Rather than overthinking, I simply asked, “When did you found out I was a replica?”

“Answering that would reveal how much I have found out about you, so; I will stay silent.”

The king was wiser than I thought. Well, it would not have been a much of a problem even if he finds out about my plan, as my goal was already in motion, and if the king did find out, the more reason, he would have not to touch me. Putting that aside as I have a chance to talk with him, I will just try to get as much information as possible.

I asked, “So, how did you become an immortal? Or is it too much to say?”

“Well, it’s no secret, I used a fruit, just like you.”

“What do you mean like me?”

“There is no way I would not have noticed you have eaten the ambrosia fruit; I am similar. I also used a similar fruit like that, and so, I can sense anyone who has used the Fruit similar to mine.”

“Then, why is it that I can’t sense you being similar?”

“Like I said I used the Fruit not ate it, your cells have merged with the Fruit, meaning it will remain like that forever, your body won't age, your cells won’t change, your muscles won’t grow, your mana pool won’t grow, you will remain the same way forever. To bad such a powerful fruit got wasted because you did not know how to utilize it.”

I had already realized that my body won't change, but for the reason to be the Fruit rather than the system made me think there should be some way to fix that.

“There was another way to utilize it?”

“Knowing this now won’t be of any help to you, but you see the Fruit was never meant to be eaten, unlike humans, we elves have a spiritual connection with the things around us, water, earth, wind, spirits, we can resonate with them. We also possess spiritual power. I used my spiritual power to form a link with the Fruit, now it lives within me, sharing its power with me.”

“How is than any different from eating it.”

“Oh. It’s different, really different, but I am afraid I cannot say how.”

“Wow, are you only going to answer the question halfway?

“Yes, I call that being careful.”

“Then how about you tell me about the world you came from?”

“I am afraid I cannot answer that.”

“Then how about some great feats you accomplished.”

“That is also something I cannot tell.”

“Really, cannot tell, or have you just not done anything?”

“I have done many things, but giving my opponent a way to measure my strength does not happen to be one of them.”

“I was not trying to measure your strength. I just wanted to listen to some stories.”

“Then, like you said before, after millions of years, I had met a woman and…...”

I suddenly interrupted the king, “Nope, stop right there. I am not interested in listening to your sad love story, I was just trying to measure your strength.”

“Ah, that very unfortunate, but something that’s even more unfortunate is your king got separated from your troops while we were talking.”

“There is nothing to worry about that, the king might have limited moves, but still, even when alone, a king is still a king, and you have already lost your queen.”

“But even you have already lost your queen, and I have an extra knight on my side.”

“In chess, it's not always about how many knights, or bishop you have, but sometimes it the placement of the pawns and my pawn requires a just single step to step in your side.”

“It doesn’t matter how many of your paws reach in my side; I have a rook in place to take it out right after the pawn becomes the queen.”

“Yes, and that is your mistake, you focus on the lone king too much and place very high trust in your rook.”

“In chess, there is nothing such as trust, there are only a move and its consequences.”

“Oh, and you think you can predict every consequence of the move you make.”

“Of course, Right after the moment I noticed your presence, I have increased the security, barriers are being made everywhere, even if any outsider is present inside, they would be trapped just like your pawn.”

I knew it, the king had not realized what my plan was, he had just noticed some bits and pieces of a bigger picture, and now I preciously knew about the things he had found out.

“Before you were telling me about my king getting separated but now what do we have here? even your king is separated.”

“Well, as you said, a king might have limited moves, but a king is still a king, and what better bait would it be better than a king.”

“Ahh, I see, but it doesn’t really matter, as of right now you have moved exactly according to my plans now a check.”

“It's not a mate yet.”

“Of course, but now you lost the rook.”

“We now have equal powers.”

“But my pawn has already reached your side, and now it’s a queen.”

“You might have a queen now, but your king is now trapped, with nowhere to go.”

“I never needed my king to move, I just needed it to remain there, when you think you have my king trapped in here with your king and your troops, you forget that even your own king is trapped in here with my king and now that’s a Checkmate.”

Then with a smile, I said, “Now, how do you feel being outsmarted by me.”

It was not me who outsmarted him, but the sage knowledge I had, but he did not need to know that.

“I see, it’s surprising to see that I lost, but a chess match cannot be compared with real life. Now tell me, what is it that you desire?”