Roland knows Senku's words have merit, have a strain of wisdom to it that in any other occasion, he would have agreed to in a heartbeat. It's true; good always comes out of the bad, even if it wasn't foreseen. He's learned that lesson well by now, right?

But...he remembers, still. The missiles that came, the nukes that ended the world. The president who failed. And even in the Second World, where Broadleaf's perpetual fission reactor drained the land around them of its natural resources. For good to come out of the bad, one had to pay the premium. The cost, always unforeseen until it's time to foot the bill.

"Hm."

He thinks about this often enough that it warrants just silence from Roland, thoughtful and deep. Drinks from his ale as he ponders on Senku's vision. Frightening but ambitious. When he's decided he's had enough of his drink, tankard now empty, he speaks at last. Tone still neutral, head bobbing slightly to the beat of his words.

"You care about your people. That much I can tell. Keep at that and...I doubt you'll go wrong."

He cared too. Cared more than anyone. But it still brought about the end. Ah, well. Musings from another life, another time.