[b]Alaerin[/b] listened to the flow of the conversation and pondered the situation.... his Earth-Based views of [u][i][b]'dead'[/b][/i][/u] beings owning or guarding anything from the living was a non-issue in a modern Earth view... but this was not Earth.  [b]Alaerin[/b] did not like lies.. and did not like the direction of the inquiry... his brain racking for a way to avoid just plain "murder-hobo" tactics that so many "adventurers" favored.  

[b]Alaerin[/b] was from a mostly civilized Earth... and 'Good' people did not brake into other sentient beings abodes... regardless of their nature ~ kill their guards and just take what they wanted...

But... something occurred to him... a way to avoid lying and maybe avoid violence toward [b]Gutou[/b]...?

Addressing [b]Gutou[/b], [color=00aeef]"But isn't THAT the point of a Challenge?  To determine the worthiness of a supplicant?  Let us take this challenge and prove our worthiness to gain possession of the [color=8dc73f][b][i]Jade Flute of Ascension[/i][/b][/color], perhaps this will entertain YOUR [b]Emperor[/b] and You may gain his continued Favor?"[/color]