Chapter 45: The Final Preparation

"Seriously... he's four... how is he going to help?" Sergei asked after sitting down with Eren and Aqua.

"I'd have to agree with Sergei Aqua." Eren said. "Even if your arm was healed, you're still useless."

Aqua shrugged at that. He was fully aware that even if his arm was fully functional, he'd be useless in a fight. Even if he was an adult again, he never actually fought in his life, so he doesn't have the training or skill to go up against actual killers.

"Here's my question, how do you intend to save Ai and Ruby?" He asked.

"Do you think it's smart to tell him?" Sergei asked. "Kids aren't known for keeping secrets."

"He will Sergei." Eren said. "He's more mature than he looks."

"He doesn't look mature at all." Sergei said. "Again, he's four."

"I get it." Aqua said in annoyance. "So, what's the plan?"

"They're moving them to a boat over at a harbor south of Tokyo." Eren said. "I have a bunch of Ar-peegee's and explosives, so I can cause significant damage while staying more mobile than them. I can get in and out quickly before they can sell Ai to North Korea."

"See, a plan like that worries me." Aqua said. "You're talking about causing mass chaos and destruction with explosives, something that has little to no subtlety or control."

"I have no choice." Eren shrugged. "Yoshida will have a large number of armed guards and probably his best men. Even with all my skill, I'm still one man. I need to even the playing field as much as possible."

"And if Ai or Ruby gets killed in a stray explosion? What then?" Aqua asked. "You won't know exactly where they are. And if you sink the ship, they'll drown if you can't find them in time."

"I'm aware." Eren said.

"Then why go through with it?" Aqua asked, raising his voice.

"Because there isn't a better option." Eren said. "It's a risk, but we have one shot at this. If we fail, Ai and Ruby will be lost to us. I don't think I can attack an entire nation by myself this time" Aqua raised his eyebrow at that. "Especially since I can't blend in."

"So that's it?" Aqua asked. "You're gambling my family's life?"

"Yes." Eren said with no hesitation. "It's a gamble, but it's the best option we have."

"And if they die?" Aqua asked.

This caused Eren to pause. He knew there was a chance that either Ruby or Ai, even his unborn child, will die by his own hand from a stray explosion. But what other choice was there?

"I'd rather them dead then to live as slaves." Eren said.

"Really?" Aqua asked through narrowed eyes.

"The thought of Ai and Ruby... of my child... growing up trapped behind some forsaken walls... slaves to someone's will... is a horrible thought to me." Eren said. "The kind of isolation they experience in that country, the outside world may as well not exist. To imagine my child growing up, wondering what's beyond the prison my child grew up in, is a terrible thought."

"Does freedom mean that much to you?" Aqua asked.

"Yes." Eren said. "I won't let Ai live as a slave to another. I refuse."

"Then I'm the opposite, I can't imagine her or Ruby dying." Aqua said. "I'd rather them live, even if they are trapped in North Korea."

"Then what do you propose?" Eren asked.

"My young body and small size would actually allow me to easily sneak in." Aqua said. "Even if I'm caught, they'll know I'm Ai's son. They'll bring me directly to her. Then I can either break them out with my improvised lockpick set or tell you where they are, so you don't blow them up."

"Excellent idea." Eren said. "But how will you tell me?"

"Simple." Aqua said.

Aqua pulled out a small moveable phone that didn't have the normal mirror on it. Instead, it had a hinge that he was able to flip open and what looked like the keys of a typewriter.

"This is one of Ai's old phones." He said. "I got the plan activated and I can text you. Because it has physical keys, I can text while hiding it and know what I'm sending."

For demonstration, Aqua sent a message to Eren since he knew his phone number from Ai's actual phone, causing it to bing. Eren looked at his phone and sure enough, saw the message.

"Flawless plan, but there's one issue." Eren said.

"What?" Aqua asked.

"I still can't read."

... Fuck

"AH HAHAHAHAHA!" Sergei fell out of his chair from laughing so hard at the conversation.

How the hell did Aqua forget about that!? All the work it took to reactivate this ancient phone and he forgot something so basic as that!?

"Haven't you been studying!?" Aqua yelled out.

"Since Ai left, no. Even then, I've barely been learning for a month. I can recognize some symbols, but not much." Eren said.

"That's Fucking Great!" Sergei yelled out as he got back in his chair. "The kid is a certified genius, came up with this great plan, and it failed because Eren is illiterate!" Sergei was still laughing loudly.

"Thank you, asshole." Aqua said to Sergei. "That's fine, you can simply push the read out loud option and it will read the text out to you."

"How do you do that?" Eren asked.

"Here." Aqua took Eren's phone.

Aqua showed Eren how to get texts to read out loud and they tested a few of it so that Eren would be able to at least comprehend what Aqua could text. It did make things harder for Aqua though, since he had to ensure the text was written perfectly or the computer might not say it correctly.

"While this is a great plan, I don't like the idea of putting a four-year-old at risk." Sergei said.

"Tough." Aqua said. "I'm doing this, no matter what."

Sergei looked at the boy and raised his eyebrow a bit. The kid seemed older than his age would suggest, Sergei wondered about him.

