As Gracia and Elicia are outside, inside their house Sgt. Brosh and Lt. Ross interrogate Winry and Sheska for their actions at Central Command. Since the two can’t tell what happened, Ross and Brosh leave, but not before Winry mentions that something dangerous is going on in the army. When it becomes clear that it is too dangerous to stay in Central, Winry decides to return to Resembool, taking Sheska with her, who is upset that she left her books behind.On a troop train bound for Reola, Colonel Mustang is shocked that Kimblee has been reinstated as State Alchemist and is part of their operation. Mustang demands answers, and Colonel Archer claims that false accusations were used to imprison Kimblee and that he was part of the sinister experiments at Lab 5. Mustang is angered by the mention of false accusations, knowing that Kimblee is a sadist, but because Archer is now also full Colonel, Mustang can no longer override his orders. Scar is spotted by a military balloon as he drags a huge rock in the sand around Reole and is photographed.That night in the desert, Edward, now aware of Martel’s identity, confesses that he killed Greedo and frames Martel as a criminal along with Greedo for kidnapping Alphonse. He also states that Greed killed Dante. Martel pulls out a knife and throws it ostensibly at Ed but actually at the snake. As she cuts up the snake and gives it to Ed, Martel reveals that Ed is not her target, as she understands that Greed wanted to die at Ed’s hands. Her real targets include the State Army, the other Homunculi, and especially Kimblee for betraying their group.
The next day, as they drive, Martel reveals to the Elrics that they are already in Ishval. After stopping, when Martel asks what they’re looking for, the Elrics reply that it’s the Philosopher’s Stone that supposedly existed there during the war. Martel is surprised because the Ishvalans didn’t put up any resistance, and when Ed mentions how the war started, Martel is surprised at how the military presented the story.Martel reveals that she has been imprisoned in Laboratory 5 for fourteen years and only looks young thanks to her chimera powers. Before becoming chimeras, she and the other humans were part of a special operations unit that was sent to attack Ishval due to an alleged report of Ishval’s plot to commit terrorist acts against Amestris. In the process, they killed a number of priests in the monastery, leaving Scar’s Master as the only surviving priest, starting the Ishval Civil War. Ed’s lack of sense angers him. Moving back into Al’s armor, Martel reveals that her unit was placed in detention after the start of the war, and under the supervision of General Grand and Dr. Marcoh, the survivors were taken to Lab 5 and turned into chimeras to silence them to cover up the truth. Just as Ed is angered by this revelation, he notices some people nearby, namely Lts. Breda and Havoc. Despite Breda and Havoc trying to hide, the Elrics recognize their voices and learn that they have been sent to check on security at the old site of Ishvalan.Heading with them to a nearby military base, the Elrics meet up with Mustang and Archer, where Mustang admits that he heard about how their recent actions were causing them trouble. The Elrics want to know what the massive military force will be used for, which Archer reveals is to stop the rebellion. Ed believes that Scar is involved and wishes to help as the boys are after him as well.
That night at dinner, Ed reveals that he is trying to stop Scar from committing an atrocity, and Al tries to sneak food to Martel in his armor, but Lt. Hawkeye catches Al and berates him for faking food, much to Martel’s anger. Ed then sees photos from the observation balloon confirming that Scar is creating a large transmutation field around the city. Ed pretends not to know Scar’s reason and discovers that the town is Reole. Ed also learns that despite what he and Al did last year to get rid of Cornell, the townspeople have split into two factions that rose together against the military when they intervened. Mustang also admits that Hughes informed him about this a while ago, but chose not to tell Ed.
Later, when the rest of Mustang’s squadron agrees to keep the details of Hughes’ death a secret from the Elrics, Mustang arrives at a meeting between Archer and Ed. Archer reveals that Ed agreed to a scouting mission to Reola for Archer due to Ed’s past experience in Reola, on the condition that Al stay behind. Ed admits to Mustang in the lobby that he only talked to Archer because Mustang would have refused his request.Discussing this with Al and Martel in their room, Ed admits that he wanted Al to stay because Archer doesn’t trust him. Al agrees with Ed that the giant transmutation circle is probably for creating the Philosopher’s Stone. Happy to be out of armor, Martel admits that she held her own against Archer because the other Homunculi and Kimblee are her first targets, which Al doesn’t approve of.Before Ed heads out in disguise, Major Armstrong tells him to leave his State Alchemist pocket watch at Archer’s command. Unbeknownst to them, Archer’s intention is to give the alchemist’s pocket watch to Mr. Tucker to insert the red stones into it.Ed meets the owner of the food stand he met before, pretending to be a resident who recently returned after being driven out by Cornell’s actions. The owner admits that Cornello was terrible and seems to recognize Ed’s face. After Ed tries to talk himself out of it, he discovers a public figure “The Holy Mother” arriving, who he discovers is Rosé, from the earlier series. Back at the military base, Al runs into a soldier trying to keep someone out of sight. Once the other person is confirmed as Kimblee, Martel angrily prepares to attack Kimblee. In Reola, Ed walks by and is observed by Lust and Gluttony, who know they will have to kill him to find out the truth about the Ishvalan War. Gluttony nearby senses Scar as the “Beast of Ishval”, who recognizes Ed and grabs him by the shoulder.