[Valerius perks up ever so slightly at the new information, his mouth hanging open in bewilderment]

Assimilate…? I never would have guessed that there was anything like that going on in this society. [Now he can't help but wonder just how far they go...Thankfully, it seems like too much effort to find out, so ghe won't be doing anything dangerous--for now]

[Quieter, after a quick look around] Though, it makes sense considering how we’ve been stared at that something isn’t...Hm.