Before Nibelheim, before Sephiroth went off the deep end. He didn't know Cloud all that well, not personally at least, but many young men joined the Shinra military because of the propaganda surrounding the war hero. He wondered if Cloud was the same way. But it wasn't too important to figure that out, not for Rufus.

"Ah, I take it that you already know what's going to happen then?" He wasn't sure if that was a wise decision or not, but Cloud now knew and there wasn't much that could be done to change that.