5 Exchange Hall
Chapter 4: Exchange Hall
Carlos watched as the money disappeared in front of him and suddenly found himself transported to a different space. Looking around, he found himself in a white room of 5 square meters with a table in the center and two chairs placed facing each other. On the table, there was a jug of water and two glasses along with some cookies. As he approached, a new screen appeared displaying information about how the room worked.
[Exchange Hall unlocked. Current level - 1]
Rules:
In this space, the Host can negotiate with people, entities, or existences from other realities and different worlds. The higher the level, the more powerful the worlds and individuals contacted.
The Host can use information, knowledge, items, and non-innate abilities (learned through training) as bargaining currency.
The Host can only use the exchange space once a month.
During the negotiation period, time outside will be slowed down. 1 day inside the space will be considered 1 second outside.
In this space, it is forbidden to provide false items, false information, incomplete knowledge, or abilities.
Fighting is prohibited within the exchange space.
If one of the parties breaks the agreement, their soul will be destroyed, and the other party will be compensated.
WARNING
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE OTHER SIDE MAY NOT BE INTERESTED OR WILLING TO MAKE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE HOST.
AS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE HOST IS USING THE EXCHANGE HALL, THE SYSTEM WILL ENSURE THAT THE OTHER PARTY IS WILLING AND FULFILLS THEIR PART OF THE AGREEMENT, PROVIDED THAT THE HOST CAN PROVIDE WHAT THE OTHER SIDE NEEDS.
THIS WILL ONLY HAPPEN THIS TIME.
[Search: type]
In silence, Carlos read the information that appeared in front of him and sat down in one of the chairs while he thought. The guarantee that the summoned person would have what he sought was certain, the only problem was that he didn't know what he had to offer.
Information? What if the summoned person was from a world he had never heard of?
Knowledge? Carlos wasn't an expert in any specific area or holder of knowledge that might interest a being from another world.
Items? It could serve depending on what the other person demanded.
Abilities? It's better not to mention that for now...
"In the end, it's just another round in this crazy gamble I've made."
Carlos thought for a moment about what he was seeking. Although skills and powers were necessary in this dangerous world, he wasn't in a hurry to get them for now. What he needed now was a strong foundation to rely on and grow, and that would only be possible with one thing – money.
[Search: Gold]
After typing his needs, Carlos waited for a moment.
<><><><><>
Meanwhile, elsewhere, a young man looked out the window of a train passing through a large green plain. He looked like an ordinary young man from Eastern Europe or some country in the region. He had long blond hair tied in a braid that reached his shoulders and fair skin. He also wore a black outfit with a red coat.
His eyes were deep as if he were seeing very far, searching for something when suddenly a strange screen appeared in front of him.
[Exchange Hall. Do you wish to enter? Y/N]
"Exchange Hall? What is this?"
The young man looked for a moment and, driven by curiosity, clicked yes, and then everything turned white for a moment.
"What was that?"
The young man looked around for a moment before turning and facing Carlos with a sharp pair of brown eyes while assuming a fighting stance.
"Who are you? Where am I?"
Carlos didn't answer and instead stared at the young man for a moment before getting up and approaching him.
Carlos was 12 years old and stood about 150cm tall, while the young man in front of him stood at about 149cm.
"Damn... you're really short, huh?"
"Who are you calling a human being prototype, you idiot?"
"And you react the same way I remember."
"Hm? Do we know each other?"
"Ha, I apologize for that, Ed. My name is Carlos, please sit down."
Carlos returned to his seat and gestured for Ed to sit across from him, which he did after a while of looking around for threats.
Edward Elric, the brilliant young man from FMA. At 12 years old, he and his brother attempted the madness of using human transmutation in an attempt to resurrect their mother. Ed lost his leg while his brother lost his body. In despair, Ed used alchemy once again to bring his brother's soul back and trapped it in an armor using his right arm as payment. After that, the brothers went through various problems in an attempt to recover their bodies and encountered even bigger problems.
Frankly, FMA was an anime that marked an entire generation, the masterful way the author conducted the story is phenomenal. Unfortunately, Carlos was just a young boy when he watched the anime and missed or couldn't understand much of what was worked on in the work, such as the clash between science and religion or the ethics and morals of the alchemists. However, he still remembered enough to come to an agreement with Edward.
"Well, first of all, let me explain what this place is..."
"No need. For some reason, I already know the function of this place. It's as if someone had inserted the rules of this place into my mind."
"Really? In that case, you must know what I need?"
"Gold. However, what can you offer me?"
"What do you want, Edward?"
"Information."
"All right... how about this: 5 questions. Each question, 1 kg of gold."
