Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

"Same as before."

"Besides, Lieutenant General, you didn't have any connection with muscular men before."

"..."

"Alright, go play with yourselves." Isaac didn't want to waste any more words with them, so he waved them away. "The mission to guard Sloth is over. Report to the military headquarters tomorrow; there will be new assignments."

"Yes."

After the soldiers left, Isaac glanced at the empty freezer and then disappeared in a flash.

……

Upon arriving at the presidential palace again, Isaac was about to report to Olivia when he noticed a huge figure standing outside.

It looked like Alex; he was standing nervously outside the door.

"Alex, you're here?"

"Oh? Isn't this Isaac? It's been a while."

The moment Alex saw Isaac, a look of unease flashed across his face again. He grabbed Isaac's shoulder and said gravely, "Could you come in with me?"

"Is it really that difficult for you to see your superior?" Isaac looked at Alex speechlessly. "She's your sister, after all."

"I'm nervous because she's my sister," Alex pleaded. "I'll definitely get beaten up if you're not around, but my sister won't beat me up in front of you."

Olivia had never been kind to her brother, who had fled from the battlefield, a fact known throughout the army.

"What kind of reason is that... Never mind, I'll go in with you."

As they opened the door, they saw Olivia still working. She heard someone come in, looked up, and saw Isaac and Alex.

"Isaac, you're back so soon?"

"Yes, I've dealt with Sloth. I'm back to report to you, sir."

“That’s right, keeping him locked up all the time isn’t a good idea.” Olivia nodded, then frowned again when she saw Alex behind her.

"You're back too? How did things go at Brix Keep?"

“It’s all resolved!” Alex stood ramrod straight.

"Hmm, that's not bad." Olivia's brow relaxed. "Report on the extent of the damage."

"We suffered no casualties on our side, while the enemy's three armored divisions of Dorakma were completely wiped out," Alex reported.

In fact, after Isaac defeated Al-Lugo, Dorakma basically had no desire to fight anymore, and all they did was harass the border area.

"Okay, you did a good job this time."

"Whoo~"

Alex, the giant, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"By the way, Alex, did he use the EP bomb I gave Gran?"

“I used it…” Alex seemed to recall some unpleasant memory, “That thing was too powerful… The enemy troops were all turned to ashes in an instant…”

Speaking of that EP bomb, it was a personal weapon that Isaac left for Grant to use. It was a concentrated fission bomb, and even a small one like a thermos cup was enough to cause enormous damage.

"Is there anything else you want to report?"

"Um...sister."

"Here you should address me as His Excellency the President."

“Yes, Your Excellency President…” Alex hesitated for a moment before saying, “I wish to be transferred back to Central Command.”

"What did you say!?"

Olivia's face darkened again.

"I sent you to Brix Keep to change your weak character, and you're already thinking about coming back before you've even been there for two months?"

"I'm really not used to that place."

The advantage of the Central Command is that it is safe enough. The soldiers here are all leaders, and they generally only go to the front line when there is a war.

Brix is ​​on the front lines of the war, and although there is no fighting now, the atmosphere there has always been incompatible with Alex's.

“Look at Isaac, even at the Central Command, he successively captured Al-Lugo and Hinomoto, expanding the territory of Amestris. And look at you…”

Olivia cursed, then covered her head.

They're both his/her younger brothers, but the difference between them is just too big to bear.

But you can't blame Alex for this. Although he is very strong, he is peaceful by nature and doesn't like to fight with others, which is the opposite of Olivia and Isaac.

"Is that not allowed...?"

"Of course not, you're not allowed to come back until you've stayed for at least six months."

Isaac looked at Alex, as if he had thought of something, and said, "Sir, how about this? Alex and I will have a duel tomorrow. If he wins, he can stay at Central Command; if he loses, he can go back to Brix Fortress."

"Huh?" Alex looked completely bewildered.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Olivia agreed after a moment’s thought.

