Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

“It’s been over thirty-four seconds, sir.” Isaac’s words sent a chill down the warrior’s spine, but Isaac continued, “However, that’s a minor issue. What did your lord say?”

"My lord, your request is granted. The gates here will be open to all Amestoris soldiers."

“Good~” Isaac laughed and picked up the walkie-talkie and shouted, “The first and second companies will come into the city with me, and everyone else will wait outside the city.”

And so, the tanks marched through the city gates and arrived at Iwato Station.

The residents inside were frightened by these steel behemoths and hid in their homes, too afraid to come out. Some children were curious and wanted to go up and take a look, but their parents pulled them behind them.

Soon, dozens of tanks arrived and surrounded the lord's manor. Isaac, however, planned to go to the manor himself.

"Violet, you and Mumei can just wander around Iwado Station. I can handle things here myself."

“Yes,” Violet replied.

Wuming looked annoyed: "Why won't you let us go in with you?"

"Since discussing things is boring and there might be arguments along the way, you and Violet can go have some fun. I can handle things here myself," Isaac said, then went to the lord's manor after giving Violet a few instructions.

Wuming watched Isaac's departing figure with some unhappiness.

"Miss No Name, where would you like to go?" Violet quickly switched into 'child-care' mode.

"You're treating me like a child too?"

“Yes,” Violet tilted her head. “Isn’t that right?”

"..."

------

Inside a guest room in the lord's manor, numerous warriors knelt on the ground, glaring menacingly at Isaac as he entered.

Isaac casually crafted a chair, sat on it, and looked at the lord kneeling in front of him.

“I really can’t get used to your kneeling posture in Japan, so I’ll sit in a chair and talk to you.”

"It's alright, Lord Isaac, you can talk however you like."

The man before me had a kind and honest appearance and wore glasses. He was Maeda, the lord of Iwato Station.

“I’ll get straight to the point.” Isaac narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at Maeda and asked, “I’ve heard that you have a large number of unreported arms transactions and have been illegally transporting weapons elsewhere. Can you explain what’s going on?”

These words made the atmosphere in the room tense.

Maeda had a cold sweat on his forehead, but he still forced a smile and asked, "This is a misunderstanding. All our weapons production and transactions have been approved by Amestoris. We have never produced or transported weapons privately."

“Is that so? Then you don’t mind if I search Iwato Station, do you?” Isaac asked.

"This……"

“Oh right, it seems I don’t need your permission either.” Isaac suddenly laughed. “The whole of Japan is ours, and I don’t need your permission to search it.”

Chapter 439: The Unknown Little Girl

"So, how does Your Excellency intend to investigate?" Maeda asked, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.

“I will block all transportation routes in the entire Iwato Post Station, and all Juncheng residents will be prohibited from leaving the city for three days,” Isaac said.

“No, a three-day lockdown will have a huge impact here,” Maeda said anxiously. “Iwado Station already has insufficient resources, if…”

“No water, no food, I’ll have someone airdrop it,” Isaac said. “Any other questions?”

"This……"

“I must investigate this matter thoroughly. If we don’t find anything within three days, we will leave immediately, and I will make up for every penny of your losses.”

As Isaac spoke, his eyes suddenly turned fierce, sending a chill down the spines of the surrounding warriors.

"But let me make this clear: if I find out that there are indeed unreported weapons, I'll drag all of you bastards out and shoot you."

"asshole"

One of the fierce-looking samurai couldn't sit still any longer and drew his katana, pointing it at Isaac.

"What are you saying to the lord!" he yelled. "Do you know how much effort the lord has put into Iwado Station?!"

From the moment Isaac entered, he showed absolutely no respect for the lord, speaking rudely in various ways, which enraged this loyal warrior.

"Itagaki! Don't be impulsive!" Maeda hurriedly tried to stop him.

With his back to him, Isaac said in a nonchalant tone, "Don't be so arrogant, you colonists. I never care about your opinions, because it's pointless."

“Perhaps your lord is revered in your hearts, but if he dares to defy the rule of Amestris, he will only face death,” Isaac said with a smile, slowly raising his hand. “And don’t point your sword at me; that will only get you killed.”

"you……"

"Itagaki, put down your sword!" Maeda gave the order directly.

"……Yes."

His face was full of resentment, but he eventually sheathed the knife.

"Lord Isaac, you may investigate if you wish."

