Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

"Very good, transfer them all over."

"Yes!"

Using enemy equipment to replenish one's own forces is a common tactic during wartime.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing I need to inform the commander-in-chief." The soldier suddenly turned to Isaac.

"Ok?"

"News has come from Leiden City that Amestoris has sent people to collect the body of the traitor."

So they've finally arrived? I thought they'd forgotten about it.

"Okay, I'll head back in the next couple of days. Tell them to wait for me there."

"Yes, sir!" The soldier saluted and withdrew.

After eating and drinking his fill, Isaac left the military camp.

As evening fell, Isaac found Gilbert buried under the documents.

“Gilbert, I’m leaving Mazig City tomorrow to go back to Leiden to handle some matters. Would you like to come back with me?”

"I think..."

“Great! I knew you wanted to come with me. I’ve taken care of all your paperwork. We’ll leave tomorrow morning.”

"..."

They don't give you a chance to refuse at all.

He knew that Isaac was worried about his safety, since he wouldn't be able to come to his aid if something happened to him while he was away.

Well, I might as well go back. It'll be a good opportunity to see my mother; she hasn't been in good spirits since my father died.

------------

Two days later, Leiden City.

"So you've made me wait here, and the person still hasn't arrived," Isaac complained, standing at the entrance to the Army headquarters.

Just as he was complaining, a car pulled up and stopped next to Isaac.

The car door opened, and a huge figure wearing an Amestrel blue military uniform stepped out.

His massive figure blocked out the sun, casting Isaac directly into the shadow. He was a burly man.

However, the huge, muscular man did something Isaac hadn't expected as soon as he got out of the car.

He hugged Isaac tightly and said, "Oh! Colonel Isaac! It's been so long, let's have a warm hug!"

"Major Alex? What brings you here?"

Isaac stared in surprise at the person who was hugging him.

Alex Louis Armstrong is the younger brother of Major General Armstrong, who took him back to the fortress.

Looking at the muscular man in front of him, with a tuft of hair on his bald head that occasionally seemed to radiate stars, Isaac felt a bit of a headache.

Chapter 64: The President's Letter and New Equipment

Alex Louis Armstrong, Major Amestris and State Alchemist, is a muscular man known as the Alchemist of the Mighty Arms. He is also the younger brother of Major General Oliveira Mira Armstrong, Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Army. However, the two seem to have a strained relationship.

"Speaking of which, why did the boss send you here? Where are the rest of the country? Where's that arrogant chubby-faced Mustang? I haven't seen them." Isaac pushed away Alex, who was hugging him, and asked with a look of disgust.

“Colonel Mustang is currently tied up with official duties and cannot come, and you know about my sister’s situation; she cannot leave Brix Fortress.” Alex ignored Isaac’s disdainful expression. “Therefore, I have been ordered by His Excellency the President to come here to see Colonel Isaac. It has been a truly touching meeting.”

As she spoke, she took out a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped away her tears.

Isaac stared speechlessly at Alex, while passersby whispered amongst themselves as they looked at the strange, burly man.

Feeling that Amestoris would lose face if he stood there any longer, Isaac quickly pulled him into the Army Headquarters.

In the reception room.

"So what you mean is that you're the most free person out there, so the boss sent you here, right?"

"Don't say that. I just wanted to see my adorable little brother." Alex's eyes were still sparkling.

“Shut up! Who the hell is your brother!” Isaac roared.

"Huh? I remember my sister said you'd be her brother from now on. Isn't her brother our brother?"

Olivia had previously taken young Isaac to the Armstrongs' house and told them that he was her adopted brother. When Isaac asked why he was a brother and not a son, Olivia slapped him hard to the ground.

Without continuing the topic, Isaac poured two cups of tea and placed them on the table, then asked, "You've come here to confirm the body of that traitor Stephen, right? Come with me to the morgue in a bit to check."

Alex nodded and said, "That's true, but we have some other matters to attend to this time."

As he said this, he took a letter out of his pocket and handed it to Isaac. “I heard that the colonel wrote a letter to His Excellency the President, and His Excellency the President wrote one back and asked me to give it to you.”

Oh? So they've finally arrived? It seems the boss has already read the letter he wrote; his expression must be priceless.

Isaac asked expectantly, "What was your expression when you read that letter, boss?"

When Alex heard Isaac ask this, he thought for a moment and replied, "I don't know the specifics, but I heard that His Excellency the President's expression changed several times after receiving this letter, and he also summoned a meeting of people from various departments of the Central Army."

Is it really necessary? It's just a few swear words, why hold a special meeting? I swear all the time too.

Isaac opened the letter and began to read it.

