Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

"Hmm?" Isaac then noticed one of the documents.

“This is a letter of request from the Western Army, saying that the situation over there and in Cleta is very tense, with several small-scale clashes breaking out, and they hope to receive support,” Roy explained.

Looking at the document in his hand, Isaac put it aside and said, "Whoever wants to go can go."

Roy was surprised to see Isaac ignoring it: "Didn't you always go there yourself when you got a job like this before?"

In Roy Mustang's eyes, Isaac was the kind of person who would run wherever there was war, like someone accustomed to living on the battlefield.

“I won’t go,” Isaac said calmly. “I promised Violet I’d visit her once a week, and the West is too far.”

Roy opened his mouth in surprise after hearing this, then smiled.

"You've changed a bit."

Chapter 123: Violet's School Life

It has been some time since Violet enrolled in school, and Isaac has been staying at the Eastern Command without going too far, only occasionally going to Central City.

Inside the Military Academy.

In the classroom, a simplified diagram of the front-line battle was drawn on the blackboard, and the instructor looked at the serious-faced students below the podium.

“Todd Bridge! You answer this: what is combat?”

"Instructor, I don't know!"

"You're dead! Run ten laps around the training field after class!" the instructor roared.

"Yes!" the student replied, then sat down to continue listening to the lesson.

The instructors on the platform sighed as they looked at the group of students. The students at this country's military academy were getting worse with each passing year.

Without a doubt, this was the worst class I had ever taught.

"Violet Evergarden! You answer this question!"

"Yes."

Violet stood up from her seat, drawing stares from her classmates and surprising the instructor.

It is quite remarkable that a girl would appear in a military academy where most students are adults.

“Generally speaking, combat is about facing the enemy head-on and winning by surprise,” Violet replied.

"Very good!" the instructor praised. "Now, explain the meaning of this sentence."

"It means engaging the enemy head-on, and then launching a surprise attack based on the changing battle situation to defeat them," Violet replied methodically.

"very good!"

The instructor, rarely showing a smile, then turned to the others with a grim expression: "You bunch of idiots! You can't even answer such a simple question! The country might as well raise pigs if it were supporting you! All of you, learn from Eve Garden!"

After class, the instructor left the classroom, and the students all gathered around Violet.

"Eve Garden is really amazing."

"You're probably the best student in this year's class."

Violet is very popular at this military academy. She has a petite figure, a delicate face, excellent theoretical grades, and even ranks first in military combat and shooting.

Violet looked at the classmates who had gathered around and said, "That's not true. I just heard these things from Brigadier General Isaac."

The students erupted in excitement upon hearing the word 'Isaac'.

"Brigadier General Isaac? That Brigadier General Isaac, the 'Alchemist of the Cataclysm'?"

"Does Eve Garden know him?"

"I admire him so much!"

Isaac was an idol to all the students at the officer training school. He rose to the rank of brigadier general at the young age of seventeen and participated in many battles to defeat the enemy.

Even military tactics textbooks in officer training schools often use battles commanded by Isaac as classic examples.

“I am Brigadier General Isaac’s subordinate, and his future adjutant,” Violet said.

"Commander Isaac's adjutant? Eve Garden is quite ambitious, isn't she?" a classmate next to him laughed.

"Yes, I heard that many students from previous years wanted to join Brigadier General Isaac's unit after graduation, but it seems they all failed," a female student said with a regretful expression.

Isaac was very popular in the army, but he was also extremely strict in selecting his subordinates.

“This is an agreement between me and Brigadier General Isaac,” Violet said, a happy smile on her face.

Violet's words drew envious glances from the female classmates around her.

And the male students knelt on the ground, beating their chests and stamping their feet.

"Why! My goddess!"

"That wretched Isaac!"

"Having a high military rank is nothing special!!"

A group of boys suddenly felt that their lives had become bleak.

......

The sergeant academy will inquire about students' preferences during their studies, so that they can be assigned to various command posts after graduation.

Violet was no exception.

"Violet Evergarden, as the top student in your grade, what are your plans for the future? In other words, which military region would you like to serve in?" the counselor asked, looking at the girl in front of her.