"It should have been done a long time ago."

Isaac stood up and left the room. The chair that had been there turned to ashes in a flash of electricity and floated out the window.

Here, only the lord, his elders, and a group of warriors remained.

"Lord Maeda, what do we do now?" one of the retainers asked anxiously. "The people of Amestoris already know about this."

Lord Maeda's expression was also not very good.

Admittedly, they have indeed manufactured large quantities of weapons and begun shipping them to various regions, but logically, only a very small number of people should know about this. So who leaked the information?

Maeda scrutinized everyone in the room, his glasses reflecting a blinding white light through the sunlight.

Since Amestris officially declared the occupation of Japan, the forces that had originally occupied the country have begun to have different opinions.

One view is that Isaac and his people are barbarians, and all their actions infringe upon their interests and need to be eradicated.

Another option is to support Amestris's rule over Hinomoto, because since Isaac arrived with his army, he has not interfered with them. Instead, he has been clearing out the Kabane in the surrounding areas. Hinomoto's technology is far behind that of Amestris, so this is a good opportunity for them to learn.

Supporters of these two opposing viewpoints also began to engage in open and covert struggles.

Maeda glanced at his retainers. Logically, they should all belong to the faction opposing Amestris's rule, just like him, but it seemed that there were traitors among them.

The fact that weapons were being secretly produced was known only to the people in this room; it must have been one of them who leaked the information.

Who on earth is it?

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

On the street, Wuming and Violet were strolling around.

The shops here are more abundant than those at Kenkin Station and Wabun Station, and there is no sign of the lack of supplies that Maeda and Isaac described.

Nameless skipped and hopped ahead, while Violet walked quietly behind her.

A cute girl and a beautiful young woman walking down the street naturally attracted the attention of countless people, but no one dared to approach Violet because of her military uniform.

"Violet, you should have noticed by now," Wuming muttered softly, still in his playful pose.

“Yes,” Violet nodded. “We’re being watched.”

Since then, in addition to the gazes of passersby, the two women have also noticed that people in the houses on both sides are watching them through the windows. Every time they turn around, the people leaning against the windows disappear.

This person is clearly someone who has received some training.

"Is Isaac alright?"

“The lieutenant general is very strong, there’s no need to worry,” Violet said.

But her eyes still couldn't help glancing towards the lord's manor.

Just as the two were about to go back and check, a petite figure blocked their way.

The newcomer appeared to be a little girl, wearing a black vest that exposed her back and slender arms. She was masked, had a katana hanging at her waist, and wore a straw hat on her head.

"Who goes there?" Nameless took out a kunai from his pocket and held it in front of him.

The man didn't answer, but looked at Violet: "Judging from your clothes, you should be an officer from Amestris."

"That's right. May I ask what brings you here, young lady?"

"I would like to meet Lord Isaac. Could you please introduce me?" asked the veiled girl wearing a straw hat.

“Please state your purpose,” Violet replied.

"I can't tell you now. I need to see you in person before I can tell you why I'm here," the little girl insisted. "It's my job."

"Then I cannot tell you the lieutenant general's whereabouts. Please leave."

“Is that so…” the girl pulled down her straw hat and said softly, “But the mission must be completed.”

The next moment, she ducked and charged straight at the two of them, drawing her katana from her waist.

"You bastard!"

Nameless was the first to react, rushing forward to wrestle with her. Sparks flew as the kunai in his hand clashed with the knife in the little girl's hand.

clang!

"This guy is pretty strong."

After several exchanges of fighting, Nameless discovered that Cabanelli's body had actually fought her for several rounds. And the little girl herself was not at a disadvantage at all.

She also noticed that the person in front of her always used the back of a knife when fighting.

"Miss Unknown, please stop," Violet said calmly.

"what?"

Wuming was about to turn around and ask Violet what had happened, but in the next instant she felt the temperature in the air drop rapidly, and frost began to form on the ground.

In contrast, the little girl's legs were frozen in ice and she couldn't move.

Chapter 440: Todo Chise

"An alchemist?"

The little girl immediately understood Violet's identity after looking at her frozen legs.

Rumor has it that Amestoris sent two alchemists with state qualifications to Japan this time. One of them is Isaac, whom she is looking for, and the identity of the other has always been unclear. Now it seems that it is the blonde girl in front of us.

She quickly drew her sword from its sheath, smashed the ice off her legs, and charged forward once more.