[ pausing, absorbing all of this like a sponge

then, giving a sheepish laugh ]

. . . My apologies, I'm not familiar with anything like Van Dine's or any mystery novels at length - I only have a cursory knowledge at best, so I don't understand it all that much.

[ a beat; then, innocently, ]

Then, you think of Intensity-sama as someone who could match or best your wits?