Jan 8 1913
"Ed! AI! Hurry, hurry!" Kuri said.
"This chrome molybdenum steel spanner set, the hydraulic torque wrench, and that micrometer, please!" Rei said.
"Okay!" Salesperson said.
"Oh, and pick me out whichever ultra-hard tip drill and bit you think is suitable!" Rei said.
"Okay, you got it!" Salesperson said.
"Just what you'd expect to find in a tool store in Central! Their selection is far different
from what's out in the country!" Kuri said, carrying her sister's packages.
"Ah, I can't get over how good the walnut handle on this screwdriver feels under my fingers!" Rei said.
"Say, are you still buying things, Rei?" Al said.
"Don't you think this is a bit much in the way of souvenirs for your Grandma?" Ed said.
"But you said you'd buy me anything, didn't you?! Isn't that right, Ed?" Rei said.
"Yeah..." Ed said.
"Ah! Those are high-carbon chromium-steel cutting pliers, aren't they? They'll cut through anything, and never rust!" Rei said. "Can I buy these, too?"
"Yeah." Ed said.
"Mister! Would you throw in this sewing machine oil, too?" Kuri said.
"Sure!" Salesperson said.
"Here! This is for you. Make sure you take care of your Automail!" Kuri said.
"Edward-san, Kuri-san, Lt. Col. Mustang wants to see you." Officer said.
"A mission for me?" Ed said.
"Yeah. Now that you're a State Alchemist, you'll be called upon to go on missions, so be ready for this." Officer said.
Xxx
"Lt. Hawkeye?" Ed said, Kuri by his side.
"Yes, sir." Hawkeye said. "Here are your orders and materials."
"Fullmetal Alchemist Edward Elric. Miko Alchemist Kurisuta Hikawa. The above-mentioned is hereby ordered to inspect the coal mine at Youswell." Ed read.
"Stuff like this is the job of a State Alchemist?" Kuri said.
"It includes investigating the mined resources. As an alchemist, you have knowledge of ores, right?" Roy said. "This is your first mission, so I arranged for your task to be simple. But don't let yourself get careless just because of that."
xxx
Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only, truth.
An' it harm none, do what ye will. That is the Wiccan Rede's Law of Personal Gain. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only, truth.
Xxx
"It's almost like the whole train was reserved, huh?" Kuri said.
"Traveling by train is nice, huh? All you have to do is sit, and-" Rei said.
"Al...This is my job, now that I'm a dog of the military. You and Rei didn't have to come along, too." Ed said.
"Are you still saying that?" Rei said.
"I'll always be together with you, Brother!" Al said.
"After all...You're coming back to the village sometime, right?" Rei said.
"No, we're not going back." Ed said.
"Ed..." Kuri said.
"Rei, there's no longer any home for us to return to." Ed said.
"Sure enough." Kuri said.
"Brother, it's coming into view!" Al said.
"So that's the last town to the east, Youswell Coal Mine..." Ed said.
"For a coal mine, I thought there'd be more activity." Kuri said. "Everyone looks all tired out."
"It doesn't look like there's much to see here, either." Rei said.
"Al, let's do this inspection quickly and go home-" Ed said.
"Oh, are you tourists?! Where are you from?! Have you eaten? Where are you staying?" Khayal said.
"Wh-Who are you?!" Kuri said.
"Pop! We've got visitors!" Khayal said.
"Huh? What did you say?" Mr Halling said.
"Visitors! Visitors! Some big spenders are here!" Khayal said.
"Big spenders?" Ed said.
"Nice of you to come! l am the inn's manager, Hailing!" Mr Halling said. "Yeah, sorry the place is so dusty. The coal mine's wages are pretty low. But with this place, I've got two irons in the fire. Now then, overnight accommodations for four?"
"How much are your rates?" Ed said.
"They're expensive!" Mr Halling said.
"Not to worry, despite how we look, we have plenty of money." Ed said.
"400,000." Mr Halling said.
"Wha_?!" Ed said.
"400,000?! Don't be ridiculous! That much for just a night's stay?!" Ed said.
"Ours is the highest class inn in all of Youswell, such that it is. Besides, it's the same price no matter where you go! We haven't had any guests in a long time! We have to soak you good!" Mr Halling said.
"It's not enough. Rei had us buy all of those presents for her Grandma, after all. There's nothing else we can do. At this point..." Ed said
They began doing alchemy.
"Incredible! It's the way it used to be!" Mr Halling said. "It looks brand-new!"
"Is there anything else I can fix?" Ed said.
"Here, if I could ask you to. It's something I hold dear, but accidentally broke." Mrs Halling said.
"What, you still haven't thrown that away?" Mr Halling said.
"You so rarely buy me anything, after all." Mrs Halling said.
"All right, let me handle it!" Kuri said and fixed it.
