Hi everyone! So it's been awhile since I updated this story... I do apologize. Life happened and a lot of things happened in my life that pulled me from writing. I just got back into writing a few months ago and in that time, I have made a lot of changes to this story. I've made substantial progress on chapters and hope to start posting them as frequently as I can. First, I wanted to post updated versions of the chapters I've already posted. With change comes rewriting. If you have any questions or would like to provide feedback, feel free to do so. Please enjoy!

Disclaimer: All characters in this story belong to Hajime Isayama. The only thing that is mine is the plot.

Prologue

Lone footsteps echoed down the dimly lit parking garage as a man dressed in a long, dusty black coat made his way down its length. An unlit cigarette hung from his lips as he dug out the matchbox from his coat pocket and set the smoke aflame. Inhaling the sweet nicotine into his lungs, the man welcomed its warmth before letting it exhale through his nostrils like hot breath in frigid winter air. Flicking ash onto the concrete, the man's eyes caught hold of the thing he'd been waiting for.

Towards the far corner of the garage sat a black, 1929 Bentley that would have been invisible if not for the light nearby that cast a reflection off the vehicle's paint.

The man walked in long strides to the car, smoking as he went. Approaching the passenger side, the man took one last drag from his cigarette before dropping it to the ground and stubbing it out with his boot. He opened the passenger side door and slipped inside, shutting the door behind him.

"Agent Levi," the man in the car greeted. "I wasn't sure you were actually coming."

"You said this was important, so here I am."

Silently, the man in the driver's seat reached for a manilla folder sitting on the dashboard. He turned the folder right side up and passed it over to Levi. The man's gaze remained fixated on the windshield. "This folder contains the details of your new assignment."

Levi flipped open the folder and scanned over its contents. Pictures, newspaper clippings, and various reports were inside, each of them detailing different incidents occurring around one of Shiganshina's research labs. A lab that specialized in genetic research and provided funding for charities of several debilitating diseases, nothing contained inside the folder made sense.

Levi looked up. "What the hell kind of task is this Miche?"

Miche shrugged, shifting his gaze out the driver's side window. "I don't know much. This file was passed onto my desk straight from the director. He told me to give this directly to you and no one else. What I do know is that whatever is going on at that lab, it's some really fucked up shit."

"And let me guess, I'm going to be the one thrown into the middle of it?"

Miche glanced over his shoulder at Levi, meeting his cold stare. "You'll be going undercover as our operative. We already have a pair of eyes on the inside but we need more if we're ever going to figure out what exactly is going on. Word is that the lab is working with Willy Tybur and Karl Fritz,"

"Aren't those the politicians that lost the election to the Reiss family a couple years back?"

Miche nodded.

"They started spearheading the funding for the lab once they lost the election. Word is that Marley and Hizuru are in on it too, though we don't have much to go off of for that. Governor Reiss tried to shut the lab down after the train derailment last year, but even he can't touch them. That's why we need an operative on the inside. The director believes that if we can expose them at their source, Sina Laboratories will be permanently shut down and Fritz and Tybur will hang,"

"I see," Levi replied dryly. He scanned over the file once more. "How can you be certain that whatever's going on at that lab is illegal?"

"I'm not."

A scoff passed over Levi's lips. "That's awfully reassuring. I don't like this. We're walking in blind."

"I'm not too fond of the idea either, but the director insists. We don't have a choice here, Levi."

"Anything for a paycheck, right?" Levi muttered bitterly. He sighed. "Is everything arranged?"

"Yes, Nanaba took care of it. Everything you'll need is at your flat. I suggest looking it all over when you get home,"

"Understood."

Levi popped open the door and stepped once more into the light of the parking garage. "I should get going. I've already been here longer than I should have,"

He shut the door to the Bentley. Upturning the collar of his coat to keep himself warm, Levi shoved the file underneath the thick wool and placed his gloved hands in the pockets of his long coat. It didn't take long for Miche to pull up beside him.

"Levi."

Turning his gaze to the car, Miche leaned over, handing him a business card. "This is the address where you'll make contact and pass off your report. We expect to hear from you every week,"

Levi nodded, plucking the card from Miche's fingers. He slipped it into his vest pocket. "Give Erwin my regards."

"Will do. Take care of yourself Levi."