Chapter 100

Roy Mustang squinted his eyes in surprise and exclaimed, "Not bad! The speed of your alchemy is quite fast."

He touched the blade, feeling its cold chill, and his face showed even more admiration. "The power is also very strong. This level of skill is enough to earn my recommendation."

Su Zhong smiled with relief. Roy Mustang's response was as expected. He was quite confident in his own abilities.

"However, the military already has an Ice Alchemist. Your abilities are somewhat redundant," Roy Mustang suddenly said.

Su Zhong couldn't help but frown. "Do all State Alchemists have different alchemy abilities?"

He wasn't particularly disheartened, just a bit curious.

Roy Mustang shook his head. "Of course not. Although there are countless types of alchemy, it's impossible to have such a strict requirement for uniqueness. However, once we have an alchemist of a certain type, our understanding of that type becomes more detailed. Your assessment will be more challenging."

Su Zhong nodded in understanding. "So, you know the ins and outs of this type of alchemy, making it harder to fool you."

Roy didn't mind Su Zhong's teasing and nodded. "No problem, I wasn't planning to fool you anyway."

Roy Mustang nodded again. "It's good that you're prepared. Since that's the case, I'll recommend you to the military when I return. When can you come for the assessment?"

Su Zhong thought for a moment. "That depends on Edward. His mechanical arm was just attached, and he needs a long recovery period."

"Are you sure he will also accept the military's call?" Roy Mustang asked.

After learning about Su Zhong's alchemy skills, he had already fully affirmed Edward's abilities. He was just concerned about whether someone so young had the determination to become a State Alchemist.

Su Zhong smiled. "You don't need to worry about that. They will definitely go."

Roy Mustang didn't know why Su Zhong was so confident, but when he met Edward, he knew the other would definitely agree.

Looking at the determined young man and the empty armor, Roy Mustang was still shocked despite being prepared for Edward's abilities.

"Solidifying a soul in armor?! What an amazing technique!" Roy Mustang's face showed admiration as he praised Edward.

"Who are you?" Edward had just returned from his teacher's house, ready to explain what happened in the morning. He found two strangers at home and was still trying to understand the situation after being praised.

"My name is Roy Mustang. I'm here to invite you to become a State Alchemist. What do you think?" Roy Mustang said solemnly.

Edward was momentarily stunned.

"Once you become a State Alchemist, you can access more alchemy knowledge. The National Library has a vast collection." Roy Mustang glanced deeply at Alphonse's large armor.

Edward's expression kept changing.

"If you can't decide immediately, take your time to think about it. Let me know when you have an answer. I'll take my leave now."

With that, he nodded at Su Zhong and led Riza Hawkeye out.

"No need to wait, I've decided to respond to the call!" Edward, who had been silent, suddenly said loudly.

"Brother, you..." Alphonse didn't understand why Edward made such a hasty decision.

Edward looked up at the large armor. "Al, we need to restore our bodies. We can never do that here. Even our teacher can't help. We can only rely on ourselves to find a way..." He explained patiently.

"Brother, you make the decision." Alphonse interrupted Edward, very calmly. He still trusted Edward so much!

Edward's face showed surprise, then he smiled.

"You heard that, Colonel!"

Roy Mustang was very satisfied. "Good. When will you come for the assessment?"

"Pinako, how long will it take to fully recover?" Edward turned to Pinako, who was standing at the kitchen door.

Pinako, wearing an apron and holding a spoon, was taken aback. After thinking for a moment, she said, "About three years."

Edward lowered his head in thought, then looked up at the two waiting at the door, his expression determined. "One year! I'll come for the assessment in one year."

Roy Mustang raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of admiration, and turned to Su Zhong.

"I'll go with Edward. I can use this year to improve my alchemy." Su Zhong shrugged.

"Good, see you in a year."

Roy Mustang left quickly. After calming his thoughts, Edward remembered what Roy Mustang had said and looked at Su Zhong in confusion. "Kolon, are you going to take the State Alchemist exam?"

Su Zhong nodded. "Yes. I don't know much about this world yet. Becoming a State Alchemist is a good way to learn more about alchemy."

Edward nodded in understanding.

"Alright, stop talking, wash your hands and eat!" Pinako waved her spoon, interrupting their conversation.

Su Zhong smiled but didn't explain. He wasn't lying, but he didn't say everything.