"Thank goodness!" Mrs Halling said.
"That's pretty nice, Hostess!" Mr Halling said.
"How delightful! To think that our first guest in so long would be an alchemist!" Mrs Halling said.
"I took a crack at it once too, but I didn't have the talent for it, so I gave it up." Mr Halling said. "Say, what did you come to Youswell for? There's nothing here for anyone to see." "I'm here on business. I came to inspect the coal mine." Ed said.
"An inspection? You're with the military?" Mr Halling said.
"I am... a State Alchemist, after all." Ed said.
"Me too." Kuri said.
"That hurt! What was that for?!" Ed said.
"We don't have any food or beds to give to any dogs of the military!" Mr Halling said.
"Are you a soldier, too?" He turned to Rei and Al.
"Uh, no..." Rei said.
"They've got nothing to do with them!" Ed said.
"We just got together on the train here!" Kuri said.
"Okay, then. You can go get yourself eaten by dogs!" Mr Halling threw them out.
"That was some incredible hatred, huh?" Rei said.
"Well, sure it was! Everyone hates military people, after all! That guy Yoki, who supervises this place, is a fiend for money. He's the worst!" Khayal said.
"Yoki?" Al said.
"And now, he's joined by that State Alchemist. "Alchemist, be thou for the People." That's both common sense to them, and their pride. That's what I've come to learn." Mr Halling said.
"Mister..." Rei said.
"I can't stand those who sell their souls to the military in exchange for special privileges." Mr Halling said.
Outside
"I'm so hungry...Kuri, you could worry about the human part instead of the machine
once in a while too, you know." Ed said.
"I do worry about you Ed." Kuri said.
"She's right, Brother." Al said.
"We snuck food out to you." Rei said.
"Al." Ed said.
"I can't eat it, after all." Al said.
"Soldiers really are hated, huh?" Kuri said.
"Well, I'm prepared for that." Ed said.
"Maybe I should get certified too, as a State Alchemist." Al said.
"No you don't!" Ed said. "It's bad enough that I have to go through this by myself. Besides, I really have become a dog of the military, huh?"
"Brother..." Al said.
Halling's Inn
"Stand aside! Your shop is as filthy as ever, Hailing." Yoki said.
"Well, well, if it isn't Lt. Yoki. Welcome to my squalid establishment." Mr Halling said.
"Enough pleasantries. The taxes on your place are overdue. And it's not just you, I could
say the same for the whole town." Yoki said.
"I apologize. My earnings are so little." Mr Halling said.
"That is because your work is so poor." Yoki said.
"What?! You're the ones who lowered our wages, you know! On top of that, you raised our taxes!" Khayal said.
"Lt. Yoki has been placed in charge of this coal mine by Central!" Officer said.
"Shut up! You just took the money that we sweat bullets to earn and used it to bribe them to promote you, didn't you?!" Khayal said.
"Hmph! So why don't you try offering tribute to me? The world is not a place where you can make yourselves comfortable for free." Yoki said.
"You bastard...! I can't put up with any more of this today!" Khayal said.
Lyra attacked with her wind alchemy.
"Nicely done, Lyra." Yoki said. "It seems that the stories of this shop becoming a hangout for troublemakers have turned out to be true. In that case, I will have to think
about suspending your business license."
"What?! Don't even joke about that!" Khayal said.
"You brat!" Yoki said.
"Khayal!" Mrs Halling said.
"Make an example of him. Hurt him just a little." Yoki said.
"Stop!" Kuri said.
"Wh-Who are you?!" Yoki said.
"I heard the Lieutenant would be coming by, so I thought I'd say hello." Ed said.
"I-Is that...?!" Yoki said.
"Who is this kid, Lieutenant-dono?" Officer said.
"You idiot! You don't even know about State Alchemists?! They're an organization under
the direct control of the Fuhrer! Well, well, how terribly rude of my subordinate! I am Yoki, the one who runs this town. Er, what business might you have in coming to our rural town?' Yoki said.
"Oh, I'm just here to conduct an inspection." Kuri said.
"An inspection? If only you had contacted me, I would have sent someone to meet you. You must be exhausted, right? Come, come, please stay at my mansion!" Yoki said.
"Miserable dogs of the military!" Khayal said.
Xxx
"Congratulations, Mustang-kun. I hear you're going to become a full colonel soon. Hawkeye-kun, I hear you're going to be promoted to 1st Lieutenant, too." Hakuro said.
"Thank you so much, General Hakuro." Roy said.
"I wonder, once your authority increases, if you would go to the Eastern Command
Center and take charge of it for a while?" Hakuro said.
"Oh, you're demoting me?" Roy said. "I suppose that having someone like me around Central does-"
"What are you talking about? This isn't a demotion, it's a transfer to a higher post, Colonel Mustang. However, I've heard there are a good number of untrustworthy folks in the Eastern Division. Be sure to watch yourself." Hakuro said.
