Making a Deal

"You are not what I expected," The Alchemist said with unveiled derision. 

I was not insulted. 

This man had met countless powerful people and was even in business with the Mad King. He was unlikely to be impressed by a random woman wearing a hospital dress in his immaculate office.

"I do not know what you expected, seeing as I do not know why I am here," I responded drily before sitting on one of the chairs opposite his desk. 

Unlike the Kingmaker, this man did not inspire fear in me, just an icky disgust. There was no need for me to be polite to someone I did not like or fear. If he decided to eliminate me, as Kyle politely put it, so be it. 

There was a kind of freedom in not caring about my well-being.

The Alchemist lifted an eyebrow before sitting as well. After a moment, he tapped on a tablet that looked like it was made of black glass and pushed it towards me. I looked at it for a moment, and my heart stilled. 

"I want to know about this man. I have it on good authority that you have met him privately and in person," The Alchemist said with a strange smugness. 

I stared at the tablet for a long moment.

The man on the screen was the Kingmaker. 

My mind raced as I considered the situation. I should have guessed that it was the reason the Alchemist was looking for me. The most interesting thing that would have drawn this kind of attention to me had to be related to the Kingmaker. 

I needed to tread carefully because I did not want to be caught between these two contrary forces. After all, when two giants fight, it is the grass that ends up damaged. And I am a very fragile little blade of grass.

"If you were able to find out about our meeting, then you probably know everything I know about him," I responded. "You should also know that he likes to keep to himself and manipulate things from behind."

There was no need to lie.

The Alchemist stared me down. "Yet, he found it necessary to meet with you. Even the Mad King does not have that privilege. I have investigated him, and he is quite private. You are the only true anomaly in his recent life."

I sighed with frustration. "Think of it this way. If I knew anything that would be incriminating to that man, would he have let me roam freely? He must be aware that I am a very easy target. If I knew anything, he would have secured me. You are proof that I can be kidnapped with minimal effort."

I said it with obvious humour in my voice.

The Alchemist looked sceptical as he assessed me. However, he must have thought that what I was saying made sense. He took back his tablet before speaking up again with an intense look in his eyes. 

"You might not know any of his secrets, but you have met him. Not many people can claim the same. You seem like an astute person who can judge the nature of a person. I want you to tell me everything you know about him, especially his weaknesses." The Alchemist said. 

I folded my arms over my chest in defiance.

"What's in it for me?" I asked.

The Alchemist looked genuinely surprised this time, his eyes widening. He could probably not understand my audacity in asking for something in return for answering his questions on the Kingmaker. 

"Do you understand that you are my prisoner and under my control at the moment?" He asked with that incredulous expression. 

"I understand," I said nonchalantly. 

The Alchemist's eyes darkened. "You understand that I can torture the information out of you and even have you killed?"

I shrugged. "I know that. It is not my first or even second kidnapping. I have been in dangerous situations before."

The Alchemist looked at me as if he wanted to open my brain and see what was going on in it. I understood what he was thinking. For a person who dealt with technology, it was hard to comprehend the mind of a real human being.

People like him, the so-called geniuses, often have a hard time truly comprehending the human mind and experience.

He scoffed after a long moment with that familiar derision as if he were dealing with a subhuman. He looked like he had figured something out about me after looking at me for a few moments.

"Do you want me to guarantee that I will let you go free?" He asked with a glint in his eyes. 

I laughed at the silliness of his assumption. Only an idiot would ask for something so foolish from this type of man.

"As I said, it is not my first kidnapping. Even if you were to keep your promise, there are too many loopholes in such a promise. You could guarantee I will get home safely, and have me killed the moment I enter my house." I answered.

The Alchemist lost the derision and went back to looking at me like I was a science experiment or faulty code. It was a little disconcerting. His large eyes did not have the cuteness of an anime girl or a doe-eyed beauty. 

There was something unnatural, disturbing even, about them.

"What do you want then?" He asked after a moment of silence. 

"I like a good plot. I love stories. They make me happy. Even if I do not get out of here alive, I would like to hear your stories. So, I will answer your questions as long as you indulge my curiosity about your evil plans," I answered casually. 

The Alchemist looked more confused than ever. 

"Most people would have asked for money if not for a guarantee of safety," He said. He did not deny that he had evil plans brewing in his cauldron. Perhaps, he thought it was not necessary to justify himself to me.

"Again, I am well aware that you are likely to have me eliminated if you perceive me as a threat. I would have no life in which to spend the money. So, I will take the story instead, and perhaps, I will go out with satisfaction. I do love instant gratification," I replied with a smile. 

The Alchemist laughed. It was grating, almost mechanical. 

"Very well," He said. "We have a deal."