Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

"It's nothing, I was just complimenting you," Isaac laughed. "Are there any phantom books on the bookshelf that can lead to other phantom books? If so, it would save me the trouble of investigating personally."

"To my knowledge, no."

"Okay, then you're not that good."

"You bastard..."

Click.

"So you guys were here."

Hughie was just notified that he had received an email, so he went out to pick it up and has just returned.

"I received a letter from the eldest daughter of the Lilburn family. It seems she wants my grandfather to help her with some difficult problems, but since my grandfather has passed away, I have to go by myself."

"How come you, a descendant of a viscount, act like you're running a Yorozuya?" Isaac asked with a smile.

“My grandfather’s only legacy is this mansion and bookshelves; the books here are all his treasures,” Hughie said with a smile. “If we don’t take on some commissions, we’ll have to rely on selling off my grandfather’s estate to make a living.”

After saying that, he opened the letter, revealing a letter and a check inside.

"It seems to be about a curse on their family, most likely related to the Illusion Book. Isaac, would you like to come along and take a look?"

“Looks like staying here was the right thing to do; the events will revolve around you,” Isaac laughed. “Go check it out.”

Chapter 982: The Extra Country

Isaac arrived at the mansion, but before he could even sit down, Hothuey had to go out to work. In order to investigate the whereabouts of the teaching materials, Isaac had no choice but to go with him.

Hugh drove Isaac and Dallian to the outskirts of the city.

"Hughie, you're a retired soldier, right?"

"I guess so. I used to be a pilot and served in the Royal Air Force."

"He also participated in the last war."

“Yes, I still remember that great battle vividly,” Hugh said. “Fortunately, the war ended not long after I officially joined the army and participated in the war.”

"Really? Judging from your voice, if you hadn't retired, you'd be at least a regimental commander by now."

"Huh? Why?"

“I already said it was based on sound,” Isaac laughed. “But it’s good that you’ve retired; you won’t have to participate in the next war.”

"Another war? That's probably impossible."

Hugh didn't pay much attention to what Isaac said.

"You should know that the Treaty of Versailles stipulates that all conflicts between countries can be mediated directly at a conference between the countries, thus fundamentally avoiding war."

“But the treaty also stipulated reparations that the defeated nations were unable to pay for years, and the oppressed people under a series of restrictive conditions,” Isaac said. “The biggest variable in this world is not the content of the treaty, but people.”

"How to say?"

“You’ve been in Britain ever since the war ended, and you haven’t experienced the outside world. Let me put it this way, I also studied in Britain back then, but I left after the German invasion and lived in Munich for a long time afterward,” Isaac continued. “Having lived there, I know that the Germans crave revenge, because only revenge can help them process the suffering brought about by defeat.”

"But the actual situation probably doesn't allow it."

"It was indeed not allowed. The German army was restricted, and if they wanted revenge, they would have to hope that a demon would lead them out of hell. If they could accept their mistakes and failures, the National Socialist Workers' Party would not have been able to rise."

"Are you looking forward to a demon...?"

"Although I can't tell you who that demon is, I can tell you very clearly that Germany is now a den of demons, and everyone could be a demon. Even if I kill the guy who will become a demon in the future, there will be a second or a third one. This is inevitable."

At this point, Isaac couldn't help but laugh.

"Isn't it obvious that war shouldn't be kept out of the people's sight? For a defeated nation, peace is more terrifying than war."

"..."

----------

The outskirts of England do not bear the same heavy traces of industrialization as large cities. They are mostly farmland and aristocratic manors. Some nobles do not like living in big cities like London, but instead build a manor in the suburbs and live an elegant life there.

From Hugh's words, we can learn that the people who commission him are basically well-known nobles from various places. Some of them have experienced some strange phenomenon in their homes, while others want to borrow the Phantom Book from him.

As a result, Diswald's name became widely known in aristocratic circles, just as it had when his grandfather Wesley was alive.

"We've arrived."

The car stopped in front of a huge mansion.

This was also the address provided to Hughes by the letter's owner, who sent it to him by the granddaughter of a British Royal Army colonel named Lilburn.

The mansion is a classical Elizabethan-style building, surrounded by towering gray walls, from which the huge clock tower in the center of the building can be seen.

The seemingly luxurious building is eerily quiet, giving it a haunted house feel even though it's not night yet.

