[Yebyosh]

Originally Posted by Splendiferous

This question(s) is for someone who has both read and understands the more up-to-date chinese-translations of the manga, which although I'm trying to follow, not knowing very much Chinese sort of impairs that a little bit:

First off (All chapter 31-manga spoiler questions):

Spoiler:

In Chapter 31, when Hawkeye 'captures' Barry the "Chopper" Armor, and then Mustang comes along to help question him... Were Hawkeye and Mustang originally planning to meet off duty and the chopper just happened to jump Hawkeye, or were they both operating undercover specifically to catch him or was it something else?

Spoiler question begets spoiler answer...

Spoiler:

Nope Riza was off-duty and was grocery shopping. Barry was getting back to his old pre-armor days and decided to get an easy target. Unfortunately for him, his first target was Riza Hawkeye

Roy only came because Riza later called him to come.

Originally Posted by Splendiferous

And if you have the time:

Spoiler:

In the same chapter, while Greed is propped up on the cross, and before he's dissolved in (what I presume to be) 'imperfect liquid philosopher's stone'. He refuses or goes against something that (again presumption) Hoenhime/Pride says... What was it?

Spoiler:

The Father asked Greed if he would consider serving him again. Greed refused. As he was being sent to be deconstructed, Greed laughed and taunted The Father not to get choked by him (meaning Greed already knows the fate awaiting him).

Originally Posted by Splendiferous

Finally if you're not bored enough already:

Spoiler:

This is more of a theory question, unless it's been otherwise stated more explicitly in the manga... But I'm presuming that the existence and creation of the 7 homunculi each representative of one of the 7 sins is particularly important to some master plan that FMA is slowly revealing. Even though Greed seems to refuse to work with the others, if the existence of 7 'Ultimates' is important why would they go off and kill him? I guess it's asking much to presume that having all 7 homunculi is the lynch pin to whatever plan is being hatched, but it seems like something which would be important to the story. Has it already been stated explicitly that Greed isn't necessary? Or is he perhaps being replaced somehow?
Knowledge, thoughts, conjecture?

Spoiler:

The Father made Greed to be Greed (as implied by Greed's "You made me to be this way"), implying that the Sins were made out of design, not by chance or emotions.

Since The Father offered Greed a chance to come back but still killed him when refused, in his grand scheme of things, Greed is not really crucial but likely a bonus. In looking through the Sins, it can be theorised that they are a model series in a production line. Each one is an improvement over the previous model. Hence it is likely Pride would be the best Homunculus ever.