Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

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"It is composed of top scientists from four countries: Professor Arthur Shanak, the head of the 'Obelisk' in Australia; Professor Sumire Muroto, the head of the 'New Human Creation Project' in Japan; and Ann Rand, the head of 'NEXT' in the United States—that is, me."

"As for the highest-ranking person in charge of us, it was Professor Albrecht Grünewald, a German scientist. The four of us possessed the technology to manufacture mechanized soldiers. At the time, we were known as the Four Sages."

Isaac then asked, "Why are you telling me all this? Introducing yourself?"

“Of course, now that you’ve got your eye on me, my identity will be exposed sooner or later,” Rand said.

“It seems you really want to tell me something, then I’m all ears,” Isaac said with a smile. “Tell me everything you know, the names of the client and the traitors within the Holy House.”

"of course."

Rand didn't care whether his client was safe.

When he received the assassination mission, he had never heard that the Emperor's guards were such terrifying guys.

It's all a problem with their intelligence work, and they should bear all the consequences themselves.

Next, Rand revealed the name of the mastermind, as well as the names of all the collaborators.

Isaac listened to these names and quickly wrote them down.

Just as we thought, the mastermind was Qi Wuzongxuan, and there were indeed traitors within the Holy Residence.

Those people, having lost their families in the Gastrea Wars ten years ago, deeply resented the Gastrea that took their families, and thus transferred their hatred to the Cursed Children.

When he learned that the Holy Emperor planned to implement the 'Gastrea Law' to grant human rights to the cursed children, hatred began to spread in his heart.

It was this same group of people who told Rand and Tina about the Holy Emperor's itinerary for the next few days.

“I have said everything I needed to say, Mr. Satomi.”

"Very well, although I really want to come and kill you, I'll spare your life for now, since you've saved me time."

“Then… Tina, she…”

“This is a prisoner. If you want to take her away, you can come see me in person.” Isaac smiled wickedly. “You can leave her here as well.”

Rand gritted his teeth and finally hung up the phone.

Isaac saw that the other party had hung up the phone, so he returned the phone to Tina.

"Mr. Rentaro...I..."

Tina has a lot to say, but she doesn't know how to start.

If Rentaro is your enemy, then Rentaro will also consider you an enemy.

He no longer feels the same way he used to...

“As I said before, you are now a prisoner,” Isaac said, looking at Tina. “Now, come with me to see someone.”

Chapter 269: Sumire Muroto

"Doctor, I'm here again."

In the same dimly lit laboratory, Isaac appeared once again, with Tina beside him looking anxious.

She was terrified. Was she being taken to another lab to be experimented on? The painful memories of being modified by Rand years ago lingered in her mind.

Sumire Muroto was taking a nap when she heard someone call her, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Sumire Muroto, who had been slumped over the table, slowly raised her head and looked weakly at Isaac, then glanced at Tina, who was trembling all over.

"Your ability to abduct little girls is getting more and more skillful, Rentaro-kun."

“I am a soldier in Amestris and a police officer in this world. Please don’t make it sound like I would commit such low-level crimes.”

"Oh dear, what's the story with this little girl next to you?" Sumire Muroto pointed at Tina.

“The assassin who twice targeted the Holy Emperor,” Isaac said. “By the way, Doctor, do you know someone named Ayn Rand?”

Upon hearing the name, Sumire Muroto sat up abruptly, her eyes filled with seriousness.

Where did you hear that name from?

"He's the one who brought this kid here. He also told me about the 'Four Sages,' and it seems you, Doctor, are one of them."

Instead of answering Isaac's question directly, Sumire Muroto walked over to Tina and kept touching her body.

"That...that one."

Tina was somewhat at a loss in the face of this sudden attack and looked at Isaac with pleading eyes.

Then, she pulled out three fist-sized, spherical metal objects from behind Tina.

"It's actually 'Senfeld'! That old guy actually succeeded in researching it."

"Hello, doctor, have you found anything?"

Sumire Muroto stopped what she was doing, her expression somewhat unpleasant.

Isaac noticed her expression was off and asked, "Did you find something?"

Sumire Muroto sat back down, clutching her head and angrily exclaiming, "That bastard Ayn Rand! Has he really fallen this low?"

"What's wrong? Why are you so angry?"

