"Personally I think he should have just called it good with Colonel Yularen," Eli liked Yularen well enough, since he was amicable and didn't judge either Eli or Thrawn by where they came from. He was ISB, not an actual politician, but the man still knew the ins and outs of how the Empire worked and what it took to get places.

Even still, Eli continues to dance around the obvious, that his friend is an Imperial Naval officer. He quickly changes the topic, but not by much, "I've also been keeping my eye out for artwork. My friend can do this thing with art, and maybe some of it rubbed off on me." Not likely, but a man can dream.