[center][h1][color=ed1c24]SCARLET SHADOW
红色阴影[/color][/h1][/center]

[i]Cursed dragon indeed.[/i] 

The thief helped herself to another rice ball as her fence talked on. Shen’s food always hit the spot and his tea was a delight. She worked the chewy sweet in her mouth pondering the jade dragon. It had been one of her easier jobs in recent, nabbing it from the showroom of a suspected triad in Chinatown. A very wealthy man with top tier security systems and armed guards. Even so, a master thief like Scarlet Shadow had little issue stealthily circumventing the estate and avoiding the guards to swipe the prize and be out without so much as stirring a mouse.

She was glad to have some good news during her visit to Shen and was further pleased to see that her little bout of impatience hadn’t soured his mood. Besides, thinking of the payout from that dragon statue was a salve in its own that lightened her mood. 

When Shen mentioned “Hunters” Scarlet Shadow tensed a bit, drawing up her toes in her boots and and feeling her hairs prickle slightly. She knew little of them but had heard whispers due to years of skulking the underworld as a thief and mistress of intrigue. As Shen said - “a dishonorable miserable lot”. Still even with what he said being true the thief could take care of herself and she knew that Shen could watch his own back. Besides, she wanted that diadem paid for and gone the sooner the better. Of course there was this whole business with her mysterious “host” that had tipped her to the diadem to begin with, he and his shadowy organization. She really didn’t like the idea of having two unknown factors with her in their lenses. 

Of course if the diadem was handed to the Hunters - the exchange quick and easy - and the money moved without a hitch she could be done with them and just keep her “fourth eye” extra vigilant for a while. But then there was the problem of them dishonoring the dealing and simply taking the diadem. Or trying to. There was too much grit in trying to deal with such an ill-reputed lot.

With a heavy sigh the thief stood, took her tea cup and suckled it down to the last drop, and looked to Shen ,”Hang on to the diadem for now. I’ll… think it over. But expect a ‘no’ just a heads up. And keep me updated on that dragon statue.”

“Thanks for the time and treats, Shen.” 
She sat the teacup down gently and skipped her cowl back over her face, leaving only her eyes to be seen once again as she turned her back to Shen.