Liora's smirk disappeared as if snuffed out by an invisible hand. His fingers hovered over the envelope for a moment, the slightest tremor betraying the tension coiling within him. When he finally picked it up, his movements were deliberate, almost reverent, as though the envelope carried a weight far heavier than its physical form. His eyes flicked across the room, scanning the faces of the patrons with a focus that set Kael on edge.