karst331: It's mostly because I haven't been feeling very motivated to write lately that literal months pass without me posting anything.

NICHOLAS VERRELL: I really want to use the Forum to broach into my next arc, but no spoilers!

International Forum Part II: Outside the Walls

Port of Fluss, Marley - January 13th

"It never fails to amaze me…there really are entire cities full of people outside the walls!" Connie said eagerly,

"How many times do I have to tell you this? Do us a favor and don't mention the walls in public…?" Jean hissed.

"Oh relax Jean." Mina rolled her eyes, "We're literally here to announce our presence to the world."

Eren looked out over the port as the ship they were onboard pulled in to dock.

"Jean is right, we might be diplomats, but diplomatic immunity won't save us from mob justice." Hanji pointed out, "We're here to make sure this goes smoothly, not start a diplomatic incident."

"Yes Commander…" Sasha and Connie groaned simultaneously.

"Aw come on! Lighten up!" Hanji threw her hands around the two, "This is what we've strived for for years! Seeing the outside world and making our presence known! Just think of this as another expedition, just with different rules." Hanji straightened up.

"Let's go scout."

The Scouts looked around in awe at the various activities occurring around them.

"Why are all you brats looking so surprised?" Levi asked, "We've been beyond the walls before."

"Yeah but…I dunno, I just didn't expect Marley to look like this." Connie guessed,

"Yeah, I mean - look at just…everything!" Sasha marvelled

"Quite amazing, isn't it?" A man came up to them, and lifted his fedora. "Allow me to guide you to the Hizurian embassy."

"Onyakapon?! So this is where you've been!" Hanji said in surprise.

"I left several days before you all to help set things up. Come on, I'll take you to the train." Onyakapon stated, motioning for the Scouts to follow him.

Mikasa began to follow, but noticed Eren lagging behind. "Eren?" She called to him.

"...huh?" Eren said dazedly,

"Come on Eren! Stop spacing out!" Armin said, "We're in the outside world - we've worked towards this since we were kids!"

However, rather than becoming excited, Eren's face darkened. "That's right…this is…the outside world."

Train to Vienza

Princess Rose stared out at the passing countryside. Unlike the Indoxina, which had a constant air of humidity, the Marleyan air was colder and less stifling. But in a strange way, it made Rose uncomfortably light-headed.

"Are you alright, Princess?" Leon leaned forward,

"You don't need to call me that, we're in private." Rose stated, "And anyway - I'm fine. I'm just not quite as used to the Southern air."

Leon nodded, "It makes you awfully light headed - doesn't it?"

Rose nodded, and the two lapsed into silence. But it was quickly interrupted by the arrival of General Debois.

"We're coming up on Vienza right now, following this, we will head directly for our Embassy." Debois stated.

"I'm well aware, General." Rose nodded, "Thank you."

Debois's eyes narrowed at the subtle dismissal, but turned around and left, and Rose sighed deeply.

"I do not believe he likes me much…"

"I-I'd like one please!" Sasha faced an ice cream vendor and held out a purse of coins.

"Sure thing!" The vendor said cheerfully, pulling out an ice cream cone, he scooped a hefty helping of vanilla ice cream into the cone and handed it to her.

"Jeez…Sasha not again…" Jean groaned,

"Let her be." Mina said offhandedly, leaning of Alto's arm.

"Woah!" Sasha said in surprise as she took her first lick, "It's flipping cold!"

"Wait - seriously?!" Jean approached her, "Let me try!" Jean practically tore the cone out of Sasha's hands - much to her dismay - and tasted the icy treat.

"Wow..! Cold and sweet at the same time…how does such a thing exist?!" Jean exclaimed, before long, the entire Survey Corps was clammoring for ice cream, even the more composed Petra abashedly accepted a cone.

"Well…we can't exactly be mistaken for island devils if they're acting like overgrown children…" Alto said, a small smile on his face as he quietly licked his cone of ice cream.

However, in the midst of the excitement, a tan-skinned boy suddenly ran up to Sasha and bumped into her. Muttering a quick apology, he made a move to scramper off when Levi suddenly grabbed his shoulder.

"I think you have something that doesn't belong to you." He said coldly, and the boy shivered coldly under Levi's withering gaze. Sure enough, when Levi spun the boy around, he was clutching Sasha's purse.

"Huh…? Oh…" Sasha looked at the boy sadly before hastily taking back her purse.

By now, a crowd had started to form, and they looked quite angry. "Another one of these thieving camel jockeys? Haven't we cut off enough hands?" One man snarled,

Alto looked around, any lightheartedness in his face suddenly gone as he looked around.

"Hey…come on…there wasn't any harm done! I got my purse back!" Sasha stepped forward,

"It isn't about your purse lady. These immigrants have been coming in here and looting our customers, it hurts business if everyone is getting robbed before they can pay for anything!" The ice cream vendor said.

"Isn't this just a misunderstanding?" Alto finally stepped forward, "My friend only said that the purse wasn't his. Not that he stole it. See - this is our little brother here." Alto pulled the boy close to him, "He simply wanted the money to go purchase his own things."

Sasha and the others quickly nodded, trying to affirm the statement, but the people looked unconvinced.

"Do they think we're stupid…?" One man muttered,

"Time to go, Erwin is already up ahead" Onyakapon approached them, his hat down over his face.

"Right." Hanji nodded.

And just like that, Levi Squad bolted.

"I…think we lost them." Isabel breathed,

"That was way too close!" Petra shook her head

"Hey…" Sasha breathed, "Where'd the kid go?"

While Levi had started off carrying the boy at first, he'd somehow squirmed out of his grip.

"Gaah!" Sasha patted herself down, "My purse!"

Alto chuckled and pointed, "It seems like we lost after all." He pointed to a hilltop where the boy was gratefully waving Sasha's purse before disappearing.

"Come on, if we move, we might still be able to catch the train." Onyakapon sighed.

January 14th - Vienza, Marley

"We can't afford to screw up here." Alto stated towards the others, "We are in the middle of enemy territory,"

The others nodded as they proceeded off the train, where several Hizurian guards were already waiting for them, all unaware of the fact that they were being watched.

"Eldian invaders…" The man stated, "I'd blow a hole in the lot here and now." He muttered, staring through the scope of his rifle.

"Calm down. We're only here to observe them." His partner stated,

"Fine." The man stated,

'Just wait…we're coming for you devils!'

"Yes, it's an unfortunate reality of the Eldian situation." Kiyomi stated, "Blood testing technology has improved rapidly over the years, and now Eldians who had managed to escape the interment zone are being discovered all over the world. Or being sent to Paradis."

"So our job is looking more and more difficult every day." Alto stated,

"Still." Hanji insisted, "We have to try making peace with the world. War can't be the only option."

Alto looked to the side, "Maybe." He said in reply, pessimism leaking slightly into his voice.

Kiyomi seemed to share Alto's attitude. "Well - regardless, this will prove to be a decisive moment in Eldia's history, there can be no mistakes now."

Evangelica looked into the mirror, analyzing her appearance in the mirror.

'I'll be seeing…them again.' Evangelica thought to herself. What would they think?

What would she do?

'Well there isn't much choice anyway…I need to keep moving forward.'

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