When people call this game shitty, full of shitty characters and the worst FF story seemingly always citing the misunderstood laughing scene, I think of scenes like this one and truly feel confused for them. Like.. how is this the worst story you've ever played in a video game, let alone a FF? Say what you will about the characters and their VA (which still get judged far too harshly on here imo) but the world-building and lore are so brilliantly weaved together with the storytelling, I still feel like it has yet to be topped.
Maybe Resonance of Fate comes close?