Xxx
"I am greatly honored that a State Alchemist should come visit my house." Yoki siad. "Oh, yes indeed. Since we have such an exceptional alchemist among us, Lyra, have him take a look at your alchemy."
"Yes, sir." Lyra said.
"Nah, I saw it earlier." Ed said.
"She liquefied the air around her, reduced its volume, and then all at once vaporized
it again, producing a shockwave." Kuri said.
"The light came from the extreme heat that was created by the forced compression, to maintain entropy." Ed said.
"You figured all that out with just a glance?" Yoki said.
"I, too, would like to be certified as a State Alchemist, and become like you, Edward-sama, and you, Kuri-sama."
"Like me?" Both said.
"Yes. It is my dream to become an outstanding alchemist, and do all that I can for the state." Lyra said.
"Now, now, please feel free to eat up. I hope that our rural cooking will agree with you." Yoki said.
"You eat well, huh?" Ed said.
"Despite the town being in this shape..." Kuri said.
"Oh, you embarrass me! The tax collecting has not been going well, and I don't know what I'm going to do. On top of that, there are so many barbaric residents here, as you saw earlier." Yoki said.
"You mean, all they do is assert their rights, and neglect their duty to pay their taxes?" Ed said.
"Oh, indeed, Edward-sama, you are a man of understanding." Yoki said.
"You can express all the reasoning of the world in terms of equivalent exchange, the basis of alchemy, you see." Ed said.
"Rights come with responsibilities, don't they?" Kuri said.
"Certainly! Mm, most wonderful! As such, I wonder if you would accept this, by way of the reasoning of the world? Lyra?" Yoki said.
"It is only a small token. Please accept it." Lyra said.
"Is this what you would call a bribe? " Ed said.
"That's far too direct a way of putting it." Yoki said. "If you like, call it an equivalent exchange. And, if you would please consider the matter of the inspection..."
"I'll think about it." Ed said.
"I should have known that you would be so understanding Edward-sama!" Yoki said. "The folks in town should start behaving themselves soon enough, so if you would care to wait briefly."
Xxx
"I wonder if Brother is all right on his own." Al said.
"Hey, What's going on?" Rei said.
The inn was burning.
"Khayal! Khayal!" Mr Halling said. "Let me go! Khayal is still in there!"
"You can't! It's too dangerous! There's no telling when it will collapse!" Rei said.
"Leave me alone! Let me go!" Mr Halling said.
"Mr Halling!" Rei said.
"Khayal! Khayal! Khayal! Khayal! Khayal, where are you?! Khayal! Khayal!" Mr Halling said.
"Daddy! Daddy..." Khayal said.
"Is this their doing?" Al said.
"Mm-hmm." Rei said.
"Say, you're a cracker-jack alchemist, right?" Khayal said to Ed. "So then, transmute some gold for us! Then you can help my pop...You could save the whole town for us!"
"I can't." Ed said.
"Why not?! You don't lose anything!" Khayal said.
"The basis of alchemy is equivalent exchange. I have neither the duty nor the
obligation to do anything for this town." Ed said.
"Are you telling us to bribe you, too?! And you call yourself an alchemist?!" Khayal said.
""Alchemist, be thou for the People," huh? Transmuting gold is a serious offense. If I get caught, I will be stripped of my State Alchemist certification, and sent to prison." Ed said.
"So, do it so no one finds out!" Khayal said.
"Even if I do make gold, it will just be taken in taxes, and that will be the end of it." Ed said. "If you're really that hard up, why don't you leave this town and go find some other work?"
"Kid, you may not understand this, but this place is our home, and our coffin." Mr Halling said.
"This is your home and coffin, huh?" Ed said.
Xxx
"Brother!" Al said.
"Al, we burned down our home ourselves. We have nowhere to return to, and that's all right by us. But for people that do have somewhere to go home to, they have to look out for it. Al, what you see here will be our secret." Ed said.
"So you want us to be accomplices?" Kuri said.
"Kuri what are you doing here?" Ed said.
"She said she wanted to help you carry the gold," Rei indicated her pentacle.
"Brother..." Al said.
Xxx
"You want to buy the coal mine?!" Yoki said.
"Yeah! I want you to include everything from the mine to the trade routes. Is that okay?" Ed said.
"Well... even at the request of a State Alchemist, that's just something I couldn't..." Yoki said.
"I see. That's a shame. And here I got all this money ready..." Ed said.
"I-Is that...all gold?!" Yoki said.
"Upon investigation, it turns out that this mine had unexploited elements that we use in alchemy research. I don't want to turn it over to anyone else. Is this enough?" Ed said.
"Don't be absurd!" Yoki said. "However, my selling the mine that I was entrusted by the state to govern for my own profit will look a little..."
