If I remember correctly, Max was fairly nonplussed about it. He was aware that slaves were often used as a source of power, but for the sake of Motya's temper, refrained from saying directly, hinting at Lt. Dragonov that the ones that couldn't be put to work were free to be harvested for their Ether.

Prior to boarding the Tigress he had visited his old neighbourhood and left hurriedly after the memories of his dead father flooded back to haunt him.