Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

Dietrich and his brother Gilbert looked at the man with surprise, and the surrounding guests also turned their attention to see how the young State Alchemist would respond.

The topic of the dead coming back to life stirred the thoughts of many people present.

“Yes… I want to know no matter what!” The red-haired youth seemed very eager.

"..."

Just as Isaac was wondering what to say, Dietrich whispered in his ear, "This man is Oscar Webster, a fairly famous playwright. His wife apparently died a month ago from a very strange genetic disease."

Hearing this, Isaac roughly understood why the young man had asked him about the resurrection of the dead.

It seems like the people here have some misunderstanding about alchemy.

It's not surprising that they were like this. Even in Amestris, a country with advanced alchemy, many people in the cities had never even heard of alchemy, let alone in such a distant place.

At this point, Isaac could have easily told him "no comment," but seeing the eager look in his eyes, he felt it wouldn't be good to say nothing at all, so he deliberately asked:

Why did you ask that question?

"I want to see my wife again!" he said frankly.

One month ago.

A light rain was falling as Oscar wept uncontrollably at the grave.

"Why did you leave me...why..." Oscar repeated this sentence over and over again.

“She’s a pitiful person,” said a woman dressed in black mourning clothes next to him. “She was afraid you wouldn’t dare marry her if you found out she had a hereditary disease, so she kept it from you all this time…”

As she said this, the woman began to cry softly.

"No... I love her... Why didn't you tell me... Even if I lose everything, I will never abandon her! Why didn't she tell me?!" Recalling his wife's smiles, comfort, and care for him in the past, he resented his wife for hiding his illness and hated himself even more for not discovering his wife's condition sooner.

"We clearly promised to be together for life..."

"That's right, in the stories I've read before... alchemy... yes! As long as there's alchemy! I'm sure I can see her again!" Oscar was a little dazed and couldn't help but shout.

"But...where can we find an alchemist?" After all, alchemy is just a legend in the eyes of ordinary people.

Later, Oscar received an invitation to a banquet in Bugamberia, hoping to go there and ask the other high-ranking dignitaries attending the banquet if they had any information about alchemists.

Fortunately, they encountered a legendary alchemist.

He is still the State Alchemist, standing at the pinnacle of all alchemists.

Isaac asked, "Why do you believe that alchemy can resurrect the dead?"

"I'm a playwright, and I occasionally enjoy researching stories from abroad. I happened to hear about alchemy!"

"Your alchemy seems to have a technique called human transmutation!"

Have you gone to this extent with all the information?

Isaac didn't answer directly. Instead, he interlaced his fingers below his nose and said, "35 liters of water, 20 kilograms of carbon, 4 liters of ammonia, 1.5 kilograms of lime, 800 grams of phosphorus, 250 grams of salt, 100 grams of saltpeter..."

"What are you talking about?" Oscar asked, puzzled. The others in the hall shared the same question.

Isaac ignored them and continued speaking:

"80 grams of sulfur, 7.5 grams of fluorine, 5 grams of iron, and 3 grams of silicon."

At this point, seeing the puzzled crowd, he explained, "The elements contained in these materials are sufficient to form a healthy human body, and the price of these materials is so high that even a child could buy them with their saved allowance, let alone rich people like you."

"Human transmutation is theoretically feasible."

“So you mean…” Oscar became excited, as if he could already see his wife smiling at him.

But Isaac ruthlessly interrupted him the next moment: "It's only theoretically possible, but no one has ever succeeded!"

"How could this be..." The feeling of falling from heaven to hell is definitely not pleasant, and Oscar was so shocked that he knelt down on the ground.

Isaac ignored him and continued, "The basic elements that constitute a person are body, mind, and soul. So the question is, what substance constitutes the soul?"

"This……"

“Furthermore, everyone’s body is different. How do you know the proportions of the elements in your wife’s body? No two bodies are the same.” At this point, Isaac recalled the Ishvalan annihilation battle three years ago, when he seemed to have dissected many corpses.

"..." Oscar had completely given up hope. He thought hope was right in front of him, but it turned out to be just a castle in the air.

Looking at Oscar Isaac, who was lying on the ground with a pale face, I didn't feel much. Anyone can daydream.

"Let me tell you something else: human transmutation comes at a price," he said, lifting his bangs, and everyone, including Oscar, gasped.

Isaac's left eye, previously covered by bangs, now has its eye socket covered with metal, and the eyeball has been replaced with a blood-red mechanical eyeball.

“Mr. Isaac… this is…” Oscar asked.

"I accidentally hurt myself during the experiment; it was a mistake I made because I was too young." Isaac, letting down his bangs, continued, "Let the dead go; the living need to live well."

“A living person…” Oscar hesitated for a moment, as if he had thought of something, and his originally dim pupils suddenly lit up. “Mr. Isaac, I have another request to ask of you.”