"It's all right! This gold doesn't appear on any records, so as long as you keep your mouth closed, you can get by without anyone else knowing." Ed said.
"Still..." Yoki said.
"I know! Please write up a memo handing over all authority over the coal mine for no charge. By doing that, this will be all yours, Lieutenant Yoki." Ed said.
Xxx
"Why?! Why are you stopping me?!" Man said.
"I just am! I will not allow you to fight!" Mr Halling said.
"But they were the ones that demolished the store!" Man said.
"It's just one store. Don't get so fired up." Mr Halling siad.
'Hi, everybody! I'm here to cheer up those gloomy faces of yours!" Ed said.
"What are you doing here?!" Mr Halling said.
"Now, now, is that any way to talk to the manager of this place?" Ed said.
"Manager?! Why, you! What have you-" Mr Halling said.
"As you can see, this is the title deed for the mining, trade, management, and all other rights to this coal mine." Ed said.
"What?!" Mr Halling said.
"In other words, right now, this coal mine belongs to me." Ed said. "Nevertheless... I have to go back to Central. It would be bothersome to have to carry the title deed
to a rural coal mine with me. What to do...?"
"Don't tell me you're trying to sell that to us!" Mr Halling said.
"It'll be expensive! Whenever you wish to gain anything, you have to pay for it with
something of appropriate value, you see. After all, not only is this title deed written on high-grade parchment, it also has gold leaf trim. What's more, the box features finely crushed jade, in a nonchalant, yet at the same time luxurious design. Yeah, this is real craftsmanship, all right. Oh yeah, and the key is made of sterling silver. Gee, I would roughly estimate that it was worth 400,000." Ed said.
"400,000?! For the deed to the coal mine?!" Mr Halling said.
"Come to mention it, the foreman's inn cost 400,000, didn't it?" Ed said. "How about I spend the night and we call it even?"
"Equivalent exchange, huh? But our inn has been..." Mr Halling said.
"Huh? Well then, what's that over there?" Kuri and Rei said.
"Our shop!" Mrs Halling said.
"How can this be?!" Mr Halling said.
"This will be enough to cover me staying here, right?" Ed said.
"Yeah, of course it will." Mr Halling said.
"Okay, then it's an equivalent exchange!" Ed said.
"Edward-sama! Wh-What's going on here?! The gold bars that I got from you have all turned to stone!" Yoki said.
"Gold bars? Why, whatever are you talking about?" Ed said.
"Please don't play dumb! I traded you that title deed for that mountain of gold bars!" Yoki said.
"Huh? You handed over the deed free of charge, didn't you?" Ed said. "Look, I even have the memo here."
"Y-You swindled me!" Yoki said.
""Swindled" makes it sound so scandalous. It was a legitimate transaction." Ed said.
"The transaction is invalid! Lyra!" Yoki said.
"Alchemist, be thou for the People! I don't much care for you using alchemy for your own interests! You're a State Alchemist, aren't you?!" Lyra said. "Why would you go against what the military is doing?!"
"I never sold my soul to them." Ed said.
"Why, you... Get the title deed back from-l" Yoki said.
"Yoki-sama...You shouldn't take other people's personal property from them by force, huh? Never underestimate the strength of a coal mining man, Lieutenant-dono!" Man said.
Xxx
"Saké! Saké! Bring us some saké!" Man said.
"Say, honey, isn't the shop a little better than before?" Mrs Halling said.
"Yeah. He really did a number here..." Mr Halling said. "Edward Elric... the Fullmetal Alchemist."
Xxx
"This is the report from Edward Elric." Hawkeye said.
"Thanks." Roy said.
"I hear this will provide the chance to reevaluate Youswell Coal Mine, and the personnel at the Eastern Command Center that oversee it." Hawkeye said.
"Really? That will probably make it a little easier to live out east. Rejoice! Even if we are relocated, we'll be able to take it easy." Roy said.
"Don't tell me you meant for this to happen from the start!" Hawkeye said.
"Perhaps. More importantly, it would be nice if the women in the east were pretty. Also, their reputations are quickly spreading throughout the east. They're saying that there is a champion of the people among the dogs of the military." Roy said.
xxx
"Edward Elric? Yeah, I've heard of him." Man said.
"So, what kind of guy is he?" Man said.
"According to the stories, despite being a State Alchemist, he's a friend to the common man." Man said.
"He must be a fairly upstanding man, then, huh?" Man said.
"But they also say he's short, like a little bean sprout." Man said.
"Who are you calling "miniature size"?!" Ed said.
"S-Stop that, Brother!" Al said.
"Hold it! Hold it! Hold it! Hold it!" Ed said.
"C'mon quit it Ed!" Kuri said.
"Yeah lay off!" Rei said.
"Brother! If you keep running like that, you'll never keep up the strength to reach the town of Liore!