"This is what we've managed to create" an engineer said revealing possibly the greatest invention of the century.
The Hizuru took their time to develop new technology, using the imported iceburst stone and Onyankopon had to admit that they've outdone themselves this time.
"Uhm" Connie exclaimed cluelessly "what is it exactly?"
The dark-skinned volunteer just smiled.
"This is the flying boat" he explained to the scouts "it's a special kind of vessel that can be used to not only travel the seas, but the skies as well."
"So, it can fly?" Sasha asked with her mouth agape.
"Of course," one of the engineers replied "it's not fully functional yet, but I'm sure that with enough fuel, it would be able to circle around the whole world in less than a week…"
"Less than a week?!" Jean asked with a shocked expression.
It was all slowly starting to look better for the cause. With this much commitment, nothing could stop them.
Onyankopon looked up. After the battle concluded and the titans marched away, all the traitors and all of the volunteers had been rounded up on a square in front of the ruined citadel.
Zeke's plan failed. He didn't really feel bad for his former leader. Keeping it all a secret was enough for him to lose his faith in the warrior. What was even worse, was that the plan backfired. Eren never intended to go along with it and now, the whole world has been doomed.
The thoughts of his homeland almost made him cry. The very purpose of his sacrifice was to free his own people. Yet, it turned out that in comparison with Paradisians, the Marleyan oppressors looked like friendly helpers.
"Listen everyone!" Marlowe Freudenberg spoke out from the podium.
"I have words from the queen!"
Upon hearing that, all of the troubled soldiers, focused on him.
"Before Eren Yeager succeeded in his secret plan, he told me everything! He's currently fighting for every single one of us! Thanks to him, our island will survive!"
That seemed to put some morale back into the hearts of the military men. Some of them even cheered with joy.
"However," Freudenberg continued "the unlawful occupation of Shiganshina by forces loyal to the old officers was a grave act of treason! The queen decided to show her mercy to the soldiers who participated in the attempted coup, as it is perceived that they did not fully understand the real intentions of their leaders!"
Most of the might-have-been rebels, breathed a sigh of relief. It was a smart move by the queen. If the amnesty had not been given, who knows what actions they would take against the government during the unrest caused by Eren.
"While the soldiers have an excuse, the same cannot be said about the organizers!"
This was the time of reckoning. Honestly, Onyankopon could see it coming. With how active the queen had been, recently, it was quite obvious that the question of power would need to be resolved, sooner or later.
"Darius Zackley!" Marlowe shouted out and soon, said man was brought forward by the royal guardsmen.
"You have been charged with the crime of treason!" Freudenberg exclaimed as he took out the paper, with the government's seal "the punishment for that is death. Do you have anything to say?"
The old chief of staff stared at his prosecutor with malice.
"Your queen can suck my…!"
BANG!
As the man fell to the ground, Marlowe lowered down his gun.
"I will not let you tarnish the queen's name" he exclaimed "the execution had been carried out! Next, Dot Pixis!"
As the corpse was carried out, Pixis had been led to stand in front of the platform.
"You have been accused of the crime of treason as well" the prosecutor spoke "however, the queen decided to show you mercy and changed the death sentence to life imprisonment! Do you have anything to say?"
The former head of garrison chuckled at that.
"I'm not a fan of dirty, wet prison cells" he said, "just be done with it!"
Freudenberg looked at the man with a surprise.
"Are you sure?" He asked "the queen still remembers the day you launched an operation to reclaim the Trost district…"
"I don't want to spend the rest of my life as a prisoner" Pixis replied calmly "I have one condition, though."
"What is it?"
The general closed his eyes.
"I want to drink myself to death!"
The man had been known for his eccentricity, but Onyankopon never suspected that he would say such a thing under these circumstances. Apparently, the request didn't surprise Marlowe as much, because he immediately turned to look at his adjutant.
"Get the general a barrel of the best wine you can find in this town!"
As Pixis was being led away, he smiled towards the soldiers.
"Fear not, my friends!" He said "I knew what I was doing! And I deserve the punishment. Seriously, what would be a better way to go down?"
After the old general was taken away, Marlowe continued on with his speech.
"Erwin Smith and Dina Yeager are nowhere to be found! The queen has promised that their previous commitment to this nation is enough to guarantee their lives and freedom! However, as of right now, they have been ordered to report to the capital, immediately!"
