Rook listens intently. "Aha," then pauses. "Wait, you sold 3 million gold pieces worth of adamantine daggers?" Jaw slightly agape.
"That...is impressive." Even the emperor HIMSELF would be impressed! And his most impressive majesty is not easily impressed.
Almost forgetting about the book, "Alright, it seems as though this book may contain some key to our future progress...and, disappointingly, the urgency likely prohibits a brief return visit to our own plane," it was almost half a question.
To which Rook already knew the answer.
"So, to the roiling and mysterious cloud then?"