"Colonel Isaac, thank you very much for your letter. I'm also very surprised by your awareness. Don't put too much pressure on yourself, complete this mission diligently, and come to work for the Central Army after returning home."

These few words left Isaac somewhat bewildered.

Didn't I write a lot of profanity? Why didn't you say a single comment? What kind of nonsense is this "having such awareness"?

And he's going to work for the Central Army? Transferring from the Eastern Army to the Central Army means a promotion, and he got promoted just because he cursed the boss a few times? He's increasingly failing to understand the boss's interests.

Or is there some kind of conspiracy?

"Did the President say anything to you?" Isaac asked, looking at Alex's honest face.

"No, let us bring men to collect the traitor's body and to check on the colonel's work." He then took out a newspaper. "It seems the colonel's work here is progressing smoothly."

The newspaper was full of news about Isaac in Mazig.

"It's alright, it's a simple job, I guess I'll be able to go back soon."

"Oh! Then you must come to our home as a guest!"

“I don’t want to. Every time I go there, all I get is your father telling me for hours in the living room about how the Armstrong family got rich. Do you know how that feels?”

"Is that so? Every time I hear it, I find it so thought-provoking." As he said this, the muscular man shed tears of emotion again.

This person is beyond saving.

"Is there anything else? If not, come with me to claim Stephen's body," Isaac said in a battle-like voice.

“Wait a minute, Colonel,” Alex stopped Isaac. “There are two more things for you, Colonel.”

He took out two packages and handed them to Isaac.

Isaac glanced at it, opened the first package, which contained a mechanical eyeball and a note.

"This is what Mr. Shaw Tucker asked me to give to the Colonel, saying that some of the functions inside have been upgraded."

Shaw Tucker? Isaac knew this person, of course. He was one of the creators of his mechanical eyeballs, and also a State Alchemist who created chimeras—the Fate Alchemist.

Opening the note, one finds a thank you note to Isaac for providing research materials that helped him pass the State Alchemist qualification exam, and a clear description of the upgrades and new features of the mechanical eyeball compared to previous versions.

"So my help to him wasn't for nothing." With that, she opened the second package.

The second package contained two white cloths.

Alex said, "Colonel Mustang sent this to us, saying it would be helpful to Colonel Isaac."

Isaac looked at the two white sheets and roughly knew what they were.

Sparking cloth is a special fabric that produces sparks when rubbed together. Mustang used gloves made from this fabric to perform his Flame Alchemy.

"This is truly a timely help." Although Isaac didn't know the Flame Alchemy technique to adjust oxygen concentration, he did know how to turn air into fuel.

With these two pieces of equipment, the battles ahead will be much easier.

After putting away the two items, Isaac led Alex toward the morgue, and the surrounding officers all turned to look at Alex.

"Who is that person? Their hairstyle is hilarious."

"Shh! Keep your voice down, those are officers from Amestoris."

"An officer from that country? Isn't that the same as His Excellency Isaac?"

Upon arriving at the morgue, Isaac located Stephen's body and removed the cloth covering it. The body had undergone special treatment, so there were no signs of decomposition even after several days.

“It’s truly heartbreaking that a former colleague died in such a foreign land.” Alex’s voice was heavy. “I remember he once said he would catch the bastard who turned his uniform into women’s clothing and tear him to pieces. Now I guess he won’t even be able to see him again.”

Isaac turned his head away upon hearing his words: "Yeah, we definitely won't see him."

Chapter 65: Your sister asked me to teach you a lesson

After confirming Stephen's body, Alex instructed several of his men to load the body into the vehicle.

"Well then, Colonel Isaac, our mission is complete. I wish you continued success in your military campaign." After saluting Isaac, Alex decided to head back.

Isaac suddenly asked, "By the way, how much time has the boss given you for this mission?"

“The President has given us a total of forty days. The round trip will take about a month, so we can only stay in this country for about ten days,” Alex told Isaac after doing some calculations.

"Boss is still the same as always, so cold-hearted, didn't even arrange more time." After a pause, Isaac continued, "So how many days have you been here?"

"Three days."

So, there are still seven days left?

Isaac grabbed Alex's broad shoulder: "Don't be in such a hurry to leave. Your sister told me something a while ago."

"Wh...what?" Alex's forehead was instantly covered in cold sweat.

"She told me to teach her weak brother a lesson. I wonder who that 'weak brother' is?" Isaac gave a strange smile.

"Ah...who could it be?" Alex, covered in cold sweat, looked away from Isaac.

"Alright, stop pretending. Come with me to the army training ground in an hour." With that, Isaac walked back first.

Oh no!

This was Alex's first reaction, but since Isaac had said so, he had no choice but to stay.