Chapter 1 Smoke Signal
Blue skies were showing as a face with blue eyes staring at it. A shadow was looming on the beach. "Beyond the wall, there's a sea, or so Armin said..."
"Wait, that voice, it's you, Eren!" Hange says.
"Way to say the obvious, Four-Eyes." Levi mutters.
"So that's the sea..." Armin gasps.
Eren stared into the sky, before looking at what was in front of him. "But past the sea... I always wondered what's beyond that..."
"Does that mean we get to see the sea? The giant water with a lot of salts in it?" Armin gasps.
"If that's true, then we must have killed all the Titans!" Connie says.
Everyone in the Scouts smile at the scene, but they wonder how many people are dead before this can happen.
In a cabin, Jean said, "You just try to steal some food, Sasha. I'll get Captain Levi to chop you up into nice bite-sized pieces." Eren and Connie seemed to be sweeping with their masks on while Jean, Armin, and Sash brought the water and food into the cabin.
"Again with the cleaning already?" Eren groans.
"But why I am cleaning too?" Connie asks.
"Hey! Did you guys wipe the dust and dirt off your shoes before you came in?" Eren demanded.
"Say what? No, we didn't. Can you see all the stuff we're carrying?" Jean said.
"Do you seriously think that attitude will satisfy Captain Levi?" Eren took off his mask and asked.
"He has a point right there." Levi mutters.
"You guys have to get used to it." Eld says.
"If I hadn't personally given your sheets hospital corners this morning-"
"Quit nagging! Who are you, my mom?!"
This causes everyone to snicker a little and Jean mutters, "Shut up."
"We're back." Mikasa and Historia also entered the room. Armin asked, "Wait, were you just chopping firewood?"
"Gotta stay in shape." Mikasa said.
"You got grabbed by a Titan! You should be in bed!" Armin retorted.
Eren snorts, "Typical Mikasa..." But Mikasa glares and she slugs him in the arm.
"I try to stop her, but she won't listen." Eren replied. "I saw her doing push-ups."
"How dare you, you peeping Tom!" Jean yelled.
"Huh? How does that constitute "peeping"?" Eren yelled back.
"And you two were still into fights as usual." Connie says.
"But how is that contribute to peeping?" Sasha asks.
"Shut up..." Jean blushes.
"Mikasa, you do know you're not a wild animal, right?" Armin asked.
Sasha said, "It's almost like we're back in the Cadet Corps."
"Why do you figure we were chosen for the new Levi Squad, though?" Armin questioned.
"Wait, we were all in the Levi Squad now?" Jean asks.
Petra, Oluo, Gunther, and Eld frown, that means all four of them are dead. Ray says, "Yes. All of the former Levi Squad were killed during the expedition that was going to happen today."
"I see... and that's why I picked you guys for my squad..." Levi says.
"So that means we're not going to show up in this after all..." Petra says. "It's sad to think about."
"Protecting Eren and Historia is such an important mission..." Armin muttered.
"Historia? Who's that?" Hange asks.
Historia flinches as she mutters, "Historia is my real name..."
This causes everyone to turn to the girl. Ymir asks, "Why would you use a fake name?"
"It was my father's orders." Historia says.
As everyone has a lot of questions, Ray says, "We should continue, Historia's past will be revealed a few minutes later."
Historia flinches as everyone is going to learn about her past, which is something not pleasant to do.
"Because we're talented, I assume." Sasha said as she put something into the bag.
"Sasha...what did you just put in your bag?" Armin lowered his head.
"Nothing bread-related." Sasha replied.
"We all just saw that, you were not going to fool us." Jean says.
"They all look so serious." Nanaba says.
"Hey, you might not be in my squad yet, but I don't tolerate stealing." Levi says.
"Yes sir." Sasha says.
"Give it back." Jean said.
"Hey, focus! We gotta finish cleaning before the captain gets back!" Eren said.
Historia noticed Levi walking in as Armin said, "Put back the bread."
"What's this commotion about?" Levi walked in, and only Eren seemed to be tense.
"Oh crap...we're going to die..." Eren mutters.
