[Green cat-eyes slide over to him at the laugh. Sephiroth just continues walking steadily and without much affectation.]

...In Midgar, I was surrounded by those able to fight. [He says, as if it's an explanation for why he had asked. "Normal" life and all its mundanities are faraway concept to him.] I wasn't certain what to expect here after seeing you battle those creatures.

You'd be skilled enough to join Shinra's army, that much I can say. Any more than that, though, would be up for debate. [This is how he assesses some people the best he knows how: via their fighting capabilities.]