908
Hvin Rambis spent a while in the washroom. When he came out, he found that the people in the banquet hall were still arguing heatedly.
They were still discussing the social issue he had deliberately steered them toward earlier, on which he had expressed extreme views. To elicit more responses and discussion, all one needed to do was make highly radical statements. Some people would agree, some would disagree, and some relatively neutral people who otherwise would have said nothing would speak up to discourage such extreme views.
That way, almost everyone could be drawn into the discussion.
"I believe restrictions on their movements must be imposed."
"I agree. We can't let those people wander the streets unchecked. They threaten our citizens' personal safety."
"Well, I don't think we need to be so severe. Most of them are actually quite friendly. After all, they're farmers who know nothing but working the land. They'll be satisfied as long as they have enough food and warm clothing in Loen. This is actually a good opportunity to promote ourselves."
"That may be true, but the current demand is for restrictions. I believe the Church should consider this."
He watched their heated conversation from a distance. What had begun with only three or five people had developed into a debate involving a dozen or twenty. Their voices grew louder and louder, and almost everyone in the room was paying some attention to that corner.
Hvin Rambis had no intention of rejoining the conversation, of course. After watching with an appraising gaze for a while, he curled his lips in satisfaction.
Once a relatively equal and free discussion became a debate with clear positions and objectives, people stopped focusing on listening to different ideas and comparing them with their own. Instead, they racked