The Alchemists

Nicolae was very impressed by his father's amazing abilities with medicine and poisons. These are skills far more valuable than money. Nicolae could imagine how many pharmaceutical companies would be willing to pay dearly to get his father's knowledge.

"You have to teach me ... or at least, let me make an encyclopedia based on your knowledge ... That kind of knowledge should be passed on ..." Nicolae said admiringly.

That's when Aleksis took her hands off of her eyes and exclaimed happily, "Of course! Uncle Rory has taught me and my younger brothers about medicinal plants for the past dozen years. But unfortunately, I'm not talented with medicine."

Nicolae subconsciously covered his upper body from Aleksis' sight. He shrieked. "You peeked!"

Grumpily Aleksis rolled her eyes and moved out of the room. She waved as she went to the door, "Then I'll play with Little Prince Siegfried."

Terry and Lauriel looked at each other with a knowing look. They knew the history of Aleksis and Prince Siegfried and why she named her dog Little Prince Siegfried.

They also knew how Aleksis had been obsessed with the man for the past eight years and even asked to study for a year in Singapore so she could look for him.

Lauriel seemed to think for a moment, then then asked Terry. "Is there any news?"

Terry understood the meaning of Lauriel's question. Lauriel wanted to know if Aleksis had met the person she was looking for. Although Terry knew the answer, he had promised Aleksis that he would not tell Lauriel.

He would let Aleksis tell her godfather herself, because after all. Aleksis was an adult woman and Terry would not interfere in her life if he was not asked to.

Finally he just shrugged. Lauriel sighed to see it.

"I was the one who encouraged her to continue studying here for a year so that she knows what it is like to live like an ordinary human, before she is introduced to the outside world ..." Lauriel shook his head slowly, "But for some reason now I'm starting to worry."

"Introduce her to the outside world? What do you mean, Father?" Nicolae asked curiously.

"The three children of Caspar Schneider and also Terry have not been introduced to the members of the Alchemists. We hold a meeting every 10 years and usually new members will be brought in and introduced.

However, Caspar is very protective over his children, especially since the past events where Aleksis was kidnapped and poisoned by some bad people. He did not want to introduce his children to the world yet, so Aleksis and her younger siblings never attended clan meetings.

They live peacefully away from the crowd, but of course, in a few years, when the three are grown up and are able to protect themselves, Caspar will introduce them. They will take over the Schneider Group from Kurt Van Der Ven. That is why she must start getting used to meeting people and understanding how ordinary people lived."

"Wow ..." Nicolae's admiration for Aleksis became even greater. The girl was apparently being prepared to take over the Schneider Group from her father's confidants. He knew how massive the family business was, and so Nicolae was very impressed. It was really not easy to lead such a large and influential group.

"But I'm starting to worry now ... maybe Aleksis should just go home," Lauriel said. "I've discussed this with her father and next week her parents will arrive in Singapore."

Nicolae was stunned. Wow ... next week, the clan leader will come. He couldn't wait to meet more Alchemists, especially the clan leader, who happened to be Aleksis' father.

Inwardly he felt happy because he would be able to meet the father of the girl he liked ... Nicolae remembered that Aleksis once told him that her father was a doctor, like himself.

"Why worry, Father?" Nicolae asked. He wanted to know what Lauriel knew that caused him to worry so much.

"I'm afraid, because I know that Aleksis is hiding something from me," Lauriel complained. "She introduced four bodyguards to me, but when I talked to Caspar yesterday, I learned that Caspar had only assigned Carl and Sascha to protect Aleksis, because usually the two of them were more than enough. Moreover, they have been guarding Aleksis since eight years ago ... This means ... that the other two, Takeshi and Mischa ... are assigned by someone else."

Terry, who already knew the secret, felt rather uncomfortable. He was a little uneasy because Lauriel suspected something while he already knew the answer.

Nicolae, who also knew Aleksis' secret, said nothing. This time he managed to hide his feelings behind a flat face. "Who do you think they are, Father?"

Lauriel massaged his forehead. "Aleksis has only liked one man since a long time ago, and she has been obsessed with him for years. She calls this person 'Prince Siegfried'."

Terry turned to Nicolae to assess his expression as Lauriel revealed the secret about Prince Siegfried. He was a little surprised because he did not see any change in Nicolae's expression. Did this mean that Nicolae also knew?

"Then, what does that have to do with the two new bodyguards?" Nicolae asked, trying to dig up more information, to know to what extent his father suspected Aleksis.

"Aleksis moved to Singapore to look for that person ..." Lauriel went on with a rather annoyed voice. He almost opened the wine, but then remembered that it was still too early to drink. Finally, he poured some more tea into his cup. "The two new bodyguards might have been sent by Prince Siegfried. That is the only reasonable possibility ..."

"I'm sure Aleksis is a smart girl, and she has good taste," Nicolae shrugged, "Why do you worry if she meets a man she likes?"

Lauriel looked at Nicolae fixedly with a worried face, "Hmmm ..."

"Why are you so worried, Father?" Nicolae urged.

Lauriel sighed, "The problem is that … I don't know who this Siegfried guy really is. What is certain is that he is related to the Rhionen Assassins. As the world's best hacker, I'm sure you know who they are. I am worried if Aleksis were to have some sort of relationship with those assassins ..."

Nicolae and Terry were both surprised. The two of them didn't expect that Lauriel would know so much, just based on his own observations!