"It isn't that bad, right?" Armin says, also sweatdropping.
Eld says, "Trust me, this is going to get worse..."
Petra says, "I'm sorry for you, Eren."
"Cut the crap, Potato Girl!" Jean yelled at Sasha.
Levi put his hand under the table, and this was when everyone noticed him. He stared at his hand and said, "I'm quite sure I gave you enough time."
Eren facepalmed, and the others seemed to stiffen.
"What's with all of your reactions?" Hange asks. "And it really does seem Eren is the veteran here."
"But I think the table is clean enough..." Historia asks.
"It is not Levi-level of clean..." Eren sighs.
"I have to agree with that." Gunther says.
"Anyways...We'll discuss your lax cleaning job another time. Eren. Hange is itching to get the experiment started." Levi turned to Eren.
"R-Right." Eren said.
"Yes! I'm going to experiment Eren!" Hange cheers.
"Eren... I feel sorry for you..." Kenji says to him.
"Indeed. Section Commander is going nuts..." Moblit adds.
Eren's Titan form was now roaring, but then it fell to the ground. Mikasa and 3 scouts were riding on horses around him while Levi, Hange, and Moblit were on the cliff. Mikasa yelled, "Eren!"
Everyone watches the experiment and they flinch. Reiner says, "How many times did you transform during that day?"
"How am I supposed to know? It's in the future." Eren says.
"What's wrong, Eren?! Get up!" Hange yelled. "The future of humanity is riding on you! Get up, dammit!"
"Hey, four-eyes. He's not quite the same this time." Levi observed. "He's not even 10 meters, and some of his body doesn't have muscle. Plus, Eren's ass is hanging out."
This causes everyone to burst into laughter, with Eren blushing, "Shut up..."
"I know! Eren!" Hange waved her blade. "Can you still move?! Give us a signal or something!"
"Eren!" Mikasa jumped off her horse and rushed towards Eren, with Jean trying to call her.
"Hey...That gloomy brat is acting on her own again." Levi said. "Time to think up a punishment?"
"You're not really cheerful yourself." Mikasa stands up and shoots back.
"At least I'm not an Eren-obsessed brat." Levi says.
"Hey! Leave Mikasa out of this, she's just worried about me." Eren says while stopping Mikasa, and Mikasa is slightly blushing.
"I wonder who will win when Mikasa and Captain Levi go into a fight?" Annie says.
"It won't be that pleasant..." Armin says.
"No, there's no signal... We're done here!" Hange jumped down and tried to pull Eren out of his Titan body. "Hot! Hot damn, you are hot!"
"Hange, wait! Eren is bleeding!" Mikasa warned.
Hange pulled out his body, only to find that the skin of his face was missing. "Whoa! Check it out, Moblit! Eren's face! Hurry up and sketch it!"
"Was that really necessary?" Eren mutters, and everyone looks horrified in the face.
"Please don't... it will give us nightmares..." Historia says.
"Sometimes I wonder what the Section Commander is thinking." Abel mutters to Nifa.
"You're not the only one." Nifa replies.
"Section Commander! Are you lacking in human compassion?!" Moblit asked while Mikasa was horrified. She quickly took out her blade and slashed through the Titan skin, the force caused both Hange and Eren to fall back with his eyes tugged out.
"Sorry, I got carried away..." Hange muttered.
Levi stared from the cliff, "Looks like we've got a long road ahead before we can use the Titan hardening ability to seal the wall."
"Really long road indeed..." Levi mutters.
"Though I really wanted to sketch Eren's face." Hange mutters.
"Wait, so you're going to use the Harden ability to seal the wall?" Armin asks. "Is that even possible?"
"Considering the walls are made of Colossal Titans, I would say it is possible." Erwin says.
"Yes... I know we'd be grasping at straws from the start." Armin replied.
"Strategically, it's not a bad plan. Instead of lugging tons of supplies, all we need is to get Eren there. Whether or not we're grasping at straws... all depends on Eren." Levi turned.
Armin made a hard face, and Hange yelled, "Experiment's over! All troops, disperse at once!"
"Roger! Make sure there's no witnesses!" Moblit said.
