Orion frowned visibly this time, discerning the underlying meaning in the King's words. It was clear that they were offering to help him find his way back to the surface, but with a condition: he would need to assist them in return. Elysia hadn't gone into detail about how they became trapped here during her lectures, but she had emphasized that it had been an exceedingly long time.
If it were as simple as finding their way back to the surface, they would have done it long ago. This raised concerns about what kind of assistance they might require from him.
"Well," the King said, snapping Orion out of his thoughts, "we're waiting for your reply. Are you willing to agree to this arrangement?"
"Of course, I am," Orion responded with a nod.
"Since you are willing to offer your help to me, then it's only fair that I do the same and offer mine as well," he added. For now, he decided to tackle the problems one step at a time, prioritizing what needed immediate attention.
