Well...
It really does look like the drawing, but...
Isn't she just the cutest thing?
That's definitely not it!
I know that!
We really don't have time for these jokes!
Really...
Where could she be?
East City!
You've arrived in East City!
Here's the latest news on Scar.
He's still on the run?
What a persistent guy.
Oh my, I'm terribly sorry.
No, it's my fault for not paying attention.
You are wearing some unusual attire.
Are you not from this country?
I'm from Xing.
Oh, my.
Are you here to see the sights?
There's not much to see in East City, is there?
No, I just stopped by because I need to switch trains here.
I'm headed to the North.
The train at Platform No. 3 is headed for North City.
Oh, no!
Thank you for helping me pick up the groceries!
If you are planning on riding with us, please board at once.
Have a safe trip!
Hm?
What a peculiar kitty.
Where did he go?!
I know I heard footsteps...
There he is!
So he was with a middle-aged man with black hair?
Yes. According to the reports, sir.
This is where he was yesterday.
So he's headed West, huh?
We have a few injured, some slightly, others seriously.
Scar must be desperate, too.
But even so...
...he's attracting a lot of attention.
Now, let's head off to work.
Well, whatever.
That has nothing to do with me.
A funeral, eh?
Yes, it seems so.
It isn't pretty, is it?
When you get old like me, you can't help but think about when you'll be the one getting buried.
What a terrible thing to say, madam.
As far as I can see, you have a long life ahead of you.
Lieutenant General Grumman?!
You said we were going to meet in front of Brigadier General Hughes' grave, right?
I figured it was something serious since you decided to take the measure of last resort.
To be doubly sure, I decided to disguise myself.
Well, I shouldn't have expected less from you, a man so famous for his eccentricity.
Your disguise exceeded my expectations.
Eccentric?
I'll take that as a compliment.
So, what's the matter?
Eastern Alchemy.
We may be able to find something in the Central Library.
Maybe.
Since we can't find the midget, we'll have to search on our own.
I hope we can at least find some clues.
I see. So the entire upper echelon of Central is guilty, huh?
But you lost far too much in exchange for the information.
You have nothing left if they take away the men you can trust.
You're right, sir. I can't argue with that.
Even Raven, huh...
When I was in Central a little while ago, Raven asked me...
"Are you interested in a perfect, immortal army?"
Immortal army?
Was he talking about the Homunculi?
I flat-out rejected him, saying that it was rubbish.
Then soon after,
I was sent to Eastern Headquarters.
Relegated?
Thanks to that, I'm now stuck cleaning up after all the messes in the East.
More on that topic, do you happen to remember the riot in Lior?
The case where the Fullmetal Alchemist exposed the fake priest of Leto's conspiracy.
Yes, I do remember.
Although Lior was thrown into disarray,
the riot was quickly suppressed thanks to the Eastern Army's rapid response while it was still minor.
But the Central Army intruded on the scene, and the Eastern Army was withdrawn.
Am I right?
Yes.
Lior's public order suddenly turned for the worse when the Central Army entered the scene.
Those guys at Central are really planning something, aren't they?
I don't even want to think about it!
Can't things be peaceful until I retire?
Again with the jokes.
You're the great Lieutenant General Grumman.
I'm sure you haven't felt satisfied for a second at simply being the head man for a region of the country.
You have the Eastern Army on your side; full of veteran soldiers who experienced Ishbal.
I had always thought you'd use that secret contact memo when you needed to whine and beg me for help.
But you called me here to get me worked up, huh?
Geez...
Now that things are getting interesting in Central,
the flame of ambition in my heart has been lit once more.
Don't get too serious or your makeup will be ruined, madam.
Oh, no!
Are you free after this?
If you don't mind, would you like to join me for a cup of tea?
Oh, no, thank you.
I appreciate the invitation, but...
It's no good.
Why doesn't this place have any good books on Eastern Alchemy?
Maybe I'll just visit Xing and study there instead...
Wait, but there's no way I'll be able to cross that desert with my automail...
There you are, Edward Elric.
M-Major! What are you doing here?!
Shh!
You have to be quiet in the library.
I heard you're after a girl from Xing who carries around a black and white cat.
Yeah.
Wait, how did you know that?
I heard from Colonel Mustang.
I'm here today on the Colonel's orders.
Apparently, she's headed north.
According to a witness, she was in East City and was headed north from there.
North, huh?
Okay. If we know that much, it's safe to give it a try.
Thanks a lot, Major.
Tell the Colonel I said thanks, too.
Hang on.
Don't be in such a rush.
Take this with you.
What's this?
It's a letter of introduction.
It may not do you much good,
but you should meet her first.
Meet who?
She resides even farther north than the Northern Headquarters.
A general who guards the Drakma border and holds another name, the "Northern Wall of Briggs"...
...Major General Armstrong.
Hurry!
You've got nowhere to run, Scar!
Where did he go?!
Report this to Headquarters!
