"Weird place to work then, university," the words slip out only because it doesn't seem like it makes sense, and Kaden wants these puzzle pieces to make sense. Curiosity over caution.
Ares and his men, they're the ones in the business of winning wars. They're the ones training for it, the ones living and breathing it and shoving it deep down everyone's throats. Kaden can't see it, whatever the connection is, whatever town planning has to do with winning wars.
He's too focused on that to realise that she's handed him a piece of the identity puzzle. A corner piece, even.