As always, beta'd by KappasRule!
I own neither DGM nor SNK
It didn't take much to persuade the old man into a deal that he couldn't refuse. Soon, he was on the Survey Corps' side thanks to Levi and his negotiation skills. The squad just had to sit back and watch, they didn't interfere much.
Now they were back at HQ, which was their same cabin from earlier. However, Lenalee still hasn't showed up. Allen was beginning to suspect she was given another task. "You know, who knows what would've happened if Lavi hadn't jumped in." Connie said.
Lavi smirked. "It's no problem. You're welcome, by the way." He nodded toward Allen and Armin.
Allen sighed, but Armin looked grateful. "I felt really useless back there. I wish my innocence worked…"
"When are you going to get that fixed, anyway?" Armin asked.
"I don't know… Cross says he is researching for a way, but I highly doubt it." Allen answered. However, his thoughts drifted to Levi and Hange. They had gone downstairs, into a basement. They had a captive, and were planning to torture him for information. The screams broke his thoughts, sending a chill up his spine. "So… it's started." He muttered.
Jean nodded, and groaned. "I thought I was fighting against titans, but I don't even know who the enemy is. Why did we have to get involved with this?"
"There's no other choice." Eren said. "If we fail here, humanity will get exterminated by the titans."
Lavi nodded sagely. "That's right, Eren. We're doing a coup d'etat… as in the plan devised by the commander that time, it's not finished yet."
"We're considered rebels…" Sasha sighed. "What will happen if we fail?"
"We're going to be hanged in front of everyone…" Jean complained.
"It's because we're trying to change a system that's been like this for a century." Armin pointed out. "There are no precedents… but how about we try to get people on our side? We could take advantage of the confusion caused by the repeated attack of the titans. If we manage to rouse the public by shifting responsibility onto the monarchy, it might go well."
"Yeah." Lavi agreed. "But there's a problem with that. In that case the public will be put in danger too and lives might be lost."
"I guess it can't be helped, since it's for the sake of humanity. Isn't that your guys' moto?" Armin shrugged. "Either way, we should cause a significant accident and make it sound as if it was caused by the monarchy or the brigade. The public will then consider the Survey Corps their saviors. I'm sure it won't be too hard to fool the public, shit…"
Everyone stared wide-eyed at Armin. No one had expected anything like this idea pour out of someone as soft and innocent as Armin. Then, after he noticed the sudden tension in the room, he smiled creepily. "Just joking…"
"You know, you were soiled after that pervert mocked you." Jean muttered.
"No, Armin has always been good at coming up with gloomy, makeshift features." Eren stated matter-of-factly.
"I didn't raise him like that." Mikasa said.
"But… we're already criminals." Armin explained solemnly. "Our current opponent is not someone that we must kill in order to avoid getting eaten. They're enemies because they have different ideas, or even just because they belong to a different Corps… from now on we might have to kill someone just because of that."
Allen hated the thought. "We're not good people anymore." He finished. He frowned. This was never supposed to happen… humans against humans? What happened to fighting the titans, and saving humanity from them? It turns out he… and the Black Order, as well… had to save humanity, from humanity. Which meant killing human lives. Something he did not sign up for.
"What happened with Hange?" Allen asked. "What was with the rush this morning?"
The next day, they gathered around a table, having just woken up and gotten into their casual clothes. Eren shrugged. "She said she had something urgent to discuss with Commander Erwin and left in a big hurry.
For some reason, Eren was looking at him wearily. "That four-eyes…" Levi muttered.
"Nifa." A dark-haired girl had just put down a mug. She looked up when her name was mentioned, and wiped her mouth with her sleeve. "Thanks on working with the transmissions throughout the night. Cut to the chase and tell everyone what Erwin said."
"But what about them?" Nifa asked, looking over to where the businessman was. He had brought his son… a port, blonde boy with freckles dusted on his cheeks.
"They're from the Reeves corporation. It's fine, speak." Levi reassured.
"Ah… yes…" Nifa hesitated.
"If it's no problem leaving my seat, sir..." Dimo Reeves said, and began to stand.
"No. Stay and listen. That's what we agreed, right? Not to hide anything." Levi said.
"I'm trusting in you."
"Huh? You're trusting my brat, who I just introduced today?" Dimo accused.
"If it's someone of the Reeves Corporation, then of course." Levi said cooly. "Flegel was it? I welcome you."
"You're… Levi, was it?" Flegel asked. "If you really liked to make a welcome, shouldn't you be putting on some tea?"
Everyone stared wide-eyed. Some… like Kanda, for instance… stared on in disgust. Who does this kid think he is? Dimo pushed his son's head toward the ground. ""I'm sorry… I've been taking him around to functions with the intent of having him take over for me someday." Dimo apologized. "He's been spoiled, so he still acts like a child. We'll leave, and you can just tell us what we need to do afterwards."
