"Very well," Gideon said, glancing out over the water again as the sides of his mouth quirked up in an aimless smirk. There was no particular cause for it except that he could sense very clearly that Chilton had broken out of his more neutral tone into one of less veiled discomfort, which amused Gideon on the faintest level.

Well, discomfort was an improper term. There was resolve there in Chilton's voice, but Gideon could sense apprehension about working together beneath it. It was only natural it would be there.

"Staying a step ahead of the competition shouldn't be too hard," he continued, as the boat docked. "Just requires a bit of vigilance."