That train is headed for West City!
Damn him...
I can't really find much on Eastern Alchemy...
May's long-distance transmutation was awesome.
I wish I could use that...
I should have asked her about it when she was still at Dr. Nox's place.
Ling said that it's used predominantly for medical purposes...
Are you the Fullmetal Alchemist's little brother who wears a giant suit wherever he goes?
Y-Yes...
Amazing!
Wow! Wow!
Thanks...
But you need to keep it down. We're in a library.
Oh, I'm sorry.
What are you studying?
Eastern Alchemy.
Eastern Alchemy?
It's a form of alchemy used in Xing.
Wow... Xing, huh?
But aren't you Elric Brothers skilled enough to be state qualified in Amestris, a nation so advanced in alchemy?
Why are you researching minor forms of alchemy used in other countries?
Huh?
I can't exactly say, "I'm looking for a way to get my body back and fight Homunculi"...
Umm...
They say that Eastern Alchemy is used predominantly for medical purposes.
I'm researching to see if there are any other ways human lives could be saved.
Wow! Nothing less to be expected from the Elric Brothers!
Al! Alphonse!
Get your things together! We're leaving!
Brother, you have to keep it down in the library!
Wait, where are we going?
I'll explain the details on the way.
Either way, we need to go.
Go to the hotel and pack.
Whose brat is this?
If you're his brother, it must mean you're Edward, the State Alchemist!
Yeah.
Wow!
So the rumors were true! You really are a tiny alchemist!
What?!
H-Hey...
Say that again...
Come on, say it again.
You're up for a ride.
Want me to blast you to Neptune?
Wow!
So they were right! You get really angry when people say you're short!
Back away from Sir Selim!
You can't shoot him!
Don't tell me... you're Selim Bradley?
The FÃ¼hrer President's son?!
Yup! That's right!
What the heck are we doing here?
Aren't we supposed to be headed north?
Not like it was my choice...
I'm sorry.
This boy has admired you for so long, Mr. Edward.
Admired?
Do you like alchemy, Selim?
I do.
My dream is to learn alchemy and become a State Alchemist like Mr. Edward.
Admired me, huh...
Wow...
Then, I want to be useful to Father.
Do you love your Father...
...FÃ¼hrer President King Bradley?
Of course!
What's he like?
He's a very noble man.
He perseveres through hard work that would make a normal person cry...
...and works every day with only one thing in mind: the well-being of his people.
I see.
The FÃ¼hrer President does seem busy all the time.
Yes, he is.
He still plans on working to his fullest in active service.
I'm constantly telling him to retire already, bearing his age in mind.
He's always been someone totally committed to his work.
He can do his job, but he's always been a blockhead when it comes to women.
He was so impolite; I gave him a good slap across the face.
Well, that's where it all started. Then, we started dating.
And our first date was...
Oh, my.
I didn't mean to talk about senseless things.
Father!
What a surprise!
Welcome home!
Thanks, Selim.
Why the surprise visit?
I had some rare free time, so I came to see your faces.
Then, I heard the Fullmetal Alchemist was here.
Hello.
It's been a while.
We just saw each other at Central Headquarters, didn't we?
I see. So you met each other at the library.
Yep!
What, are you trying to say that we don't look alike?
N-No, that's not it...
We're not connected by blood.
We were never able to have kids.
So we adopted him from a relative.
He grew up to become a kind boy who cares so much for his parents.
Stop it, Father.
It's embarrassing.
I'm only stating the truth.
Is something the matter?
N-No, it's just that we only see you when you're working at Headquarters.
So it's just... right, Brother?
I guess we're just stunned to see such a different side of you.
I see.
I, too, have family.
Even someone like me.
Although it's a bit different from your family.
Are you leaving already, Father?
Yeah. It's about time for me to return to the office.
Enjoy your stay,
State Alchemist.
Let's go.
Come visit again!
Okay, thanks.
I don't think his wife or son know that he's a Homunculus...
Anyway, we need to head north! All the way!
We need to get a hold of that midget and make her tell us the secret behind Eastern Alchemy!
Right!
We'll be there by morning.
Sleep for now.
I see... so you let them get away again.
This is a map of the West, correct?
Yes, sir.
He was last seen...
Here.
And this is West City.
Scar and Marcoh disappeared somewhere in between.
A train must slow down significantly at a curve, correct?
Is it possible for someone to jump off?
I wouldn't say it's impossible, but it's very dangerous.
I see.
Well then, I wonder which direction they ran after they jumped off?
North...
...or south...
Could it be our first time traveling north?
Yeah.
I wonder if we'll be able to see snow?
Snow, huh...
I guess it rarely stuck to the ground in Resembool.
The cat and the mouse.
Insanity and hatred clash in a white world.
The fiercest battle yet opens the gate to a new world.
Next time, Fullmetal Alchemist:
Episode 33, The Northern Wall of Briggs.
Her golden hair is a flame made of ice.