Chapter 36

Annie remained indifferent as she stood in front her ex-comrades, who were looking at her with complicated faces. Her eyes glanced each one of them, before her gaze particularly stopped on Marco. Her eyes widened in surprise, something that didn't go unnoticed to everyone on the site.

Jean scoffed. "What? Surprised he didn't get eaten?"

"... How?" Annie asked, feeling a bit uneasy as she remembered the events occured. She remembered how she felt frantic back then- She remembered how Marco looked very betrayed and distressed.

"Luffy saved him," Law said. "He doesn't have memories of what happened. We're guessing what you guys did. Especially since you got his gear and all."

"..."

Marco himself felt uneasy as soon as he saw Annie. He just grimaced in the inside while smiling awkwardly in the outside.

Hange along with few older Scouts were at the sidelines feeling the weird atmosphere amongst the teenagers. They could understand why they were like this. However at this rate there would be no progress and their plans would be delayed.

"Now, now..." Hange began. "I know you kids are feeling but..." she trailed off, looking at them meaningfully. She didn't need words to remind them what they ought to do. And indeed, they knew what she was going to say...

"... I don't think Eren can learn how to crystalize," Annie began. "But since you guys insist to learn from me, then I'll try to teach." she seemingly want to sigh in defeat however her face showed only indifference once again. "Whether Eren can do it or not depends on him... Not all titans can crystalize. And it's harder than what you expect it to be."

"... I can do it. I need to!" Eren exclaimed. Tons of people have expectations on him and he can't betray them!

Annie huffed at his exclamation.

The experiment didn't go well. However, because of Annie's presence, it means there is still a chance and all they need is time. That didn't matter to Law though, like what he said to Annie, instead he put his attention to their stalkers. These days, their castle were having outsider eyes on it. There was no doubt that they were after Eren and Historia.

After Law had warned Annie what would be the consequences if she tries to do something funny (aka dangerous), Law was free to go anywhere. So here he was, pondering about cleaning up the unwanted eyes or not.

"Hmmm? Law, what are you doing here?"

Law was hanging around the room they frequently stayed back then Levi, Farlan and Isabel first started as Scouts. It looked like a study, having a big shelf full of books and a big sofa to sit on. The place was overall, very comfortable to be in just like Sunny's mini aquarium.

The speaker just now was Farlan, who had just entered the said room. "Shouldn't you be with others?" he asked, tilting his head in question.

Law hummed. "There's enough people watching there. I don't think there's a need for me to be there..."

"I guess you're right."

Farlan let out a laugh, before he looked at Law with something akin to a parent looking proud at his child. "You guys have really grown up..." his tone had fondness that Law didn't miss.

Law shuddered mentally. He was a grown up afterall. He might be older than Farlan even and having someone younger than him treating him as if he was their own son was just plain weird. Ah, now Law suddenly wondered how they would react once they get back to normal-

Alas, we won't get back to normal unless we find that man...Law sighed mentally.

Law coughed. "Farlan-ya, Isabel-ya not with you?"

Farlan shook his head. "She went to help out others in the squad..."

"Hm? There's something to do?" Law raised a brow.

"Intelligence gathering~" Farlan said.

"... I don't think Isabel-ya is suitable for such work."

"... She's more of the backdrop." Farlan was obviously agreeing with him. "She partnered up with Petra in the market..."

"What are they gathering about?" Law asked curiously. He already had a guess in mind. If he had already noticed, how could they not?

"There are dubious people around..." Farlan said. "We need to find their origins and who the people behind them are"

"I think the people behind them are same as who we think they are," Law said.

Farlan nodded. "Yeah. But we need more information to be more prepared against mishaps..."

Mishaps are bound to happen when Straw Hat-ya is present...Law mentally said. But they're usually good mishaps. Good, beneficial mishaps...

So if you have checked my Ko-Page, you should know the reason why I'm out for like a month. If not, I'll just say it concisely here: Research, Online Final exams, some requirements.

Also, I was planning to post er, 6 chapters but I got distracted and was only able to produce 3 short chapters. As for why they are short, I'm trying to figure out how I would go forward with the plot atm. (Yes, this laozhi got no plan at all, just whims and gut power…)

So for this week Sunday or next week Monday, I might be able to update 2-3 chapters as well, trying to uh make up for the days I disappeared, before I get back to the usual 1 chap/week.