Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

“Do I even need to recognize you? It’s not like I haven’t seen you before,” Isaac laughed.

"Cough! Cough! What are you saying? I... I don't understand at all." He turned his face away from Isaac.

“I’m in a real emergency right now. I need an experienced driver to show me around and explain the local customs and situation. I think you’re an expert, Dad, so why don’t you teach me?” Isaac said directly, completely ignoring him.

"I've already said I don't know what you're talking about." The emperor seemed determined to continue arguing.

"Father, don't refuse. It's not like this is your first time in a place like this. Why don't you take me to experience a different world? Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"Stop talking!" the emperor quickly called out to Isaac, then turned to the madam beside him and said, "Give me a private room."

"...Okay." Although she didn't understand what was going on, she still did as instructed.

Inside the private room.

The emperor looked at his smiling, scoundrel son with a sense of helplessness.

"Feifan, what are you doing here?"

"In order to complete the task given by my mother and to overcome my own shortcomings, I think this is the perfect place."

Isaac briefly explained the situation to the emperor.

"I see, that is indeed a big problem," the emperor nodded.

"Then what are you doing here, Father? Shouldn't you be in the palace right now?"

"Ahem! I'm traveling incognito to observe the people's conditions." The emperor blushed and explained.

“I see. Getting along well with grassroots workers is indeed something a ruler should do.” Isaac nodded, readily believing this explanation.

"Yes, yes, that's what I thought too." Seeing that Isaac believed him immediately, the emperor breathed a sigh of relief. "So don't tell anyone about this. Just pretend nothing happened."

“Sure, sure, no problem,” Isaac agreed. “But Dad, you’re already suffering from kidney deficiency, is it really a good idea for you to come to a place like this again?”

The emperor slammed his fist on the table: "Who told you I have kidney deficiency!"

"Rumors."

"Those scoundrels always like to cause trouble for me behind my back." The emperor said with displeasure. "Don't let me find out who did it."

Suddenly, Isaac remembered something and asked, "By the way, Dad, I ran away before because I was looking for the elixir of immortality. By the way, do you really need this thing?"

The emperor remained silent for a moment, then sighed.

"I have never spoken of anything about immortality. It's just that everyone thinks that as long as they get the elixir of immortality, they can come to me and exchange it for the throne. I'm too lazy to say anything. If they can actually find such an elixir, then they are capable. What good is the throne to them?"

"Then was there absolutely no need for me to run away in the first place?"

The emperor looked at Isaac and said, "Do you think I don't know? You ran away entirely to hide from your mother."

Thinking back to my mother's old habits, this might indeed be true.

"Now that you know everything, why don't you save your son from this predicament?"

"...You suddenly mentioned the elixir of immortality to me? Have you discovered something?"

The topic was changed very cleverly.

"Actually, what I wanted to tell you is that I have already found the elixir of immortality," Isaac said calmly.

"What?" The emperor was so excited that he stood up abruptly.

"is that true?"

Isaac didn't speak, but took a gem that emitted an eerie red light from his pocket and placed it on the table.

Chapter 115: Becoming the Crown Prince Very Casually

Looking at the red gem on the table, the emperor exclaimed in disbelief, "Is this the elixir of immortality? It actually exists!"

“To be precise, it should be called the Philosopher’s Stone, which is a popular name in Amestris,” Isaac said. “It’s a kind of energy crystal, and theoretically, it can grant immortality.”

The emperor looked at the stone thoughtfully.

"I heard you're not feeling well, Dad?"

"Yes, that's true. My health has been deteriorating lately. Although the imperial physician was very tactful, I know my own condition well. I estimate I won't last more than a few years."

“Coming here despite not being in good health, you really have a lot of nerve,” Isaac said, then picked up the Philosopher’s Stone and placed it in front of the Emperor.

A flash of red lightning streaked across the sky, and Isaac asked, "How are you feeling now?"

"Huh?" The emperor stretched his body. "I feel much better."

"The disease in your body has been eliminated, and the weakened cells have been revitalized," Isaac said calmly.

"Truly amazing!" the emperor exclaimed in surprise, then asked, "Are there many of these stones in Amestris?"

“As far as I know, there are probably no more than five people, including myself, who can make the Philosopher’s Stone,” Isaac said. “And they’ve only made half-finished products.”

"What exactly have you been through in Amestris these past few years?" the emperor asked with a sigh.

