Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

"Could I go to the city with Sousuke Sagara? It's been a while since we last saw each other."

"it is good."

Thank you.

After Isaac finished speaking, he left the room.

"..."

Not long after, Melissa came to open the door and found Tessa kneeling on the ground in a dejected, forward-leaning posture.

"What's wrong, Tessa? Are you having a good time flirting with that kid named Isaac?"

"What? It's rare for us to meet and all we talk about is business." Tessa said, her face full of resentment. "He invited Sagara out but never thought of inviting me! I even applied for 24 hours of port access!"

"..."

"Well......"

"As expected of Sousuke's friend."

Chapter 622: An Acquaintance of Balalaika

On the deck of the submarine, Sousuke Sagara was enjoying the sea breeze with a blond young man.

"Sousuke, was that person your friend?"

"He's an instructor."

"Alright, let's just say I'm an instructor," the blond young man laughed. "To be honest, it's quite enviable."

"what happened?"

"Didn't you notice? The maid we met after we got off the submarine, even though she wore thick glasses, was a real beauty!" He gestured excitedly as he spoke. "And the red-haired girl we received, she was so cute! Don't tell me your friend's eyes weren't filled with any problems."

"What's the problem?" Sosuke asked, looking puzzled.

"Ah!! Didn't you notice that? Then let's talk about our Captain Tessa-chan." His face suddenly showed jealousy. "She's the idol and dream girl of our entire fleet! According to Melissa, Tessa dressed up specially early this morning just to see him."

“Probably out of politeness,” Sosuke said. “Wibba, what are you talking about?”

The man named Wiba grabbed Sosuke's shoulder and shouted, "Haven't you noticed? Your friend is surrounded by beautiful women now! He's a complete winner in life, someone you'd want to burn alive!"

"Burn to death? Forgive my bluntness, but you don't have the ability to do that."

"Ugh……"

Cruz Wiba, that's the name of this blond young man. He, along with Sagara Sousuke and Melissa Mao, are members of the Western Pacific Division's Rapid Reaction Force and are an excellent sniper.

"I'm so envious... When will I be able to be like your friend?"

"Although I don't really understand, it's very difficult to become as good as the instructor."

"That's really hurtful."

Just then, Isaac came out while they were chatting.

As soon as Sousuke Sagara saw Isaac come out, he immediately stood up straight.

"Instructor."

“I told you not to be so nervous,” Isaac said with a smile.

Although I reminded Sagara not to reveal that he was the boss of IW, it was fine to call him instructor normally. However, if he was always so nervous, it would be easy for people to become suspicious.

"You're Isaac?"

Wiba suddenly moved closer to Isaac, staring at him with a fierce look.

"Yes."

"I heard you've won over our captain. Now every soldier in our Western Pacific Fleet wants to pin you to the ground and beat you up."

"I don't know what you've misunderstood, but even if you all came at me in your ASs, you wouldn't be a match for me."

"Hey, you seem pretty arrogant."

Seeing that Wiba seemed to be looking for trouble, Sagara Sousuke reminded him from the side, "The instructor's father is a high-ranking member of 'Mithril,' what you're doing is dangerous."

"..."

"Hahaha, it's alright, it's good that young people have energy."

Isaac patted Wiba on the shoulder, then turned to Sagara Sousuke and said, "It's been a long time. Let's go for a walk around Roanapura."

"Okay, but what about the colonel?"

"I've already spoken to Tessa, and she agreed."

"That would be an honor."

So Isaac led Sosuke off the deck and headed toward Roanapura.

----------

It was the same 'Yellow Flag' bar. Isaac led Sousuke Sagara inside.

He ordered a drink for himself, but considering that Sosuke might not like drinking, he ordered him a juice instead.

"Instructor, drinking alcohol damages brain cells, so it's best to drink less."

Upon hearing Sosuke's words, Isaac was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter, "Hahaha, I don't know why, but every time I see you, someone always comes to mind. You and she are becoming more and more alike."

"what?"

"One of my most outstanding subordinates, I don't know why I can't seem to remember her."

"He must be someone very important to the instructors."

