Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

"Holy crap, there were two of you hiding inside one suit of armor," Isaac exclaimed in surprise, looking at the two fragments in his hand.

One of the fragments said, "Of course, 'The Murderous Slicer' has always been the two of us brothers."

The other fragment spoke up: "We brothers are..."

"Alright, all of you shut up and come back with me for questioning." He said, putting the two pieces of iron into his pocket.

After tidying everything up, Isaac looked at the shattered armor scattered on the ground and said, "Why are all the armors I see strange-looking? Where did they come from?"

Edward chimed in from the side, "Judging from the style, it seems to be made in a neighboring island nation called Japan."

“Oh, I see. Looks like this armor is worth some money,” Isaac said, but immediately turned to Edward. “By the way, you still haven’t told me what you’re doing here in the middle of the night?”

"This……"

“Tell me the truth.” Isaac’s eyes began to turn serious.

“We’re here to find the Philosopher’s Stone,” Edward said.

Anyway, Mr. Marco only said not to tell Isaac that he provided the information.

“The Philosopher’s Stone?” Isaac looked at Edward, feeling a headache coming on.

He really had no idea how the two brothers had found their way here.

"Never mind, your brother is waiting for you outside. You go ahead..."

Before he could finish speaking, Edward had already fallen to the ground, which was covered in blood.

"This kid took a lot of our stabs, he must have lost too much blood and passed out," said a piece of metal in Isaac's pocket.

Upon hearing this, Isaac picked up Edward, who had fallen to the ground, and carried him outside.

These kids are such a handful!

Just as Isaac was about to leave, he suddenly turned back and shouted into the research institute, "I'll let you off the hook for today."

After saying that, he walked outside.

After Isaac left, a boy and a mature woman emerged from the previously quiet place.

"Hey! Laste, there's no need to be so afraid of him. What if Steel Kid discovers the secret?" the boy questioned Laste.

“Envi, shut up. Steel is easy to deal with, but that guy named Isaac is extremely dangerous. We absolutely must not get involved with him,” Rust said irritably. “Destroy this place, and then report to Father.”

------

Outside the Fifth Research Institute, besides Alphonse waiting, were Lieutenant Ross and Warrant Officer Prosciutto.

Upon seeing Isaac, the two men immediately stood at attention and saluted: "Greetings, Brigadier General Isaac!"

Isaac placed the wounded Edward in their hands: "This brat got into a fight inside. I've already killed the thug. Take him to the hospital. I'll come back tomorrow."

"Yes!" the two shouted.

“And…” Isaac turned around, his gaze sending chills down their spines, “If you tell anyone about what happened today…”

The two men immediately shook their heads in fright: "No, no! We absolutely will not tell anyone, please rest assured, Brigadier General!"

“Very good.” Isaac said, and then turned to leave.

“Please wait, Mr. Isaac,” Alphonse said suddenly.

Isaac stopped and walked back, extending his hand to Alphonse. Alphonse, thinking he was about to be hit, instinctively backed away, but a hand landed on his helmet.

“I know what you’re going to ask, but the time isn’t right yet, so I can’t tell you now,” Isaac said, patting Alphonse on the head with a smile.

When Alphonse heard Isaac say that, he could only grunt in response and then give up.

“But I think you should be more careful in your actions. You’ve been causing me a lot of trouble today. I let go of my target in order to get your brother to the hospital.” After saying that, Isaac immediately took off Alphonse’s helmet and threw it far away.

"Ah! My head!"

Chapter 139: Interrogating the Iron Plate

"You made me come with you so early in the morning just to interrogate a criminal?" Hughes asked, puzzled.

"Yeah, you were already asleep when I got back last night, so I didn't feel comfortable waking you. I woke you up so early today, so I did." Isaac mumbled while munching on his bread.

The two arrived at the intelligence department early in the morning, without even having time for breakfast.

"By the way, how did you get into the house last night? I didn't give you a key, and you didn't wake me up to open the door for you."

Isaac said, "Oh, I'm an alchemist. It's quite simple for me to make a hole in your house and then patch it up."

Hughes: "..."

"I also ate the food on the table. To be honest, my sister-in-law's cooking is delicious."

