[...

What a joke...

He stares at her for a moment longer, waiting for her to change her mind. But she doesn't. And Akechi scoffs as he drops his hands to his side, staring down at her as he speaks.]

It's a eat or be eaten world, Anya. [Placidly, almost condescending.] That man paid very, very well to have me take out his rivals and competitors. And once he became a liability, someone else decided he had to be taken out of the picture. Isn't it ironic?