He went to Amestris alone at the age of seven, and within ten years became a colonel and a State Alchemist, even developing such a thing.

I have many children, but almost none are as outstanding as the one in front of me.

"Speaking of which, Feifan, is your usual name when you're out in public Isaac?"

"Yes."

"Then let me ask you something," the emperor asked. "Are you the 'Alchemist of Calamity' from the legends of Amestris?"

"It really is me."

The emperor let out a long breath: "It really is you. I heard about your great deeds a few years ago. I heard that you just resolved the war on the continent of Tersis?"

"You know that?" Isaac asked, somewhat surprised.

The war there has just ended, and there are very few people there who even know my name.

"Don't underestimate the intelligence capabilities of the new nation," the emperor said calmly. "I also know that you transformed a weak country into a military superpower there, and... created a weapon capable of destroying a city."

That weapon is most likely referring to the hydrogen bomb.

"Yeah, I did it all," Isaac said casually, as if he had only done a small part of the job.

After hearing this, the emperor smiled and said, "He truly is my son."

He paused, then said, "Feifan, why don't you resign as colonel of Amestoris?"

“That won’t do. I worked so hard to become a colonel, and I was just a little bit away from becoming president. Why should I resign?” Isaac said, dissatisfied.

"Let me finish speaking first." The emperor completely ignored Isaac's words.

"I intend to make you the crown prince."

"!"

Isaac looked at the emperor with some surprise.

This is the crown prince, the crown prince of the new country, who will be the next emperor of the new country.

After thinking for a moment, Isaac asked, "Dad, isn't it a bit hasty of you to make a decision so quickly?"

“This is not a hasty decision,” the emperor said calmly. “Among my children, you are undoubtedly the most outstanding, both in terms of talent and courage.”

"What I need is not a crown prince who can bring me the elixir of immortality, but a crown prince who can lead the new country to strength."

The emperor looked at Isaac and continued, "I believe that the new country, once handed over to you, will surely usher in a new era, and I can abdicate in peace."

"And then come to brothels without any scruples?"

"Tsk, can we not mention brothels? I already said it's an incognito visit." The emperor looked displeased. "So, do you agree to this?"

The new country is several times larger than Mestolis, and being emperor here is definitely more comfortable than being president there.

However, Isaac said, "No, I want to be president."

"Can you tell me why?"

“Being president has always been my dream, and I have worked hard for it, so I am determined to become president,” Isaac said.

The emperor was taken aback, then burst into laughter: "Hahaha, you've combined your ambition with your dream? You're something else."

While other children were scheming to obtain the throne, this son before him looked down on him. It was truly fascinating.

"Then, Father, you should find someone else to handle the matter of the Crown Prince. I'm not being modest..."

"Then you shall be the crown prince." The emperor's answer surprised Isaac.

"Dad, didn't you hear me? I refused."

"I am the emperor, and my word is law. Whoever I say will be the crown prince, and I will not accept any objections." The emperor laughed loudly. "I have already decided that you will be the crown prince."

"..."

"It's decided then. Remember to come to the palace in a week. You will remain the crown prince until you become the president. If you have the ability, you can merge the two countries, hahaha."

As the emperor spoke, he prepared to leave the room.

"Father, are you really willing to hand over the next emperor of a country to a soldier from another country?"

"Don't underestimate the inclusiveness of the new nation. Besides, you are my son," the emperor said.

Seeing that the emperor had already left, Isaac knew that he couldn't persuade him otherwise.

Isaac picked up the Philosopher's Stone from the table and left.

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

"A person's destiny depends, of course, on their own efforts, but also on the course of history. I really don't understand how I, a colonel from Amestris, became the next emperor of the new country."

"What are you muttering to yourself, big brother?" Yao Lin asked curiously, looking at Isaac sitting in the chair muttering to himself.

"It's nothing, I just suddenly feel like Dad might have some mental issues."

"Don't talk badly about your father behind his back."

"As if I wouldn't dare to scold him to his face."

"..."

In short, I still need to go to the palace to see the emperor in a week, so we'll talk about it then.

Amestris is a place he must return to; there are a lot of things to deal with there, and an enemy named Scar is waiting for him to deal with.

Speaking of Scar, Isaac suddenly remembered something, went back to his room and took out a note from his suitcase. It was a clue he had found from Scar's tattoo.