Even a week later, Roy received phone call threats of demotion for losing Ustor so easily. He simply ignored the calls, but they began to annoy him-and it was all he could do to answer the again-ringing phone civilly.

"Mustang."

"Gooood afternoon, sir! I'm calling to ask if you'll participate in a survey for-"

"Not interested." He slammed the phone down, shaking his head. "I wonder how much trouble I would get into if I disconnected the-" He picked the phone up as it ran once again.

"You haven't heard about the drawing you're entered into if you just complete our-"

"This is a military number," Roy barked into the phone. "I could have you arrested for this."

"Oh...I'm very sorry, sir. Could I have a number I could reach you at later? It's just that your opinion is valuable to us."

Though he was ready to tell the man off, Roy suddenly recognized the voice. It was none other than the man who had been his prisoner just a week ago. Whether Bernard genuinely wanted to communicate with him in confidence or just bother him, Roy conceded and gave the man his number. "You can reach me at that number after 8. I'll do your survey, just don't call me here again!" He put the phone down on the hook, sighing. "Lieutenant, you'll never guess who called."

Ring

"Roy here."

"So unprofessional after hours, Roy Mustang."

Roy sat down at his home-office desk, smiling. "Bernard. I didn't think you'd keep in touch; how sweet of you."

"You flatter me, Colonel. Though I am just the liaison now."

"Hm, for my good friend, your boss?"

"You are friends now, wonderful!" Roy could hear the humor in Bernard's voice. "Then you trust his judgement on what I say next."

"Go on.." Roy leaned forward, readying pen and paper for note-taking.

"There remain traitors in the house of Amestris, in a place of power. Drachma cannot address peace between countries if there is unrest in yours. He need your help to… General, what word did you use?"

Roy would have chuckled, had he not been listening closely for Auren's voice-but he only heard a ghost of a whisper.

"To ferret out those who would claim peace a lie. Who would sabotage our efforts! And yours as well."

"And what is it that you...and your General, would propose?"

"Leave Xolemir. Return to Central, investigate. The General say your team is best for this job. I know we can trust you."

"You spend months in my prison, yet you trust me?" Roy chuckled. "Put the General on the line, I want to talk to him."

Bernard relayed this message to Auren, and Roy heard laughter in the background. "Apologies, Colonel. He prefer to… lay low."

"Lay low? He's in the same room as the man who I held captive for months, talking in the background, and asking for help from the enemy. I hardly call that laying low."

"I tell you before, we are not enemies. We are-"

"On opposite sides of a misunderstanding." Roy sighed, leaning back in his seat. "It may take me some time to relocate my team to Central without alerting suspicion..."

"The General promise to cause no more trouble for you, and very little for other border outposts. He will create... hm. General?"

Roy almost made out the voice in the background before Bernard finished. "Peaceable chaos."

"Interesting choice of words. Gotta keep our borders in check and maintain peace at the same time, hm?"

"Exactly." Eagerness was audible in Bernard's voice. "You will join in the mission for international peace, then?"

"I believe I will."

"I think we are starting to understand each other, Colonel."

It only took a year for Roy to subtly return his entire team to Central without suspicion. The transition would have been much sooner and gone smoother, had it not been for his 'blunder' of allowing Ustor's escape. He knew he was being watched closely, and darn if he didn't nearly get demoted when he got back to Central!

Everything settled rather quickly, Mustang's supporters in higher ranks helping to smooth things down and disperse suspicion. After all, Mustang had gone to Drachma to calm things, hadn't he?

True to his word, Auren kept things peaceful at most of the border. Roy even heard that the Briggs men were hoping for something to happen, as General Armstrong was training them extra hard during the interminable downtime.

Luckily, progress began to pick up at Central. With his men keeping an attentive ear out for questionable rumors or events, Roy was quick to find several men whom he suspected as would-be traitors. With a few well-timed conversations, the men were quickly arrested for self-incrimination. Roy and his team quietly celebrated, but his next phone call with Ustor revealed his fears-that they had barely scratched the surface.

"Bernie, good to hear from you again. I assume you've heard the news?"

"As has the General." As per usual, Bernard called Roy after work, just before Roy would have a chance to grab dinner. "He is pleased to hear of your progress. However... the corruption in your military runs deeper, and I am sure you know this."

"Unfortunately, I do." Roy rubbed his eyes. "I'm must say, for Drachman men, you seem to know an awful lot about the people in the strongest military center in my country."

"Ah, Colonel. Do you think I am the only lucky man who has infiltrated your military? I was just the one to get caught." He laughed, sending a chill down Roy's spine. "There is even a state alchemist working with us."

"...How well do you have your men integrated? How many are there?" Roy began to doubt his trust in Bernard and Auren.

"Just enough to still need the help of you and your men, Colonel. Please, do not worry about our men. Some will stay as Amestrian men when this is over, for they have fallen for your country; and some Amestrian men have agreed to work with us, just as you have. Peace has been a long time in the making. Auren think we are close."

"If not for the ingrained corruption." Roy sighed, running a hand through his hair as he leaned back In his seat. ,"Something tells me you won't give me the names of your undercover men."

"You will meet them when is necessary." The line was quiet long enough for Roy to halt his sigh and listen for words. Naturally, the sudden return of Bernard's voice caused him to jump. "I must go now, Colonel. The General is wanting to go out and everyone else has gone home."

"He can't be trusted alone in public?" Roy asked with a laugh.

"Only until he has his drinks." Chuckle "That is why I must go with him."

"Understood. Thank you, Bernard." Roy set the phone on its mount, leaning back with a sigh. "Could really use your help on this one, Edward..." He turned his gaze to the photo of himself and Ed that had been left to him just after...just after his death. Just next to it, also framed, were the three young kids competing for the biggest smile on camera... Edward, Alphonse and Winry.

"I believe I have earned a short vacation," he mused to himself, smiling sadly. "Perhaps to Risembool."