Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

Other countries do have alchemists, but for them to become alchemists, besides the source of knowledge, there is another important factor: talent. Even in Amestris, a country with advanced alchemy, there are fewer than ten thousand people who can practice alchemy.

People from other countries could only learn alchemy through extremely rare texts and exceptional talent. Especially in Drosel, an alchemist's status was no less than that of royalty.

So when the young man on stage said he was an alchemist, Isaac was also filled with anticipation.

If he succeeds, it means he has extraordinary talent.

"Then, Your Highness, please take a good look." With that, he took a piece of paper out of his pocket, laid it flat on the ground, and drew a transmutation circle on it with a pen.

The surrounding guests all turned their curious gazes toward the young man, and Isaac also looked at the transmutation circle he was drawing.

"A transmutation circle consisting of two circles and two squares? It's the simplest transmutation circle for material deformation. It was mentioned in the first few pages of the basic alchemy textbook I read before." Isaac said with a nostalgic look.

Sweat was already beading on the young man's forehead; it seemed that drawing even the simplest transmutation circle had exhausted his energy.

"Alright, now it's time to witness a miracle."

After drawing the transmutation circle, the young man placed a stone on it, clasped his hands together, and slapped them onto the circle. Instantly, blue lightning surged from the transmutation circle.

"Oh!!"

The guests were all amazed; it was the first time they had ever seen such amazing alchemy.

As the lightning subsided, everyone looked at the stone and discovered that it had transformed into a sculpture of a small dog.

"This is for you, Your Highness." The young man presented the sculpture to the princess with both hands.

Princess Charlotte was quite curious and reached out to take the sculpture, but the moment her hand touched it, the sculpture instantly turned into a pile of dust and floated to the ground.

"what happened?"

"How did the sculpture break?"

"Could he be a fake alchemist? Haha."

"I thought so too. Why would an alchemist come to such a small place?"

Not only were Princess Charlotte and the surrounding guests very curious, but the young man himself was also dumbfounded.

I've succeeded before, so why did I fail this time?

His former pride vanished, and seeing the doubtful and mocking looks from those around him, he felt dizzy.

He had planned to use the alchemy he had learned by chance to show off in front of these arrogant nobles, then marry the princess and reach the pinnacle of life. Isn't that how stories always go?

However, reality slapped him in the face, making him realize the gap between dreams and reality.

Just then, a hand patted his shoulder. When he turned around, a black-haired boy stood smiling behind him.

“You were too stressed. You spent most of your energy drawing the transmutation circle, which left you with no energy left to complete the ‘reconstruction’.”

"Who are you?" The young man was a little puzzled when he heard the boy speak to him, but he could tell from the boy's words that he was an expert, so he used a respectful tone.

Isaac didn't speak, but clasped his hands together and gently brushed away the powder scattered on the ground.

A blinding flash of lightning leaped rapidly, and the powder that had been on the ground suddenly floated into the air, swirling in Isaac's hand.

Those around him stared in shock at Isaac, wondering who this casually dressed man, so out of place at the banquet, was. Princess Charlotte was also watching him, curious to see what this rude fellow, who was eating voraciously in the audience, could possibly do.

"Rocks contain a large amount of silicon dioxide. If we separate them and rearrange them..."

Stone dust slowly gathered in Isaac's hand, and then a crystal statue appeared in Isaac's hand.

This crystal statue is exactly the same as Princess Charlotte sitting on the stage.

"Amazing!"

"They actually turned stone into crystal!"

Who exactly is this boy?

People were stunned by what they saw. They had never dared to imagine that stones could turn into crystals, but it was happening right before their eyes.

Isaac walked onto the stage and handed the crystal sculpture in his hand to Princess Charlotte, who was still in a daze.

"Huh? Is this for me? Thank you..." Princess Charlotte, still in shock, accepted the crystal sculpture that looked exactly like her.

Is this person also here to propose? Just like those annoying people... but they do have some skills... Should I say yes?

While Princess Charlotte was still pondering, Isaac said, "Happy birthday."

"..."

Isaac finished speaking and returned to his seat without pausing. This time, however, the people around him didn't distance themselves but deliberately moved closer.

The young man asked Isaac, "Sir, are you an alchemist?"

Isaac didn't say anything, but took a silver pocket watch out of his clothes and waved it in front of them.

"A silver pocket watch...a pattern of a two-legged dragon and a six-pointed star...you are a State Alchemist?!" the young man exclaimed in surprise.

The people around him looked at Isaac in surprise.

"State Alchemist? The one who stands at the pinnacle of all alchemists?"

"So young?"

"Why would a State Alchemist be here?"

Isaac looked at the chattering guests, felt it was about time, said he had something to do, and left with Violet's hand.

Attending the princess's birthday banquet was only a secondary objective; the main purpose of this trip to Drosel was to help the country escape its current predicament, which is still under siege by Fruger. Looking back at the nobles conversing among themselves, it seemed these people had absolutely no sense of crisis.

