Seeing the guns all being pointed at me I’m stuck for a moment. I can’t just jump away because then I’d be marked as a criminal. I can’t go back into the collapsing building because there is a 30ft tall giant monster made up of people down there. I suppose Edward should be able to just sort this out…

I’m snapped out of my thoughts when one of the military members moves forward with their gun aimed right at me screaming at us. “I said get on the ground now!” I turn my attention towards Edward. He looks a bit scared and is quickly going through his pockets. Which is probably what’s got all the people here jumpy. When someone has their gun on you, don’t start rapidly reaching places.

I just drop him on the floor not wanting to be shot at because they thought he was reaching for a gun or something.

He falls to the floor in a heap. His face smooshed against the ground at an odd angle. “Oof! What the hell Jiang! I’m just getting my alchemist badge I swear I had it on me.” He starts checking his pants pockets now. I can’t help but sigh at his antics as I lay down beside him.

“Did you ever get it back from lieutenant Ross after requesting that deposit for Sheska?” His hands freeze in his pocket, and he slowly looks towards me. “Haha… oops?” haaa of course not.

The military soldiers come up and I let myself be arrested. It’s not like they are going to harm me and once they find out who Edward is things should work out. They just about have a heart attack when Alphonse and Zig make their way up the steps. Interestingly Zig's hands are completely fine now and the helmet is missing… did they stash it somewhere? I’ll need to ask them later when we aren’t being watched.

The soldiers attempt to handcuff the both of them, but Al’s gauntlets are too big and Zig starts hissing when they try, the soldiers eventually decide to just move them at gunpoint instead. As we start moving Zig gives me a long searching look, like he’s waiting for a signal of some sort. When I gave him none, he lets out a huff and goes along with the soldiers without too much protest.

We are escorted away from the lab, coincidently towards the same building we started the night at. When we pass by the night shift a few of them even give Edward and Al confused looks. I’m the only one in handcuffs at the moment so they might just think they are escorting me and Zig to the jail below.

The person at the front desk tries to strike up a conversation with Edward as he’s being moved by. “Evening Fullmetal, did you help catch two criminals? Didn’t even see you leave the building. Make sure to get some rest alright?” Edward just has a cocky smile “No no, we didn’t catch anyone. We were just investigating an old lab after a disturbance. We’re going in for questioning now.” At this point, the soldiers escorting us are starting to look a little nervous.

I’m brought to a cell and asked to please wait while things were being figured out. Everyone is separated from one another. They are probably trying to make it so we can’t plan a story to tell them without yelling it across the hall.

As soon as I sit down, I just relax and nearly pass out. It’s been… an interesting night. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that giant monsters could exist when powered by a philosopher's stone… I wonder how many lives they have inside them.

Paying attention to my body I’m a bit of a wreck. I used Chi a lot down there, especially when escaping. It’s meant to be used in short bursts but I didn’t want to take any chances with the roof collapsing in on us, so I pushed myself a bit harder than usual.

A bit of transmutation and the cuffs pop off. I move them to the front and reconnect them. It’s a bit more comfortable this way, it’s honestly a miracle more people don’t break out of these places with this lax of security. I start rubbing my calves with my good arm I turn my attention to my injured shoulder. It was a bit of a rushed job. The wound was healed enough to move but I suppose I have a bit more time now.

I start using analyze to focus on the small injuries accrued from the fight and retreat upstairs. Ugh, this is going to be annoying. I can do the equivalent of slapping a patch on it but any more than that is beyond my current ability. I’ll need to put up with being sore for a couple of days. Thankfully it’s fixed what could have taken months to just a night and some rest.

Checking how my healing skill has progressed thanks to checking on Sheskas mother and healing some of my injuries, it’s coming along nicely.

Skill: Healing level 39

Description: Wounds treated by you heal 15% faster per lvl.

Lvl 25: Improves all forms of healings effectiveness by 5% per level

It’s slow to level but the default ability has already gotten stronger than the original treatment ability. I’ve gained a few levels in Chi manipulation but I’m not sure why. I fought with my fists in that last fight. Perhaps it was a mixture of sensing something new changing? The screams and begging did become a bit clearer as I listened to it but that doesn’t warrant 4 levels when training for days barely got 3. Perhaps it’s because of the danger present?