Learning about alchemy was one aspect, but Su Zhong's true goal was to infiltrate the military and get involved in the national transmutation array plan.

According to the manga, when the national transmutation array was activated, everyone except the few participants at the center had their souls extracted and turned into the Philosopher's Stone.

Su Zhong didn't want to be killed before he could seize the alchemy gate. He needed to be proactive and gather enough knowledge to survive the chaos.

...

One year later, at the military headquarters.

Riza Hawkeye led Su Zhong and Edward down a spacious corridor, her tone gentle, unlike the sternness she showed last time, probably because of Edward's young age.

"Edward, don't be nervous, just do your best."

Edward nodded confidently. "No problem."

Su Zhong followed behind Edward, occasionally looking around the military environment. However, he kept his spiritual energy tightly controlled, not daring to release it to explore.

Besides his father, who had been in the underground, the oldest homunculus, Pride, was active throughout the military. His true form was a shadow. Su Zhong didn't dare to be careless with such a monster.

He could sense Edward's spiritual fluctuations, and this monster might also detect his spiritual energy.

Su Zhong didn't want to expose himself too early.

When they arrived, Su Zhong waited outside while Edward went in for the assessment.

Apart from the two guards in blue uniforms at the door, the corridor was left with only Su Zhong and Lieutenant Riza.

"Can I call you Kolon? Are you really Winry's brother? How did you grow so fast!" She asked, her eyes full of surprise.

Su Zhong had changed a lot in the past year.

At that time, he was only about thirteen or fourteen years old. But over the past year, Su Zhong never relaxed his self-training. His body developed rapidly, as if catalyzed.

The most noticeable change was his height; he had grown to about 1.7 meters. Combined with his composure, if it weren't for the youthful look on his face, Riza would have thought she was seeing a man in his twenties.

"Eat more, exercise more, and you grow faster." Su Zhong smiled and evaded the question, ignoring the probing look in Riza's eyes. His identity couldn't withstand scrutiny; any investigation would reveal inconsistencies.

However, when Pinako registered Su Zhong's identity, she noted that he was a former street urchin adopted by her as a grandson.

This identity, though unreliable, could only make others suspicious without leading to any concrete conclusions. No one would think Su Zhong was a very special homunculus.

The door opened, and Edward came out, his face excited. "Kolon, I succeeded! The Führer has decided to pass my assessment!"

"Führer? Is the tester here Kimblee?" Su Zhong squinted his eyes, cautious.

This was one of the seven homunculi, and hearing that he was in charge of the assessment, Su Zhong didn't dare to be careless.

"Uh, he seems to have left." Edward scratched his head, uncertain.

"Alright, I'll go in then." Su Zhong quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Among the seven homunculi, besides "Pride," the most troublesome was "Wrath," the Führer.

When he pushed the door open, Kimblee was indeed gone.

"Kolon Rockbell, are you sure you want to become a State Alchemist?" A middle-aged man in a colonel's uniform stood in front of Su Zhong.

Su Zhong nodded.

The colonel didn't ask further, clearly having already investigated him.

"Let's begin. Show me your transmutation circle."

Su Zhong raised his hand, revealing a special glove. Seeing the metal plate on the back of Su Zhong's hand, the colonel nodded, signaling him to start.

Taking a small water bottle from his waist, Su Zhong poured some water into his palm and casually threw the bottle on the ground.

Su Zhong clapped his hands together. A red light flashed, and a strange, spiraled ice arrow appeared in his hand.

The colonel frowned, somewhat dissatisfied. "This alchemy doesn't have much offensive power. State Alchemists need to participate in wars!"

He thought the person who recommended this young man was irresponsible. What use was someone who could only create an ice arrow? Wouldn't a gun be better?

Su Zhong didn't mind. "It's not over yet."

He clapped his hands again, holding the ice arrow between them, then suddenly threw it to the side.

A sharp whistling sound suddenly rang out.

The tail of the ice arrow vaporized, the sudden change providing a powerful thrust, increasing the arrow's speed dramatically.

The strange spirals also came into play, guiding the airflow to make the arrow spin rapidly.

Bang!

The arrow hit the wall, creating a small hole. At first glance, it seemed to go all the way through!

The colonel sucked in a breath, the power exceeding his expectations.

The walls of the military headquarters were made of stone! An ice arrow could actually create a hole in stone?

What incredible power!