Chapter 35: The Sacrificial Lamb

Edward, Alphonse, and Winry step off their train in Central without Ling Yao, who has passed out from hunger further down the platform and is dragged away by officials as an illegal immigrant. The three soon cross paths with Riza Hawkeye, and while she and Winry catch up, Edward reasons that Roy Mustang must be close by. His hunch proves right when Roy rolls in aboard a carriage and announces that he and Riza have both been reassigned to the capital. Told that the brothers came to dig into the Philosopher's Stone and the homunculi, and that they intend to look up Maes Hughes, Roy hides the truth of the murder and claims Hughes has retired to the countryside.

Once the groups separate, Roy admits to Riza that the lie is meant to keep the boys focused and unhurt, and he orders her to quietly compile everything she can find on Ross, now named the leading suspect in Hughes' death. Armstrong questions the jailed Ross about her defense, but her alibi tied to Laboratory 5 cannot be used because the army refuses to admit the site exists, and her family's word carries no weight either. Denny Brosh is turned away at the door, making the frame-up unmistakable. At the safe house, both Falman and Barry the Chopper spot the newspaper naming Ross, and Alphonse charges in to show his brother the same story.

Barry smashes into the prison, floors the guards, and springs Ling before freeing Ross, who is stunned to learn she has been condemned without any trial. The three fugitives bolt through the city and run headlong into the Elrics, so Barry holds the brothers off while Ross keeps moving. A recovered Falman phones Riza to report the escape. In an alley, Roy corners the lieutenant and unleashes his flames, leaving Edward and Alphonse to arrive at a plume of smoke and find him standing over a charred body. A published errata point flags a mislabeled line of dialogue when Alphonse bursts through the door.