Ajax threw Edward at Alphonse, who was standing outside the building for some reason. He sneakily ran away with Hats. They were careful and ran as far away from the site as possible.
"Let's hope the old man doesn't find out." Hats said.
"Me too, he would ground me if he found out. I can already hear him say, 'a 5-year-old has no need for fighting experience,'" Ajax mimicked Alexander.
"Haha, but you do need experience. Your kicks and technique were lousy. She pierced you so easily." Hats scolded him.
"I know I need to train more but everyone in Phixheim refuses to train me. They say that I'm too small and I should just have fun." Ajax pouted unhappily.
"Well, I will train you then. You will be my student, I will be your Shifu. Got it?" Hats asked.
"Yes, Shifu." Ajax saluted.
"Good, now, let's go and see how the Elric brothers are." Hats led the way.
...
Alexander was at the Creta Border. Unlike Aerugo, a full-on war was going on at this front. People would die every day from both sides.
Although Amestris was only using its western forces in the war, it was still dealing a heavy blow to Creta as they were forced to use a large number of military men. They didn't have a big enough army as Amestris.
Amestris had been using the western town of Pendleton as a morale booster for its army because it was the first town Amestris won in the border war.
"How are we going to deal with this one?" Ragnarok asked.
"Well, I'm gonna give these men what they crave for. Peace and life security. Creta has been fighting this war for a long time now. While Amestris keeps on getting stronger, for some reason, Creta seems to keep on getting worse as they increase their military spending.
We need to give them hope that if they surrender, they won't be treated harshly. I don't know who started this war but I just want it over." Alexander said firmly.
"But we will eventually have to find the reason behind all this. Amestris is at war with all its neighbours. This can't be a coincidence." Leonidas added.
"Yes, it is suspicious indeed." Alexander agreed and headed towards the border with others.
Unlike the Aerugo, Creta didn't have a prince who could decide things. Creta had a Central government that was only responsible for administration work. Then there were also semi-independent state governments.
"Come on, you and I both know how devastating that would be. Also, do you really think you can destroy Amestris? They have just ended their war with Aerugo, now they can send their Southern Army here. You couldn't even stand against their western army, what gives you the confidence you will win then? Is your government really that keen on getting your people killed? Don't you value the lives of your soldiers and people?
"Surrendering and losing a war is better than getting utterly defeated and then having no say in the ending of the war. If your people surrender now, then you can at least get some favourable treatment signed in the form of agreements." Alexander advised him.
The general stayed quiet for a while. He was an old man and also had kids and grandkids. He refused to think that his little grandkid would also die someday after they lose the war.
"Follow me, then." He agreed to take him with him to the central government's Secretary of War.
...
Alexander was taken not far from the battlefield. It was a big government building. But, in their way, Alexander saw the condition of the people living there. He was saddened by their state.
The people were looking at the military car from the sidewalks. They wore ragtag clothes and looked sick and malnourished. They looked at the car with hopeful eyes that they might be given some leftovers if they were lucky.
"These people, is the condition of Creta so bad?" He asked.
"Yes, sadly this is the reality. We were forced to put all our resources into the war. If the Amestris wanted they could have defeated us long ago but they dragged the war so they can force us to empty all our resources on the war, so when we are finally defeated, we'd be fully at their mercy." The general replied.
"Normal people are the ones who suffer the most in these wars. Don't worry, no matter what decision is made today, I will make sure that enough food is donated to these people. I am a bit influential, you know."Alexander assured him. His decision was even stronger when he saw a woman holding the hands of her weak daughters and looking at him with hopeless eyes. He waved his hand and their clothes got patched and rice balls appeared in their hands. Nobody noticed this.
...
Soon, he reached the office of the War secretary.
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