i don’t know if all versions have it, but mine starts off with a quote from CS Lewis that goes: ”I am a great scholar, the magician, the adept, who is doing the experiment. Of course I need subjects to do it on.”

and like wow?? i think this a blatant tease at the Other/Kettertly trapping Piranesi in the House to carry out his experiment. it also sums up his arrogant, self-righteous attitude to a tee. he believed himself a sort of scholar that could just play with innocent lives (partially due to his mentor/partner but still).