[ How disappointed he looks in her non-answer, too. As guilty as she is to let him down, she can't exactly give him an answer in regards to the ooze. It effect everyone, but it seems to effect everyone for different lengths of time. There's no way to actually test it.

And as for his second question... Actually. ]

I'm going to need you to keep a secret from him... and perhaps others regarding a little bit of this research. May I count on you, for this?

[ Seeing that he is already calling himself emissary and appears to have good ties with the locals, she believes she can, hence, why she called him specifically here. ]