video;

[yeshou]

[ Wen Kexing looks thoughtfully through the projection cast by the coin, as if he's trying to see the people on the other side of the network. He can't yet, but he's judging anyway. ]

Who is a leader here?

[ That's not very helpful. He considers and tries again. ]

It looks like a lot of the people brought here belong to groups or sects of some kind. Isn't that weird?

Anyway, the most important question is which of you is the strongest?

[ He folds his arms across his chest. ]

We're all from different places, so how can we tell?

Comments

[oracledriven]

Plenty of things. Figuring out who we've gotta hit to get out of here, for one.

[Plenty of things, he says, and then lists literally one.]

I've seen a few. Heard there are dragons around the caves, too. I bet tracking down a few of those would be one hell of a test of strength. Or you could go by number of kills.

[yeshou]

[Wen Kexing also seems to think that answer is a pretty short list, because he frowns. Wait, where are the other things?]

What if you can't hit anyone to get out? It's not like anyone has seen any so-called gods, right?

[Maybe some of the Chosen, but they have also done nothing to get anyone closer to the ones that brought them. Why not create chaos out of the joke trials?

But then Noel says something cool.]

...Well. I guess we could do that. If anyone actually looks for them.

[Most people didn't seem that interested at all. But even with a few, they could find some good monsters, right?]

[oracledriven]

[Don't worry about it, it's Fine. Anyway, Wen makes a good point.]

We'll have to find another way out. I don't know about you, but I've had more than enough trouble with gods already. I'm not eager to add the ones from this world to the list.

[... That's mostly how he feels, at least, but he can't help feeling like something about this would be easier if these gods would actually show themselves.]

'If,' or when? Seems like plenty of us are used to fighting things like that. I'd guess it's only a matter of time before someone starts looking for things to fight, you know? Gotta keep those skills sharp.

[yeshou]

I don't know anything about gods. If they exist, they never did anything for me.

[He's pouting maybe just a bit. At the end it did seem like maybe fate did help him out, but he's not about the accept that. Coincidences don't count.]

You think they will? What if they don't want to hone anything and stab you in your sleep instead? If they're going to do that, it's better to get everyone fighting now.

[oracledriven]

Yeah? Consider yourself lucky.

[The gods of Pulse and Nova Chrysalia have been nothing but trouble on a good day and actively bad news on a bad day. Even Etro's kindness had led to nothing but misery. Gods are capricious and untrustworthy, as far as he's concerned, and he hasn't seen anything yet to make him think otherwise about the ones in this world.]

"Someone might get bloodthirsty, so I'd better beat them to it." Seems a little extreme, don't you think? I know we're all being branded as criminals, but I don't think I'd go that far.

[yeshou]

Lucky?

[Not that he actually believes in gods that seriously, but even if he did, would his life be considered lucky? He doesn't know how to take that.]

What's wrong with going first? If it's gonna happen anyway, it might as well be now.

[And if he starts challenging everyone he'll get a better idea of how they all respond. Sizing them up makes things easier if people are going to start attacking each other.]

[oracledriven]

Gods don't care about anyone but themselves.

[Maybe that's not entirely fair, but he's not overly concerned with fairness. As far as he's concerned, if there are gods involved with whatever's happening to them, it just means more trouble.]

You don't know for sure it's gonna happen unless you go first. Isn't that a-- what's it called, self-fulfilling prophecy? It only happens because you make it happen?

[yeshou]

Tch, well I know that.

[ He doesn't actually know. He's never met a god; isn't sure he really believes they exist at all. But if Wen Kexing were to place bets, it would be on gods being selfish. People in power only care about protecting their own power. That part makes perfect sense to him. He can believe it. ]

You think I'm just going to wait to get stabbed in the back? People aren't that generous. They'll come for you if you let them go, so it doesn't matter who starts it. At least now we all know.

[oracledriven]

[Oh, good. At least he gets that.]

Sounds more like you're looking for an excuse to cause trouble, to me. Or maybe you're just paranoid, but I sort of doubt people care enough about you that they're lining up to get in a good stabbing.

[yeshou]

[He leans back in his seat, waving his closed hand fan toward the image projection of Noel.]

Are you afraid of trouble? There's always going to be a reason to fight. Why does it matter what my reason is? It won't change anyone else's mind.

[oracledriven]

Of course not. I've seen plenty of trouble.

[His mouth sets in a grim frown for a second.] But I know how badly it can end, too. Starting fights just for the sake of fighting is stupid and reckless.

[yeshou]

[Wen Kexing laughs, brushing off that thought.]

Is fighting for the sake of anything else that much better? What's wrong with setting up a challenge? It's their choice to take it. And it sounds like a lot of people here like to fight. Why don't we all just do it?

[Stupid and reckless is his favorite approach.]

[oracledriven]

Pretty sure the goal is supposed to be not fighting -- unless it can't be helped. Not that I mind a challenge, but you're talking as if everyone here wants to fight you on principle, and I think you're wrong, there.

[Big words for a jrpg character, dude!!]