"I've been told your feelings are pretty reliable."

"You haven't seen the half of it yet."

"I'll look forward to it."

Right after she sees them into port.

Val's ready to disembark as soon as she is. 

Then they can go exploring beautiful, squalid, expansive, cramped Ketterdam. And visit a brothel!

Luckily the gondels can take them all the way - it turns out fastest to head down East Stave, then cut across one of the side canals crossing the main body of the Barrel. The Crow Club is right where a major artery connects the two Staves, actually - a good balance for a blended brothel and gambling hall.

There's a nervous energy in the guards (most of them posted discretely, but not discreetly enough to avoid Val's gaze) who stand in black livery around the enormous entrance. The giant oxidized silver crows and black and red color scheme of the building aren't exactly subtle. 

"In through the front?" Val asks, gaze sweeping over the building and picking out the many potential bolt holes and quick escapes.

"I always take the bold approach."

"After you - I'll watch your back."

Always a great feeling having a pretty girl watch your back.

So is this place open for business?

Seems to be! It's not quite crowded - 'just before midday' isn't a popular time for gambling - and there's more watchful eyes about than there perhaps should be. But there's still people about, some at the bar even at this time of day, some at the tables, some heading deeper into the building. 

Hm hm hm. If she were Kaz, where would she be...? Nah, tracking like that's Val's job. Sturmhund will grab a drink and make some friends with the staff.

She has a sneaking suspicion that just asking for Kaz won't work, not with things as tense as they are. But, with Sturmhund drawing attention by being her charming self...

Well. It's easy enough for Val to slip away, to listen, to avoid any gazes (to worry that Inej hasn't already caught her at this) - to go find Kaz herself, or at least the next clue to where she's gone. 

Upstairs, past the private rooms with their closed doors, tucked away in a back corner, there's an office. Door's closed, but someone's inside.

...Chances Kaz tries to shoot her if she opens that door suddenly? Probably pretty high. Chances people could overhear her announce herself? ...Annoyingly high, especially if she announces anything loud enough to be clearly heard through that door. Also it's technically possible that isn't Kaz.

She'll... Lightly knock? 

After a brief delay, the door opens.

"What-"

"-the hell are you doing here?"

" - Can I come in?"

"Fuck it, sure." She lets Val enter her office, taking her seat at the desk again.

She closes the door behind her, tilts her head to make sure she doesn't hear anyone close enough to listen in - 

"So... You didn't spot me on White Island."

"I was a little busy on White Island."

"Definitely beat me out."

"And, speaking of..." Shrug. "What's your price this time?"

"The contract price or what you'll give me to flip?"

"Flip. Or at least find a solution my boss won't make too many frowny faces about - for that, I'd take 'things don't get worse for us, and I can brightly say I tried.'"

She sighs heavily and runs a gloved hand through her hair. "I need your help tracking two of my people down. As for 'things don't get worse'- Bol-Yatur is dead. The Fjerdans killed him trying to take him in and I don't think anybody but us and the Fjerdans know. Maybe the Shu. His daughter's alive but won't or can't replicate his work."