"Regarding Alan Watson, I also need you to play along in a little performance."
Hearing Gustavo Fring say this, Anbaixiu replied without a second thought, "A performance? That costs extra."
Suppressing his anger, Gustavo Fring said, "You haven't even asked what kind of performance it is."
"Any kind of performance requires extra pay. Nothing personal—it's just my principle as a person."
Gustavo Fring sneered. "Does a lich even count as a person?"
Anbaixiu chuckled. "Racial discrimination? Well, now we'll have to renegotiate the price!"
Gustavo Fring had no choice but to grind his teeth and negotiate with Anbaixiu.
Before setting out, Gustavo Fring had actually known the Council's final decision: Alan Watson had to be secured at all costs, but he could not simply be handed over to the Ryan Empire so easily.
The City of Alchemy needed the Ryan Empire's help. However, merely returning the son of the Supreme Arbiter would be a favor neither particularly grand nor insignificant. It might earn them the great man's personal friendship, but wanting him to push through major cooperation between the two nations would likely not be enough.
After all, the Supreme Arbiter had chosen the most unyielding approach to handle his son's capture, clearly showing he had no regard for the boy's life or death.
Consequently, Alan Watson's value was diminished.
Therefore, the City of Alchemy needed Anbaixiu's help to fan the flames.
Hadn't the Ryan Empire dispatched ten Knights of Condemnation to rescue him? The Knights of Condemnation were a formidable force second only to the Ryan Imperial Guards, and its members were all pillars of the empire's future.
If these knights were also captured, and the City of Alchemy then stepped in to ransom them back, the favor would multiply many times over. If James Watson ignored his own son's life and death, people might praise his noble integrity; but if ten promising paladins were involved and James Watson remained indifferent, he would be cursed by everyone.
Yet Anbaixiu refused. "A fine scheme, but you want me to deal with those ten paladins all on my own? You think far too highly of me. The Knights of Condemnation were founded specifically to deal with the undead; they certainly possess means to thoroughly counter us. I don't consider myself a match for them—even hiding in my castle, I wouldn't win."
"Do you think that if you refuse, they won't come looking for trouble with you?" Gustavo Fring felt he had seized Anbaixiu's weakness.
The Knights of Condemnation were coming for Alan Watson, so Anbaixiu had no way of escaping them. Trying to use this pretext to demand more money was utterly impossible.
Anbaixiu chuckled, saying decisively, "At worst, I'll tie Alan Watson to the castle's front gate and run away. The world is vast—does a legendary lich like me need to worry about not finding a place to conduct experiments? We'll part ways with nothing gained. I won't get the formulas, and you won't get the chance to curry that favor."
Gustavo Fring countered, "You can't bear to let them go. Thirty-two formulas and blueprints—you should know very well what a fortune that is."
"Of course I know, but if my phylactery is shattered, those formulas won't mean a thing. If you want me to take the risk, offer a price worth my while. My old friend, you know me very well, just as I know you. Your presence here proves the Council has already made its decision. There's no need to beat around the bush any longer—lay down your bottom line."
Anbaixiu was brimming with confidence. The prophecy fragments had already proven that the Alchemists' Council was powerless to contain the crisis in the sewers; they were the ones backed into a corner.
The City of Alchemy had vast holdings and enterprises that could not simply be abandoned, whereas Anbaixiu only needed to draw a teleportation circle to pack up everything valuable in his castle and leave.
He had a way out, while the City of Alchemy did not, so he firmly held the upper hand in this negotiation. The outcome unfolded just as Anbaixiu expected. Gustavo Fring was no fool, but Anbaixiu had long seen through his bluff. This was an unfair gamble, and in the end, Gustavo could only reveal his hand ahead of time before Anbaixiu.
"I can agree to this: if you cooperate and perform this act well, the Council will grant you a single use of the Wishing Machine."
After speaking these words, Gustavo Fring also felt a sense of relief. Now that his bottom card was revealed, there was no need to hide anything further; all that remained was for Anbaixiu to accept or decline.
Upon hearing the words "Wishing Machine," Anbaixiu exclaimed in surprise, "You... actually built that thing?"
Many years ago, before that mysterious Guildmaster had retreated behind the scenes, a rumor had circulated throughout the City of Alchemy: the Alchemists' Council intended to permanently enchant a magic item with Wish, creating a Wishing Machine capable of granting desires.
Wish could be considered the most powerful spell beneath the gods. In theory, as long as one's wish was described with sufficient precision and fell within what a deity could grant, it could be realized.
For instance, turning a lich back into a human. Or resurrecting someone who was completely dead, whose soul had already dissipated.
This was the most common application of Wish—reviving beloved friends and family had always been the dream of most mortals.
Of course, an ambitious person could also use Wish to elevate a mortal to the realm of legends, gaining tremendous power.
Unfortunately, even legendary mages could not necessarily cast Wish. The spell's difficulty was exceedingly high, demanding talent, hard work, and luck in equal measure.
Had those madmen truly bound Wish into a piece of magical equipment?
Wouldn't that make it an infinitely usable Wish?
After thinking for only a moment, Anbaixiu scoffed, "Even though I'm undead, who do you think you're fooling? If you had truly created a Wishing Machine, what crisis could you not resolve?"
Gustavo Fring explained, "The Wishing Machine does exist, but it cannot cast a perfect Wish. Through many years of effort, we have enabled the Wishing Machine to point toward the correct path. I know an accident occurred when you advanced to legend, and you discarded the School of Divination's near-divine power, making you the weakest among legends..."
"Insult me again and the price goes up!" Anbaixiu said coldly.
Gustavo Fring could not resist rolling his eyes, but had to rephrase his words.
"In any case, you know very well that having abandoned the power of divination, you are not a qualified legendary lich. The Wishing Machine can help you find a solution to this problem; it will guide you toward new power. Of course, if you feel that wish is not enough, you may ask another question. The Wishing Machine will certainly provide the most accurate and detailed answer."
Anbaixiu studied Gustavo Fring's expression closely. His instincts told him that this fellow was not lying.
After pondering for a long time, Anbaixiu finally spoke: "Deal. I will hand over both the Knights of Condemnation and Alan Watson to you."
Chapter 52