Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

“Brigadier General Isaac, this is not your fault. You deserve praise for eliminating two potential dangers for Amestoris.”

“As expected of the leader, he’s magnanimous,” Isaac laughed. “What worries me is that Hughes and I have already decided not to get involved, but what if the remaining androids attack us again…”

"No, I will send people to protect you and Hughes. I will also intensify the search efforts domestically and strive to find the culprit as soon as possible," the President said.

He really doesn't dare to send anyone to cause trouble for Hughes and Isaac anymore.

Even if Isaac doesn't say anything, if something happens to Hughes, Isaac might keep investigating. This is the final stage of the plan, and nothing can go wrong during this time.

"I'm relieved to hear that from you, Boss." Isaac stood up and left the President's office.

"By the way, boss, I suspect there are four more androids."

Isaac's words put the president on edge again.

How did he know there were four more?

The president asked, "How do you know there are four more?"

“I heard their names were Envy and Rust, and there’s also Gratoni who hasn’t shown up in Central City yet. These people are named after the seven deadly sins, so I suspect there are a few left,” Isaac explained.

"I see. I understand. You can go back now. I'll let you know if anything happens," the President said.

After Isaac left, the president covered his head.

Although two people were lost, it's still a good thing that Isaac gave up the investigation.

He wasn't worried that Isaac was lying to him. Although the man was always irritating, he had never broken his promises.

Besides, he can tell if others are lying, and for now, Isaac still trusts him, which is good news.

"We're short-handed. Looks like we'll have to release him first..."

------

Hughes is sealing off yesterday's battle site.

Although the bodies of androids turn to ash upon death, the traces left behind by battle do not disappear.

"Let's call this a gas explosion," Hughes said to his men.

"Yes!"

After his men left, Isaac came to Hughes' side.

"So, what did the President say?"

"The boss said to intensify the search and ensure our safety," Isaac said. "By the way, do you have any cigarettes?"

"You've gotten a smoking habit, haven't you?" Hughes said helplessly, handing Isaac a pack of cigarettes. "Do you think the President has any problems?"

After lighting a cigarette, Isaac said, "I had my suspicions before. There is indeed the aura of an artificial being in the boss's body, but it is very faint and almost imperceptible."

"The president has it too?" Hughes asked in surprise.

The fact that a country's highest leader is a cyborg is...

"It's very faint, mostly human aura, and the Philosopher's Stone also has this aura. This alone is not enough to doubt the boss."

“I see,” Hughes said thoughtfully.

"Besides, what good would it do him to suddenly disappear the entire nation's people after he's become president?"

"Have you ever considered that the president was just a pawn from the very beginning?" Hughes asked.

Hughes's question left Isaac speechless.

He truly hadn't considered that possibility.

Hughes continued, "This country's plan started from its founding, so perhaps every president is just a pawn they've groomed."

Upon hearing this, Isaac's expression turned serious.

"I see."

Have you thought about this too?

"No wonder I, who am so outstanding, never became president. It turns out it was already decided," Isaac said thoughtfully.

"Is that all you can think of?!" Hughes covered his face.

This person is difficult to communicate with.

“It seems this matter can’t be left unresolved, or I’ll never become president,” Isaac said. “Here’s what we’ll do: Hughes, you can continue to act as if nothing happened, and I won’t investigate further, but I will make a trip back north later.”

"it is good."

Hughes agreed, knowing what Isaac meant by the president protecting him. Although his life was not in danger, he knew someone would be watching him to prevent him from revealing the secret.

Or rather... as a hostage to restrict Isaac's movements.

Isaac is currently processing the intelligence he obtained yesterday when he killed the android.

The following information can be obtained from the two artificial mouths.

Behind them is a being called 'Father,' who built the transmutation circle of the land not only to transmute the Philosopher's Stone, but also because he and Edward are collectively referred to as 'human pillars.'

Isaac didn't know what 'human pillar' meant; what he needed to know now was what he and Edward had in common.

Everyone knows alchemy? That's definitely not right. There are at least 10,000 people in this country who know alchemy.

Are they all very young? No, that's not quite right. Young alchemists aren't hard to find in this country, and they can be trained, so they're not particularly rare.

So... can all be forged without a formation?

