Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

"Go back? Isn't this your home?"

"I don't want to stay in this house."

"Don't rush off, come on, have some grilled fish," he said, handing the grilled fish to Dietfried.

"..."

Looking at the grilled fish that Isaac was holding, Dietrich looked somewhat dazed. He had lived under his father's high-pressure control since he was a child. Every day, in addition to high-intensity training, he was brainwashed by various family honors. The people around him were either respectful or fearful of him.

There has never been anyone as outgoing as Isaac before.

As if possessed, he sat back down in his original seat.

"It seems like you and your dad don't have a very good relationship," she asked him while eating grilled fish.

“My father wanted me and Kiel to join the army. Kiel obeyed his orders and joined the army, but I did not.”

“My childhood dream was to be a captain, to have my own ship, and to go on adventures with my own crew.” Dietrich’s eyes were full of excitement.

Isaac looked at him and said, "It's good to stick to your dreams."

"It's not that easy." His expression turned somber as he looked up at the dark sky. "I am the eldest son of this family, a cog in the machine meant to uphold the family's honor. Have you ever seen a cog have a dream?"

"But I remember you're in the Navy now." (He seemed to be a lieutenant commander.)

“I disobeyed my father’s orders and left the family.”

"So you really hate your father?"

"Yes, I really hate it." That's quite frank.

"Putting aside your father, I actually quite admire you," Isaac suddenly said.

"?"

“People who dare to break the rules are respectable. It’s impressive that you can stick to your dreams even in a family like this,” Isaac paused. “Besides… what reason is there to stop a man from going to sea?”

"Mr. Isaac really understands me!" Dietrich exclaimed excitedly. From childhood until he spoke of his dream, no one supported him. His father, relatives, servants, and even his own brother all disapproved. They all felt that as the eldest son, he should obey his father's arrangements.

"Actually, I'm just like you; I also want to break those outdated rules."

This person might really be just like me.

"Because I was under 18, the army wouldn't let me drink during celebrations! But I dared to break these old rules, and I'd go to the bar every night and drink all night long." Isaac said proudly, "When I got drunk, I'd just let my men go home by themselves."

"..." We are different

However, after some lighthearted banter, my mood improved considerably.

The moonlight is exceptionally bright tonight.

"So, what's next..." Isaac finished the last bite of his grilled fish, stood up, and said slowly.

"Tell me about the task your father gave me."

Chapter Seven: Daddy still loves you (laughs)

"A task your father gave you?" He seemed to dislike hearing about his father. "What does that have to do with me?"

“This is very important.” Isaac pulled a document from his pocket. “This time, your father has entrusted me, in his private capacity, to protect the heirs of Bugambiria…”

“That must be Kiel, it has nothing to do with me!” Dietfried said angrily. “Father has always hated me, his disobedient eldest son who disobeyed his orders!”

Isaac didn't say anything, handed the document to Dietrich, and after receiving the document, he didn't say anything either, just glanced at it.

"How is this possible!" Dietrich suddenly exclaimed, scattering documents all over the floor.

Even under the moonlight, the contents of the document were still visible.

The terms of the "Protection of the Personal Safety of Dietfried Bougainvillea" document are as follows: The amount paid and the accompanying conditions, and...

His father's signature.

Isaac picked up the document and looked at Dietfried, saying, "No father wants his child to die, even if you displease him."

"But...why not Kiel? He listens to his father more..."

"Your father still has some connections in the army. As long as he's alive, your brother Gilbert won't be in any major danger." Of course, this was just Isaac's guess, but it's probably true.

Dietrich looked somewhat strange, and after a moment he turned and walked toward the mansion.

"Aren't you leaving?"

"There are some things I want to ask my father."

Isaac didn't mind, and after extinguishing the campfire, he returned to the room prepared for him by Bugambilia to rest.

Tomorrow will be busy.

The next morning.

After Isaac finished washing up, he saw Dietrich with dark circles under his eyes in the hallway.

"How did your talk with your dad go?"

"I got yelled at all night." Dietrich yawned, seemingly having not slept all night.

"Looks like you've figured it out."

“Yes, I don’t need to run away from this family anymore!” This time his eyes were full of spirit.

Bearing both dreams and glory at the same time? That seems pretty good.

"Since Father asked you to protect me, does that mean we'll be acting together from now on?"

