Chapter 31
Hitch Dreyse and Marlo Freudenberg search the forest near Stohess District for rogue members of the Scout Regiment. They find Armin Arlelt collecting water from a stream and tell him to turn around while they point their rifles at him. But before they can take him into custody, Levi and Aya ambush the two of them and take them captive.
"Hand over your guns to the one in front." Levi says.
Armin takes their guns away and says, "And not a word, right?" After that, the two of them are tied up.
Elsewhere in Trost, Flegel Reeves being pursued by the Interior Police before being rescued by Hange Zoë. Hange correctly concludes that Flegel is being pursued because he knows the truth about his father's death. However, Flegel does not want to speak out, since taking on the Royal Government will likely get him killed. Hange tries to force him to think about what is truly in his own best interest and takes him along with them.
Back in the forest near Stohess, Levi has Hitch and Marlo stripped of their gear with the idea that two members of his squad will infiltrate the Military Police Regiment in disguise and figure out where Eren and Historia have been taken.
"Because of you guys, over 100 people from Stohess District were killed! You people... You might think that you're all heroes of justice, but the victims and their families were dropped straight into hell!" Hitch yells at them.
"You there... You're from the Southern Cadet Corps, yeah?" Hitch turns to Aya. "Just like Annie Leonhart. Were you friends of hers? No... I doubt she had any friends. Being as gloomy and aloof as she was. It's like she was a kid afraid of other people...I never got the chance to know anything about her. And the reason they still haven't found her is that she was pulverized by a Titan into a puddle of jelly!"
"No... Because the Titan in hiding was Annie Leonhart herself." Levi replies.
"And I still remember how she mercilessly killed our comrades, Petra, Oluo, Eld, Gunther..." Aya frowns.
"Goddammit, it makes me sick. Nobody knows a damn thing about this world... Except for those bastards at the center of it all. We'll release you both as soon as we get out of here." Levi says.
Marlo asks Levi to let him help on the grounds that he will do whatever it takes to correct injustice. Levi declines, being uncertain whether he is truly ready to make an enemy of the government, and tells Sasha Braus to tie them up. Jean Kirschtein asks if he can do it instead and Levi allows him.
While on the road, Marlo asks Jean, "Is it true that Aya is captain Levi's daughter?"
"Yeah, they only got reunited after graduating like us..." Jean mutters. "What's with you and wanting to know about Aya?"
"I guess I admire her...she's really strong and can act quickly in dire situations. She's also someone who looks like could become a good leader one day..." Marlo replies.
"She already has a boyfriend just so you know." Jean says. "And don't let him hear what you said or I'm sure that he will kill you on the spot."
Then they arrive at the wall and he says, "Maybe we don't need to wait for him, I can kill you two right here right now!"
He draws a knife and says he will kill them because it is too dangerous to let them run free. The two protest, but Jean lunges at them. He trips, dropping his knife, which Marlo grabs as he tells Hitch to run. Jean jabs a stick under Marlo's chin and pretends to have a gun that he will shoot.
"Why the hell would anyone believe you'd wanna join us?" Jean asks. "We're so severely outmatched, you really think we can save humanity?"
"Then, why are you...? Why are you still with the Scouts, then?" This causes Jean to gasp. "I picked the wrong regiment to join. As long as you guys have it in you to risk your lives and keep fighting...I will trust you."
He throws the knife away, Jean is visibly relieved, only to be struck a moment later by Hitch who has attacked him with a branch to save Marlo. Marlo quickly stops Hitch, explaining that Jean was just testing them.
"Hey, you. What would you have done if I swung the knife at you? Why did you trust me so much?"
Jean mutters, "Somehow or another, you remind me of a guy that I hate. A damn idiot."
"This idiot... Is it the same one Annie talked about?" Marlo asks.
"Hell if I know. Everyone's an idiot." Jean says while sitting up. Marlo helps him up. "Fortunately, we're both just as dumb. Marlo, I think you proved your dedication. That should be enough to convince Captain Levi. We're counting on you."
Hitch and Marlo lead Squad Levi to the least manned checkpoint, which the squad then charges with the use of horses and a wagon. He tells them to return to their posts before their crew gets suspicious and thanks them. They break through and Levi captures a member of the Interior Police.
Later that day in Trost, Flegel is chased into a dead end, surrounded by heavily damaged buildings. Roger, who is leading the Interior Police in pursuit of him, laughs at Flegel for running into such a dump. Panicked, Flegel asks why they killed his father, saying that he wants to know before he dies. Unimpressed, Roger tells Flegel that Dimo Reeves betrayed them by siding with the Scouts, and admits that Flegel's father had been forced to participate in the kidnapping. Roger also explains that if Reeves had refused to help, he would have been killed for knowing too much.
To Roger's surprise, Flegel's cowardice vanishes as he talks about the lesson his father had left him about following his merchant's nose, because that brought him to people capable of avenging him. Hange and Moblit Berner then attack the Interior Police and quickly subdue them. Hange asks if everyone heard that, and Roger looks up to see that the damaged buildings are actually heavily populated. However, he sputters that the witnesses do not matter because the government will decide the truth.
