The Fullmetal Alchemist Edward Elric, is given his first assignment. He is to inspect the coalmines of Youswell, a task he believes to be Mustang's attempt to deter his search for the Philosopher's Stone. Ignoring direct orders Ed and Al take a detour to a popular tourist town hoping to uncover the smallest fragment of truth behind the Stone's growing legend. There they encounter a thief with enough tricks to keep the detectives busy for decades. Yet a tip from this unlikely source leads them into an adventure more startling than they could have ever imagined.

Ed and Al arrive in Xenotime, once a prosperous gold-mining settlement. But Xenotime's gold has been exhausted, and its economy is crumbling. Its only hope: two alchemists who are developing an artificial Philosopher's Stone to rejuvenate the mines. Their names? Edward and Alphonse Elric! Who are the false Elrics? And what light can they shed on the Philosopher's Stone?

Volume Three:
9. Be Thou for the People
10. The Phantom Thief
11. The Other Brothers Elric (part 1)
12. The Other Brothers Elric (part 2)