[i][/i][i][/i][i][/i][h2][center][b][color=ed1c24]Novak[/color][/b][/center][/h2]
Novak hesitated at her request.  Normally he'd have no trouble sharing a bit, but there was one considerable complication here- the contents of his canteen weren't exactly  a local beverage.  If this intelligence officer recognized the taste of sake, she might be able to deduct that Novak had been in contact with Lady Mie's group.  He could fight, but he didn't like his chances of fighting four or five of the rat-folk at once, and the thought of being interrogated by the Office of Internal Peace didn't particularly appeal to him.

[color=ed1c24]"I'd recommend against a drink,"[/color] Novak replied after a pause, [color=ed1c24]"Your work sounds like it's of the utmost importance, and I would not like to be held responsible for dulling the senses of a Krysa intelligence officer on a mission."[/color]

She might not believe his flimsy excuse, but being stingy with one's alcohol was hardly an expected sign of being an enemy of the state, right?

[color=ed1c24]"Speaking of which, it is not my place to know the details of why your organization is hunting this person of interest,"[/color] he continued, changing the subject, [color=ed1c24]"But might you tell me what they look like, and just how dangerous they may be?  I'd appreciate knowing what sort of danger might be lurking about as I hike through the snowfield."[/color]

It'd be helpful to know who this woman was looking for, especially if it might be Haruno or one of the Oni.  Even if it wasn't, Novak wasn't lying when he asked to know about the dangers of the snowfield.

Up ahead, it looked like the Krysa soldiers were recovering their stolen stuff, which means that the Krysa procession would soon be resuming their patrol.  Novak dearly hoped that Ayumi was unharmed- he couldn't bear the throught of the fox being hurt because of him.