Eisenberg was deliberately putting himself in a position of weakness, trying to appear vulnerable. It was a calculated act meant to paint Alex as the unreasonable one if he refused.
Classic emotional manipulation, a plea wrapped in sincerity, but really just a cleverly disguised trap. Alex almost chuckled. If he hadn't already known Eisenberg's background, he might have bought the whole act.
No wonder this man had climbed his way to the top of the Ministry. Compared to Claremont, Eisenberg was on another level entirely when it came to maneuvering people.
Still, Alex kept his expression polite and composed. With a slight nod, he replied, "Your suggestion is not bad, Minister. I'm honestly moved by what you said, but I can't give you a clear answer just yet."
"I need to think it over," he added.
"That's perfectly fine," Eisenberg said without missing a beat. There wasn't a hint of annoyance on his face.
"You're managing a major business, of course, you have to be careful. But if you do decide to go ahead with separate investments, I can guarantee that the Ministry of Magic will fully protect your interests. And we're prepared to offer some favorable tax conditions as well."
"Oh? You're really making this sound better and better," Alex said, his interest visibly piqued. "Alright then, I'll give you my final decision within a week. Two weeks at the latest."
"Perfect," Eisenberg said with a broad smile, standing up and personally escorting Alex to the door. "I look forward to hearing good news from you, or from Claremont."
But as soon as Alex stepped out, the smile faded from Eisenberg's face. His eyes narrowed, his expression turning cold.
"This kid is even harder to handle than Claremont said," he muttered. "He won't commit to anything."
He stared at the closed door in thought. Something about Alex didn't sit right. 'Could he have played a role in the club's collapse in Britain?' Eisenberg frowned.
Alex's magical skill was remarkable, but more importantly, he was sharp, maybe too sharp. The alchemical gear he developed was top-class, and from the start, he'd maintained a close relationship with the British Ministry. If anyone turned things around for them and cut into the club's profits, it might've been him.
Eisenberg's fingers tapped restlessly against his desk. He'd have to look into this further, maybe ask Thunderbird about it during the next meeting.
Meanwhile, Alex hadn't actually been all that focused on business during the conversation, unaware that Eisenberg had been preoccupied with the failed British branch of the club. For Eisenberg, this meeting had been more than just a formal discussion, it was a test, a chance to figure out what kind of person Alex really was. Ever since their first encounter, Eisenberg had known that this young man wasn't as simple as he looked.
Before he could dwell further on the implications, a knock sounded at the door. Matthias, the Director of the Department of Magical Accidents and Disasters, stepped back in. he had left earlier but now returned, looking curious.
"How did it go? Did your talk with Alex go well?" he asked as soon as he entered. "I ran into him on the way out. He seemed to be in a pretty good mood."
Eisenberg nodded lightly but then hesitated, shaking his head with a sigh. "The talk itself went smoothly, sure. But the result… well, Alex's not as easy to deal with as we expected.
He's clever, guarded, and definitely not someone to take lightly. If you run into him again, don't treat him like some rookie."
Matthias raised an eyebrow but didn't seem overly concerned. "Really? I didn't expect you to rate him so highly. But at the end of the day, he's just a businessman. No matter what happens, we've got the upper hand."
"That's exactly why I'm cautious," Eisenberg said, fixing his gaze on her. "By the way, did you happen to see where Alex went after leaving my office?"
Matthias paused, thinking for a moment. "Not exactly, but judging by the direction, I'd say he was headed toward the Law Enforcement Department."
Eisenberg's eyes narrowed sharply. "He went to see Law Enforcement? Hah... This kid really is something. Looks like he's already figured out that Andre's working against us."
Matthias blinked in surprise. "Wait, you think Alex's actually gone to find Andre?"
Eisenberg let out a dry chuckle. "What else could it be?
Think about it. Right before that, he asked me who'd be appointed Minister after the East-West split.
Now he's suddenly paying a visit to the department where Andre works? He's clearly planning ahead."
Matthias's expression shifted as the pieces clicked together. "So he's trying to get close to both sides?"
"Exactly," Eisenberg said flatly. "He's playing it safe. First, he tries to win me over. Now, he's looking to make nice with Andre.
That way, no matter who ends up running the German Ministry after the split, he'll still have influence and protection. Smart little bastard, I'll give him that."
Eisenberg paused, then looked over at Matthias again. "Speaking of Andre, did you talk to him recently? What did he say?"
Matthias's expression darkened. "Yeah, I did. I laid it out clearly, if he stops opposing us and supports the division bill, we'll back him fully to become the Minister of Magic for East Germany.
But he's stubborn as hell. Didn't listen to a word I said. We nearly got into a shouting match."
He folded his arms, still annoyed. "Honestly, it's like trying to reason with a troll."
Eisenberg snorted quietly, but his mind was already racing. The game had become more complicated, and Alex Wilson had just added another layer to the board.
"This is exactly what I expected," Eisenberg sneered, his tone laced with cold satisfaction. "I let you go just to test the waters.
If Alex really agrees to Andre's side, then we're in for a real headache, it means he's gained new allies, possibly powerful ones. But now that things are clearer, it's safer for us to confront him directly."
Matthias frowned, thinking back to Culler's earlier reaction. He had seemed unusually fired up. "But... Culler looked pretty eager just now. Do you think he might actually throw his support behind Andre?"
Eisenberg chuckled and shook his head. "You're still too naive. Didn't you catch what he was really doing? That guy's just stalling for time, making noise for show."
Matthias raised an eyebrow, still unsure. Eisenberg leaned forward, voice casual but firm.
"Sure, Culler was genuinely angry earlier, but he's not stupid. He knows stirring things up won't change the law.
The bill isn't going to vanish just because he kicks up a fuss. Most of what he said was just to vent, or to set the stage for a better deal."
"If he really wanted to fight us head-on," Eisenberg continued, "he wouldn't bother sitting down for a chat. He'd go straight to the press, write a public letter condemning us, rally support from his network, maybe even drag other influential figures into the mess. But he didn't. He came here, ranted a little, and left."
Matthias looked at Eisenberg curiously. "So... you think he wants compensation? Is that it?"