"Roger!" Connie and Jean left on their horses.
Historia was wearing a cloak behind Levi, who said, "You ride in the same wagon as Eren. I'm headed for Trost District with Hange's group."
Historia mutters, "Yes."
"Why were you wearing a cloak?" Sasha asked Historia.
"I don't know, but something tells me things might go wrong..." Historia replied.
Levi stared at her as he remembered Pastor Nick's words, "You must find her at once. Only she... She may know the truths which even we cannot perceive."
"Wait, that pastor knows about Christa?" Eren asks.
Historia is sweating bullets, as this is not what she wants, but Ymir places a comforting arm around her.
Levi watched Historia leave, but unknown to them, two figures with guns were watching from afar.
"Wait, who are they?" Eren asks.
"I don't know, but they seem to be someone important..." Armin says, "Right, Ray?"
"Maybe, maybe not." Ray smiles.
"I see...Another failure, then." In Trost District, Levi is talking to Erwin in his room. "If the plan would have worked out, we could have plugged the hole in Shiganshina District in less than a day."
"It's because we lack information. Might be a different story if there was a book about the hardening ability." Levi said.
"Do you think there might be one in your father's basement?" Armin asked.
"I wish there was." Eren sighed, not liking the fact that they haven't gone to the basement yet.
Mike notices the Commander losing an arm, he wonders what's going on before this happened.
"But we have Christa. No, Historia Reiss..." Levi said. "Maybe we learn about the wall through her?"
"I read the entire report about her upbringing." Erwin said, the screen showed a flash of Historia and the crowd sitting together, then returned to Erwin. "She's the illegitimate daughter of Lord Reiss, and it's by no means a happy story. But the real mystery here...is why a mere regional lord would know the secrets of the wall."
"Wait, so your father knows about this?" Eren asks Historia.
"I guess so... but I have never met him...until five years ago." Historia frowns.
In a dim room, Pastor Nick was praying until he sensed something.
"Was that the Trost barracks? Why was he there?" Levi asks.
"Maybe we placed him there." Hange replies.
"But somehow I have a bad feeling about this." Jean says.
Back in the house, Mikasa scolded, "Eren. You should still be in bed!"
"There you go again..." Eren sighs.
Mikasa says, "I was really worried about you..."
"I'm fine. I already slept a whole day." Eren said while entering the room. "Besides, it's my fault the strategy for retaking Wall Maria got shelved."
"It's not your fault. So don't worry about it." Mikasa said.
"All I care about...is getting a chance to fight that Beast Titan." Connie said.
The scene showed the Beast Titan walking at night, and Connie continued, "Whatever that damn ape is, I'll never forgive it."
"So that's what the Beast Titan looked like in close look!" Hange rushed towards the screen, but Levi sighed and pulled her back down.
"Four-eyes, stop hogging the screen." Levi says.
The scene turned to Connie looking at the Titan lying on top of his house. Back in the present, Connie was shaking as she is peeling the skin of the potato.
"Wait, is that..." Connie gasps.
Ray says, "And I should explain about this. After the expedition, the Beast Titan would come to Paradis and turn all of the people in Ragako Village into Titans. And... they killed all of Mike's squad."
The Mike Squad frowns as they realize they are also not on the screen. Erwin says, "So that means of all of us here, the 104th and the Hange Squad are the only ones living. That is excluding me and Levi."
"But that scene... does that mean the Titan on top of my house is my Mom?" Connie asks.
"You're right." Ray says. "Let's continue."
Outside, Jean turned to the house and muttered, "It's about time to switch lookouts."
Eren turned to Mikasa, "Mikasa?"
"Yeah." Mikasa and Connie left to switch lookouts with Jean and Sasha. Eren and Historia focused back on their work as Historia said, "Must be nice. You and the others...You have goals in mind, even though they won't be easy."
Eren turned to her. "But me, now that Ymir is gone... I don't even know what I want."
Ymir glares at the Warrior Trio before hugging Historia. "I'm not going to leave you, not in this future."
"Don't you want to save Ymir, though?" Eren asked.
