She was certainly being agreeable, which hopefully meant she could get the maps to him sooner than later. Lifting his shoulders, he offered a more pronounced, although just as deliberate, smile. He'd made a similar gesture many times in front of the cameras, so his movements came across as smooth and natural. "Thank you for the offer."

When Anise asked about his job, Barnaby didn't hesitate in answering. "Before arriving here, I worked as a Hero," he explained. Even though it would likely sound outlandish to people who were unfamiliar with how society worked, he felt like he had more to lose by lying about who he was. "We protect the city from criminals, and our efforts are broadcast on live television for everyone to watch."

He studied Anise for a moment, gauging her reaction. "I don't suppose you've heard of Stern Bild before, have you?"