The king is now presented with perhaps even a greater dilemma. Had Ammon been a god, then the king could explain his feats of strength and perception. Now that Ammon has declared himself to be as human as anyone in the room, his deeds stand out in even higher contrast to those of a mortal man. Therefore, the king wants to know how a man can do these things that were only moments ago more fitting for a god. The king sincerely wants to know, and offers a rather unlimited exchange for that information.
What the king might have thought at this point in time is unknown, but we may surmise that he was still rather oriented to his own concerns at this point in the discussion with Ammon. Upon learning that Ammon as a man commanded such power, it is no wonder that the king was interested, and willing to pay a handsome ransom for the ability to do the same. If Ammon the man could do these things, then Lamoni the man could also. Lamoni was likely thinking of the power he might have in the conflicts between cities if he wielded the power of Ammon, either the strength or the perception of thoughts. As a very human king, Lamoni would be very anxious to possess such powerful tools.