Meanwhile in Central, Mustang and Hawkeye meet with Major Armstrong to talk about Hughes' death. While Armstrong can't anything other than it being the individuals from the Elrics' investigation, Mustang suspects this ties in with the possibility of the State Military trying to create a Philosopher's Stone, and someone with a rank higher than him ordered Armstrong to remain silent. Back in Rush Valley, Al wonders where Winry went pointing out Ed shouldn't have cheated, while Winry encounters Paninya again. Noticing Paninya's legs are automail as well, Winry takes a look at her automail arm and could tell it is a high-performance design that needs slight repair. Answering Winry's question, Paninya reveals it is due to a train wreck that cost both of her legs and right arm and was an orphan on the street until Dominic found her and gave her automail. Paniya reveals that her dream is to make Dominic's skills well known. Winry decides to pit her automail against Ed to help Paninya have confidence in her automail. That night at Dominic's shop, while making repairs to Paninya's arm, Dominic goes into great shock after Winry reveals her name and Dominic remembers her grandmother Pinako Rockbell who he is afraid of and leaves them to their business after noticing what Winry is doing.

The next day after meeting with the Elrics, Winry tricks Ed to take out his State Alchemist pocket watch which Paninya steals, and threatens to take to a pawn shop. After giving Ed great chase throughout Rush Valley's rooftops, Paninya seemingly gets trapped after jumping into an alley, only to reveal her right automail leg has a hidden cannon before fleeing back to the rooftop. As she worries about Ed, Ed surprisingly counterattacks, reclaiming his pocket watch from Paninya. But when her right automail leg breaks down which threatens to have her fall off the the rooftop, Ed saves Paninya by transmuting several stone hands from the building's side. After criticizing her for trying to beat him at automail, Paninya and Al return to Dominic's. After Dominic criticizes Paninya for her foolish quest, Al gets her to realize that Dominic was trying to teach her that automail is designed as a vital replacement for her lost limbs and not for show. In Central, Sheska is dismayed when Mustang informs her the investigation into Hughes' death has been suspended. Maj. General Hakuro arrives accompanied by another man and harshly mentions on Mustang's transfer to Central, just as an upset Sheska leaves.

As he prepares to return to their hotel room, Al recognizes two familiar people, the same couple that Mustang recently met earlier. Back in their room, after mentioning on Ed possibly growing taller, Winry sadly wonders if Ed wanted Automail, who promises to study harder so he doesn't become handicapped, though Ed mentions he still wants to get his original arm and leg back. Al comes back bringing bad news and seeing the man behind him, Ed goes into shock by recognizing him.