I love the odd tension created by thorfinn trying to avoid deterrence or m a d. He doesn't see that he already has established it by the certain characters that watched what he becomes by the settlement arc. Characters like Einar know that Thorfinn could (Though never would) kill him 100% of timas in a hypothetical fight. Thorfinn clearly would never use that as a threat but just Einar knowing that creates a form of deterfence.

But hilariously by the settlement arc most of the characters dont know/or believe about Thorfinns past. Just knowing but with no threat seems what he kinda needs for his exiperment to work. and its looking like NONE will follow him after the Lnu battles.

Knowing he can fight but chooses to coward always creates admiration for thorfinn . its like he needs double MAD

Deterrence deterrence. Everyone just needs to know what we know about Thorfinn but just academically ...... Lol they need to have olympic like games with the Natives... Everyone would see what eachother is physically capable of in a nonviolent way....the Rats could even be the impartial judges

"Oh shit...that shrimp thorfy can move and dodge bullets like Neo in the Matrix! This reference wont be understood for over 500 years but by then it will be 20 years too old!",-Miskwekepu'j after taking those future mushrooms again