"First, there is the question of how one measures the value of a person."
Jin D began speaking, adopting the tone of someone engaged in an intellectual debate.
"Indeed."
Alto Elbein nodded in agreement.
"One method is testing. That includes written and practical exams. Perhaps interviews could be categorized under that as well."
"Oho, I see."
Village Chief Aik Nibiki and Ministry of Technology Undersecretary Nahams Marow listened to the discussion between Jin D and Alto Elbein with keen interest.
"The issue is whether such examinations—or rather, the specific content of those tests—can truly evaluate a person's worth."
"True. But wouldn't they suffice for assessing the specific abilities one is looking for?"
Alto offered a counterargument.
"Certainly, if it is a visible talent or capability—such as running speed or prowess in swordsmanship—that would be fine."
Jin D conceded the point.
"Yet is it right to determine a person's entire worth based solely on that?"
Jin D raised the fundamental question.
"For instance, even if someone is poor with a sword, they might have a talent for magic, don't you think?"
"I see."
"Even if they aren't skilled in attack magic, they might excel at Healing."
"Hmm, indeed."
"In other words, examinations can only ever evaluate specific, predetermined criteria."
Jin D paused for a moment.
Then, he broadened the scope of the discussion.
"There is a saying I know: 'Great talents mature late.'"
"What does that mean?"
"It means that a great vessel takes time to craft."
Jin D explained that it referred to talents that only bloom as one grows older.
"...Fascinating."
Jin D continued.
"There is also a story like this....In a certain land, a man was evaluated by a renowned judge of character. It is said the appraisal he received was: 'An able minister in times of peace, a cunning hero in times of chaos.'"
Naturally, this was the historical critique of the young Cao Cao from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
"What does that mean?"
Alto Elbein did not seem to grasp the meaning. Aik Nibiki and Nahams Marow were equally puzzled.
All three waited for Jin D to elaborate.
"Well, it means that in a peaceful era, he would serve as a capable official, but in an age of war and turmoil, he would become a crafty, ambitious hero....In short, what I wanted to say is that whether someone's inherent talents flourish or wither depends entirely on the environment in which they are placed."
"Aha, I see..."
"Indeed, that makes sense."
"That is quite a profound thought."
All three of them found themselves drawn into Jin D's words.
"Also, this is from a fictional tale, but there is a story about a notebook left behind by war survivors—detailing all the things they had wished to accomplish had they not been dragged off to the battlefield—which was later praised by future generations."
"Aha, I see..."
At this, Alto's expression showed that he had his own private thoughts on the matter.
"Well then, looking at it from another angle, I believe that those whose desires align with their aptitudes are truly fortunate."
Jin D shifted the direction of the conversation somewhat abruptly.
"Some say geniuses require whole-person education from an early age, but that principle isn't limited to geniuses. To discover what someone is suited for as early as possible, you cannot truly know until you teach them a wide variety of things and let them experience them firsthand."
"..."
Jin D pressed on.
"Someone thought to be a failure might suddenly display an unexpected talent."
"......"
"There is also an old saying: 'A prodigy at ten, a genius at fifteen, and just an ordinary person past twenty.'"
"........"
"Furthermore, in rare cases, suffering brain trauma has been known to unlock astonishing abilities."
"Urrrgh..."
"There is also a proverb that goes, 'Kindness is not just for the sake of others'—meaning that the kindness you show to others will eventually come back around to benefit you... or so it is said."
And so on, and so forth.
Laojun shared a multitude of perspectives to subtly unsettle Alto Elbein—or rather, Special Investigator No. 99.
And it seemed the effort was undeniably taking effect.
Having finished dinner and retired to his room, Special Investigator No. 99 turned Jin D's words over and over in his mind.
(...Mmh... Come to think of it, he never did answer my original question... Or was 'Kindness is not just for the sake of others' his answer?)
Why save those who meet with disaster through their own fault?
(...Because he laments the loss of potential hidden talent? Or because he simply wants to prevent a decline in population?)
A drop in population directly equated to a decline in national strength.
(Jin made no mention of that. Did he consider it too obvious to state, or...)
No. 99's fundamental mindset had not fundamentally transformed.
After all, a worldview instilled through brainwashing and strict indoctrination since childhood could not be dismantled so easily.
Laojun was well aware of that reality.
Even so, he had delivered a deliberate mix of logical and philosophical jolts to his worldview.
Anyone capable of rational thought would inevitably begin to harbor at least a sliver of doubt about their current beliefs.
(...I should observe and Analyze Jin's actions a bit more.)
In truth, he had developed a faint curiosity regarding Jin D's guiding principles.
(And then, there is his sheer capability...)
Using earth-attribute magic—which fell under the category of magi-craft—he had reshaped the banks of the reservoir in the blink of an eye.
Then, he had processed the timber with magi-craft just as effortlessly.
(That is no ordinary technique... No, it is far beyond ordinary capability.)
The subordinate golems under his command also exhibited exceptionally high performance.
(Over a hundred of those... Just how did he acquire them...?)
If all of those units were designed for combat, even the Jagus Principality would be forced to regard him as a severe threat.
(...Is he even truly human?)
His suspicions had reached that extreme.
In the case of Jin D, that thought was not far from the mark, even if not entirely accurate.
Special Investigator No. 99 wrestled with his thoughts.
Yet, with so little baseline information, he was incapable of arriving at the correct conclusion.
And the true tragedy was that he remained entirely unaware of how little information he possessed. A flawed premise will always yield a flawed conclusion.
There was only one crucial truth Special Investigator No. 99 needed to ascertain.
(Is he... someone who poses a threat to our homeland?)
What conclusion would No. 99 ultimately reach in response to that question...?