[ Jade and Skulduggery are carefully diffusing the situation, and doing a fine job of it so far. Which means Max can focus on the minutiae, especially her last mention of "I bet he'd be willing to part with more to keep it intact than he would..."

Well now. That's an interesting revelation.]

Since we're all calmly discussing our motivations for being here and not violently destroying each other. [ An unspoken yet hanging in the air. ] Who would be more willing to part with things than whoever else?

[ That sounds like leverage. ]