Eventually she'll hear the words "backstab" and "revenue" and "attention on shinier targets" come from a guy in a suit, all in one spurt of conversation.

Well. That could be any variety of rich-people-business-bullshit that he's talking about, there. Most of the people in this room are probably using those same words to talk about their - stock exchanges, or whatever it is rich people complain about. But she's here to investigate, and so she might as well investigate whatever he's talking about.

She sidles closer, admiring the artwork on the walls.

"There are always shinier targets," the woman that guy was talking to is sighing. "And they always get courted with shinier things! That isn't exceptional. There's no reason to think you're being slanted, unless you've been doing stupid things like sticking out your neck."

     "Easy for you to say. There aren't shinier targets than you. Think I haven't noticed your security manning the place?"

"I'm a reliable business partner, that's not the same as being a shiny target. If you're aiming to be a target, that would be the reason your financial relationships aren't improving around here."

     "Oh, it's easy to call yourself reliable when the only thing you bring to the table is manpower, as though you could ever run out of your thugs. Being involved on the production end requires a lot more nuance, and adaptability, and being reliable is only the tip of -"

"Choosing to only put manpower on my end of the bargain is the sort of decision that makes me such a reliable business partner! If you're so adaptable, Kito, then adapt, instead of whining to me about your paranoia." The woman sips her wine.

That's conspicuous. This might just be how all rich people talk about their shady mob-related rich person bullshit? But the Agency thought that this gala was linked to the sex trafficking ring, and that woman at least is linked to the gala, and so she's already found her first bugging target.

She wanders away a little, drifting through the flow of the crowd; it will draw attention to linger to long. (She's technically still lingering, just a little further away). And then if she meanders closer again on their other side, what are they talking about now?

They seem to be talking about various "targets." Apparently a rich widower is in attendance tonight, being courted by a mysterious "them" for apparently monetary reasons.

She'll wait for them to split off and then approach whoever ends up around fewer people to try to initiate conversation.