"No." Levi said firmly. "We'll listen together here. This concerns not the Reeves Corporation, but the fate of this world. Which is why your power, and your trust, is important."
The squad waited patiently for an answer. Before long, Dimo let go of his hold on his son. "Understood. We'll stay, so please continue."
"Well then." Nifa began. "It's in regards to Historia ascending the throne as queen-"
Allen's eyes widened. "Queen?" Even Historia looked shocked. Nifa looked to Levi in confusion. Levi sighed.
"I've… neglected to tell my squad, but… it appears that the current Fritz royal house is just standing in for the real royal family." Levi explained, to his squad's astonishment. "The true royal family is the Reiss family."
Everyone looked to Historia in shock. Well, everyone except Lavi. It seemed as if he may have already known this information somehow. In everyone's stupor, it was him who spoke up. "We heard something about allowing Historia to ascend the throne as queen, but is that the main objective of this mission?"
"Exactly." Levi said. "Historia, your thoughts?"
In all honestly, she looked pale and shaken. "I… can't… it's impossible."
Levi approached her, so that he loomed over her. He resonated a dark aura, and Historia flinched at the sudden maliciousness. "Right? Being told all of a sudden to become the most authoritative figure amongst the people of this world. After all, there aren't very many people who would possibly answer right away, 'yes, that's fine'."
He paused, looking at her expectantly."But none of that's important. Do it."
Historia looked away. "I couldn't possibly do it."
"You don't want to?" He asked.
"I couldn't… possibly…"
"Understood." Levi lifted her off the ground by the collar of her shirt. She flailed. "Then run away."
"Levi!" Allen warned. However, he was ignored.
"Run away from us with all your power. And we'll also use all our power to capture you, and use whatever means to make you obey." Levi said. "If you dislike that, fight. Try to defeat me."
"Please let go!" She cried.
Suddenly, Levi let go of her collar, and she fell to the ground in a coughing fit. Armin and Sasha helped her up. "Levi, that was too far." Allen said.
Levi gave him a dangerous look. "What do you guys think you're doing tomorrow? That you're going to eat your meals tomorrow? That you'll be able to get enough sleep again? Is that what you're thinking? That the person next to you, will still be there tomorrow?"
He paused, letting the questions sink in. "I don't think that. And normal people don't think about that every day either. Which is to say, I'm not normal. I'm an aberrant person. I think it's because I've seen too many abnormal things. But if tomorrow, Wall Rose was broken, in such abnormal circumstances I can act faster than anyone. And fight."
He continued on with his lecture. "Even if that hell were to begin again tomorrow. You've seen it with your own eyes. Who can say it can't be tomorrow? However, as much as we want to prevent this from happening, there are people that want to get in our way. I'm fine playing the role of the aberrant who would murder all those people. This may very well require beating people until they are unrecognizable."
Levi paused. "Because I would choose the hell of people killing one another rather than the hell of being devoured by titans. Because at the very least...all of humanity won't need to take part in it. However, if we were able to hold true authority in this world, then perhaps those who would have died can instead survive. That's pretty good, right?"
"It's all up to you, Historia." He continued. "Will you follow, or will you fight? They're both fine, so pick one. However..." He dropped down to her eye-level, as she was still on the ground from her fall. He grabbed a handful of her hair so she could look up at him. "THERE IS NO TIME, SO DECIDE NOW!"
"I'LL DO IT!" She cried back, almost immediately. "My next role is to be queen, right? I'll do it, please leave it to me." She still looked frightened and shaken from Levi's outburst.
"All right. Stand." He stood, and then took Historia's hand to help her up. "I'm counting on you, Historia."
"Yes…" Historia meekly replied.
Allen couldn't believe what just happened. Who knew Levi could be this motivational? "Nifa, continue."
"Yes… I will now communicate the Commander's orders." She lifted a stack of papers. "The plan begins today, when Eren, Allen, and Historia are to be handed over from the Reeves corporation to the first Military Police Brigade. The first Military Police has left everything, from the route to the rest stops, up to the Reeves corporation. We will take advantage of that. We will thus hand Eren, Allen, and Historia over to the first Military Police. And then through the Reeves corporation we will track them to their final destination."
"The final destination refers to him." She took out a picture of a wealthy looking man with a moustache, glasses, and a top hat. "Rod Reiss. Historia's biological father, and the actual highest authority within these walls. According to the first MPs we've captured, everyone from the upper-levels to the Fritz royal house are under his command. As for he himself… the Survey Corps will help secure his person.
She continued. "The ultimate aim is to change the current system. Then, once everything is in order, we will finally be able to seal up the gaping hole in wall Maria." She plastered the picture onto the stone wall behind her, so everyone could see.
I am upset and I am glad that Isayama hasn't updated the manga this month. I'm upset because... dangit! He left us with yet another cliffhanger, it sucks! However, I'm glad, because this gives me a chance for this story to catch up with where the manga is at. Anyway, please review! Reviews inspire me to write more~