[center][h3][color=#b3ccff]Esben Mathiassen[/color][/h3][/center]
[hr]

Esben sat as silently as Éliane while Kayliss reviewed their reports. It was only expected that she would receive comment long before he did; after all, Kayliss herself knew that she'd be stepping on toes that she probably shouldn't if she was to claim any greater authority over the pink-haired woman's actions, and keeping her somewhat mollified would help avoid any troubles in that regard. [i]He,[/i] meanwhile, was her actual direct subordinate. So he continued to remain silent as Éliane mused about how to spend the reward money, before the actual point that their boss was getting at came to the fore.

Éliane's reasoning went nearly unheard as he stared at Kayliss, his face as blank as the woman had taught him to make it years prior. He'd been expecting more of an argument to even get to the point of being allowed to argue to [i]remain,[/i] not getting there immediately. At least he'd prepared his own reasoning well ahead of time.

[color=#b3ccff]"My assignment was left very open ended, and I was given the freedom to pursue it as I saw fit,"[/color] he replied once he had a chance to cut in. [color=#b3ccff]"Running into the Kirins was a happy accident. Both [i]despite[/i] the entanglement with them and [i]because[/i] of it, you'll see that I got information that I wouldn't have easily accessed otherwise—information that I doubt Commander Laruelle would have [i]entirely[/i] picked up herself, given the differing goals and scopes of what we're doing."[/color]

He leaned back, crossing his arms as his shoulder blades hit the wall behind him. [color=#b3ccff]"On top of that, as you've just read, what we're doing now goes beyond a simple matter of intelligence, and as long as we're still involved, you'll have very good intelligence about just where Valheim is sending some of their own clandestine operatives and special forces. [i]Lastly..."[/i][/color]

He glanced once over at Éliane, wondering just what her reaction would be to his final argument, before turning promptly back to Kayliss. [color=#b3ccff]"If you try to order me back, I'll tell you [i]faen ta deg[/i] and resign."[/color]