MMM...
This is weird, but I think the primary question to ask in this case is "what is there that bares out their suspicions?"
As in this is the supposed reasoning
"It is this duty that his imperial glory thinks we have been lax in," Sister Xiong states with a huff. "It is his opinion that the testers and the Seven Stars that accompany them have been derelict in their duty to plumb the depths of the Empire for Sparks. And it is towards this duty that you are being dispatched."
Emphasis mine.
So since this is an odd situation ask her to the best of her knowledge is his opinion accurate, or if there's something else going on with this (as in a power play of some kind.)
Otherwise, I guess I am curious as to testers, who are they and what do they need to be to fulfil that role? Seemingly they belong to the sects, so are presumably cultivators, does it require a specific skill set, is it just people of a certain level? If so why do they need bodyguards, or are we meant to be more assistants?
In any case Kong seems to be getting the very definition of sink or swim ATM, since ****ing this up means potential knock on effects for a lot of other things.
Could (of course) be that the mission will be nice, relaxed and just an opportunity for Ves to show off some world building and the like, but things are rarely so calm.
Side note...can we take the pig?
His nose has proven to be seemingly impossibly sharp, so for sniffing out talents (and finding sick loot) they might prove to be a valuable asset.
comes her answer, the vague disdain in her voice leaving no doubt who she blames that on
I assume she's either referencing Sinai, or us for not educating ourselves fast enough.
mmm
A ghost of a smile crosses Sister Xiong's face. "Sending the Eighth out on assignment this early… it is not usually done. Were the need not pressing, it would never even be considered. But if Elder Hotei is to be believed, it is not only a pressing need, it is a vital one- and that makes this a very unusual situation."
"And when there is an unusual situation, upon whom does the sect call?" Sister Xiong asks.
OK I don't remember which Eldar Hotei is, but that also begs the question, is it
this specific assignment that is considered unusual, or it the assignment over all?
Again this is where our lack of knowledge comes into play, for example is the tester being accompanied by a group of others from a different sect, or are they just there for the hand off? For example in sus mode, my mind goes "are they kicking up a fuss as a screen while certain testers in some places are looking for something or someone specific?"
Which distinctly does not rule out MD being part of KZ's group, as KZ will also heading out to the west.
Shrug. Hard to say, since sending out 8ths apparently isn't usually done.
However, as you say she is going out and is an 8th, so it'd make sense, doubly so with the compass construction kinda hinting at that.
