Synopsis: Maes Hughes requests to meet with Doctor Marcoh, supposedly in the Fuhrer’s custody, about matters concerning the Fifth Laboratory. The Fuhrer tells his secretary, Juliet Douglas, to take care of it. The Elrics claim to be abandoning their research into the Philosopher’s Stone and are headed to meet with their alchemy teacher in Dublith. However, Hughes and Armstrong see through their ruse. The brothers, along with Winry, leave Central on the train, but they admit to Winry that they’re not going to Dublith, fearing their teacher. They plan instead to catch up with Scar and the Ishbalans to see if there’s another way to make the Philosopher’s Stone. Meanwhile, at an Ishbalan camp, Scar’s master appears, concerned about his actions. Hughes works into the night doing research on the Ishbal war and the Philosopher’s Stone, discovering something suddenly involving the Fuhrer’s secretary, who calls with the news that Marcoh has arrived in Central. Hughes meets with Juliet Douglas and reveals that he knows about an inconsistency in personell records involving her. Suddenly Lust appears and attacks him, and he runs off, encountering Maria Ross. Hughes calls Roy in a phone booth, but Roy has already left for Central out of concern for the Elric brothers. Frustrated, Hughes hangs up the phone, but confronts Ross, who he knows is an imposter. "Maria Ross" reveals herself to be Envy, the shape-shifting homunculi, who changes into Gracia Hughes, catching him off guard. A shot rings out. At the funeral for Hughes, Roy cries. Meanwhile, Edward spots what appears to be Hughes, waving at him as the train passes a station, but shrugs it off. read more