The more Phoenix explains, the deeper the furrow between Sunny's brows becomes. Where I come from, Barons execute anyone they deem a threat doesn't sound nearly as merciful as this talk of convincing a higher power. Sunny won't say his opinion's never been valued, but he'd been a rare case-- his Baron's obsession with him doesn't cancel out the fact that, in title, he'd been more an attack dog than a man.

"And it matters?" he presses. "Arguing can save an innocent person's life?"

To be able to present an argument constructed well enough to save someone is something Sunny's never heard before in his life. Granted, Phoenix seems to come from a part of the world with a fairly different justice system, but it still makes him wonder. Until this moment the man's given him no reason to think him particularly exceptional; he's fairly intrigued now, though.

"How many people have you kept from punishment?"