"Yeah, but... Back then, I couldn't believe what she did...Though it's true I wanted to save her." The screen flashbacked to when Ymir saved her. "But now, I'm thinking differently. Ymir chose her own path in life. I have no right to change that... and no need to."
"Finally, you're talking again." Eren sighed.
"Huh?"
"When we came here, you told us all about yourself, but since then, you haven't smiled once, and you rarely talk either." Eren said.
"Because it's a pain." Historia replied while frowning. "Sorry. The good-girl Christa who was nice to everyone is gone now."
"But I think Historia is better." Eren says.
"Yeah. Feels like Crhista is really fake." Jean tries to cheer her up.
"Thank you guys." Historia gives a small smile.
"Nah, I think it's better this way." Eren said. "Before, it felt like you always put on a facade. It was so forced and unnatural, it made me sick."
"Hold on, Eren, did you seriously need to be rude like that?" Reiner asks.
"What? But that's the truth!" Eren replies. "No offense."
"Don't worry." Historia says. "Eren's right. My future self needs to be reminded that this isn't all about her."
"I see..." Historia frowned.
"But, the you right now is pretty normal. A stupidly honest, but normal girl. Anyways, you have plenty of time to think about Ymir. In a lot of ways, I..."
The screen flashbacked to when Eren and Ymir were kidnapped by Reiner and Bertolt. Back in the present, Eren realized something, "Wait... Wasn't that...?"
"Hange and the others arrived! Gather in the main room!" Mikasa yelled.
"Something tells me that something bad is going to happen." Armin says.
"Yeah, I just hope it isn't the case..." Erwin says.
"Huh? What was that?" Levi asked.
"He's dead... Pastor Nick." Hange said. "He was murdered. This morning, in the Trost District barracks."
"That guy is dead?" Jean asks.
"Although I really want him dead because of what he has been saying this whole time, but this..." Armin says.
"Who do you think killed him?" Gelgar asks.
A dead body of Pastor Nick is in front of them, and Hange was staring at it with wide eyes before the Military Police blocked her. "You'll disrupt the crime scene, you damn Scout! Don't get any closer."
"This is our job, not yours. It's another robbery-murder. They've been springing up a lot lately."
"Who's that guy?" Sasha asks.
"He is Djel Sannes, from the Military Police..." Mike replies.
"I bet those two were the ones who killed that Pastor." Connie says.
"I agree. So that means the Military is trying to silence him from leaking more information!" Armin says.
"But why? Were the Military Police involved in this as well?" Erwin thinks.
"What? I'm not buying that! His nails were torn off!" Hange was grabbed by Sannes, who said, "Which unit are you in?"
Moblit grabbed the man's hand and said, "Fourth Squad Section Commander Hange Zoe and Executive Officer Moblit Berner."
"Your ranks mean practically nothing when your branch is the trash that it is." Sannes said.
"I don't like this guy already." Mikasa mutters.
"Yeah. To think he would say that to Hange..." Eren adds.
"Thanks for that." Hange smiles.
"Listen here...It was no Titan that killed that man. A person killed another person. This work is out of your league."
"First Interior Squad? Why? What's the capital's Military Police doing down south in Trost?" Moblit asked.
"What's so strange about it?" Sannes asked. "Unlike you useless goons, us valuable soldiers are busy getting things done."
"More like slacking up." Levi mutters. "Bunch of pigs."
"I couldn't agree more." Mike adds.
"Oh! So that's how it is! You're right, I'm worthless, really. I'm so lucky to meet great soldiers like you. Let me shake your hand!"
"Seriously, four eyes?" Levi turns to Hange, who gives a chuckle.
"I see...So poor Nick was robbed..." Hange frowned while touching his hand. "Such a pity...Did he ever have stuff worth stealing in the first place?"
"Of course. Everyone knows the Church's trinkets are made from valuable iron." Sannes replied without care.
"Nick was a pastor for the Order of the Walls!?" Hange asked.
"What are you talking about?"
"He was a friend of mine on personal terms...But, as far as I knew the man, he was just a chair-maker. I even wrote that on his application here..."
"Damnit, stop!"
"Though, I guess this only means I never knew Nick as well as I thought I did..."
