This was a trick question, no doubt. Naturally, a Beastslaying man like Ackledge walking around with a team behind him, wouldn't need to ask a boy for permission to harvest the Fragments of beasts that he didn't slay. He could take whatever he wanted.
The question was asked to simply see Spheris's answer and reaction. Saying no would cause suspicion, but saying yes would also cause suspicion. One showed someone who had slayed beasts to claim their Fragments, the other was someone who slayed beasts simply because they were in his way.
His answer had to make him appear to be an inexperienced someone who truly had walked into this mayhem but still wanted the Soul Fragments, because who the Hell wouldn't? They sold for a lot of callisters.
"Can I at least have one or two?" Spheris replied with a question, making himself sound as desperate as possible.
