"While it's still a bit early to talk about this," he said, "I want to let you in on what I'm working on so you know I'm not just trying to fool you."
As he spoke, he pulled a thick stack of contracts from his briefcase.
"I imagine you've noticed," he said, taking a pair of silver-rimmed reading glasses from the inner pocket of his suit and putting them on, "that you've been a hot topic of discussion lately."
"Is that partly your doing?" Li Wei asked. "Otherwise, I'm just a high school student. I shouldn't be able to make such big waves."
"You're a sharp one, young man," John Mara said. "I had my people stir up the hype this time."
"Which side?" Li Wei couldn't help but ask. "Don't tell me it was the opposition?"
"Both sides, of course. That's the only way to maximize the conflict," John Mara said with a smile. "Now, if you would please sit down, let's discuss your contract in detail."
Li Wei glanced at Don Quixote, who was looking their way, a bit uneasily.