In short, just go find the king after the banquet.

The banquet was still going on in the palace.

The conversation among the dignitaries turned to Isaac, who had left earlier. In any case, the arrival of the state alchemist of Amestris in the small country of Rhodesel was still enough to cause a sensation.

Princess Charlotte had recovered from her daze and was looking around at the audience.

"Your Highness, how did you enjoy the banquet?" A middle-aged woman dressed as a maid approached the princess and asked with a smile.

"This is terrible! It's my birthday! Everyone who came here is hoping to propose." Princess Charlotte pouted, looking very unhappy.

"There's nothing we can do about it; after all, Her Highness is of marriageable age," the maid said with a smile. "Is there anyone she has taken a fancy to?"

"How could that be?!" Charlotte exclaimed angrily, then blushed and looked at the audience, asking, "Where did that alchemist go?"

“Oh? You mean Mr. Isaac? He has some things to discuss with His Majesty.”

Chapter 71: I have four meal packages for you to choose from.

While Princess Charlotte was searching for Isaac, Isaac found King Rhodesel.

The king wore a crown and had a thick beard. Isaac and Violet followed him into the study.

The three of them were discussing matters in a study within the palace.

"Your Excellency Isaac, thank you for coming to help us." The king bowed to Isaac.

If the princes and ministers were to see their king bowing to a young boy, they would be speechless with astonishment.

However, Isaac's status was undeniable: Colonel and State Alchemist of Amestris, a title far more prestigious than that of the king of his small country.

"Not at all, I was invited here as well. I heard that the mission this time is to help Rhodesel defend against Flügel's attack, right?"

“Indeed, the two countries were originally in a state of hostility, but Flüger is far stronger than us. They hadn’t moved for a while, and we thought this situation would continue, but recently they have launched an attack on our country again.” The king said with distress, “Our country is really no match for them militarily.”

"You're being too naive. Don't forget that Rhodesel straddles the Themis River, is located in a resource-rich region, and is right next to Flügel. Plus, they're stronger than you. Anyone would want a piece of their flesh."

"Indeed, but we've always been at peace, so why is it like this now..."

“It’s simple. The Northeast Alliance, led by Gadarlik, wants to help them,” Isaac said. “If they break through the defenses directly, their forces can cross Flüger, but they will eventually be stuck on the banks of the Themis River and unable to advance any further.”

"But if Flügel takes Rhodesel, then they can place troops on Rhodesel's territory in the name of the Allies, which is equivalent to crossing the Themis River directly."

The king fell silent upon hearing Isaac's words. He had anticipated this situation, but he still clung to a sliver of hope, believing that the two countries had been sufficiently weakened in their previous conflicts and would not intervene in the continental war.

Indeed, it was true that he, as the king, had been too naive.

"Speaking of tactics, they surrounded Rhodesell in a U-shape, so if I were them, I would have launched that kind of offensive."

As Isaac spoke, he drew three arrows on the map on the table.

"They'll send two army groups first to attack your flanks and rear in a pincer movement, while simultaneously launching a frontal assault. With your current forces, their victory is practically guaranteed. At that point, even the name Rhodesell might be wiped off the map," Isaac said with a smug grin.

"This...how can this be!" The king was terrified. He was afraid that the country would be destroyed in his hands, that his people would become slaves of a conquered nation, and he also thought of his ten-year-old daughter. If the country were to fall, she would suffer with him.

"Don't rush, I'm here now. I have four options for Your Majesty to choose from regarding other countries' plans."

"A set meal?" This was the first time the king had ever heard this term.

"You'll understand after you watch it." He said, gesturing with his eyes to Violet, who was standing behind him.

Violet knew what this meant, and handed a small booklet to the king.

The king took the booklet, opened it, and saw its contents:

A, they were beaten until their scalps tingled.

B, beat them until they cried their eyes out.

C, beat them so badly they wished they were dead.

D, beat them so badly their graves will grow grass.

There were only four sentences in total, and even the king himself felt his scalp tingle after reading them.

"Um... Your Excellency Isaac, may I ask what this says... means?" the king asked cautiously.

“These are four special packages I’ve prepared just for you. Let me explain them to you.” Isaac cleared his throat and said:

"Package A means beating them until they kneel before you and beg you to sign a peace agreement; Package B means taking back the eastern and western territories they previously seized from you and then making them kneel before you and beg you to sign a peace agreement; Package C means reducing their territory to a tiny fraction and then making them kneel before you and beg you to sign a peace agreement."

This was simple and easy to understand, but cold sweat was already dripping down the king's forehead.

"What about... Package D?"

"Good question. I would like to recommend Package D to you. It is a plan that I am quite confident in."

"Um... tell me more about it."

“Then I’ll say it,” Isaac paused before speaking, “Package D is that they won’t sign a peace agreement.”

The king was somewhat surprised: "Not signing a peace treaty? Isn't that worse than the previous ones?"

"Let me finish," Isaac laughed. "Since it's the last set meal, it certainly won't be simple."