While I’m here I better select my last skill. I really wanted to save it and maybe take engineering again but if I’m going to be fighting giant monsters, I’m going to need a bit more of an advantage. With a sigh, I choose Martial arts. It should level up quickly so long as I practice in the real world a bit.

Skill: Martial Arts Level 1

Description: Improved rate of learning martial arts by lvl/2 %

My attributes are also quite low. I’d rather not kill guards but unless I work with Edward to arrest some more criminals soon it may be the best way to power up for fighting some of these things. Thinking about it what if that one we caught previously could turn into a giant monster too? Lust, was it? I don’t ‘Envy’ Mustang if it can. I’d rather not see what a giant monster made of Lust looks like.

I lean back and just rest for a bit. I just wish that I didn’t have to fight again in this world. Whatever this ‘father’ is they can make giant demon monsters out of philosopher’s stones. Are they the devil or something? I just wanted to wander around and explore, to learn! But I guess I’ll have to take care of whatever this is first.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

What to do next… We’ll need to go to East city and see about killing that homunculus there. That should complete one of my story chain quests which will hopefully let me combine some skills. I’d like to also see if I could remove the stone from them. So much to do so little… Wait I’m not really on a deadline am I? I just need to not die before dealing with whatever this ‘father’ is. That helps me relax a little bit.

I spend the rest of the night going through the details of my plan before finally falling asleep.

When I wake up the next morning it’s to a few guards quickly unlocking my cell door.

“Sorry about all that Mr…. Du? Was it. It appears there was a misunderstanding. If you’d like Fullmetal is waiting upstairs after some medical treatment.

Huh… was he more hurt than I thought? Crap and his arm and leg are both broken again. I’ll need to see about having one of them call Wenry. Hopefully, she’s already set up in Rush valley otherwise it’ll be a little awkward to wait on them.

“Alright, lead the way.” They undo the cuffs. Not even noticing that I’d switched them from being behind me to the front. I hope that they take more precautions for alchemists in prison than jail cells. Even if they removed my arms, I’d probably be able to escape easily. Just a little bit of blood and I’d be able to draw a diagram on the floor for stone and leave without them being able to do a thing. No wonder father Cornello escaped so easily. They probably put him into a jail cell or something for transport.

When I meet up with the others Edward is laying in a hospital bed. A few bandages around his body but he doesn’t look too bad. Al, Major Armstrong, and another military member are all crowded around his bed. The new person has short black hair with a stubble beard and glasses.

Edward seeing me gives me a wave with his good hand. “Oh, Jiang your out. Sorry about not having you released earlier but you were passed out and Armstrong and Hughes here wanted an update.”

I just shrug and come in the rest of the way. “It’s fine… It’s kind of nice being forced to rest so your not pressured to need to do anything else.” Looking at the small table in front of Edward I can’t help but laugh.

“Who is that supposed to be?” I point at a bunch of cartoonish drawings. One looks sort of like a spider with a body on the top.

Edward blushes a little bit looking away. “T-that’s the creature before it transformed the other night.” When he sees me laughing he starts getting a little more upset, especially when the others start to join in. “Shut up! I’m right-handed, so it was a bit hard to draw.”

I turn to the others. “Well, that’s fair I suppose. I’ll need to get to my things for some ink so I can make a more realistic depiction.” Edward just grumbles to himself while trying to draw a better one.

The new arrival Hughes? Starts to look at me a bit questioningly. “So, from what I understand last night you three trespassed on government property to investigate something and encountered a monster? Edward mentioned fighting two people that were suits of armor like Al too.”

I take a seat near Al. “Yes, one was an ex-guard from my homeland. The other I don’t know much about just that he was wielding cleavers?” Looking towards Al he startles for a moment. “Y-yeah, the one we fought was named berry, um Barry the chopper? He mentioned that he was some sort of famous serial killer in the past. He probably died in the building collapse though.” Al’s voice trails down a bit like he's actually sad? Why should he care the guy was a serial killer.

I can’t help but speak up. “Isn’t that a good thing? The guy was a serial killer?”

