Kaul Nikoyan coming to work for GSI could be the tipping point that influenced other Green Bones. What candidates like him lacked in institutional military experience, they more than made up for with sheer jade ability, and a surge of such recruits would boost GSI’s capabilities within a short time. The No Peak clan could not condemn or punish GSI or those who chose to take a job with the company, not if the Pillar’s own son had made the decision to join.
“I’m running an Espenian enterprise.” Sunto met Kaul’s gaze unflinchingly. “As far as I’m concerned, your son is an employee unless he decides to leave of his own free will.”
Kaul’s voice held no inflection. “I’m not sure you understand what you’re doing.”
Sunto did understand. All of GSI’s fortunes, his own personal reputation, and perhaps even the fate of the Truthbearing world rested on Operation Firebreak. Art Wyles was an insufferably smug oligarch, widely disliked, but he’d handed Sunto the biggest opportunity of his life and was vouching for him with the War Department, the Munitions Society, and all of Anorco’s shareholders, including, if rumors were to be believed, certain people in Port Massy whose disfavor Sunto did not want to court.
Sunto also knew that being an Espenian citizen and a former Navy Angel war veteran working for the ROE government afforded him a special protection. Kaul might still be reckless enough to try to assassinate him, but he couldn’t do so without risking extraordinary scrutiny and sanction, and even that would not bring down GSI. Wyles could hire someone else to run the company. All things considered, Sunto decided he would sooner take his chances against Kaul than disappoint his Espenian stakeholders, against whom he had no such advantages.
“I’d rather not be your enemy, Kaul,” he replied, remaining exactly where he was. “But I’m not afraid of you, either.”
The Pillar straightened. Sunto remembered the first time he’d met the man in the Seventh Discipline gym. He’d expected to end up in the hospital and been confused to find Kaul amiable, exuding casual arrogance and smiling more than Sunto would’ve expected from a man with such a reputation. There was none of that now. Sunto thought about the Corta pistol near his right hand.
“Maybe you’re right to feel as if you have nothing to fear,” Kaul said. “I can’t force a foreign company to do what I ask, and I know you’re not a man who’s easily cowed or killed. So in the short term, this decision may be good for you. But I won’t forget that you threw away our friendship and took my own son for your gain.” The jade energy coming off the Green Bone seemed too bright to be human, though he’d gone very still. “I promise you that sooner or later, I’ll answer that offense.”
“You should consider why your son would want to work for GSI instead of staying in your clan in the first place. The Green Bone clans are becoming obsolete. Even your own family can see it.” Sunto jerked his chin. “Now take your men and get off my property.”
For a frightening moment, the expression on Kaul’s face suggested he would resort to the blunt violence with which he’d arrived. Sunto reached in readiness for his own jade energy. Seconds passed, longer and infinitely more tense than the ones that used to stretch between them when they faced each other sparring on the lawn of the Kaul estate.
The fire in the Pillar’s eyes shrank behind black coals. “It’s obvious you’re not a father, Lieutenant.” Kaul turned toward the door. “Or you wouldn’t feel so invincible.”
Sunto followed at a wary distance and watched as the Pillar gathered his Green Bones with a gesture and walked back out through the broken security gate.
CHAPTER
35
Those with a Choice
As the wheels of the plane touched down on the tarmac at Janloon International Airport, Anden rubbed his eyes and peered groggily out the window at a wintry midafternoon sky. His mind was still on the other side of the Amaric Ocean. As one of the directors of the International Bioenergetic Medicine Certification Board, he flew to Espenia at least twice a year to inspect clinics for compliance with standards of practice, which meant he racked up even more air travel miles than the Weather Man. At least there was no smoking on the planes anymore, and Silver status on Kekon Air meant he made the trip in greater comfort than before.
The good news in Espenia was that the medical use of jade was steadily gaining acceptance, helped along by the efforts of WBH Focus and the Kekonese Association of Espenia. The bad news was that for every positive mention of Kekonese jade, there were spectacularly negative ones. Jon Remi, the Bad Keck of Resville, was still growing his power in that city, still eluding death at the hands of rivals and arrest by the police.