The sudden accusation earns a flinch and a wide-eyed blink, and Serpico gives Lon'qu a confused look as if to say "who, me?" But he isn't given much of a chance to retort, and when the metal case is shoved in his hands, he's distracted from whatever it was he'd been planning on saying.

Because the case feels ... odd.

He hadn't realized it before, as it had been wrapped in layers of expensive silks while being transported, but with the metal now bare against his palm, he can feel the unnatural heat radiating from the case. No wonder Lon'qu is so cagey about it.

Still, this isn't a good situation. Serpico looks warily at Lon'qu's sword hand as he tries to back off, but there's no real escape route; he'd foolishly chosen to lean against a tree, which doesn't give him much room to maneuver in case Lon'qu decides to take a swing.

"... the council will be terribly cross if they realize I've tampered with their delivery." It's said weakly, but Serpico knows better than to test his luck in this situation. So he heaves a dramatic sigh, then touches at the clasp of the box, gently easing it open with a click --

then flings it in Lon'qu's direction the moment it starts to open. He can only hope he's acted quickly enough to avoid the effects of whatever the box contained.