[Van Zieks won't deny the part he's played all these years. If this Kazuma decides to judge him more harshly for that than the man who became his apprentice once more... then so be it. He bows his head for a moment, but answers those claims without further delay.]

He would have, had Stronghart not offered him the one thing that he valued more highly.

[Now that his mind is clear from that fresh grief and the lies of those around him, he can remember just how noble Genshin truly was. He put the entire British Empire to shame, really.]

The will, and his silence... in exchange for his safe return to his son.