"Wait a minute, I am no match for Isaac at all, this duel is completely..."

Isaac put his hand on Alex's shoulder, stopping him from continuing.

"This time I won't use alchemy; I'll only use hand-to-hand combat to decide the winner."

“You said the same thing last time.” Alex recalled the time in the Kingdom of Leiden Sheftrich, when an explosion sent him to the hospital right after the duel ended.

"This time it will definitely not happen again; the superior will supervise."

"OK then."

Alex nodded in agreement, confident that he would never lose in close combat.

Chapter 460: Give Me Back My Goddess!

On this day, the training ground in the central city was bustling with activity and packed with people.

All the active-duty soldiers here had heard that Major Alex Louis Armstrong was going to fight Lieutenant General Isaac Yao with their fists.

Once the duel time was confirmed, the place was already crowded with people early in the morning, waiting for the duel to begin.

Who do you think will win?

"Lieutenant General Isaac, he's a well-established figure."

"I think it's Major Armstrong. After all, this is a combat competition, and alchemy is not allowed."

“I also think Lieutenant General Isaac might not win. His alchemy is very good, but his fighting skills don’t seem to be outstanding.”

"Didn't the lieutenant general study martial arts in Singapore?"

"That can't make up for the gap in physical fitness."

The soldiers talked about the duel with great interest; the rare 'epic battle' had turned their otherwise boring lives upside down.

Of course, it wasn't just these soldiers who came this time.

Sumire Muroto and Natsuyo Chizu also arrived, and they became interested when they heard that Isaac was going to fight someone.

The adorable director took leave, and the researchers at the Fifth Research Institute were basically not motivated to work, so they simply took a day off to come and watch the duel.

The arrival of the two beautiful women, one tall and one short, at the training ground naturally attracted the attention of many soldiers.

"I heard that the other party is a State Alchemist like Isaac. Perhaps we can witness a duel between alchemists." Sumire Muroto's face showed interest.

"Their duel is a martial arts contest; doctors shouldn't even think about seeing anything like alchemy," Chishou Natsuyo said calmly.

Muroto Sumire looked at Natsume with interest, and said with a sly smile, "Are you very worried about Isaac?"

"No, I didn't." Xia Shi turned his head to the side.

"So what's with that first-aid kit you're holding?" Sumire Muroto whispered in Natsume's ear with a chuckle. "Gently bandaging his wounds when he's injured is definitely a good opportunity to boost your favorability~"

"Well……"

Not only them, but also Fu Ye and Lan Fang, who had just arrived in Amestris, were also here.

"Grandpa, His Highness is going to duel with someone."

"That's true, but there's nothing to worry about." Master Fu nodded. "With His Highness's strength, is there any possibility of him losing?"

"That's true."

Lanfang didn't deny it, but in the blink of an eye she saw two familiar figures walking towards her in the distance.

Violet, dressed in military uniform, appeared here with Nameless, who had changed into a school uniform.

"Violet? And...the Nameless?"

She had seen Wuming before; it was this little girl who climbed through Isaac's window when Tennori Mima brought people to Amestris.

Then, ten seconds later, she and Violet caught him.

What are you doing here?

“Why can’t I be here?” Wuming looked at Lanfang and said proudly, puffing out his chest. “I was invited to Amestris by Isaac, you know.”

"what?"

“You were the one who asked the lieutenant general to bring you here,” Violet said expressionlessly, contradicting her.

"Don't tell anyone!!"

“Miss Wuming, you’re going to school tomorrow. Watch the game carefully and remember to review your lessons when you get back.” Violet completely ignored Wuming’s expression. “I will supervise you properly in place of the Lieutenant General.”

"..."

Meanwhile, backstage at the competition.

Isaac and Alex were sitting in the lounge.

"By the way, Alex."

"what happened?"

"What's some way to make me look more masculine?" Isaac asked. "Although I have a rugged appearance, it seems like no one can tell."

"You mean manly spirit? Then you should show off your muscles to others."