The thought struck Isaac like a bolt of lightning.

To achieve mastery of the formation without a proper array means to have violated a taboo, and violating a taboo means to have seen the gate of truth.

They need to find an alchemist who has seen the Gate of Truth.

"So what exactly is their goal?"

As Isaac walked back to Hughes’s house, he happened to see Violet dressed in casual clothes.

“Brigadier General Isaac, you came back very late yesterday. What happened?” Violet asked worriedly.

"Oh, it's nothing, just cleaning up a couple of pieces of trash. We're heading back to Dongfang City today," Isaac said with a smile.

"Yes."

As the two were unpacking their luggage, Hughes' wife, Gracia, and daughter, Alicia, walked in.

Are the older brothers and sisters leaving?

“Yes, work is over. Your dad hasn’t spent much time with you these past few days and has been complaining to me,” Isaac said with a smile, patting Alicia’s head.

Gracia also asked, "My husband has been smiling these past few days, but I can sense that something's on his mind. Has something happened?"

Hughes had always been like this; even when faced with difficulties and setbacks, he would always greet his family with a smile when he got home. But the observant Gracia noticed something was off about her husband.

"It's nothing, I just made a mistake at work and got scolded by my boss," Isaac casually brushed it off. "But it's all resolved today."

“That’s wonderful,” Gracia said with a smile. “Oh, and there’s something for you before you leave.”

He then took out a box and handed it to Violet.

"I just made an apple pie, you can try it on the way."

After taking the apple pie from her, Violet and Isaac prepared to return to the Eastern Command.

Chapter 145: The Duties of an Adjutant

Upon returning to Oriental City, Isaac went straight to Roy to inquire about his work situation.

"A sewer explosion occurred, Scar's clothes were found, but no one was caught..."

Isaac looked at the report in his hand, then at Roy and the others, and sighed.

"Roy, you're about to be transferred to the central government too. Are you trying to leave this mess for me and then just walk away?"

Before returning to Eastern City, Hughes and Isaac had already received news that because Scar had committed multiple crimes in Central City, the city's State Alchemists were short-handed and they wanted to transfer people from various local headquarters, and Roy was one of them.

"Well... the enemy is too cunning, there's nothing I can do," Roy said with a dry laugh.

They were trying to arrest Scar every day, but they hadn't found any leads.

"Forget about that. When you go to Central City, you can draw on the manpower under your command. After all, it's not good if you go to Central City alone and get targeted. It's always good to have more people to help you."

"Would Lieutenant General Gulaman agree to this?"

"I'll talk to him for you."

"Thank you very much," Roy said gratefully.

After giving a few words of advice, Isaac slumped onto his desk. Roy's transfer meant his workload would increase again.

"Brigadier General Isaac, Lieutenant General Gulaman requests your presence in his office," a soldier said as he approached.

"I'll go in a bit."

……

In Lieutenant General Gulaman's office, the balding old man was looking around. A chess set sat on the table. Upon seeing Isaac arrive, he put down his book and revealed a sly smile.

"Hey, little Isaac's here. How about playing a game with me?"

"You old fox, you didn't call me here just for this, did you? I just got back from the central government and they won't even let me rest for a few days." Isaac said, sitting down in front of him and starting to play chess.

“Those few days you went to the central government were counted as absenteeism.” Gulaman saw that Isaac was willing to play chess with him, and he also started moving. “You put the king so far ahead? No wonder you came from Brix.”

“That’s called leading by example,” Isaac said. “What did you call me here for?”

"Are you aware that Roy has been transferred to the central government?"

"I know, that's exactly what I was thinking of telling you. Send some people over there for him."

“I don’t mind, but little Isaac, your work will be very tiring from now on,” Gulaman said while playing chess.

“Besides that daughter-obsessed Hughes and that muscle-bound Alex, he doesn’t know anyone in the central government. It would be good to find a few people to go and help him.” Isaac was also playing chess seriously. “Besides, I have Violet now, so the work won’t be too tiring.”

"Is that so? That's pretty good."

“Yes, thanks to us you can do this so easily.” Isaac played his last piece, “Checkmate.”

"Ah! How could this happen! I've never lost to Roy when we play chess!" Gulaman cried out, clutching his head.

"That was for you."