THE Old Man made it clear he didn't have much to share, but as someone who had been here for who knew how many years, how could he not have lots of information? Isolation didn't mean ignorance. Someone who had spent eons crafting weapons capable of killing THE entities while cultivating their Way to Intermediate Depth had to have accumulated knowledge alongside their skill.
So Achilles remained where he was and smiled as he asked a question designed to open doors that polite conversation alone could not.
"You've made so many weapons over the years. Each one capable of crushing or cutting THE Surface Depth entities."
He gestured toward the arsenal arranged near the forge with appreciation that was entirely genuine.
"Do you have any for Intermediate Depth entities? If I wanted to purchase from you en masse, what currency do you want for exchange?"
...!