The dark-skinned volunteer hadn't had the slightest idea on where to find them, but wherever they might have gone, they were their only hope. They were the only ones who possibly possessed the power to stop this rumbling.
"Yelena, Yann and Onyankopon!" Freudenberg shouted out.
'This is it.'
"The volunteers had been offered to submit to us and help our nation in the future!" Marlowe spoke "the three of them dared to defy our generous offer! Yet, even now, it still stands! If any of you have changed your mind, please, speak up!"
After a few nervous moments, Onyankopon couldn't bear with it anymore. He broke the silence with a hysterical laugh.
"I assisted Eldia in order to save my homeland from Marley!" he exclaimed with tears in his eyes "to help all of you as well! As a result of that assistance, my homeland will be trampled, my family slaughtered!"
"My life is not so precious that it would be worth flattering the likes of you! Every one of you here, has to know! The outrage that is sudden, indiscriminate murder!"
His cries didn't seem to make any impact on the gathered soldiers. But he already knew this feeling. This was what he would feel every day, when he served in the Marleyan military.
He could hear some commotion in the distance. The sounds were getting louder with each passing second. Finally, everyone looked towards the source of that noise.
All of a sudden, the cart titan appeared, running through the crowd. The surprised soldiers were jumping away, but Pieck didn't seem to be paying any attention to them as she strode towards the volunteers.
'Huh' was the last thought Onyankopon had in his mind, before the mouth of the titan closed around the three of them.
After what appeared to be a long run, the volunteers had been released. As the dark-skinned engineer gasped for air, he looked up.
They have been saved by the remaining shifters. All of them. It was bizarre to see Erwin and Dina band together with the warriors of Marley. With them, there was also Levi.
"We need your help" Marcel spoke out.
So, there was a way to save the world! This time, Onyankopon was determined.
"You want to stop the rumbling?" He asked them.
"Yes" Erwin replied, "do you think you can pilot the flying boat?"
"I'm sure of it" the dark-skinned man exclaimed.
"Thank you" Marcel said with gratitude.
The shifters looked towards Yelena.
"I need you to tell me something" Galliard exclaimed, pointing a gun at the woman "Eren's path. Where is he heading towards?"
The female didn't even bother to look up.
"Hey!" Levi yelled, as he brought his blade to her throat "he asked a question!"
Suddenly, Yelena jumped forward, impaling her throat on the sword. She was so fast that Levi didn't even manage to withdraw it.
As the blood sprayed over the grass, the man cursed under his nose.
"There goes our chance…"
"I can help you!" Yann cried out all of a sudden.
The shifters looked towards him with a surprise.
"How do you…"
"Unlike most of the volunteers, I knew about Zeke's plan!" he continued "and when Eren talked with Yelena about defeating the alliance, she would always point out Fort Salta!"
"So, you think that's where he's headed towards?" Marcel asked.
"That would be his first stop!" Yann explained "I think he'll stay in the area for some time, because it is impossible to march over the whole world in a straight line. The titans will spread out to even the damage. This is where you'll be able to fight him!"
"Thank you" Erwin spoke "you can go now."
The medical engineer looked at them with a shocked face.
"Where exactly?"
"Just tell the army that you've changed your mind" Onyankopon explained "they will show you leniency, at least until we manage to stop the rumbling."
"A-alright…" Yann said as he stood up and turned to walk away.
"Wait!" Dina suddenly cried out.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Do you have the serum?"
The medical engineer sighed out.
"I told you already" he started "all of it was used to spike the wine…"
"I'm not talking about my serum" Dina elaborated "I need some of Zeke's."
The man looked at her with a surprise.
"You still have some, right?" She asked him after a moment of silence.
Yann looked down in shame. He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and reached into his pants with his other hand. As everyone else looked away with a sense of embarrassment, he took out a small bottle and placed the tissue around it.
"Ew…" Levi said as the medical engineer handed the package to the blonde female.
"I didn't want to risk them finding it" he explained "what do you need it for?"
Dina looked to the side.
"I have an idea" she said "let's say, this is our plan B."
"Alright, then…"
Upon arriving in the port, they found out that the government forces didn't manage to get here before them. Hizuru engineers were more eager to help them service the vessel, after Erwin explained what was going on.
"Ready?" Onyankopon asked the rest of the team, once everyone was on board.
When he got nods in return, the dark-skinned man took the pilot's seat.
"Let's save the world" Marcel exclaimed "together!"
The plane took off.