"Hahaha, of course, my wife Gracia is..."

"So let's interrogate the criminals first, and not worry about these details," Isaac said nonchalantly.

"Alright, alright, let's interrogate the prisoner first." Hughes rubbed his head, completely helpless with Isaac. "So, where is the prisoner you're talking about?"

“It’s right on the table,” Isaac said, pointing to the three pieces of metal on the table.

Hughes stared at the sheet of metal on the table, remaining silent for a moment.

Each piece of iron had a bloodstain on it, and Hughes knew that this person, like Alphonse, had attached their soul to the object.

“Just interrogate them directly. This isn’t something your intelligence department does,” Isaac urged.

“We in the intelligence department are used to interrogating people, we’ve never interrogated a piece of metal before,” Hughes said, rubbing his head again.

He found that the work of the intelligence department was becoming increasingly difficult.

Isaac laid the three metal pieces out in a row on the table and said, "Alright, Hughes, I'll help you. Let's start with one of the metal pieces and ask you what your name is."

The first piece of iron did not react at all, just like an ordinary piece of iron.

Hughes: "No response."

Isaac: "He's probably still half asleep."

Hughes: "..."

"Don't worry, if this one doesn't work, there are two more." With that, Isaac picked up a towel and began wiping the bloodstains off the armor.

"Wait, buddy! Don't do that! I was just joking!" The piece of metal immediately started vibrating and shouting.

Seeing the piece of metal start to beep, Isaac tossed it back onto the table. Hughes then began to question him.

"Name."

"Barry!"

"gender."

"Of course it's a man."

What are you doing at the Fifth Research Institute?

"Guard the gate, and while you're at it, chop up everyone who breaks in!"

"Who instructed you to do this?"

"It's those people from the military."

Upon hearing this, Hughes's mood sombered. Just as he had suspected, there was indeed high-level involvement in this matter. However, there was no turning back now.

Hughes continued, "So do you know which high-ranking officers in the Central Army were involved in this?"

"I can't remember all the names, but there are so many."

This feels like a serious matter.

Isaac chimed in, "When I went to the Fifth Research Institute yesterday, there were indeed two androids inside, and the transmutation circle on the ground was the Philosopher's Stone transmutation circle. It can now be confirmed that the androids are directly related to the high command of the Central Army."

"This is a difficult situation." Hughes rubbed his temples. If things continue like this, the country will be finished.

"By the way, you said yesterday that Edward and his brother also went to investigate the Fifth Research Institute?" Hughes suddenly asked.

"Yes, those two brats were indeed at the scene. Edward was even slashed and is currently in the hospital."

“Let’s go take a look at them first; we can wait until we get back to interrogate the prisoners,” Hughes suggested.

"Alright."

After putting away the metal sheet on the table, the two headed towards the hospital.

In the hospital, Edward lay in bed receiving an IV drip, his body wrapped in several bandages. Alex, Lieutenant Ross, and Alphonse were all around him.

Alex asked, "You said you met Brigadier General Isaac at the Fifth Research Institute last night."

"Yes, Major. Mr. Isaac did come to the Fifth Research Institute last night, and he even rescued my brother when he came back."

Lieutenant Ross also said, "I saw it too."

"What is the brigadier general doing there?"

While the group was chatting, Hughes and Isaac happened to come over.

The group was terrified when they saw Isaac arrive; they had just been discussing him and now he was here.

"Were you just talking about me?" Isaac asked.

"No, no." Several people immediately began to shake their heads.

"Alright, Dou Ding, are you feeling any better?"

"Don't call me Beanie! Ouch, ouch, ouch..." Edward, who was about to curse, pulled at his wound again.

"Looks like you're still not fully recovered," Isaac said, placing the cardboard box he was carrying in front of the hospital bed.

"This is?"

"A gift for you, a carton of milk, to help you grow taller," Isaac said with a smile.

"Tsk!" Edward turned his head away in anger.

Just then, a woman's voice suddenly rang out from the doorway of the ward.

"Ed! Are you alright?"

A blonde girl with a single ponytail walked in and, seeing Edward lying on the hospital bed, hurriedly ran up to him and asked.

"Winry?" Edward was surprised to see the girl who was concerned about him.