Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

"please say."

“Judging from your appearance, you must have been a prominent figure in your own country, but this is Amestris. If you act recklessly…” Isaac said, a meaningful smile appearing on his face.

"You'll die."

After Isaac left, his face darkened.

“Lord Mima, this is outrageous! This man is treating us like prisoners,” said a guard standing nearby.

"Yes, and they've locked us up here."

Mima Tennori ignored them and looked at the girl who had been thrown to the ground by Isaac, asking, "Are you alright, Mumei?"

"It's alright, elder brother." The girl named Wuming stood up and rubbed her sore shoulder.

Seeing that she was alright, Mima Amaterasu continued, "How do you feel about the strength of that person just now?"

He had been observing Isaac ever since he entered the country; anyone who could become a brigadier general in this country must be quite capable.

"He's very strong. My kick was blocked by his hand just now, and it felt like I kicked a steel plate," Wuming said.

After listening, Tennori Mima pondered for a moment and asked a monk-like man behind her, "Shiwen, did you investigate this man named Isaac before you came here?"

The man named Shimon slowly said, "Lord Mima, are you aware that there is a profession called alchemist in this country?"

“I’ve heard of it. It’s supposedly a technology that can change the form of matter. We came here this time hoping to see if we can get this technology from this country,” Mima said.

He had also heard of alchemy, a technology that had allowed Amestris to grow to its current size in just a century. Tentoriki Mima had long coveted this technology. Buying weapons was his primary task, but if possible, he would also like to possess this technology.

This greatly helped his plans.

"Then Lady Mima must have heard of the State Alchemist, right?" Shimon asked.

"I've heard of him. He's the person who stands at the top of all alchemists in this country. Why are you asking about this?" Mima frowned.

Siwen's expression turned serious, and he said in a deep voice, "Isaac's name is known to many people throughout Amestris. He is one of the country's state alchemists—the Calamity Alchemist."

"What!?" Mima was slightly taken aback by the news.

Unexpectedly, the alchemist he was looking for was right in front of him.

“I’ve also heard rumors about him. It’s said that several years ago he used alchemy to wipe out a thousand-strong army from the neighboring country of Dorakma, causing the equivalent of the destruction of an entire post station with a single blow,” Siwen said.

He was already trembling slightly as he said those words.

A post station is a city where the Japanese people live. To be able to turn a city into ashes, one must possess immense destructive power. Shimon's words startled everyone present.

"Destroyed an entire post station in an instant?!"

"That's an exaggeration."

After listening, Mima Amatori remained silent for a moment, then asked, "Is the information reliable?"

"It can't be confirmed; there's too little time for a thorough investigation," Siwen said.

After all, he had only been here a short time before being sent to the vicinity of the Eastern Command, and Isaac came knocking on his door before he could make any preparations.

"Let's take one step at a time."

Mima Amatori was plotting his next move. The fact that Isaac had accepted the gold bars meant he wasn't entirely untouchable. With news of alchemy right before his eyes, there was no reason to let it slip by.

------

Outside the door, Isaac ran into Habock after he went out.

"Brigadier General, what are your orders?"

"Seal off this place and monitor the people inside at all times. If anyone comes out without permission and fires a warning shot, kill them on the spot if they do not heed the warning," Isaac said.

"Yes!" Hubble left after receiving the order.

Before long, hundreds of soldiers equipped with live ammunition surrounded the area.

“Remember, no one is allowed to come out,” Isaac said, then added, “not even a little girl.”

Isaac thought of the girl he had thrown to the ground earlier. In Isaac's opinion, her combat strength was negligible, but she was still somewhat troublesome for ordinary soldiers.

This group does seem to have some secrets.

It was evening.

Isaac personally pushed the food cart into their house.

"Gentlemen, I've brought you dinner."

The group of people who were initially unhappy with Isaac suddenly brightened up when they saw the food on the food truck.

Steak, lobster, soup, vegetable salad—they were drooling over every single dish.

"What's wrong? Didn't you like dinner?" Isaac asked.

“No… how should I put it? It’s a bit too lavish,” said Mima Amatori.

Japan was already poor in resources, and after more than 20 years of isolation, it was completely cut off from the outside world. Even some of the samurai class could only eat simple meals every day.

