Just be sure to tell your bosses not to send their goons after me in the meantime. I’ll be more willing to cooperate without their ‘persuasion.’ "