Even someone as emotionally clueless as him can read into that. It's still a bizarre reaction.

"If Aether would let me at their facilities, I could do it even faster," he scoffed. "It's been a long time since I've heard 'I don't know' so many times in one day, and I've never liked it."

He gives her another considering look. "But I've forgotten my manners. You are...?"

(Hey, he's really, really not Mr. Manners.)