How many steps did it take to conquer a world?
Deploy troops, slaughter, occupy, rule.
Was slaughter necessary?
It was merely a means.
How could one consolidate one's rule?
Stand on the side of the vast disadvantaged masses.
Excerpt from the first military lesson for first-year students at Imperial secondary schools.
May 10, Year Six of Kaiyuan.
After bidding farewell to the tender embrace of the desert beauty, Ren came alone to the dimensional world under the responsibility of Wind Province—the Fullmetal Alchemist World.
Among the five great worlds, some were strong and some weak. The weakest, yet most interesting, was Alchemy.
More precisely, it was the Gate of Truth represented by Alchemy.
"All things in the world are born from one, and all things return to one. One is all."
"All exists within one, and one exists within all. Without all in one, all would not exist."
"In other words, I am all things, and all things are me."
Ren flipped through the secret Alchemy tome in his hand and spoke with a smile in a spacious, brightly lit office study.
Before him stood the leading figures in conquering this world: Yashamaru of Wind Province, Kakuzu, a powerful Oniwaban operative, and Orochimaru, who revered "wisdom and truth."
They were currently at the Southern Command of militaristic Amestris, a renowned summer retreat on the continent.
Wind Province's Dimensional Gate had happened to open here. On the third day after the provincial shinobi forces landed, they made the Southern Command change its banner. Within the Empire, it was renamed Shukaku City.
Upon hearing the news, One-Tail applied overnight for a transfer order and became Wind Province's eager vanguard.
"Your Majesty is truly farsighted."
Ren set down the book, his gaze falling upon the excited figure standing respectfully before him.
Temari's uncle,