Erwin notices what Hange is doing and he thinks, I see, so she is trying to feel his hand to see any signs of torture...
"Seriously? Your social skills sucked." Connie says.
"I may have to agree with that, Section Commander." Moblit says.
"Hey, let go of me!" Sannes shoved his hand away.
"Oh, I'm sorry! Forgive me!" Hange raised her hand before doing a salute. "Well then, good luck with the investigation. When you capture the culprit, please tell them this...The things you did to him, perhaps you felt were righteous and just. But personally, I couldn't care less about any of that. To you scoundrels, I will ensure you're tortured alive like my friend."
Her glasses were flashing as she showed a strange face, "Yes, you'll be sorry! Pass along that message. Excuse us."
Both the MPs were watching them leave, as Moblit asked, "Section Commander, do you think they really...?"
"Yeah... First Interior Squad, Djel Sannes. All the skin on his fist was split." Hange said with fury.
"Woah, you could sense that?" Armin asks.
"That's amazing!" Historia replies.
"But still... why would they hurt him?" Henning asks.
"Nick was tortured by the Interior Military Police...And then murdered..."
The scene changed back to Eren and the others, and Hange continued, "I figured the Church would want to deal with Nick since he was cooperating with the Scouts. That's why I hid his identity and had him stay in the barracks, but...To think they would use soldiers to kill him... I was too careless. It's entirely my fault."
Everyone lowered their head, only Levi took a sip of tea. Armin asked, "The Military Police...Did they torture Pastor Nick just to find out what information he spilled to us?"
"Most likely." Levi replied while putting his cup down. "But it was the Interior Military Police, which means there's something more behind it. So, how many nails did Nick have ripped off?"
"Huh?"
"You saw, right? How many?" Levi asked Hange.
"I only caught a glimpse of him, but all the nails that I could see." Hange replied.
"All 10 nails? That's so cruel..." Historia mutters.
"Yeah. I definitely do not want to be in his place..." Jean says.
"Me too...if I don't have the nails, how am I supposed to share the bread? Maybe I'll just eat all at once." Sasha says.
"Again with the food, Potato girl..." Connie sighs.
"People that talk, talk after one. If they don't, peeling more won't make a difference." Levi said. "Pastor Nick...I thought he was an idiot, but... He didn't turn away from what he believed, all the way till the end."
Hange was holding the chair tight. "In other words, they have no idea we've caught wind of the Reiss family. Though someone in the government is up to no good, and their eyes are fixed on us."
The door opened, and Nifa walked in. "Captain Levi. A message from Commander Erwin."
"There you are, Nifa." Hange says.
"I'm aware, Section Commander." Nifa says, relief that she's still alive.
Levi took the letter as Nifa said, "I went to tell him about Pastor Nick, but he sent me off with this."
Levi read the letter and said, "Everyone, out. We leave now. Leave no trace we were here."
"Don't tell me that the Military Police is after us..." Armin says.
"And this might happen two months later, right? What are we going to do?" Eren asks.
"How about making a mess of the place? Captain Levi would definitely not want to stay in a place like this." Oluo says.
"That was a stupid idea." Petra smacks him.
When the Military Police arrived at the house, they find that it was empty. It turned out that the scouts were on the cliff. Eren muttered, "That was close."
"If we hadn't left right then, what would've happened to us?" Connie asked.
"Maybe sent in prison for treason, executed, tortured like Pastor Nick, or dissect you just like what they planned to do with Eren." Ray replies.
"Not helping. Ray." Connie replies.
"But why? What would make Commander Erwin...?" Armin asked.
"New orders came from the government." Levi said. "There's been a freeze on all Scout Regiment activity outside the wall. They're telling us to hand over Eren and Historia."
"So they not only want Eren, but Historia as well?" Jean asks.
"I won't let Eren be taken by them." Mikasa says in a dark tone.
"But that means we're going to fight the government?" Armin asks, and now everyone is panicking.
"By the way, right after he gave me the message..." Nifa said. "The Military Police came for him..."
The scene changed to Erwin being surrounded by the Military Police led by Nick Dawk. Hange said, "That's treating him like some sort of criminal!"
