Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

"Lieutenant General, isn't it a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut when dealing with an uncivilized country?" a major asked Isaac.

This officer was one of several Singaporeans who participated in the island landing operation training and was also a member of this operation.

As a country that was previously relatively unknown and then closed off from the world for twenty years, Japan does indeed have a sense of being 'uncivilized' in the eyes of these people.

“We haven’t done much research over there, so it’s best to be cautious,” Isaac said. “Despise the enemy strategically, but take them seriously tactically.”

The major muttered Isaac's words repeatedly.

"Lieutenant General, what you said is surprisingly insightful."

"I didn't say that."

"what?"

Isaac also answered his questions.

"Lieutenant General, from which direction should we attack?" the major asked, pointing to the map.

After looking at the full map of Hinomoto taken by the satellite in his hand, Isaac pointed to a place and said, "Let's go here. It looks like the most densely populated area, so it should be the capital. If we're going to attack, we should attack the leader first. Let's just head straight for here."

"Understood."

"Alright." Isaac checked the time and shouted to the soldiers, who were already fully armed and lined up, "Board the ship! Move out!"

Chapter 405: Breaking Through the City Gate

After a day's sailing, the fleet was getting closer and closer to the islands of Japan.

"Lieutenant General, we can already see that island," Violet reminded him from the side.

“Oh, I see it,” Isaac said, looking at the island across the way through his binoculars.

As an island nation, Japan's territory is less than a quarter the size of Amestris, and according to Mima Amaterasu, it was not rich in resources.

If it weren't for the need to station troops there to deter other countries, he wouldn't want to come to this godforsaken place.

Forced by circumstances, there was no other way.

Before long, the ship slowly came to a stop on the sea. And not far ahead was Japan.

Isaac went up to the deck and looked out over the island. It was a place surrounded by huge walls, with a pavilion at the highest point in the middle. That must be the residence of the ruler here.

On the shore, many ragged, gray human figures with glowing hearts wandered about—these were Kabane. The fleet was too far away to be of interest to them.

"Lieutenant General, all personnel are ready. Please give the order." The major walked into the command room, saluted, and said respectfully.

"Get all the transport ships to shore, and all combat personnel onto the tanks. Get all the armed helicopters ready as well," Isaac ordered.

"Yes!"

Everyone started preparing, and Isaac picked up the walkie-talkie.

"All naval guns are to be aimed at the city wall. Prepare to fire on my command."

On the massive battleship, all the cannons began to rotate, all aimed at the city wall.

"3, 2, 1!" Isaac took a deep breath and shouted.

"Fire!!"

-

Kongo, a place in Japan similar to a capital city, was a coastal post station.

In this country, there are no cities or villages. People live under the threat of the Kabane and build fortified settlements called "Stations" in various places to resist the threat, where they are trapped and try to survive. The only means of transportation between Stations is armored steam locomotives (commonly known as Jun-jo). Through the exchange of their respective products, the Stations manage to maintain their livelihood.

Because of the threat from the Kabane outside, people live hidden inside the walls. The leader of this post station called "Kongo-kaku" is General Amaterasu, who is also the ruler of all of Japan.

The general is currently reading a book in his room.

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps approached.

"General!" A man dressed as a samurai knocked on the door.

The general frowned and closed the book with some displeasure.

What's the matter that you're so panicked?

"Sea... sea..."

"Sea? Sea what?" the general shouted sternly. "Explain yourself!"

"Several ships suddenly appeared on the sea, one of which was extremely large," the samurai said.

The general was slightly startled when he heard this: "What did you say? A ship?"

"That's right, a large black ship, followed by ten smaller ones, is heading this way!"

"Take me to see it."

He stood up and followed to the top of the pavilion.

A large number of warriors and officials had gathered here, and they immediately knelt down to pay their respects upon seeing the general arrive.

"Tell me, what happened?"

“General, we see huge ships approaching from the sea,” a samurai said. “They are indeed heading towards Kongoka.”

The general nodded, but some doubts remained in his heart, so he walked to the window and looked out at the sea.

A huge warship was anchored on the sea, while several transport ships had already docked.

The general suddenly had a bad feeling, but he ignored it and instead carefully examined the huge black warship.

"There seems to be some kind of symbol printed on it... a wyvern... could it be Amestris?"

Although Japan had been closed off from the world for twenty years, as the ruler of the country, he still knew more or less about the outside world. The wyvern was the symbol of Amestris.

While he was pondering this, all the cannons on the warship had already turned towards him.

"...No way." Cold sweat was already dripping down the general's forehead.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The ship's cannons roared, and shells flew from the muzzles, striking the city walls and turning the towering, sturdy walls into ruins in an instant.

The massive tremor caused the area where the general was located to shake, and everyone was thrown about.

Not only the general's side, but also the civilians of Jin Gang Guo were terrified. After seeing the city wall being blown up, they all screamed and ran away.

"The city wall has been breached!!"

"Kabane! The Kabane are coming in!!"

"I don't want to die!"

"Someone, please save me!!!"

The crowd erupted into chaos. They saw outside the city walls, monsters with glowing red eyes and hearts peering into the broken walls. Then, roaring, they charged in.

"Ahhhhh!!!!"

Just as everyone was screaming, another shell came flying.

boom!

The place where the Kabane had been was turned into a deep pit, and all the Kabane had turned into minced meat.

Everyone stared at the Kabane, which had been blasted apart by artillery shells, and for a moment they forgot to run away and stood frozen in place.

The monster that terrified them turned into a pile of rotten flesh in an instant.

What happened next made them feel like they were dreaming.

Through the broken city walls, almost everyone in the area could see the outside world. Several unfamiliar 'iron carts' emerged from the transport ships, and every Kabane who charged at them died under their tracks. Each shot from the massive cannons took away a string of Kabane.

That wasn't all. They had never seen armed helicopters before. The helicopters strafed the ground with machine guns from the sky, and the enemy was torn to shreds like paper by the hail of bullets.

The Hellfire missiles raining down from the sky can take out several Kabane with each shot.

Amestoris wreaked havoc outside, while the inhabitants of Japan watched helplessly from within the walls.

No one knows who shouted, "It's God!" and then it spread like a plague.

"God has come to save us!"

"God has come to save us humans!"

……

Meanwhile, Isaac was on the warship watching the situation outside. Several tanks had already entered the city and were planning to surround the general's residence.

"Lieutenant General Isaac, this is steelIV, there's a situation."

Steel was the code name for the armored unit led by Isaac, which they would normally use for communication.

"Received, what happened here?"

"Some issues have indeed arisen."

"What happened? Has the city been attacked?"

"Well... how should I put it?" The voice sounded somewhat helpless. "The city's residents are all kneeling before us. What should we do now?"

"..."

"Lieutenant General?"

"...You're asking me? Who should I ask?"

Chapter 406: You have 24 hours to consider

About a hundred main battle tanks drove into Jin Gang Guo, and the people inside knelt down in worship, while some took refuge in their homes. Their eyes were filled with awe as they looked at the weapons.

Isaac was now in one of the tanks with Violet, and cold sweat dripped down his face as he looked at the people outside who seemed to be worshipping.

Who are these people?

Before long, tanks had completely surrounded the general's mansion, while armed helicopters circled overhead, their machine guns and missiles all aimed at the mansion.

Everyone inside was terrified and turned their attention to the general, who was also stunned.

"General, what should we do?"

"They've come with ill intentions."

The general's face was extremely pale, and fear filled his entire body.