Chapter 171 - Country House

"So, you are saying there is something below central?"

"To learn Alkahestry, you need to learn about the flow of Chi. Whatever is below central, it is twisted. It puts us on edge."

Major Hughes rubbed his chin, thinking deeply about it. He had heard, read about Alkahestry that Mustang sent him. He had a basic idea about the Chi that Tatsuya was talking about.

But to say something was under the ground of central was too much. This was questioning the whole central.

"I don't have many answers for you; the more I have... are questions. That is why we decided to become the state alchemist to get access to confidential information to get some answers."

Major Hughes thought about it before giving a kiddish grin, "that's alright; if there is anything you need, you can ask me."

"I'll go to the library today and see if we need something; we will definitely look for you. If I find something, I will invite you for dinner."

Major Hughes stood up, keeping the smile on his face, "Well, then I have to go to work." His grin became even huger, "and then I need to go back home to my dear Elicia!"

After Major Hughes left, Tatsuya laid his body down on the long sofa. He was already tired after staying awake the whole night; Miyuki was already freshening up inside. He just wanted to sleep.

Miyuki walked in after a while, wearing a bathrobe, wet hair. She tilted her head after seeing no one was around. She walked over to the sofa and looked over it, seeing Tatsuya asleep. She put her elbows horizontally on the couch, leaning on it as she watched Tatsuya with a smile.

She walked towards the entrance, drawing a transmutation circle on her robe with her hands. With the discharge of blue lightning, the clothes transmute into a white office shirt and black trousers, her hairs dry again.

Walking outside the house in daylight, Miyuki sat down on the stairs. She waited until Maria returned.

"Lady Miyuki? Is there something you needed?" Maria asked in bewilderment at Miyuki, who was sitting on the stairs.

Miyuki lightly shook her head, "No, Onii-sama is sleeping. I just didn't want anyone to disturb him, so I was waiting outside." She looked up, observing Maria, "would you mind staying outside and stop anyone from disturbing us? for today?"

Maria saluted her, "Yes, Ma'am. You don't have to worry about anything. I will make sure no one disturbs the two of you."

Miyuki thanked her, walking back inside the house. She sat down in front of the couch, watching Tatsuya's face.

In the evening,

Tatsuya opened his eyes, the first thing that appeared in his view was Miyuki's body. She was sitting on the floor, her head on the sofa, above her crossed arms.

Tatsuya moved his hand, slowly stroking her hair. He took out a piece of chalk from the item store, drawing a transmutation circle on the couch.

Slowly, the couch's height became smaller; it turned into particles, barely a few holding Tatsuya and Miyuki in place.

It turned into a double bed with both of them lying on top of it.

Miyuki squirmed, slowly changing her position. Tatsuya leaned in further near her, putting his arm around her, closing his eyes.

At night,

Tatsuya walked outside the house; Maria was standing with a tired look on her face. While Denny was sitting on the stone slabs, his hands holding his face.

Seeing Tatsuya, both of them stood up in alert, "Sir!" They saluted.

Tatsuya waved his hand, "at ease."

Tatsuya ruffled his hair, "what are you two still doing here?"

Maria still stood alerted as she summarized, "We were asked by Lady Miyuki to make sure that you are not disturbed."

"Thank you, would you like to go home or just take one of the rooms to rest? and you don't have to speak so formally."

Maria let out a breath, taking that offer, "Sir, we were asked to stay with you until you need us. We would like to take a room if possible."

Tatsuya looked around before walking towards the left side, following the wall, "come with me."

Maria and Denny look and each other before following Tatsuya. Tatsuya turned at the corner and moved towards the other end before stopping. It was a big two-story country house with a tiled roof. The house was surrounded by shrubs and trees.

It had tall windows on the first floor and small ones on the second one.

After reaching the other end of the house, Tatsuya drew a transmutation array, activating it. He created the door on the wall, "Use this."

"Couldn't we have just used the front...?" before Denny could finish his sentence, Maria punched him on the head and bowed, "Thank you," She opened the door and walked inside the house.

Tatsuya walked, feeling the grass on his bare feet. He sensed it, the squirming under the ground. He had been wondering what it could be, but now he realized that it was souls, humans, squirming around.

There was a part of him that didn't want to get involved. Even if he was making all the preparations. He just wanted to spend more time with Miyuki without getting involved. But, it didn't seem like they could stay away much longer.

He could feel it, the time, approaching.

The Next Morning,

Tatsuya stood leaning on the Military Jeep. Ross was sitting on the wheel while Danny of the backseat.

Miyuki walked in front of them, "Sorry about being late."

She wore similar clothes to yesterday, just a different design. Tatsuya shook his head; it wasn't her fault, she wore a skirt before, then remembering they were going to central, she had to change.

"Inside?" Tatsuya asked her.

"Yeah, my hair would be a mess if I sat outside." Miyuki climbed the jeep, sitting inside.

Tatsuya sat down beside her, he leaned forward, steering at Maria, "let's go."

*Vroom*Vroom*

"Is there something you needed?" Denny asked them.

"We were just hoping to visit the library to see some research note on chimera's."

"Chimera's?" Both Maria and Denny glimpsed in surprise.

"Have you heard anything about it?" Miyuki had asked about it, but none of the citizens knew anything about it. Even Mustang had only heard of some Shou Tucker that made a chimera, which said three words.

Other than him, they had no knowledge of Chimera's that she and Tatsuya had seen.

"I think, I read about a talking chimera a few years ago it was in newspapers."

"You must be talking about Shou Tucker; we heard about him from Mustang too."

"Are you looking for something more?"

Tatsuya watched the passing scenery; a few faces flashed past in front of his eyes, "something much more."

They didn't have proper proof of what was going on in this country. Chi wasn't a decent reason unless they teach someone about it. Like they couldn't tell Hughes about the thing in the shadows.

In this world, other than Alchemy, nothing supernatural existed. Even Alchemy was a science, or so the people thought.

Telling them that something was in the shadow that was keeping an eye on them? How? What was it? They had no explanation. He wanted to start with trying to find who made the chimeras. Maybe that would the beginning of something, get them some answers, an opening.

Tatsuya took out a folded paper from his pocket, giving it to Denny, "I need all these materials."

Miyuki took the list before Denny, opening it. Her eyes darting across the items on the list, "Onii-sama is trying to build something?"

"Yes, quite a few items," He wanted to build computers, drones, and a whole freaking system to watch the entire damn city. He would need a cloaking system to make sure the drones don't catch the eye of the shadows.

There was no way the material and elements he needed would be available readily. It was good they were State Alchemists; they could use state resources to get the materials they needed to make composites.

With Alchemy creating the things would be the easy part. Getting the materials would be the real hard part.

"I don't think our money would be enough to get all those items. Even with the funds that state gives us."

"I thought about that too; let's start by getting everything that we can. I can make something that would bring us more money."

"I know what Onii-sama is saying, but you should mark the important ones."

"Don't worry, I have written the list down in the order of their importance."

"Ah," She smiled, taking out her pocket watch and writing a cheque.

Tatsuya took an already written cheque and his pocket watch, given them to Denny, "get as much of as you can."

Denny took the watches and cheque, opening them, he stuttered, "Wha-ha-at?!!!!" Maria glanced back, "what?"

"Thi-is money?!!! You want me to spend all of it?!!!"

Maria glanced back at the cheque Denny showing her, shortly, the car went out of control. Zizaggin, "How rich are you!!"

Miyuki put her hand on the wheel, trying to keep the jeep in control, "don't get us killed."