[ His impressions, huh? Zhongli lapses into a moment of thoughtful silence. ]
We're expected to use the casino currency in exchange for the goods and services within the hotel, but ultimately we're still receiving those goods and services free of charge. And it seems clear to me that it's not being offered as an act of charity, either.
[ The strange class stratification he's seen among the other guests is enough evidence of that for him. ]
I can only assume that, one way or another, our presence here in the hotel is generating more than enough value to offset the cost of keeping us fed, clothed, and housed—and I find it rather suspicious that the exact nature of that value has been obscured.
[ It’s something he’d been thinking about earlier in the day himself, but to hear it stated like that has him humming and leaning back in his chair with a slight frown. ]
Places like this are typically all about their profits. Which is clearly not about gold and the like, in this particular place, for all that they have a currency of chips to spread around in the appearance of wealth. So what are they actually getting from all their guests and their participation in this game of theirs? So much so that they’d bring so many of us here from faraway places.
[ Zhongli starts off listening patiently as Sylvain explains his thoughts, but by the end he's nodding in approval. ]
Precisely the question. If the kidnapping methods were mundane, I would assume they were simply charging outside observers a fee to witness the events within the casino. But since the methods aren't mundane, I suspect there may be exploiting us some other way.
[ As for what that other way may be? He has no idea. ]
[ Fortunately, he doesn't have to worry about trying to be undeniably human here, so he doesn't hesitate before he elaborates. ]
A god, for example, draws their power from the belief of their worshipers, but there are many ways to express ones belief. Prayer, the creation of art, sacrifices, monetary donations... It could be that our engagement with Game 52 is simply a form of expressing a similar belief.
[ A pause, and then he adds: ]
Of course, that's assuming that this is thanks to a god of some sort. It may be something else entirely.
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no subject
We're expected to use the casino currency in exchange for the goods and services within the hotel, but ultimately we're still receiving those goods and services free of charge. And it seems clear to me that it's not being offered as an act of charity, either.
[ The strange class stratification he's seen among the other guests is enough evidence of that for him. ]
I can only assume that, one way or another, our presence here in the hotel is generating more than enough value to offset the cost of keeping us fed, clothed, and housed—and I find it rather suspicious that the exact nature of that value has been obscured.
no subject
Places like this are typically all about their profits. Which is clearly not about gold and the like, in this particular place, for all that they have a currency of chips to spread around in the appearance of wealth. So what are they actually getting from all their guests and their participation in this game of theirs? So much so that they’d bring so many of us here from faraway places.
no subject
Precisely the question. If the kidnapping methods were mundane, I would assume they were simply charging outside observers a fee to witness the events within the casino. But since the methods aren't mundane, I suspect there may be exploiting us some other way.
[ As for what that other way may be? He has no idea. ]
no subject
Feeding off our magic maybe? But that doesn’t explain the sex. Unless they feed off that as a sort of energy. Is something like that even possible?
no subject
[ Fortunately, he doesn't have to worry about trying to be undeniably human here, so he doesn't hesitate before he elaborates. ]
A god, for example, draws their power from the belief of their worshipers, but there are many ways to express ones belief. Prayer, the creation of art, sacrifices, monetary donations... It could be that our engagement with Game 52 is simply a form of expressing a similar belief.
[ A pause, and then he adds: ]
Of course, that's assuming that this is thanks to a god of some sort. It may be something else entirely.