It would explain why they more-or-less leave us to our own devices.

[That's the part that doesn't square with him. Everything else he can more or less extrapolate--what he doesn't get is the fact that he's basically allowed to do whatever he wants. Sure, that's not without hurdles, as the easiest way to housing and a salary in the Free Cities is by joining their military, but he's always been resourceful, and he has a set of talents that are practical and useful to civilians.

So, he supposes that's at least one priority. Keep all of that away from the army. Jaskier says honest curiosity, and he can't really help the curl of his lip--not necessarily at the man asking the question, but the question itself.]

Avoid getting pulled into...all of this. [A vague hand gesture--he means the political situation, generally speaking, even though he's already here at the summit.] Find a way to continue my work. Stay alive as long as possible.

[That is probably (???) a joke? He says it like it's a joke, at least.]