Both stared at each other in silence for a while. Although the system guaranteed that the agreement would be concluded and that the summoned person would accept the agreement, Carlos was still nervous.
"Fair."
"Well, in that case, what would you like to know first?"
"The Philosopher's Stone. Do you know how to make it right? Tell me how so I can synthesize one," Ed said, looking at Carlos.
"That..."
"You don't know?"
"It's not that I don't know. It's just that... the Philosopher's Stone in your world... is made by synthesizing human souls."
"WHAT?"
"Well. If I remember correctly, the Philosopher's Stone in your world uses human souls as ingredients. I don't know if other compounds are used, but essentially the main ingredient is human souls. What you call the Philosopher's Stone is nothing more than souls that have been removed from the natural cycle and are used as a form of energy."
"...?"
"Any more questions?"
"How can I get my brother's body back?"
"Alchemy is the art of equivalent exchange, Ed. To get your brother back, you must sacrifice what is most important to you... it surprises me that a genius hasn't understood that yet."
"You mean..."
"Your alchemy. However, before doing that, I recommend you defeat Father."
"Who is Father?"
"The creator of the homunculi, and before you waste a question wanting to know what they are, they are artificial human beings, imperfect beings, without a soul. You must have encountered them somewhere and not even realized it. In total, there are 7: Envy, Gluttony, Lust, Wrath, Pride, Sloth, and Greed. They all have a Philosopher's Stone inside them, which makes them almost immortal. Be careful when fighting them."
"What are their objectives?"
"Father's ultimate goal is to become God; the homunculi are just tools he uses to fulfill his purpose. He is creating a large transmutation circle around all of Amestris and plans to use all the people in the country as sacrifices to open the door and find..."
"The truth."
"Yes."
Carlos stopped for a moment and drank some water before continuing to speak.
"The ultimate goal of Father is to steal the power of truth, or more specifically, to become the embodiment of truth itself. He has achieved this once before, 400 years ago in the ancient country of Xerxes. However, at that time, he lacked the means to accomplish it alone, so he manipulated the king of that era and used the collected souls to create two Philosopher's Stones, one of which is in his possession and the other with the sole survivor of Xerxes. Since then, he has been preparing to repeat the process."
"That's unbelievable."
"Yes. That's quite a story. By the way, that makes four questions, Ed; think carefully about the last one."
"Although you manipulated me to ask two questions... this is extremely important information."
"You noticed? Clever boy."
"You're younger than me."
"But I'm taller."
"IDIOT."
"Hahaha, come on, Ed, relax. So what's your last question?"
Ed stopped for a moment and began to think. Suddenly, the image of a woman with brown hair and a gentle smile appeared in his memory. Raising his head and looking at Carlos, Ed thought that maybe he had a way to bring her back. Although it was a gamble and he might lose a question, it was a valid bet.
"Is it possible to bring someone back to life?"
Upon hearing the question, Carlos paused for a moment and observed Ed. The boy, although appearing firm, still had a slight tremor in his voice.
"When I met the Truth, I felt like I was close to getting the necessary knowledge, but before I could-"
"It's impossible."
"What?"
"It's impossible, Edward. Although I don't understand how it works in your world, the cycle of life is perpetual and uninterrupted. Although there are some existences that can defy death, in the end, it will come for everyone, Ed. Even if you acquired the necessary knowledge, it would still be impossible to bring her back."
"Why?"
"I can't answer that question. Perhaps because God wants it to be so?"
"God?"
"Well, although it may not seem like it, I am still a religious person."
They stared at each other for a moment before starting to laugh a little. Although Ed was unhappy with the answer, the whole experience was rewarding, and the information would undoubtedly be of great help on his journey.
"Well, I guess that's it. I have to go back and prepare my part of the deal. How do I get out of here?"
"Just go through the door," Carlos said, pointing to a door that materialized behind Ed. Looking at the door, he got up and headed towards it, but before he could open it, Carlos called out to him.
"Ed, consider this a bonus. The current Führer is a homunculus. Also, Maes Hughes and Nina Tucker, you have to save them."
"What-"
Before Edward could say anything, he suddenly disappeared. When he opened his eyes, he saw that he was still on the train, in the same position he was in before entering the room. At first, he thought that perhaps everything had been just a dream. However, he knew that everything was true.
As he tried to recover, a new screen appeared in front of him. After reading the content, he almost screamed in frustration, but in the end, he just smiled a little and went to a supply car to prepare the gold.
[To the Fullmetal Alchemist,
If possible, send the gold bars in small pieces of 5g each. It would be difficult for me to explain if I appeared with a massive 5kg bar.
Also, good luck on your adventure; I hope everything goes well for you and your brother.]
[P.S. Make sure to drink milk, or you'll remain a shorty, hahahaha]
