Chapter 34: The Footsteps of a War Comrade

Synopsis
The chapter starts off with Alphonse Elric fixing the mask that Lan Fan usually wears, which was previously fixed by Edward Elric, whom had changed the style to his usual gothic taste.

After a time skip, it shows that Edward, Alphonse, and their childhood friend Winry Rockbell are leaving on a train from Rush Valley. They also get better acquainted with Ling Yao, who has also joined them, with what he reveals are his bodyguards Lan Fan and Fu. On the train, Ling reveals that he is fifteen years old, the same age as Edward. Upon hearing that, both teenagers line up against each other only to find that Ling is taller, much to Edward's irritation and everyone else's amusement. Then, changing the subject, Edward insulted Ling out of anger and found an attack by Lan Fan. It appears that Lan Fan is infuriated whenever Ling is "badmouthed", as she calls it.

At Central City, Jean Havoc is shown carrying food toward a worn-out, most probably abandoned building. A little while later, it is revealed that Vato Falman is living there, and watching over the serial killer Barry the Chopper, who stuck in armor with a blood seal, much like Alphonse Elric. Vato Falman is shown to be working undercover for Roy Mustang, keeping Barry the Chopper at bay. Jean Havoc also mentions here that he has found a girlfriend, much to the dismay of Falman and Barry the Chopper, who were expecting for better news about the condition of their State Military.

At Central Command, Sheska is seen being asked about the 3rd Document Storage room by an unnamed female military officer. However, when the military personnel tries to enter the Document Storage room, Sheska anxiously tells her that the room is "believably messy that it's beyond your imagination", and convinced the officer to come back later. Once opening the door to the 3rd Document Storage room, it shows Roy Mustang sleeping in a pile of books, apparently reading or researching about something. Sheska informs Mustang that he has been sleeping for about ten minutes. He leaves, saying that he has a meeting to get to.

After he leaves, Sheska is faced with another superior officer, who asks her why the door to the Storage room is open and why Mustang has left from it. Sheska seems unable to answer, the officer concludes that she was probably forced to do it by Roy Mustang and gives her no punishment.

He does, however, ask her about what Mustang was looking for in there. Sheska reveals that he was looking up incidents relating to the 5th Laboratory, Central Prison, and the case of Brigadier General Maes Hughes. Sheska tells the superior officer that she scared of the fact that maybe the murderer is someone in the military, due to the fact the pistol used was the same as military officers use.

The superior officer, who now seems troubled with this, leaves her. However, it seems that this officer is really Envy, a homunculus, after the real officer walks past. When the superior officer enters the Storage room, it seems Sheska is confused by the events that just happened.

Afterwards, the chapter shows Roy Mustang in the bathroom, preferably freshening up. Another person in the bathroom, State Alchemist Alex Armstrong, is seen talking to Mustang. Armstrong says that he met the Elric Brothers at the assessment in Southern HQ, and says that he plans to continue being a State Alchemist for their quest to regain their bodies. Mustang comments on how it is unsure if they regain their bodies first, or if Edward is sent to war first.

A flashback occurs, showing Armstrong on the battlefield of what would be the Ishvalian Civil War, with an Ishvalan child in his arms. Mustang is seen talking with Hughes, of how Armstrong will soon be discharged from the war. Hughes comments of how giving up was the easiest way out of the battlefield, due to shock from the killings. He also says that guns are better than knives and swords; there is no bitter feeling of death left behind.

Mustang says that Edward is a State Alchemist therefore has to do whatever the military says, no matter of how he is only a teenager. Armstrong says he only wishes to use his strength to help protect and save the country. Armstrong also reveals that he has not told the Elric Brother's of Maes Hughes' death. Mustang tells Armstrong that Hughes was in the middle of researching the Fifth Laboratory to help in Edward and Alphonse's predicament. After, both leave in different directions.

The chapter goes on to show an unknown room, filled with chimera-like creatures. In the room are homunculi Envy and Lust. Envy is still in another form, and informs list that Colonel Mustang is looking too much into the death of Maes Hughes. Envy says that Mustang probably knows much, and Lust comments that this fact wasn't particularly good, seeing as how he was a 'sacrifice'. Later on, it also shows the homunculi Gluttony, feeding the body of Barry the Chopper.

Envy comes up with a plan, and it leaves the homunculi at that.

2nd Lieutenant Maria Ross is arrested for the death of Maes Hughes, depending on the fact the bullet that was used was the same used to shot Hughes, even though the real shot was used to keep the Elric Brothers safe during the incident at the Fifth Laboratory.

Jean Havoc is now seen buying flowers at a shop for a date with his newfound girlfriend. As he arrives at the cafe, it is revealed that his girlfriend 'Solaris', is really Lust. At the same time, Roy Mustang begins to make his move, Maria Ross is taken in for questioning, and Edward, Alphonse, and Winry arrive at Central.