"Does a colonel live in such a nice place?" Isaac couldn't help but gasp as he looked at the enormous building in front of him.

Even an active-duty Lieutenant General like him can only live in a rented apartment of a few dozen square meters; these people certainly know how to enjoy life.

The three of them walked to the entrance, where a girl dressed in a school uniform came out to greet them. She was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with long golden hair tied up at the back of her head, and a dignified and beautiful appearance.

"Lord Xiu. Anthony Diswald?"

"Ah, yes..."

Looking at the unexpectedly beautiful girl in front of him, Hugh showed a somewhat bewildered expression.

“Just call me Hugh. I’m here as an agent of my grandfather Wesley Diswald. This is Dalian, and this is Isaac.”

During the exchange of pleasantries, Dallian hid behind Hugh, while Isaac looked around.

“My name is Estella Lilburn,” the noblewoman chuckled. “Did Lord Diswald bring any attendants with him this time?”

"Attendants?"

“I’m not a follower,” Isaac said.

"That……"

"An alchemist who was passing by."

"So you're the alchemist." Estella covered her mouth. "How rude of me."

Darian: "Why did she believe it so easily?"

"That proves she has better taste than you, little sister."

"Humph!"

"Please come in, everyone. I've already had the servants prepare tea," Estella invited.

After entering the house, the group sat down in the living room, where a maid placed black tea in front of them.

Hugh chatted briefly with Estella about the letter.

"I see. So Lord Wesley Diswald has passed away. I'm really sorry to send a letter at this time."

“No, that’s not true. Although my grandfather has passed away, I can still act as his representative to complete the task,” Hugh said with a smile.

After all, there was a check in the letter, and since the money had already been given, there was no reason for them not to come.

“Miss Lilburn, in your letter you mentioned wanting my grandfather to appraise a book. I don’t know where you got his name, but a book that costs a lot of money to have him come and appraise must be… a phantom book.”

"Yes."

"I see..."

Hugh took a breath, his expression turning serious.

"Who collected these phantom books that shouldn't exist in the world?"

"grandfather."

"Colonel Lilburn?"

"Yes."

"I see."

The two were talking to each other, while Dalian sat at the coffee table leisurely drinking black tea.

As for Isaac, he had been paying attention to a world map hanging in the living room ever since he arrived.

He had felt something was strange ever since he came to this world, and he had the same feeling when Hohenheim took out the world map.

The distribution of countries in the two worlds I had previously traveled through was basically the same. I originally thought this world was an early version of the previous two worlds, but I found an extra piece on the map in the European side near France.

A country called 'Suvar'.

Chapter 983: Tool

After the meeting ended, the group moved to the study.

The study has a great many books. Although it doesn't have the huge collection of a library, the sheer number of books is enough that one person could never read them all in a lifetime.

"Miss Lilburn means that she wants us to find the phantom books hidden in the study, but with so many, it's hard to know when we'll find them."

Isaac glanced at the bookshelves filled with books documenting the culture and laws of various countries and casually asked, "Don't they know where they put the fantasy books they acquired themselves?"

"Miss Lilburn's father knew the location of this magical book, but his father and my grandfather passed away around the same time."

"Then why is this illusion book needed at this time? Is it for some purpose?"

"Not really."

Hugh pondered for a moment.

"The Lilburn family's rise to power is rather unique. They are not an old aristocratic family. It was Estella Lilburn's grandfather who obtained a patent for the manufacture of music boxes in the mid-19th century when the World's Fair was in full swing, which enabled him to amass a large fortune."

Once these nouveau riche lose their wealth, they are no different from ordinary commoners. After all, they do not have a noble background. The only way for them to get out of this predicament is to sell the mysterious magic book for a good price.

Has the Lilburn family encountered financial difficulties?

"It seems so." Hugh said with an embarrassed smile, "I'm sorry, Isaac, this matter may not have anything to do with your business. I'm sorry you had to come all this way for nothing."

"It doesn't bother me. Seeing the Illusionary Book is a kind of experience. Besides, I can protect you if you encounter danger."

"Your words are truly reassuring."

"With your tiny arms and legs, who can you protect?"

Darian, who was reading a book nearby, couldn't help but tease him.

"Of course he needs protection. After all, Hugh has to protect you, his burden, and his combat strength will drop very quickly."