The count immediately told Erik something he had not known about Hannibal, and it drew a distinction between the two of them as well.
Hannibal enjoyed killing.
If Hannibal had indeed experienced a portion of what Erik lived in his own life, the enjoyment was understandable. By the time he accepted his position at the Persian court, Erik had reason enough to hate the whole of humanity -- and he poured out that hate in so many ways, so many times. But even Erik had sickened of the death. Human life held so little value to him when he left Persia. Doubtless, he would have killed anyone who annoyed him, after that -- if not for his dear, foolish Nadir, the daroga who had given him his life, and taken from Erik a promise.
And that was where Erik and Hannibal were different. Erik had lost his taste for wanton murder -- and Erik suspected that Hannibal still retained it. A question rose to Erik's mind then, a question that gave him great pause -- not for the answer it might draw out, but for the intimacy.
"What does it make you feel most?" he asked at last.