Chapter 38: The New Work Attack
He continued flipping. Chapter 2, Edward and the armored Alphonse embarked on their journey, meeting childhood friend Winry.
Chapter 3, they headed to Central City to take the State Alchemist exam, seeking a way to restore their bodies.
The worldview slowly unfolded: the scientific system of alchemy, the iron rule of Equivalent Exchange, the military regime of Amestris, the secret of the Philosopher's Stone, the undercurrents of conspiracy...
Every page refreshed his understanding of the word "manga."
This wasn't a simple fantasy adventure; it was an epic with a complete worldview, rigorous settings, and profound themes.
Twenty-five minutes later, Lee finished the last page. He looked up at Sue, his voice slightly hoarse.
"This is... drawn by Alex?"
"Yes." Sue nodded. "He prepared for three months. The complete setting guide, character bios, and plot outline are all in this folder. But he said the work will speak for itself."
Lee took a deep breath and handed the manuscript to Deputy Chief David Wang next to him. "Read it."
The manuscript began to circulate. David Wang, the first to receive it, changed color after only three pages. He gasped when he saw the Human Transmutation scene.
"This scale... can this pass censorship? Human transmutation, brothers mutilated, this is too dark!"
"Keep reading," Lee said only two words.
When the manuscript reached the hands of Fantasy Adventure Section Head KevinZhang, the veteran editor of twenty years had trembling hands. He read extremely slowly, studying almost every panel, sometimes frowning, sometimes nodding, sometimes sucking in a cold breath.
When he saw the setting that "The Philosopher's Stone is made of live human sacrifices," he jerked his head up, eyes wide, voice trembling:
"This setting... this is a goddamn masterpiece!"
Everyone in the room looked at him.
Kevin Zhang was so excited he almost stood up. "Equivalent Exchange is the basic principle of alchemy, but the Philosopher's Stone can break this principle—because the price has already been paid, with countless human lives! This isn't just a setting; this is philosophy! It's an ethical dilemma! It's the ultimate interrogation of 'the ends justify the means'!"
He pointed to a panel on the storyboard, his finger shaking. "Look here! Edward questions Colonel Mustang if he knows the truth about the Stone, and Mustang is silent. What is in this silence? The dirtiness of politicians, the helplessness of soldiers, the distortion and struggle of humanity under the system!"
He flipped to another page, pointing to the Human Transmutation scene. "And here! The forbidden alchemy, the brothers' tragedy. But this isn't just showing cruelty; it's exploring—how much of a price can a person pay for a loved one? When you know your 'miracle' is built on the sacrifice of countless people, can you still use it with a clear conscience?"
Kevin Zhang looked at Lee, his face full of uncontrollable fanaticism. "Chief, I've been an editor for twenty years and reviewed over ten thousand submissions. But this... this is different. It has the potential to become a timeless classic, not just a momentary hit, but a classic that will be entered into manga history and discussed for ten or twenty years!"
"But isn't this too dark?" Shonen Manga Section Head Chen Ming frowned. "Silver Spoon readers are mostly here for warmth, reality, and growth. Showing them this suddenly, aren't we afraid of a backlash? Human transmutation, mutilated brothers, stones made of people—this is the complete opposite extreme of Silver Spoon!"
"But precisely because it's extreme, it has impact," Kevin Zhang retorted immediately. "Young readers today are tired of formulaic hot-blooded upgrades. They want depth, they want thought, they want real human struggle. Fullmetal Alchemist gives exactly that!"
He slapped the storyboard, voice excited. "And didn't you see? The completion level of this work! Worldview, settings, characters, plot all established in the first three chapters! This isn't a trial work; it's a polished, mature product! Alex came with a complete, well-thought-out plan!"
Shojo Manga Section Head Linda Lin took the manuscript, read for a while, and suddenly spoke. "Actually... I find it very attractive."
Everyone looked at her.
"Look at the relationship between Edward and Alphonse." Linda pointed at the visuals. "The younger brother loses his body, the older brother will stop at nothing to get it back. This brotherly bond is very moving. And this Winry, the childhood friend, supporting silently... Although the overall tone is dark, the core is warm. It's a story about love, sacrifice, and redemption."
"But can readers accept such a huge style shift?" The Distribution Head worried. "Silver Spoon readers are used to slow-paced growth stories. Suddenly giving them this dark cruelty..."
"That's why we need to take the risk." Kevin Zhang said decisively. "The manga industry needs a breakthrough, needs a work that can shatter the ceiling. This FMA has that potential!"
The conference room fell into intense debate. Supporters and opponents held their ground, arguing more and more fiercely.
Lee remained silent. He reopened the storyboard, looking at the page where Edward fitted the automail. The expression on the boy's face mixed pain, unwillingness, and determination—the look of someone choosing to move forward after experiencing hell.
He flipped to the last page, the end of Chapter 3. Edward and Alphonse stood on the train to Central City, vast fields outside the window. Edward looked at his automail hand and whispered: "Just wait, Al. I will definitely get our bodies back."
From inside Alphonse's armor came a calm voice: "I believe in you, Brother."
The scene froze there. Dark, but full of hope.
Everyone in the room waited for the Chief's decision.
Lee looked up, sweeping his gaze over everyone, then spoke slowly:
"I've decided."
The room went instantly silent.
"Fullmetal Alchemist, slated for April."
He paused, then said a sentence that shocked everyone:
"But we're going to play a big hand no advance notice, no promotional warm-up. We will publish it directly in the issue containing the final chapter of Silver Spoon!"
(To be Continued)
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