"Someone's not working from the shadows anymore." Levi replied. "They're moving for all eyes to see."
"To go that far to protect the wall's secrets... What's more, why do they want us to hand over Eren and Historia?" Hange asked. "Not to kill, but for them to obtain?"
"If it was the stolen Founding Titan... then they might want to get it back..." Annie says.
"But do we even know Eren has the power at that time?" Armin asks.
"You guys know." Ray says.
"Who knows?" Levi asked. "Anyway, it's clear the enemy is after these two. Loitering around here is dangerous. We're moving her and Eren to Trost District."
"Why? That's the same place Pastor Nick was killed." Moblit asked.
"It's worse to head towards the interior." Levi replied. "With Trost in panic, it should be easy to slip in. And if somehow it comes down to it, we can use these in the city."
Levi showed the 3D Maneuver Gear, and Armin said, "True..."
"But it is risky..." Mike says.
"And to think we're going to fight humans..." Jean frowns. "But then again, Titans were once humans..."
"Plus, not knowing the enemy put us in a tough spot." Levi said. "We need to find out who's behind this. Hange, lend me some of your squad."
"Of course." Hange is in deep thought before replying, "All right, I'm going after Erwin. Moblit's with me. The rest of you will follow Levi."
Eren noticed that Hange is leaving, and he said, "Hange! Here!"
He showed a letter. "I remembered a conversation between Ymir and Bertolt. Didn't get time to tell you, but it's here."
Hange took the letter and said, "All right. I'll take a look at it later."
"What was that letter about?" Mikasa asks.
"I'm not sure, but I feel it might be related to Historia." Eren says.
"Do you know what you're going to say to them?" Reiner asks.
"How am I suppoed to know?" Bertolt asks.
Not far from them, two people are having a conversation. "They're rather quick on the move."
"Hmph... It's because that little runt is actually disciplined."
Levi recognizes the voice and he thinks, No way... that voice.
Erwin notices Levi's face and he asks, "Something wrong, Levi?"
"An acquaintance of yours?" The female voice asked.
"An old one." The man replied.
Levi says, "I think I might know that man, we might be in trouble..."
"Who is he?" Eren asks.
"My mentor..." Levi says, causing the group to shock. "And he's ruthless."
In the Trost District, the Levi Squad was making their way as Levi said, "Try not to walk in a cluster. We'll stand out. Eren and Historia, just walk normally."
Behind Levi, Mikasa, Sasha, Connie, Eren, and Historia were following.
"Why are we wearing cloaks? That just makes us more suspicious..." Connie says.
"And more importantly, where are Jean and I?" Armin asks. "How come we're not on the screen?"
Mike stares at the two of them and thinks, I see... so that's his plan...
"Why is the royal family's flag hanging everywhere?" Connie asked.
"Oh! Today must be the anniversary of the King's coronation." Sasha replied. "Once a year, they hand out a haul of rations."
Then they spot Military Police standing on a stage. "Today we'll hand out the rations! King Fritz has heard of Trost District's hardship and will donate the royal family's reserves! There's enough for everyone! Line up orderly!"
"Thank goodness!" "Long live King Fritz!"
"What a King! He sure is generous!" Sasha gasped.
"He's got more than he knows what to do with." Levi replied. "People are weak, especially when baited with food."
"Well, it works well on Sasha." Connie says.
"Hey! Are you telling me that I'm weak?" Sasha tries to yell at Connie, before Historia takes bread and throws it in the air, Sasha quickly grabs it and bites on it.
"Geez...Historia is taming Sasha like a dog..." Eren sighs.
In the Government, the court is having a meeting. "By handling out those rations, over 60% of the reserves are gone. Don't you think it's a bit too much for raising the people's morale, Lord Reiss?"
Everyone flinches at the name, Armin thinks, Historia's dad?
"It's necessary. There was a need to raise the public's approval of the royal family." The man known as Reiss said. "More importantly, we need that power and the vessel. And we must hurry."
A royal member turned to Sannes, "The Military Police failed again?"
"I'll return and continue the hunt at once." Sannes replies.