Asking a twelve or thirteen-year-old child which military region they would like to serve in makes the counselor feel a little uneasy.

Without hesitation, Violet replied, "Eastern Command."

"Eastern Command? I remember the current commander-in-chief there is Lieutenant General Gulaman. So, which unit would you like to be assigned to?"

"I want to join Brigadier General Isaac's team."

"Is it Isaac again?" The counselor rubbed his forehead.

I've lost count of how many female students have come here saying they want to join Isaac's team.

Speaking of Isaac, although he is a frequent figure in textbooks, the faculty at the military academy have some reservations about him.

The reason given was that a group of students who didn't do well in their studies always liked to use him as an example.

"Brigadier General Isaac achieved what he has today without attending a military academy, so what's the point of studying anyway?"

Of course, the troublesome students who said these things have basically been punished by cleaning toilets, but somehow these remarks have spread outside, causing problems for school enrollment recently.

“Eve Garden, I think with your grades you’ll have no problem getting into Central Command. To be honest, Isaac’s team is not easy to get into; many students have been rejected.”

The counselor also doesn't want to see an excellent student go to a place they can't even get into.

"Don't worry, counselor. I'm probably the one who was chosen."

"Huh?" The counselor was taken aback.

However, he now remembered that the principal had told him that the student in front of him was personally brought to the school by Brigadier General Isaac.

So the personnel were decided internally long ago.

"Alright, since you've made your decision, I won't say anything more." The counselor filled in the form and ended the conversation.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Isaac was busy with work while Violet was in school.

I just got back from the Central Command.

Back at the Eastern Command, Isaac slammed the documents in his hand onto the desk and sat down in his chair, puffing out his cheeks.

"What's wrong, Isaac? Why are you so angry?" Roy asked while processing the documents.

"Those old fogies in the central government rejected my proposal again!" Isaac said irritably.

"What proposal?"

Isaac handed the document to Roy, who then began to read it carefully.

"'Regarding the establishment of the Amestoris Air Force'?" Roy looked at Isaac with a puzzled expression.

Isaac explained, “I’ve been thinking about this ever since I came back from Leiden Sheftree. Even if their country is weak, it has its merits. They have a very powerful air weapon called a fighter jet, which can carry out air-to-ground strikes. With this type of soldier, it will be much easier for us to deal with the neighboring countries.”

“Well… I don’t know much about this, so I won’t comment much,” Roy said, handing the file back to Isaac.

After taking the document, Isaac remained silent for a while before asking, "By the way, when I visited Violet at the sergeant academy a few days ago, those greenhorn recruits around me were looking at me with murderous intent. Do you know why?"

Chapter 124: The Elric Brothers

"I don't know, you probably did something that angered everyone again," Roy said casually, then continued working on the documents in his hands.

"Impossible. I've been sitting quietly in my office for the past few months, at most chatting with those old guys in the Central Army. I haven't done anything," Isaac said, leaning back lazily on the office sofa. "I haven't been to the battlefield in ages."

Roy listened, seemingly having thought of something.

"Speaking of which, given your achievements, you've already reached the rank of brigadier general. Why haven't you been transferred to the central government yet? Could it be that those old guys who were sent to the central army are targeting you?"

"I don't know, but the Eastern Command is pretty good. If I were really facing those old fogies at the Central Command all day, I'd probably kill a few of them on a whim if I lost my temper," Isaac said nonchalantly.

"...That's really your style, no wonder you're a former Brix soldier."

Roy also had a general understanding of Isaac's behavior.

He knew that what the man in front of him was talking about would actually happen.

Boom boom boom!

Just as the two were chatting, there was a knock on the door.

Isaac simply said, "Come in."

The door opened.

A blond boy wearing a red trench coat and a suit of armor walked in.

"Colonel, I've searched that place, there's nothing there..."

As the blond boy was speaking, he suddenly saw Isaac sitting on the sofa and froze for a moment.

After a slight pause, the armored figure said, "You're back, Mr. Isaac."

“I came back a few months ago.”