A transaction.

Liu Mengchao is very good at talking about business, especially the matter of equivalent exchange. This was Edward's first thought, and since meeting Liu Mengchao, he realized that this man seemed to have a unique talent for equivalent transactions.

"Deal."

Without asking Liu Mengchao what he wanted in exchange, Edward didn't even think about it, and directly agreed with Liu Mengchao's words.

"Recommendation of the National Alchemist."

"Deal."

"In exchange, I released this woman who wanted to kill me."

The corners of Liu Mengchao's mouth curled slightly, and his wrist was slightly raised. The Hidden Blade shrank back. He walked slowly, past the already desperate girl, leaving behind the girl who seemed to have completely collapsed.

"It's a good deal. You like to save others more than to trade human lives for profit. No, it shouldn't be said to be saving others......"

"No one should be sacrificed for granted." Edward said in a deep voice, his eyes blazing.

"Then ......" Liu Mengchao looked around, estimating that it should already be a sky full of stars outside. He smiled and pondered, then smiled again and said, "I'll be waiting for you outside." ”

These are Liu Mengchao's words. When the words come to this, it already represents the end of the transaction.

Edward knew that Liu Mengchao would not easily let go of someone who threatened his life, so this was also the best outcome, wasn't it?

Even so, Edward still regretted it a little when he thought of it. After all, it was the first time he had come so close to the Philosopher's Stone, and he could almost reach out his hand and get his hands on the stone that represented a miracle, allowing himself and Alphonse to regain their bodies.

But......

"Brother......

Alphonse's hand lightly pressed on Edward's shoulder, and it was strange to say that the palm of his hand, which was completely cold, seemed to be able to transfer heat at this moment. The two brothers knew each other well, and they knew each other's hearts.

So Edward felt guilty, guilty that he couldn't be ruthless and use other people's sacrifices to save his brother.

Alphonse guilty. Because he had put his brother in such a torment. This is indescribable hardship and sorrow.

Rosa, who had been let go by Liu Mengchao, slumped on the ground, tilting her head in despair, as if trying to find the light that had completely disappeared. She clearly saw the Sage Stone in Liu Mengchao's hand, which represented infinite hope, and she also saw a scene of her weakness and even sadness.

"You...... You took advantage of my ......"

Rosa's lips quirmed, sad, but sad and speechless. It wasn't until this moment that Rosa had that sense of absurdity in her heart.

It was as if he was a puppet carrying a string, toyed with by this man called Liu Mengchao in applause. He already knew that he would shoot, he already knew that he was not the one who could kill others, he already knew ......

"Why!"

Finally. Finally unable to bear the grief in her heart, Rosa howled at Liu Mengchao in almost despair. The long reddish-brown hair was scattered over the shoulders, and the white dress was already covered with black dust, which looked so ugly.

"Because ugliness is human nature." Liu Mengchao suddenly turned around and stared at Rosa with a cold gaze, "I know it, admit it, so I can manipulate it and finally use it." ”

This is the language of the iciest reality. It is also Liu Mengchao's heartfelt emotion.

"No...... No...... No...... No! ”

After Liu Mengchao finished speaking, he had already turned around and walked outside, but for Rosa, it was not over. She still clearly remembered Liu Mengchao's words, the gun without the safety was still in front of her, so close. It's at your fingertips.

Little by little, little by little, little by little, until the cold touch of the pistol completely covered the palm. Watery brown eyes stared at the safety of the back of the pistol.

"Click!"

With a soft sound, the insurance was opened.

"Don't!"

Edward saw everything clearly. Rosa opened the safety of the pistol, and then aimed it at Liu Mengchao's back.

"Come back, take the Philosopher's Stone...... Give him back to me! ”

Tears splashed from Rosa's eyes. The next second, the trigger was pulled.

Click...... Bang!

The bullet came out of the chamber with an orange-red glow.

"The one who wants to survive let him die," the bullet passed directly through Liu Mengchao's body, and at the same time, Liu Mengchao's slightly mocking voice also fluttered like an ethereal flute, "So the one who begged for death let him live." You can't die, you can't survive, the so-called despair is nothing more than this. ”

The bullet passed through Liu Mengchao's body, but no blood splattered.

Edward subconsciously rubbed his eyes and looked back at where Liu Mengchao was standing. There was no longer Liu Mengchao there, and he had already gone farther.

"It's refraction." Alphonse said softly to Edward, "Liu Mengchao just seems to have used water vapor to create a refraction of light, so he has created the illusion that a bullet will penetrate his body. ”

Is this Liu Mengchao's alchemy?

