While Bob looked on at the captain with unshakable faith and belief, and so did many from the crowds watching, Longbeard looked at him with an unusual expression that slowly turned into a hint of pity.
"Ah, so the captain is an orphan. No wonder he looks after us so much," he muttered under his breath, not noticing that the restraint on them had eased up a bit. Prior to this, they would not have been able to talk even if they wished. In fact, not being able to notice was a part of the trial.
The pressure on them had eased so that during this period they'd be able to speak their true thoughts after each individual claim was confirmed or refuted. If the Dao Lords wished to ascertain the truth, they need not go through this entire process. The reason that they did it was, one, for a good story, and two, so that the masses who were swayed would learn the truth about whatever stories had swayed them.