"No, we'll soon have what we need. "That" is set in motion."
On the throne, the King is staring with his fist on his cheek.
"So that's the king? He seems to be like he's dead..." Levi asks.
"I agree... what is actually going on in the Royal Council?" Petra asks.
Levi squad was walking on the streets when Levi heard something, "Watch out! Behind us!"
Just then, the carriage was rushing out, and two people managed to bring Eren and Historia on the cart.
"Oh no! They've got Eren and Historia!" Jean gasps.
"But something is not right..." Mikasa says.
"Armi- no, I mean, Crhista and Eren!" Sasha yells. "They got snatched away again!"
Mikasa stares at the carriage before rushing off.
"Wait, Armin?" Sasha asks.
In another carriage, the real Eren muttered, "Will it really work? He looks absolutely nothing like me... The horse face? Yeah, right..."
"Wait, Jean is disguising himself as Eren?" Armin gasps.
"Do you think the Military Police would be fooled by that?" Eren asks, "Considering I don't have a horse face."
"Fuck you, Yeager!" Jean yells.
Hange, Erwin, and Levi are chuckling at the comedy. Connie says, "But now that you mention it, Armin and Historia really look similar."
"Yeah. Both of you have blonde hair and blue eyes... I thought that the two of you were twins." Sasha says.
In a warehouse, Jean, who is disguised as Eren, is sitting on a chair.
The viewers burst into laughter.
"Are you serious?" Eren gapes.
"What the fuck?" Jean splutters at the same time.
"Yeah? You like that? Let me hear you moan." The screen showed that the kidnapper was rubbing Armin's chest. "Well? How's that? Doesn't it feel good?"
This causes everyone in the room to cough, and Mikasa is having a dark face, "Perverts."
"That man is making me sick." Levi mutters.
"If I see someone doing that to Christa, he will be so dead..." Ymir says while holding Historia tighter.
"I'm just dying to hear your cute little voice." Armin seemed to be terrified as the man is breathing heavily.
Jean couldn't watch anymore as he thinks, This is why I didn't wanna go through this shit a second time! Screw being his body double!
"Screw you too."
"Shut up, suicidal bastard."
"She's more muscular than I expected..." On top of the warehouse, Mikasa was looking through the window, then she swung to another roof using the 3D Maneuver Gear and found Levi.
"How's it going inside?" Levi asked.
"If we don't hurry, they'll see through Armin's disguise." Mikasa said. "And I feel bad for him..."
"I see." Levi said.
"How is your leg? Any better?" Mikasa asked.
"I can move well enough. It's not that bad." Levi replied.
Everyone flinches as they look at the screen. Mikasa thinks, I'm getting along with the runt?
"I thought they were going to kill each other... what's going on here?" Connie asks.
"More importantly, these kidnappers... They're nothing but amateurs. Why would they be using guys like this?!"
"I was wondering about that as well..." Hange says.
"Maybe they are planning something." Erwin replies.
"You can handle the rest on your own. I'm heading for Eren." Levi said as he left. "Once you've dealt with the trash, come and meet up with me."
"Roger." Mikasa said.
"One more thing... I'll tell you just in case. Tell Armin and the others, too." Levi said, much to Mikasa's confusion.
"I wonder what is it that you wanted to say..." Eren says.
"Maybe we'll know later." Armin says.
The carriage with Eren and Historia is dashing, and both Armin and Jean are still disguised as them with the man walking in.
Mikasa widens her eyes and thinks, That guy!
"You're sure, without a doubt, it's Christa and Eren?" The man asks.
"Yes, they match the description." Mikasa is hiding in the shadows while staring at the man.
"Huh? Where's the guard?"
Just then, Mikasa kicks at one of the men, causing him to fall down.
"Nice kick, Mikasa!" Jean says.
"Yeah, that looks nice!" Connie says.
Mikasa blushes a little while using her scarf to hide it.
Mikasa then grabbed another man and slammed him into the man she just kicked.
"What the-" Before the two men can react, Jean and Armin also got up from their bindings and tied the men up, while Mikasa managed to kick another one, dropping the gun.
"Don't you dare move." Jean said.
