"Then I'll take them off your hands -- or better yet, he and his allies with the Pleroma can," Barnaby nods to Cid across the room, ironically a prisoner himself for the time being. "They might have valuable knowledge that will be worth keeping them around, or other Achamites could be willing to take them in an exchange."

The Regent might not care for the lives of their followers, and he doubts many Kenoma Aions do, but it isn't necessarily true that their followers will all share that same attitude. It's worth exploring all avenues, if nothing else.

"As for where I stand, I no longer have any allegiance to the Regent, and--" He hesitates, wondering just how much he should say in present company, his eyes flicking across the assembled group. He decides to throw caution to the wind and continues, "...I can feel the Kenoma's grip on me weakening by the moment. All I want is for the people of Venera to be safe, free from the Regent's tyranny. Everyone's suffered enough."