[--Yuan will give the man credit for looking at him, rather than through him or over him. Even if it's eventually.]

[He takes a breath, and then answers. More or less politely.]

I'm sure you can guess I'm significantly older than I look. I was in the military, many years ago.

[Truth, and truth. It's always best to stick as close to the truth as possible, with cover stories. The fewer lies to be caught in, the less chance of them being caught.]

Much of my skill, however, was learned under my own recognizance. Trial and error, and battle, and surviving both of those. There were not many who were willing to teach.

[It's bitter, but not especially pointed. Simply an explanation.]