"What?"

"My wife died of a hereditary disease, and my daughter also suffers from the same hereditary disease, so please, Mr. Isaac, save her!" she said, bowing her head and pleading with Isaac.

A living person? That makes things easier.

"I agree to your request." To Oscar's delight, Isaac agreed to help him out.

"Thank you so much..."

Oscar was about to thank him when Isaac put his hand on his shoulder and whispered in his ear, "But you see, I'm in this country on a mission, and I'm usually very busy. Treating you at your house is like taking on a side job for me, so you know what I mean."

As he spoke, he held out his other hand to Oscar and rubbed it together.

Oscar instantly understood: "I understand. I'm a fairly well-known playwright, and I have some savings. I'll definitely repay you handsomely later..."

"Good job, you're on the right track." He patted Oscar on the shoulder with a smile, and the deal was done.

The banquet was drawing to a close, and Isaac was busy dealing with guests who wanted to talk to him, many of whom had requests to make.

Chapter Six: Carp is best when braised.

It was late at night, and the sky was already dark.

The banquet lasted until midnight before it ended, and the guests prepared to head home.

Before leaving, they all handed their business cards to Isaac, hoping to collaborate sometime. Isaac accepted them all, as they were all potential customers.

During the banquet, in addition to promising to help Oscar with his daughter's treatment, he also took on other people's business, such as a bridge-building application from a construction company owner and the need for an art museum to produce some custom-made crafts.

Some might ask, do State Alchemists lack money?

Actually, he doesn't lack anything. As a state-qualified alchemist, in addition to the high research funding provided by the state, he also receives subsidies for helping the state. Furthermore, Isaac is a soldier, and his military pay plus research funding constitutes an extremely high fixed salary.

however,

As Isaac boarded the train leaving his country, he suddenly realized that he might face financial hardship after leaving the country.

As is well known, State Alchemists must present their signature and a silver pocket watch representing their identity to claim their research funding from the counter of the military bank, while military funds are distributed uniformly by their respective headquarters and collected by the individual.

That is,

I won't receive a single penny after going abroad until I complete my mission.

To be honest, based on what I learned from asking Old Bugambiria about the war situation, this war will last at least two years. In addition, if the target is not eliminated by the end of the war, it will probably take time to find him.

That's infuriating.

Wages have been in arrears for two years.

Two years! Not only have I not received my money, but that chubby-faced arsonist is probably going to be promoted to the same position as me.

The Bugambiria family sent the money directly to the Grand President when they invited him. Although his food, clothing, and lodging in the Kingdom of Leiden-Sheftrich were provided by the family, this was only for basic living expenses.

Moreover, it's very unpleasant to not have any money in your pocket.

"Bradley, you tricked me! I've worked for you for so long, don't blame me for taking on private jobs this time." Isaac, having no reason to pin the blame on his own president, left the mansion to clear his head.

At that moment, Dietrich also stepped out of the family mansion.

He didn't want to stay in this house for another second, and he didn't want to face his father.

Back then, because he insisted on joining the navy, his relationship with his father deteriorated further.

Let's leave here tonight and return to St. Petersburg to continue our work as naval officers.

Thinking this, Dietrich walked towards the gate of the mansion and suddenly saw a flickering firelight beside him.

"What's going on?" Thinking something was on fire, he quickly ran over to see, only to find a black-haired boy sitting by a fire, with a roasted fish sitting on top of it.

“Mr. Isaac?” He wasn’t sure if this person was the young alchemist.

“Oh! Little Dietrich, come sit here.” Isaac waved to Dietrich.

What the heck is 'Xiao Di'?

"I thought your name was too long, so I simplified it to make it easier to pronounce."

Isn't that a bit too casual?

"Um... Mr. Isaac, what are you doing?"

"Oh, of course I'm grilling fish. I was out for a walk and got hungry, so I just grilled something to eat."

You ate the most at the banquet!

“Then, Mr. Isaac, where did you get your fish?” Dietrich asked cautiously.

"In that pond in your backyard." She pointed towards the backyard.

Dietrich looked in the direction Isaac was pointing, and his expression suddenly changed.

"Aren't those the fish that Father keeps at home for ornamental purposes?!"

"For decoration? I think it tastes pretty good!"

“…That was a koi that Father imported from New Zealand at a high price.” Dietrich looked at the fish that had been roasted to a golden brown next to the fire.

It seems there's no way to save him.

"A lucky charm from the new country! You should have said so earlier! I actually know a little about braised dishes too!" Isaac exclaimed, slapping his thigh.

They really don't treat themselves like outsiders...

However, Dietrich didn't intend to get involved in the matter anymore, since he didn't want to concern himself with his father's affairs.

“Mr. Isaac, please enjoy your meal. I’ll head back now.” She said, standing up from beside him.