Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

"I disagree!!" Yeonju slammed her hand on the table and shouted.

"..."

Isaac looked helplessly at the twin-tailed little girl sitting in front of him, yelling. Meanwhile, Chizu Natsuyo calmly sipped her tea.

As soon as he got home that evening, Isaac told Yeonjoo about his plan to go to China to learn cooking. Yeonjoo was initially happy to agree, but when Isaac told her that he would only be taking Chizu Natsume with him, Yeonjoo immediately turned hostile.

"I've only been away for a few months."

"That's several months! Not just a few hours! I'll go crazy if I don't see Rentaro for months!" Enju's face was full of displeasure.

"Then just bear with it."

"No way!" Yeonjoo shook her head, her twin ponytails bobbing like rattles.

"And it's one thing not to take me along, but why bring her too!"

She pointed angrily at Xia Shi, who was still drinking tea to the side. Xia Shi remained calm and composed throughout.

Enju, dejected, knelt on the ground, saying, "I originally thought the biggest enemy was that chest-shaped alien Kisara, but I didn't expect that Xia Shi would beat me to it."

At this moment, Xia Shi also put down his teacup, looked at Yan Zhu who was fooling around there, and said, "Actually, it's not impossible to take Miss Yan Zhu along."

"Oh?" Yeonju perked up immediately upon hearing this.

Xia Shi continued, "The most important thing for us on this trip to China is naturally the Chinese language."

When Isaac mentioned 'going to China' as a reason, Xia Shi already guessed that it was a lie. She knew that the place Isaac really wanted to go was Amestris, and only she and Dr. Muroto Sumire knew about that place.

Of course, Xia Shi wouldn't reveal these things to Yan Zhu.

“I know that,” Yeonju said.

"Does Yeonju speak Chinese?"

“Hmm…” Yeonju was speechless for a moment.

“I can master any language in the world within a week, and I had already learned Chinese before, so it was only natural that I would travel with Mr. Satomi.”

"This……"

Yeonju was no longer able to speak.

“That’s it. So, only Xia Shi is coming with me this time. You just stay here quietly,” Isaac said. “I’ve already spoken to the boss. You’ll stay at the company while I’m gone, and someone will take care of getting you to and from school…”

"I don't care anymore! Rentaro, you mustn't abandon me!"

Yeonju jumped onto Isaac and clung to him tightly like a koala.

"Stop fooling around and follow instructions."

After much persuasion, Isaac finally managed to pull the mischievous girl off him, and then began preparing for the final tasks.

At night, Xia Shi and Yan Zhu slept in the same room.

"Hey, Xia Shi."

Yeonju lay beside him, unable to fall asleep.

"what happened?"

"When you go out with Rentaro this time, you must grant me a few requests."

"What?" Xia Shi asked.

"You are not allowed to have any intimate contact with Rentaro, nor are you allowed to sneak into her bed at night," Enju said seriously. "These are my privileges."

Xia Shi was slightly taken aback after hearing her words, but immediately revealed a meaningful smile.

"That's hard to say."

"Ah! I really shouldn't have let you, you philandering cat, go on your honeymoon with Rentaro!"

Yeonju immediately turned around and pinned Xia Shi down, and the two little girls started making a ruckus in the room.

--------

In the early morning, after bidding a reluctant farewell to Yeonju, Isaac and Xia Shi left home.

Isaac went out carrying a briefcase containing a laptop computer, which contained files on various military and scientific technologies he had acquired in this world.

Not long after, the two arrived at the Tiantong Civil Security Company.

"Mr. Isaac, would you like to say goodbye to Miss Kisara?"

"No, I renovated this office building when I bought it, and one of the rooms on the third basement level is our destination."

As they were talking, Isaac had already led Xia Shi into the elevator.

The elevator slowly descended to the third basement level. Passing through a room marked 'No Entry,' Isaac opened a secret passage that had been pre-marked inside.

As you walk along the dark, secret passage, an iron gate appears at the end.

Is this the place?

Xia Shigang was about to step forward when Isaac grabbed him.

"what happened?"

Isaac frowned and said, "Someone's there."

Ignoring Xia Shi's puzzled expression, Isaac went over and pushed open the iron gate.

Inside the iron gate was a dimly lit room with only faint light, and a huge transmutation circle was drawn on the floor. Standing atop the transmutation circle was a beautiful figure in a white lab coat.

"A doctor?" Xia Shi looked at the person inside in surprise.

