The Grand Dean called itself "a line of reasoning trapped in an infinite loop." It certainly didn't think much of itself.
But Murphy knew the thing was definitely playing dumb. The Grand Dean was clearly refusing to get involved in any of Murphy's plans, and it wouldn't offer any genuine advice about the future, merely using a few sentimental words to boost Murphy's confidence.
To sum it up: hurry up and take your stuff and get out, kid. Don't interfere with this great lord's happy, slacking-off life as a mechanical oracle.
But there was no denying that this contraption, which had been slacking off for ages, was truly impressive.
Murphy had no idea where it got its data and information, or how it extrapolated from them to come up with practical advice. But the "Grand Dean" really did seem like a script-reader with a "full-map hack." Given that Murphy had already confirmed the "Creator" was probably some bizarre organization rather than a single individual, he had plenty of reason to believe the "Grand Dean" might also be some bastard's strange creation.
Murphy still wanted to ask more, but after firing off several questions and getting only mechanical responses, he realized the curious machine—which clearly had a mind of its own—had "blocked" him.
With no other choice, Murphy stood up and said to Sim beside him, "This thing's got quite a temper."
"I'd say you're the more remarkable one, sir."
The mind flayer spoke in a tone of astonishment. "Only when it speaks with you can I sense genuine 'emotion' in the Grand Dean's responses. In the past, whenever we asked questions and hoped for advice, it gave us nothing but cold data.
"That also proves that you truly are an extraordinary person, unlike anyone else in this world.
"Of course,