"Impossible. The boss allowed me to take your family's commission because that 'Copper' guy just happened to escape to this continent. Protecting you is just a casual task."

At this point, Isaac picked up the bullets he had taken from Gilbert yesterday and said, "Now that we've found the man, we should take care of him first."

"Besides, you're already a naval lieutenant commander. You don't need me to protect you on every mission."

“That makes sense…” Dietrich thought about it and realized it was true. There was usually no danger at sea, and his sailors, who were all brave and skilled in battle, were all under his command as a lieutenant colonel. Basically, there was no danger unless it was a major battle.

2 days later,

Isaac took the train to the eastern border.

The cratered marks around the area and the faint smell of gunpowder in the air suggest that the battle that took place here a week ago was extremely fierce.

"It seems that 'Copper' guy has already moved away." Come to think of it, why would someone stay for the New Year after a battle is over?

I picked up a few bullets from the ground and examined them. I found that most of the bullets on the battlefield were made of lead or steel, but I could still find some made of brass.

However, unlike ordinary brass which is a copper-zinc alloy, this brass is composed of copper, nickel, iron, and a small amount of lead, and has extremely high ductility.

"So it really happened here before," Isaac murmured, his thoughts drifting back to three years ago.

During the Ishvalan Extermination Campaign, there were only a handful of alchemists who were willing to abandon all mercy and deliver fatal blows to the innocent among the rebels.

Among them was this 'Copper', who used his unique alchemy on the battlefield to create a large number of copper weapons and ruthlessly fire them at the enemy. He was an extremely powerful alchemist.

However, this person disappeared a year after the war ended, until he received an order from the president.

After failing to achieve anything, just as he was about to return, a soldier suddenly ran towards him.

"Excuse me, are you Mr. Isaac?"

"Well, I am."

"Your telegram is here." He said, handing a piece of paper to Isaac.

Isaac looked at the contents of the slip of paper.

"The navy intends to regain control of the sea in a week."

The telegram was probably from that kid Dietfried; he wanted me to go with him. Understanding his meaning, Isaac asked the soldier, "How long does it take to get to Stima Harbor from here?"

"It takes about 3 days by train."

Without stopping, Isaac boarded a train bound for St. Petersburg that same day.

Evening, Port Stielike.

"Colonel, a man named Isaac requests to see you!"

"Let him in."

In the flickering firelight of the fireplace, a man sat leisurely on the sofa reading a book, with a bottle of fine wine and two glasses on the table.

"Isn't this Isaac? Welcome, welcome!"

It has to be said that this person's attitude towards him changed a lot after that conversation with his father.

"Would you like a drink?" he said, pouring half a glass into one of the glasses with ice and handing it to Isaac.

"Thanks~" He took the glass and downed the drink in one gulp, then asked, "Are you going to seize control of the sea in a few days?"

“That’s true,” Dietrich poured himself a glass of wine, took a sip, and continued, “Last time, three of their warships were destroyed by a sea tornado. The navy sent a fleet to launch a surprise attack, which gave them an advantage. We’ll try to take over that area this time.”

Having said that, he gave Isaac a strange look.

"I remember your route here passed right through that area of ​​the sea, and a waterspout occurred exactly the day before you arrived at your destination."

"Yes...that's true."

"So, is this tornado related to you?"

“Oh, that tornado was something I created.” Isaac casually uttered a shocking answer.

"...You scared me." He was genuinely frightened. He knew that although the three destroyed warships only weighed a hundred tons, they were not easily destroyed.

"It's nothing, just basic operations for professional alchemists. But are you really going to seize control of that sea area just because three warships were destroyed?"

“There were only a few troops deployed in that sea area, a total of 10 ships of 500 tons and 3 ships of 1000 tons.”

He didn't really understand these things when Isaac talked to him. His country didn't even have a sea, let alone a navy. He had never seen warships.

"It's been almost a week, won't they send reinforcements now?"

"The weather bureau said that it was a thunderstorm at that time, and the fighter jets could not be deployed for combat."

Now that you mention it, Isaac suddenly remembered that this continent has an aerial combat unit called a 'fighter jet', which carries out attacks on the ground from the air.

"I'm in charge of this operation. If all goes well, I'll get a promotion after the mission is successful."

"Then congratulations on becoming a naval captain in advance, cheers!" he said, picking up his glass.