Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

"So who will do this mission? Besides the brigadier general, we only have a colonel who can fight, but the two of you can't leave the Eastern Command." Hawkeye was also troubled by this problem.

Just then, a familiar voice suddenly came from outside the door.

"Don't worry, everyone, I've already found suitable people for you," Hughes suddenly said as he walked into the conference room.

"The right person?"

“That’s right, it’s this guy!” Hughes pointed behind him, and a huge, muscular man appeared in front of everyone.

"Major Armstrong?!" Everyone looked at the burly man in surprise.

“That’s right, it’s me!” Major Alex Louis Armstrong struck a muscle-flexing pose. “I will fight to the death to protect those two brothers!”

"Major, please put your clothes back on in the conference room!" the crowd said to Alex, who had already taken off his clothes and was posing.

------

In front of the train station in Central City.

Hughes and Isaac boarded the train with their two brothers and Alex.

Isaac stood on the platform and looked at Edward and his family sitting on the train, saying, "Please give my regards to the Rockbell family when you two go to Rissenberg. I'm too busy to leave."

"understood."

Isaac nodded, then looked at Alex: "Protect them both, and don't let them run off along the way."

“Leave it to us.” Star-like things always appeared around Alex when he spoke.

"Then goodbye."

The train started moving, and the two brothers gradually disappeared into the distance.

"Hughes, you're in central intelligence now, right?"

"Yes."

"I'll go with you to the central government; there are some things I want to confirm."

------

On the train, Edward kept thinking about yesterday's battle.

I am still too weak.

If Isaac hadn't arrived in time, he might have been killed on the spot.

The train then stopped in a small town.

Sitting by the window, Alex saw an old man passing by on the street and suddenly remembered something, so he hurriedly called out, "Are you Mr. Marco? I am Major Alex Louis Armstrong from the Central Army. Do you remember me?"

The man called Marco turned around and saw Alex. His expression gradually turned to panic, and he hurriedly ran back.

"and many more!"

Alex quickly gave chase, and Alphonse and Edward followed closely behind.

The group walked up to a small hut.

Alex tried knocking on the door. "Dr. Marcus, are you there?"

There was no response from inside the house.

After a while, when Edward went up to open the door, it suddenly opened, and Marco was pointing a pistol at them.

"Go back!"

"Wait! We've come here to..."

Bang!

Before he could finish speaking, Marco fired a shot.

However, the bullet hit Alphonse's armor and ricocheted, hitting his own foot.

"Ah!" Marco cried out in pain and collapsed to the ground, clutching his foot.

"..."

After some explanation, the group entered Marco's house.

The group sat down at the table and started chatting.

"You're really not here to take me back?" Marco was still somewhat afraid.

“No, I just happened to be passing by. I didn’t expect Mr. Marco to be here,” Alex said. “I heard you took the research data and ran away.”

“Yes, I simply cannot accept that kind of research, even if it was an order from higher-ups,” Marco said, rubbing his head.

Edward asked curiously, "What kind of research is that...?"

Marco highlighted a word that shocked everyone present.

The Philosopher's Stone.

All three of them stared at Marco in shock.

"What!?"

"Is it true!?"

Marco looked at their expressions and slowly said, "During the Ishvalan civil war, this research took too many lives. I cannot atone for my sins, so I came here to live under an assumed name as a doctor and do my best to treat some patients."

"Did you take the research data on the Philosopher's Stone with you back then?"

"Yes... I brought the documents and gems with me."

Edward immediately asked, "Can I take a look?"

Marco was taken aback when he saw this. He then took out a bottle of solution from his pocket and poured it on the table. The solution did not spread on the table, but gradually solidified into a jelly-like substance.

"Is this the Philosopher's Stone?" Edward asked, poking the stone a few times with his hand.

“It was only a semi-finished product; I escaped before the research was finished,” Marco said. “However, someone may have already developed a complete product.”

"Who is it?" Edward asked quickly.

This is crucial for my brother and me to recover.

Alphonse and Alex were also looking at Marco.

Marco sighed and said, "It was a young man, who shone brightly in the Ishvalan Wars—Lieutenant Colonel Isaac, the 'Alchemist of the Scourge'."

Chapter 133: The First Branch of the National Library

"Isaac?!"

Edward stared at Marco in shock, unable to believe his ears.

Alphonse and Alex looked at him in surprise.

“That’s right. Back when I was researching the Philosopher’s Stone at the institute, he consulted me and even mentioned theories on how to maximize the use of ‘materials.’ You could say he’s a genius,” Marco exclaimed.

"Mr. Marco means... that Isaac has successfully researched the Philosopher's Stone?"

“I don’t know about that. Isaac was still working on it when I escaped from the research institute, but I believe he should have succeeded in making it after all these years,” Marco said. “By the way, it was Lieutenant Colonel Isaac who helped me escape.”

Edward and the others seemed to be deep in thought after listening.

“Wait, something’s not right,” Alphonse suddenly said. “Mr. Isaac’s right leg should have been replaced by the auto-armor, right? If he has already made the Philosopher’s Stone, he should be able to restore his right leg.”

"Do you know Lieutenant Colonel Isaac?" Marco asked.

“Yes, Mr. Isaac has been to Risenberg before, and that’s where we met,” Alphonse added. “He’s a brigadier general now.”

"I see."

"But why has Isaac never mentioned that he studied the Philosopher's Stone?" Edward said, annoyed. "We've gone through so much trouble to find it."

Marco looked at Edward and slowly said:

"Because that's the devil's research."

"what?"

“I think Isaac didn’t want you to study that kind of thing either, so he deliberately didn’t tell you these things.”

Marco looked at Edward with a serious expression.

"Once you've made contact, there's no turning back."

However, these words had no effect on Edward.

“Mr. Marco, could you show me the research data?” Edward suddenly asked.

This sudden request startled Marco.

"Major, this child is..."

Marco looked at Alex with a puzzled expression. Alex sighed and said, "Edward Elric, one of the State Alchemists."

"What!?"

This time, it was Marco's turn to be shocked.

After a moment of shock, Marco clutched his head in pain.

"On the battlefield of Ishvalan back then... many alchemists from various countries couldn't bear the fact that they had become weapons and relinquished their national status. How come you..."

"Because I must take back my body and my brother's body!" Edward shouted.

"No way!" Marco refused without even thinking.

Why?!

“If Isaac doesn’t want you to have contact with him, then neither can I. Knowing about this research is like going to hell!”

Edward could no longer contain himself and slammed his fist on the table.

"I've seen hell before!"

------

Inside the train station.

“In the end, Mr. Marco still refused.” Edward slumped on the bench.

"But at least we know that the Philosopher's Stone can be created, which is already a great gain, brother," Alphonse said optimistically.