Michael blinked, a bit surprised by the King's straightforwardness. "Just like that?" he couldn't help but ask. "I thought the Dwarven Kingdom was notoriously closed off."
Biru nodded, his arm still outstretched for Michael to take. "I was. But what you've shown me in this village has made me understand why our Kingdom hasn't prospered these past millennia."
"I thought that I was protecting our kingdom by closing its borders, but now I understand that we've just been holding back our own progress."
He looked Michael in the eye. "So, Michael. Help us—and we will help you."
Michael had always hoped to establish a good relationship with the Dwarven Kingdom, but he never thought it would come this easy. After all, he hadn't even done anything yet. Their King had come on his own, seen what their village offered and made up his mind.
