...interesting. 

And he's worked with Cheliax before; he says (and Detect Thoughts agrees) that a few decades ago when he was an ethicist he took Asmodeus's money and argued in favor of Lawful Evil axiology. 

"I want a Ring of Tongues."

"...what."

"When you hire me, I want a Ring of Tongues."

"We can't afford that, that's tens of thousands of gold."

"Yes, you can. You're wearing a Worldwound Security uniform, you took over the Duke's house, you sent a halfling to fetch dozens of gnomes to interview instead of interviewing us yourself, and you're asking us quite a lot of questions without actually telling us what you want us to do. Therefore, I conclude that this is some sort of top-secret project of Her Majesty's Government with an enormous amount of clout, and therefore it can afford a Ring of Tongues." 

"...we could hire the other gnomes that are not asking for extremely expensive magic items in payment."

"You want me."

"How do you know that?"

"You're looking for an alchemist, but you didn't interview any of the ten best alchemists in Brastlewark, and it's clearly not because you can't afford to. Instead, you're aiming for gnomes with a history of working in acting, espionage, or con artistry. And the questions you're asking, in addition to the standard questions about loyalty and secrecy and so on, are probing to see if we have an intuitive understanding of Good. Now, I ask myself, why would there be a top-secret project looking for gnome alchemists with an intuitive understanding of Good. And I answer myself, I have no fucking idea but I want to be on that project."

...

"I'm something much better than an actor or a spy. I'm an ethical philosopher."

"I don't understand how that matters."

"As an ethical philosopher, I am the only person you're interviewing who actually understands the point of view of advocates of all nine alignments from the inside. What is more, I am convinced that the axiologically correct alignment is Chaotic Good."

"I could have you executed for heresy for saying that."

"You won't, though."

...

"I want to be on this project, because I don't know why a Worldwound Security member needs a gnome alchemist who can convince someone he's Good but I definitely want to find out, and a thirty percent chance of being executed is worth it if I have a higher chance of finding out."

Fucking gnomes.

"Bleaching kills people too and it's way more boring than being tortured."

Fucking gnomes.

"I have no idea why I should trust you if you're Chaotic Good."

"I'm not, actually, I suspect I'm either Chaotic Neutral or Chaotic Evil. In my expert opinion as an ethical philosopher, taking money from Asmodeus to argue something you don't believe in as an interesting intellectual exercise and to save up for a Ring of Tongues is definitely Chaotic and probably Evil."

Fucking. Gnomes. 

"That doesn't help."

"I am Evil and I don't know where you expected to find a non-Chaotic gnome anyway."

"Can't I expect you to do the axiologically correct thing?"