Flegel shuts up Roger's ranting by sitting on his head. He declares himself the new boss of the Reeves Company, which will protect this city. The witnesses applaud and Hange congratulates him on his new job. The reporters Roy and Peaure are among the onlookers.
Night has fallen and Levi interrogates the Interior MP regarding the location of Eren and Historia.
"Oh, you're so brave. That checkpoint back there was just recruits who could barely wipe their own ass." The MP says. "You think you're some sort of hero, beating them down?"
Aya kicks the man in his mouth and says, "I could care less, they all deserve to die."
"But what's more atrocious is the mouth of yours." Levi says. "I recommend you start talking while you're still able to use it. Where are Eren and Christa?"
After taking the feet off, the MP coughs and says, "It's no use. All that's left for you now is to run and hide inside these walls, covered in mud and shit! If you don't turn yourselves in, every last Scout we captured will get the noose! Starting with the one most guilty of all, Erwin Smith!"
However, before the two of them can do a thing, Katrina puts his arm in a painful lock. "First off, the Scouts' lives are more valuable than others. And second off, I am not going to let anything happen to my brother. Tell me where he is, now..."
"I-I don't know! I'm not allowed to know! Kenny Ackerman is a very cautious man!" After the man says, Mikasa is surprised to hear the name.
"Ackerman? Isn't that Mikasa's last name?" Peter asks.
Levi says, "Katrina, that's enough, let me handle the rest." Then Katrina leaves as Levi grabs him. "You still have plenty of bones left to break."
Before Levi can continue his questioning, Sasha tells them that someone is coming. Everyone prepares to fight and the MP tells them that it is no use. The Scouts are done, one way or another.
However, it turns out that the two people approaching are Hange and Moblit, they have some good news with Commander Erwin.
(Flashback)
Erwin Smith defends the necessity of the Scout Regiment to the King and assembled nobles. Without the Scouts to fight against the Titans, humanity could face a civil war if the Walls were ever breached again, since there would not be enough food to feed both the people of Wall Sina and Wall Rose. However, his justifications fall on deaf ears and the nobles call for his execution.
Before Erwin can be taken away, Anka Rheinberger rushes in and yells, "Wall Rose... has been breached! The Colossal Titan appeared out of nowhere! Along with the Armored Titan, they broke through both gates of Calaneth District! They also kidnapped Aya Neumann!"
The Royalties were shocked, and Pyxis yelled, "Establish a route for the evacuees! Have all the Garrison troops converge and defend the East! Get the evacuees safely to Wall Sina! And also bring an army to save Aya! We can't afford to lose her!"
That's when the true colors of these pigs decide to seep through as one of them quickly ordered them to not even bother with the people of Wall Rose and to close all exits tight in Wall Sina so that no one could get in, Nile is horrified by this and thought it is their job to protect the people.
"I... am a human of Wall Rose! I will not allow the gates to be closed!" Nile says. "And we will send the Military Police to retrieve Aya Neumann back!"
"You fool!" The royal yells.
"I will stand behind him." Zachary says as he enters with soldiers holding guns.
That's when things are revealed, there is no breach in the walls, and Cadet Aya is safe and sound hidden away in a distant place where the MPs can't find her. Pyxis also claims to be the coup d'etat, as the Interior Police have been restrained, to the horror of the nobles.
Erwin informs the noble that if the false disaster had actually happened, the nobles' decision would have violated Clause Six of the Charter of Humanity. He asks if installing a false king to personally control the government is not a crime punishable by death.
Zachary's soldiers escort the nobles away and Erwin is freed. Nile is puzzled that he is not happy since he won, but Erwin says that humanity has started down a new path more dangerous than the one before.
(Flashback Ends)
"And there you have it. The coup d'etat was successful. Premier Zachary has control of the capital and administrative district. For the time being, the nobility hasn't rebelled." Hange says.
Everyone starts to cheer, with the MP tied on the tree muttering, "No... This can't be..."
Hange then notices two people missing, and she asks, "Where are Dina and Odom?"
Levi says, "Odom's Sky Titan is fast in the sky, so we have them get to the Reiss Chapel first."
Then they all get there as Hange reveals everything about the past of Reiss family and how they are killed by the bandits. Katrina says, "That's not partially true..."
"What do you mean by that?" Hange asks.
"The Reiss family isn't killed by bandits... but my father..." Katrina says, "Because of the Founding Titan..."
This causes everyone to be surprised, Peter says, "I think I remember as well, my mom, Odom's dad, and Ms. Yeager were also there, they are the ones who slaughtered the family..."
"Are those from the memories? But why? Why would they do that?" Armin asks with confusion and scared.
Aya says, "Maybe that's the reason why they are targetting Eren... we have to be quick.
And here is a new chapter, and I decide to make a confrontation in the next chapter. I hope you like it.