The food placed in front of them was something they would never normally dare to dream of.

The nameless man who had fought Isaac earlier, who had initially looked at him with hostility, changed his expression upon seeing the food on the table…

"It's so fragrant!"

She had already started eating, and the others followed suit.

"Brother, come and eat!" Wuming waved to Meima.

"I'll be there in a bit," Mima said with a smile, then added to Isaac, "Thank you for preparing such a sumptuous meal for us."

"Not at all. Apart from the possibility that you might be carrying the virus, you haven't done anything disrespectful to Amestoris, so you are currently considered foreign friends."

“It’s so good that you understand,” Mima Amatori said with a smile.

"Well then, I have to go now. Remember to let me know your decision tomorrow. It will mean whether you go home or continue to complete the transaction."

"No problem, I will definitely give the Brigadier General a satisfactory answer tomorrow."

After Isaac left, the group continued their meal. While clearing away the dishes, they discovered that the group had even licked the plates clean.

The scarcity of resources reached a terrifying level.

After finishing their meal, the group sat together to discuss matters.

"Lord Mima, what should we do tomorrow? Should we tell that brigadier general about our country's situation?" one of his men asked.

In the time it takes to eat a meal, everyone who used to call Isaac "that guy" has started calling him "Brigadier General".

They are all people of unwavering integrity.

“We need to explain the general situation, otherwise we won’t be able to gain his trust.” Mima said, turning her gaze to Wuming. “Wuming, there’s a plan that needs you to complete.”

Chapter 153: Weapons

Isaac was stopped by Habock on his way back.

"Brigadier General, there are some things I need you to look at."

"what?"

Habock led Isaac to a warehouse behind headquarters and took out a box from it.

“We confiscated their weapons, and these are their weapons.” Hubble opened the box, revealing its contents.

Several oddly shaped knives, and some that looked like guns, but each gun had a tube connected to a metal box, and there was also a dashboard on the gun body.

Isaac picked up a gun and examined it for a moment: "Is this thing really a weapon?"

“It should be right. There are also round bullets on it, but judging from the material, they should be products of the last century,” Hubble said.

Isaac picked up a knife at random. The blade was about a meter long and had a greater curvature than the military knife he used.

"This knife is quite nice." After playing with it for a while, he put it back.

Let's see their reply tomorrow.

------

the next day.

"So, Mr. Amatori Mima, what is your answer?"

Isaac and Mima Tentoriya sat facing each other, waiting for his answer.

"Actually, the thing is..."

Mima Tennori slowly explained the situation to Isaac.

About twenty years ago, an immortal monster suddenly landed in Japan. This monster was covered in a steel membrane and would not disappear as long as its heart was not destroyed. People bitten by it would die once and then be resurrected and would begin to attack humans.

In order to protect themselves from the endless stream of monsters, the people of Japan built a fortified village called "Yi" and guarded it, trying every means to survive.

And the name of this monster is—the Kabane.

"So, is this creature called the Kabane something that originally existed in your country?" Isaac asked.

“No, it came from other countries. After their countries were destroyed, a large group of Kabane sailed across the ocean to our country,” Mima said.

"Okay, I understand the general situation, but what does this have to do with your refusal to be tested? Are you also infected with this virus? And are you about to turn into monsters?"

“That’s not the case,” Mima explained. “We do have the virus in our bodies, but we won’t turn into Kabane.”

At this moment, the nameless creature beside him spoke up: "We are beings that exist between humans and Kabane, the Kabaneri."

Is it somewhere between humans and Kabane?

Isaac pondered for a moment and said, "The reason you won't get tested is because you're sure you have the virus in your body, right?"

"Yes."

“Alright.” Isaac stood up from his chair. “Tell me which of you are carrying the virus.”

"Me, Wuming, and Mie next to me." He pointed to the silent blonde woman next to him.

“I understand. Everyone else will come with me to the Ministry of Health for a checkup. As for you…” Isaac said, “each of you will provide me with ten milliliters of blood.”

"can."

After the conversation ended, the remaining people walked towards the Ministry of Health under the guard of the soldiers, while the three who stayed behind had Isaac draw a little blood from each of them with a syringe.

The matters concerning Metsubou and Amaterasu Mima have been dealt with; now it's Mumei's turn...