"Of course I'm angry. That guy has sold even the bare minimum of conscience a doctor should have to the devil. Rentaro, do you remember why you underwent the 'New Human Creation Project' surgery?"

"How could I possibly know?"

"Oh, I forgot you're not that Rentaro anymore." Sumire Muroto covered her forehead.

She was genuinely angry just now.

"You were eaten by Gastrea while protecting Tendo Kisara, losing your hands, feet, and left eye, and then you were brought here."

"In other words, at that time, I was faced with two options: to live or to die."

“That’s right.” Sumire Muroto nodded and continued:

"The same goes for Hiruko Kagetane. At the time, his internal organs were severely impaired, leaving him with only two options: surgery or death. Before we, along with An and the other three, gathered to develop mechanized soldiers for various countries, we swore an oath—'We are both scientists and doctors.' Of course, that was because the success rate of surgery was extremely low at the time. More importantly, we had to respect the individual's will and never forget our reverence for life. Now, Rentaro, have you ever heard of a cursed child dying from illness?"

The Cursed Children are bound to a limited lifespan through a rate of erosion within their bodies, but in return, they gain overwhelming strength, agility, and regenerative abilities. Furthermore, they are immune to the various diseases and physical disabilities that humans suffer from.

In other words, they cannot have a choice between death and life.

"Now you understand, right, Rentaro? That bastard Ann Rand broke his oath and sent the healthy cursed child into the laboratory."

Furthermore, due to the regenerative abilities of the Cursed Child, a holmium scalpel must be used during the surgery, making the success rate extremely low.

Before Tina, there must have been many other little girls who had become cold corpses.

“I see.” Isaac nodded.

But his expression remained completely unchanged.

Sumire Muroto looked at Isaac strangely: "I thought you would be very angry to hear this news."

"Don't joke around. The person standing in front of you isn't some pessimistic saint, he's not even a good person," Isaac laughed.

But this smile made even the gloomy Sumire Muroto feel a chill.

"I have conducted human experiments on living people before. In my world, a large number of prisoners of war died on my experimental table."

As he spoke, Isaac pulled a small, blood-red stone from his pocket.

"The person standing in front of you is not the same Rentaro Satomi as before."

After a moment of silence, Sumire Muroto suddenly laughed: "They're the same person from different worlds, yet their personalities are so different."

“There will always be individual differences,” Isaac said with a smile.

"I killed countless patients to create enhanced soldiers like you. Rentaro, will you hate me, a bastard woman like me, after you know the truth?" Sumire Muroto suddenly asked.

“What are you talking about, Doctor?” Isaac walked up to Sumire Muroto and pointed to himself. “There’s someone even more despicable than you in front of you.”

"Compared to a truly incorrigible scoundrel like me, you are practically a saint."

Sumire Muroto paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Rentaro, or rather Isaac, do you know how I felt after you told me that 'Rentaro' was dead?"

Isaac shook his head, signaling her to continue.

“I sent you into this world with the aim of killing and annihilation—but only Rentaro took a different path. Although he often acts strangely on the surface, he is very straightforward at heart. It was only then that I realized that my soul was redeemed by his growth. I was of no help to the world and was screaming in despair when I fell into the abyss of despair. Through his existence, I reconnected with the world.”

After a pause, Sumire Muroto continued, "His death was like the fading of light for me, bringing me back to the abyss."

At that moment, she stood up and cupped Isaac's face in her hands: "If Rentaro is the angel who pulled me out of the abyss, then you are the demon who caught me when I fell back into the abyss."

"Look at what you're saying, Isaac isn't some kind of demon," Isaac said with a laugh.

“Promise me, Isaac.” Sumire looked at Isaac earnestly, “I don’t want to go back to that darkness. Promise me, don’t die.”

After listening to her, Isaac laughed and said, "You won't die."

Muroto Sumire lowered her hand with satisfaction and looked at Tina, who was hiding in the corner.

What are you planning to do with this child?

Chapter 270: Hiring Tina

"What should we do?"

Isaac glanced at Tina, who was hiding in the corner.

Tina was startled and quickly hid her head behind the wall.

"It's no use hiding."

Isaac pulled the man out from behind the wall and placed him in front of him.

“Um…that…” Tina looked at Isaac nervously.