Edward looked at Liu Mengchao's disappearing back in a daze, and couldn't help but gasp. Because all this is too scary, as if Liu Mengchao does not exist in this world. Who can defeat an enemy that doesn't exist, and who knows exactly where the enemy will be?

Is fighting Liu Mengchao such a terrifying thing!

Edward was terrified, but Liu Mengchao was gone.

People go, the building is not empty. Because there are still others in this dimly lit basement, there is a young girl Rosa who has just completely collapsed.

She was wearing a pure white dress, and her whole body collapsed helplessly on the ground. The smoking pistol still had a slightly hot temperature in her hand, but it didn't seem to matter to her anymore. Her bright and clear eyes seemed to have lost their luster a long time ago, and even the Edward brothers walked in front of her without reflecting their own figure in her eyes.

Edward was somewhat familiar with such a look, for he had seen it in the mirror countless times, and it was his own gaze, and it was his powerless gaze. This is a desperate look, but it is definitely not a look that can be saved.

"What should I do?"

After a long time, Rosa finally raised her head and looked at Edward standing in front of her with her desperate eyes. This may have become a habit of human beings for thousands of years, as long as they look at the good people with desperate and longing eyes. Then compassion will plan a path for her, a path that will achieve her ideal as long as she is lonely and helpless forever.

Edward turned his head to look at his brother standing behind him. The whole body has long been turned into armor made of steel, and I can't feel pain, I can't feel fatigue, and even eating is a luxury that only exists in dreams. But his brother couldn't sleep last year.

"The Philosopher's Stone...... Philosopher's Stone...... It's my only hope! ”

The words fell, and Rosa couldn't stop crying. Her voice was filled with the desire to die, and the lovelessness of life was perhaps the most obvious feeling she had now.

"Tell me! Tell me! I will ...... in the future What to rely on to live! Tell me...... Say! ”

Unable to control her emotions any longer, Rosa broke down and yelled at Brother Edward. Tears welled up in her eyes. Went down like crazy.

It's just that the Edward brothers didn't show a saving expression, as if the person who had just saved Rosa from Liu Mengchao's hands was not the same as them. Edward only pursed his lips slightly, and said in a cold and hard tone, "You can think about this kind of thing yourself." ”

Can the Fullmetal Alchemist really deserve to be an alchemist with the title of Steel?

Liu Mengchao, who had not gone far, could still hear Edward's voice at this time, and the corners of his mouth were unconsciously curled, and a faint smile appeared on Liu Mengchao's face.

"Stand up and walk...... Move forward. ”

Edward walked past Rosa, as if practicing Edward's theory. Alphons, who had already turned to steel, also followed Edward at this time.

When Edward's figure gradually disappeared in front of Rosa's eyes, Edward's last words were belated.

"Don't you have sound feet?"

As if to confirm the words of the Edwards brothers, Alphonse's steel body creaked and disappeared into the basement of the church. Gone.

Sound feet?

These were Edward's seemingly cruel words.

Using the power of alchemy, the Edward brothers opened a door on the walls of the church. The two brothers came in a hurry, and when they went, they were also light-footed, as if they had never been here.

And at this moment. Liu Mengchao was not as they imagined, he was already outside the church of the Leithianism.

At this time, the sun is still shining, tormenting the land that is about to desertify. The only shady place is the Leithian tower. Liu Mengchao is here at this moment. He's not just hanging around. It's just because within Liu Mengchao's eyes that used Eagle Vision, there is a road that exudes pale gold.

When the shadow above his head once again shrouded Liu Mengchao's head, the somewhat lazy man narrowed his eyes again. He was still hidden under his hood, hidden in the darkness.

At this moment, there was an extremely faint sound of footsteps in the distance. The footsteps don't sound rushed, and can even be said to be staggered. The sound of footsteps sounding one after the other reached Liu Mengchao's ears, making him squint his eyes.

There should be two people in front of and behind the footsteps.

Liu Mengchao thought as he lowered his head and looked at the Sage Stone in his palm.

Slowly, the footsteps got closer and closer to Liu Mengchao, as if they had come to Liu Mengchao's ears.

"Not Edward, not Alphonse."

Liu Mengchao made a judgment in his heart and raised his head again. In the field of vision that used Eagle Eye, there were also two more targets at this moment.

Red target.

The meaning and its simplicity are straightforward.

"Is it an enemy?"

Liu Mengchao laughed. (To be continued......)