“Yes. Thank you!” Isamu found himself exclaiming while the other man was still talking. “Pardon.”

The fact that the older gentleman confirmed that basic truth - that curiosity was indeed exciting! - went a long way into keeping Isamu focused on everything else he had to say.

“To say I had a bit or a disagreement over such things would be putting it mildly.” He added, without going into much detail. “With someone who, I assume, would believe the collateral damage to be mandatory. But just because it can does not mean thar it will.”

That last part was as much of a question as it was a statement.