He looks flustered again. “I-I know it’s just… we were the ones that removed his arms… in a way it feels like we were the ones that killed him. He was still alive even if he was a… murderer. All life is precious…”

I look between him and Edward, he’s also looking a bit green at the idea of being responsible for his death. “So what? The whole reason he was chosen for that was he was a death row inmate, right? By all accounts him being alive still was just a bonus even legally. Unless you disagree with your country?” I look towards Hughes and Armstrong at this point. They both look a little conflicted.

Armstrong speaks up first. “I don’t disagree with the country but I do believe some orders can be taken a little too far. In this case… I don’t believe the Elrics should feel bad for not being able to save them.”

Hughes puts a hand to his chin and seems to think for a while. “Barry the chopper… wanted for 23 counts of murder including his wife.” He shivers at the last bit. “He was a slightly popular case in central around 10 years ago. He cut people up before selling the meat to his customers. He did this for roughly six months.” Edward looks like he’s going to hurl at that. “So don’t worry about feeling bad for your actions resulting in his death. You probably just prevented more future victims.”

Edward hesitantly nods while Al looks off into the distance for a bit.

He seems knowledgeable. “Do you know anything about another killer going by slicer?” This has Hughes raise an eyebrow before shaking his head. “No… I’d have to search or ask that friend of yours Sheska. She’s been around the office lately looking into some of our older documents and books. She’s been a great help by copying stuff at incredible speeds.”

That’s mildly disappointing I suppose it’s not that bad though. I look towards Al. “Regardless, what happened to slicers helmet?”

He seems to fluster a bit his hands moving nervously. “W-well the building was collapsing, and Zig was nearly dragging me along. So, I tossed him inside me for safety. When we were arrested, he just went silent. I-I wasn’t sure what to do so I just um, didn’t say anything?” Oh, right he’s like 12.

Within him, the familiar voice of Slicer speaks up. “I was waiting for in case you didn’t want people from the military to hear. Though I’d prefer we wait before conversing I can feel someone coming this way.”

Edward speaks up first “What the hell does that mean?” He starts talking with the other two about the results of Marcos's notes and such, but I turn my attention to Chi. Someone is coming directly this way. Their presence isn’t inhumane but it’s definitely strong.

Eventually, they are right outside the door. I stand up in slight preparation. The others stop what they are doing when they see me stand up. With my head towards the door, they turn too as it opens. In walks a man with short cut black hair a large bushy mustache and an eyepatch covering his left eye. Considering the adornments of his uniform he’s the highest rank here Fuhrer King Bradley.

He puts on a kind smile. “Sorry for interrupting.” He slightly raises one hand that has a… melon?

Immediately both Armstrong and Hughes stand at attention. Edward and Al just stand there in shock for a moment.

Armstrong speaks up first. “F-fuhrer Bradley! Your excellency w-what can we do for you?”

He just casually waves his hand down. “Calm down gentlemen this is just an informal visit.”

Hughes gets out of his way as he moves to the bed. Edward stares at him nervously. “W-what can I do for you um Fuhrer King Bradley Sir?” Edward’s obviously out of his depth here.

“Haha… It’s fine. I just heard that one of our state alchemists was a bit injured so I figured I’d stop by with some food to help you get better.” He hands Edward the melon in a nice little wooden basket.

Edward just stares at it for a moment before his stomach growls. “Oh… Thanks, I’m starving.” He almost looks like he’s about to crack it open and eat it right there before Al gives him a slight nudge and his eyes go wide. “I-I mean t-thank you, SIR!”

Bradley laughs a little bit but his eye glances along the drawings and documents on the table. It stops for a moment on the poorly drawn Envy. “I understand you’ve been checking up on senior staff members, right Major Armstrong?”

Armstrong starts to sweat a bit looking nervously at the documents then back towards Bradley. “Sir, well… how did you?”

Bradley turns towards Armstrong with a hardened look. “You should know nothing gets past me. So you are looking into various matters.” He turns towards Edward who is looking at the melon until he realizes Bradley is staring at him. With a gulp, he looks back up to meet his eyes.

“Tell me, Edward Elric, what have you learned about philosopher stones.” Edward freezes in place. His hand gently resting on his blade as I stand up his eye snaps to me and his hand changes grip. Staring at me with a hardened gaze. “And who are you supposed to be?”