"Yes, it's very important."

Isaac stared at the glass with a slightly dazed look in his eyes, then downed the drink in one gulp.

"Speaking of which, did you see that document I showed you before?"

“Yes, I saw it.” Sousuke Sagara nodded. “Height 163cm, 14 years old, Japanese, no childbirth experience, measurements are…”

"That's good. It seems you really did try to memorize it."

“Yes, I spent all night memorizing it yesterday,” Sagara Sousuke said. “However, I don’t quite understand why the instructor asked me to memorize this person.”

Do you know what a 'listener' is?

"what is that?"

"It's normal that you don't know. They are people who are born with technological knowledge that does not belong to this era, and the technological knowledge they possess is called 'black technology'. Your captain is one of them."

"Although I don't quite understand, such a person is probably someone that organizations from various countries would want to compete for."

“That’s right. Once they’re discovered, they’ll be hunted down, so your mission is to protect that girl named ‘Chidori Kaname’,” Isaac laughed. “Of course, it would be best if you could bring her to work for IW the day you return to the team.”

"Understood. When does the mission begin?"

“You’re a Mithril soldier now, and they decide when the mission starts.” Isaac poured himself another glass of wine. “It could be a year, it could be two years, it’s all uncertain.”

"I see."

"I originally wanted to start the plan immediately, but it seems you have a lot of tasks there, and I don't have any other suitable personnel at the moment."

"I have a question. This matter is of great importance. Why was the task entrusted to Mithril? You could have gone yourself..."

"More than one."

"what?"

“There’s more than one ‘Listener’ among the data we brought back from the experimental base this time.” Isaac said, taking a document out of his pocket and waving it in front of Sosuke. “There are two ‘Listeners’ who were investigated. I only gave them a copy, just in case.”

"I see."

"Because the two of them live in different cities, the original plan was for you and me to go to Japan together, but now the plan has changed a bit."

Isaac finished his drink again.

"In a few days, I will personally go to Japan to protect another 'Listener,' that girl named Fujisawa Ayana, and try to bring her to IW. As for the remaining Mithril, I think he will take care of it for me."

It's estimated that he'll be going to Japan with Balalaika in about a week.

"Isn't that Isaac? Coming to a bar for a drink in broad daylight?"

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear; the sound of Balalaika echoed from the doorway.

"Yes, I came here with friends for a drink."

“Oh, a friend has come to Roanapur…”

The moment Balalaika, who had been smiling, saw Sagara Sousuke's face, her pupils suddenly contracted, and she quickly drew her gun from her waist and aimed it at him.

"I never expected to see you here, Qasim!"

Chapter 623: The Mastermind Emerges

The sudden turn of events frightened everyone in the bar.

On one side is Balalaika, the leader of the 'Moscow Hotel' in Roanapur, and on the other is Isaac, who monopolizes the city's arms trade. They don't know what will happen if these two forces fight, but these ordinary fry in the tavern will definitely become victims of gunfire.

The tavern owner whispered in Isaac's ear, "Please, I'm begging you, could you please not start a fight in my tavern?"

“Don’t worry, there won’t be a fight,” Isaac said, glancing at Balalaika. “Miss Balalaika, I don’t know if my friend has ever wronged you.”

Do you know what I used to do?

"Of course, Soviet special forces participated in the war in Afghanistan."

“Yes, the Soviet Union collapsed not long after I withdrew from Afghanistan.” Balalaika’s eyes were fierce, and he did not lower the gun aimed at Sagara Sousuke. “Back then, we suffered extremely heavy casualties when facing the enemy guerrillas.”

“I know that, and you suffered extensive burns as a result.”

"The guerrilla group we were facing at the time was led by someone known as the 'Tiger of Badakhshan'."

"!"

Sousuke Sagara seemed to remember something.

In his early years, he served in the guerrilla forces in Afghanistan to resist the Soviet invasion. At that time, the Soviet Union had not yet collapsed, and he continued to serve in the guerrilla forces until a year after its collapse.

Among the enemies he repelled was indeed such a well-trained unit, led by a young woman.

"Could it be..."