Was there any degree of possibility that Callaghan was speaking from the kindness of his heart, given the clear restrained fury he was radiating and the obviously biased warning he'd tried to give Anton? Anton thought not much of one. The comment about Callaghan's own work was interesting--obviously they were in the same field, though if Callaghan was an engineer and Krei a businessman that didn't mean there was an equality in their skills.

It just depended what sort of businessman Krei was. And why Callaghan would want to hold a debt over his head.

"I accept work in exchange for room and board if you've no juulan," Anton said patiently to Krei. "Though if you would like to exchange any of your foreigner currency, I can do so here at the Hotel." It was a minor loss, except for whatever bullion the coin offered--but that could be quite lucrative on its own. "In the meantime, what practical skills can you offer?"