Eiji casually put his hands in his pockets and took a step back, his red gaze steady and probing. Spoken with the air of an impending correction, he began,"Actually..."

This part Mallory was sure not to like. Tough beans. "I'll be starting as your... 'partner.'" You could practically hear the quotations around the word. Partner in name perhaps, but his mere presence was there to survey the older man's performance. Not to mention, if Eiji had it his way, he wasn't content on staying equals. If there was a chance for him to make a grab for a higher position, he was doing it.