"Connie? Is it really just the four of them?!" Mikasa managed to subdue the man and yelled.
"Yeah, that's it!" Connie replied. "Nobody else in the area!"
The man tried to move, but Sasha shot the arrow on the floor beside him, causing him to be shocked.
"If you move again, who knows where I'll hit?" Sasha threatened.
"All right! First, we tie these guys up, then we meet up with the captain." Mikasa instructed.
"What do you mean?" Armin asked.
"Captain's orders, and he sends a message, too."
"All of you are looking cool. Now I'm jealous..." Eren mutters.
"That's because we are what they wanted. Believe me that I'm also jealous." Historia cheers Eren up.
"You're not the only one who gets jealous, Yeager." Gunther says, "Considering most of us are already dead..."
On top of the roof, Levi managed to find Nifa as they were watching the carriage in a halt because of the people.
Nifa asked, "Captain?"
"Well?" Levi asked.
"The road is crowded, but nothing unusual." Nifa replied. "It's not much farther to Commander Pyxis. How's the body double mission?"
"A success." Levi replied.
"And yet, you don't look that happy..."
"No..." Levi muttered. Something is wrong...The Military Police can't be behind this. They're far too arrogant. They wouldn't use amateurs. This is more like... Assuming the wagon was being followed... And the group was trailing their target...
"So there must be another group that is targetting Eren and Historia?" Armin asks.
"Is it your mentor that you told us?" Eren asks.
"Captain." Nifa said. "The wagon's almost moving again."
"Nifa, have you heard about Kenny the Ripper?"
"Kenny the what?" Jean asks.
"The mass murderer in the capital? The one that slit the throats of over 100 Military Police? That's just an urban legend from years ago, right?"
"Over a hundred Military Police?" Eren gasps.
"That's ridiculous..." Armin gasps.
"He's real, and the stories are true." Levi said. "I lived with him for a while when I was a kid."
"What? Why would you even say that? This isn't the time to be making jokes." Nifa said.
That's right... He wouldn't care about using amateurs. Levi thinks. If a group was trailing their target, it would be from both rear angles, and a place high up, with a view.
Unknown to them, Kenny is behind the two of them as he sneakily climbs up.
Levi widens his eyes as everyone also notices it.
"Behind you! Captain Levi!"
"Watch out!"
Levi widened his eyes and yelled, "Nifa!"
But it's too late, the gun managed to shoot Nifa in the chest, and Levi quickly hid behind the roof.
"NO! NIFA!" Hange cries.
Nifa gasps in horror. "So this is how I'm going to die..."
"Hey, is that real?" Armin gasps.
"So that is Kenny..." Erwin stares at the screen.
Not only Nifa, but Abel is also shot by the Military Police, he fell to the ground and caused the woman and a child to scream.
"I guess I'm also killed in this..." Abel says.
"Damn it..." Hange yells in anger.
Levi could only stare at Nifa's dead body before hearing Kenny speaking, "Yo, Levi. Have you grown any yet?"
The viewers are not conflicted as they don't know if they should laugh because of what Kenny said or if they should cry because Hange's Squad was killed.
Kenny reloaded the gun as he jumped into the air, with the Military Police starting to take action by using their 3D Maneuver gears.
"Oh? It doesn't look like you changed at all!" Kenny aimed at Levi and yelled.
Levi took out his blade and lets out a loud roar, "KEEEEENNNNNYYYY!"
And just then, the screen fades as Ray says, "And that's the first episode of what is going to happen in the future. We will be taking a 10-minute break before we continue."
"Nifa and Abel..." Hange mutters with tears in her eyes.
"To think even Captain Levi would shake so much in the last scene..." Armin mutters.
"It feels unreal. But now I'm curious about what is going to happen..." Eren says.
"Yeah, and we can change the future, right? Since it doesn't happen yet." Historia says.
"That's right. I'm not going to let Nifa and Abel die to someone like Kenny!" Hange says.
"But to think Kenny is with the Military Police...damn..." Levi mutters.
"I wonder what's his deal..." Petra says.
And this is the first episode of season 3. I hope you like this chapter.