"After you, Mr Jack!" called Sophie. The older man nodded in response and shot forward. Jack always had a keen eyesight and was good at spotting things in the dense forest. As expected, Jack soon waved back at us, a sign that he found one. He pointed to his north-west before we rocketed in that direction as one. The need to get that Titan before the others increased as the sound of other wires echoed towards us. Now it was a race to see who would reach the Titan first. The trees suddenly parted, afternoon sunlight bursting into our vision, slowly clearing to show a 15-metre wooden Titan cut-out.

"You first." I flicked my head to the wooden figure and Sophie nodded. She headed to it first before quickly spinning around it and slicing into its neck. However, it wasn't deep enough and I triggered my gas cannisters, shooting forward for my own turn.

The Titan figure moved, the faint sounds of people grunting and pulling on the ropes echoing up to me.

I easily twisted around out of its vision and made an abrupt turn, slicing open the neck. Jack took his turn straight after, his cut even deeper than mine. We continued this for the next 15 minutes or so, searching, finding and slicing the wooden figures. It wasn't much longer when we began to find titans that had already been cut by the other team. However, as we swung past one of the larger trees, Levi shot out in front of our path. We all shrieked at the sudden interruption and abruptly dodged him, panning around him.

"We have a problem, down at the entrance."

Glancing at each other, we followed Levi instantly. The tone of his voice was enough to cut through our playful attitudes. As we landed, the other team joined shortly.

"What's going on, Captain?" Linda questioned, voicing what the rest of us were thinking.

"Political shit. I'll update you when I myself get an idea of what the fuck is going on. Tch." Levi glared at the HQ building before flicking his head at us. At this cue, we began to make our way back to the Corps quarters in silence. It wasn't until the squad turned towards the private quarters when Levi grabbed onto my elbow.

"Hazura, I need you to come with me."

I glanced down at my 3DMG, still strapped in and then looked up again, raising an eyebrow. In full uniform? Levi shook his head at my question.

"Now."

Shrugging, I waved a hand in the direction of Erwin's office.

"Lead the way."

"Come in."

At the Commander's voice, Levi pushed open the door for the both of us. Erwin stood by his window, staring out into Wall Rose.

"The fuck is going on, Erwin? What's this about the MP shitting all over us?"

I calmly moved over to sit down on a plush chair. Levi swearing didn't faze me anymore. Neither did it to Erwin. The Commander didn't even budge.

"There's rumour that the Military Police are beginning to act against the Survey Corps."

"Can you elaborate what the rumours say?" I asked, looking up.

"Cuts to funding, cuts to recruitment, possible change of management-"

"-so basically, they plan to take over the department?" Levi scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"Or basically get rid of us." I offered, frowning.

"Problem is, it's just a rumour. So I'm glad that Levi pulled you in, Hazura." Erwin turned his back to the window and eyed me. "I need you to reach out to your contacts and determine what is really going on."

"Specifically, my contacts in the MP, right?" I sighed. I had figured just as much. "You do know they'll probably arrest me the second I'm seen? It's not like I can just walk in and ask them what their plan is."

"Then you better not get caught."

Erwin and I stared at each other for another few silent seconds before I sighed and shook my head.

"I knew you were going to say that." I stood up and placed my hands on my hips. "How long do I have?"

"Commander, do you know how risky it is? Have you ever thought that the rumours were just that? Rumours?" Levi spoke up, protesting slightly. We both glanced over at him.

"Indeed I have, and not confirming these rumours is even riskier than confirming them. Hazura, get to work and good luck." Erwin sent a nod over to me.

I saluted. "Yes sir."

A few more minor issues were discussed before we both were finally dismissed. As we walked away from Erwin's office, Levi grabbed my arm and pulled me into an empty corridor.

"I didn't know we were taking a detour." I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Don't act stupid. You take one step back into Wall Sina and they'll have your head."

I pulled my arm from his grip.

"And if I don't take a step back into Wall Sina, then they'll have all our heads. That is going to be a problem, assuming you like your face."

"This isn't a joke, Rina."

I mentally paused. Levi only used my first name is he was serious. In this case, seriously worried.

"I know it's not a joke, Levi. But we need all the information we can get. Don't you trust my skills?"

He made an unimpressed face at me and I struggled to hold in my laughter.

"Ok fine. Don't you trust me then?"

"If it's about getting information, I can do it."

"In case you haven't figured it out yourself, you're not exactly the most sociable person out there. We're talking Wall Sina. You avoid it like the plague."

"Hazu-"

I held up a hand, interrupting his sentence.

"Shut up Levi. I'm doing this task and that's the end of it, are we clear?"

A look of surprise overtook my friend's face before he quickly covered it up, scowling.

"Transparent."