"How heartless! They didn't even say goodbye before leaving."

Sumire Muroto smiled and walked over to Isaac when she saw him.

"Oh, you're a doctor. How did you find this place?"

“Before you went to the Flame of Return to participate in the battle,” Muroto Sumire laughed, “the method you used to kill five million people in the Tokyo area was probably drawing something like a magic circle on the ground. I remember you called it a ‘transformation circle’.”

Isaac nodded.

Muroto Sumire continued, "And if you want to go back, I guess it will be through a transmutation circle. And the best place for a transmutation circle is the place that originally belonged to you, which is the building of the Tendo Civil Security Company that you bought."

“I came here once when you went to the Flame of Return and accidentally discovered this secret passage on the third underground level. After seeing the transmutation array inside, I believe this is your way back.”

*Clap clap clap clap clap*

Isaac applauded after hearing Sumire Muroto's reasoning.

"That's right, your analysis is quite accurate. But how did you know I would be here today?"

“Because Kisara told me yesterday that you were going to China to learn how to cook, I guessed it was just a cover, so I came to wait for you at dawn.” Muroto Sumire said, yawning. “Come to think of it, it’s rare for me to get up so early.”

"Then why did you come here? You didn't come just to say goodbye, did you?"

“Of course not,” Muroto Sumire said, her smile fading.

"I came here this time to go with you to a place called Amestris."

Episode 332: Return

"You want to come to Amestris with me?"

"Yes."

"Why?" Isaac asked, frowning.

The original plan was to only bring Chizu Natsuyo, but now there is suddenly one more person.

“Because I’m fed up with this world,” Sumire Muroto shrugged. “I want to experience life in another world.”

"This is me..."

"Don't be so quick to refuse," Sumire Muroto said with a smile. "I know your principle is equal exchange, so I'm also prepared to offer my sincerity as a 'visa'."

"Ok?"

Isaac raised an eyebrow, suddenly intrigued, and gestured for Sumire Muroto to continue.

Sumire Muroto said, "I know you brought Natsume Chizu back because of her learning ability. Indeed, with her dolphin gastrulation factor, she learned from me in two months what a normal person would need to learn for several years."

Isaac nodded; he had witnessed Xia Shi's terrifying learning ability firsthand.

“However, the knowledge in the information age is too vast, and even if Xia Shi has a strong learning ability, it is impossible for her to fully grasp it,” Muroto Sumire said.

"So what? You're not trying to say that you've mastered all the knowledge in this world, are you?"

“Of course not. I can only reach the top in one field, but that’s enough,” Sumire Muroto said, handing a stack of documents to Isaac.

Isaac took the documents and glanced at them briefly; they were design drawings for some high-end instruments.

"You go back wanting to give your country's soldiers the weapons of this era, but without specialized training methods, even the most advanced weapons will only be useless."

That's true. Isaac had used weapons from that era, and it took a long time to become familiar with the numerous electronic instruments inside, especially the instrument panels and buttons in fighter jets that could trigger trypophobia.

If the weapon were manufactured directly, it would probably just sit there collecting dust for a long time.

Sumire Muroto smiled and said, "The design I gave you is the most advanced VR experience equipment. Soldiers can become familiar with the operation of various weapons in virtual reality, and can train soldiers in the fastest time without wasting those weapons."

"..."

It has to be said that this was something Isaac couldn't refuse. With this, the weapon could be put into normal use not long after it was manufactured.

"How about it? This stuff is pretty good, isn't it?"

"It's alright, it's exactly what I need at this stage."

Muroto Sumire watched Isaac put the documents into his briefcase and continued, "Furthermore, Xia Shi is studying mechanical engineering with me. She can manufacture most of the civilian machinery of this era, but this is all learned in a short period of time through cramming. If we want a country to develop, one person alone is not enough."

"As one of the Four Sages, I have several years of practical experience. I can continue to guide Xia Shi there, making her a qualified scientist and enabling Amestris's technology to advance rapidly to a level that this world has never reached before."

After Sumire Muroto finished speaking, the entire dimly lit room fell silent.

After a short while, Isaac spoke up: "Is this what you call sincerity?"

“Not bad,” Sumire Muroto smiled. “And how do you feel, Brigadier General Isaac?”

“It’s certainly a sincere offer that’s hard to refuse,” Isaac said with a smile.

"So you agreed?"

“Of course.” Isaac extended his hand. “Welcome to the team.”