[He lifts a brow, because it sure sounds like that. But... he'll let it go. He'll figure out what this middle ground is supposed to be. Somehow.]

When I asked my friend, the assassin, to teach me how to fight and defend myself, besides just swinging a knife at dummies, he took me out into the further reaches and had me fight this thing or that. I wasn't very good at fighting. Stabbed the man twice completely on accident. [He still feels bad about that. But Squalo has hurt him a fair share too, so not too bad.] But it helped, eventually. One of the first things he had me do was try and kill a sandworm.

[He smiles at Cliff, a small tired thing, but warm.]

You were noble. You made a good choice. Probably saved a lot of people.