"You have a darkness in your eyes boy." Sergei said. "Almost looks familiar."

"How so?" Aqua asked.

"I've seen many men... men who were driven and dangerous. I'd say you have the same look that Eren does." Sergei noted.

"I don't care." Aqua said. "I'm not so frail. I did kill my father after all."

"Interesting." Sergei said. "I thought that police report was weird. Patricide at four, you got me beat by a few years."

"What?" Aqua asked.

"I killed my father when I was seven. Drunk bastard nearly killed me and my mother. I took his old Mosin from the war and did what I had to." Sergei shrugged, clearly over the event.

"That's rough." Aqua said, not sure what he should say.

"It's life. What about you Eren?" He asked.

"Ten." Eren shrugged.

Although it wasn't entirely the same, technically Eren did kill his own father when he became a pure titan and unknowingly ate him to gain the Attack Titan and Founder.

"Pretty sad, Da?" Sergei asked. "We're all a bunch of patricidal bastards."

"I didn't care about him." Aqua said. "All I care about is saving Ai and Ruby. That's it."

"So, we go with your plan." Eren said.

"I just need to get close, close enough for one of them to get me." Aqua said. "Then they should take me to Ai, though I'll need to lie and say they kidnapped me."

"Why?" Eren asked.

"Could you imagine Ai's reaction if you agreed to have me part of the rescue plan. She'd actually probably kill you." Aqua said.

"Fair point." Eren said.

"Though not unreasonable... considering the kid is four." Sergei mentioned again.

"He's actually an adult that was reborn as an infant. Or he has the memories of an adult. One of the two." Eren said honestly.

"Seriously!?" Aqua yelled out at having his secret discovered.

"You really shouldn't play into a child's fantasies Eren." Sergei said.

Aqua glared at Eren, who gave a subtle smirk. No matter how many times you tell the truth, no one would believe. Aqua wondered if he revealed his situation to Sergei before, about being from another world, only for it to be laughed off.

"Let's get to it then." Eren said.

"We should give the boy a weapon though." Sergei suggested.

"Any ideas?" Aqua asked. "Most melee weapons are useless for me, and I've never used a gun before. I feel like it would be more dangerous to have it with no training."

"I have an old Spetsnaz ballistic knife." Sergei said as he pulled a relatively large dagger from his coat. "It's capable of firing the blade at the push of a button. Good for a child in this case."

"That easy?" Aqua asked.

"Well, some of the information about it is mostly propaganda. You need to be close. Any further than a few meters and it loses so much energy that it can't penetrate deep enough to hurt someone."

"Right." Aqua grabbed the knife.

Luckily, it was small enough to fit inside his sling, letting him conceal it easily so that he can pull it out. He doubted the guards would search him, given the fact that he's four. So Aqua felt like his chances were good.

With that, they loaded up the last of the equipment into the van and got ready to head out.

"It's ok Ruby-Chan." Ai said while she held her daughter.

Both of the pregnant mother and daughter were trapped in the ship that was going to take them to their new lives. The space was small, probably an old bedroom that only had a single cot that was fixed to the wall and a simple open toilet. It made Ai think of a jail cell, with a cage type door that was locked.

"What's going to happen to us mama?" Ruby asked.

"Now now." Ai said, hoping to keep Ruby from being scared.

Ai was on her knees with Ruby safely in her lap. She held her daughter and made sure that she was as loved and comforted as possible since they were both in danger.

"Mama is here, and no matter what, I will protect you." She smiled.

"What about papa?" Ruby asked.

"Well, mama can protect you too." Ai smiled. "But papa will get us out. Don't you worry."

Ai truly began to believe that. Based on how Yoshida reacted, Eren was a literal force of nature. Ai knew he was skilled and had killed before. But this was something that was almost otherworldly.

How can the most powerful Yakuza boss in the Kanto Region be so scared of a single man? Just how skilled of a fighter was Eren.

Skilled, and possibly sadistic. That man she saw in the FaceTime... his fingers were cut off and he begged for his life as Eren killed him. She thought that she should feel repulsed at watching Eren do something like that, but instead she felt even more safe.

Yes, it was a horrible thing to witness. But Eren did it to save her and Ruby. She doubted Eren would enjoy torturing someone. He didn't seem like that kind of person. He was kind, sweet, and a good person. He only got like this when she was in danger, and although she hated to see him like that, she knew it was for a good reason.

"Papa is strong." Ruby said as she huddled closer to her mother.

"Yes, he sure is." Ai said.

"Is this what having a good papa is like?" Ruby asked.

Ai felt her heart break again. Her daughter didn't have a good papa in her life. She grew up the first four years without one, just like how Ai grew up without a father. And when she finally did meet him, her father nearly killed her brother.

However, Ruby wasn't talking about Hikaru. She remembered her old life. Her old father and mother abandoned her in the hospital. All they had to do was visit... at least until she perished. They didn't, not once.

Eren though, he's fighting the entire Yakuza to protect them. That must be what a good father would do. Sacrifice everything to protect and save the people you care for.

"I would like to think so, but I don't know. He's not my papa." Ai smiled again.

"No, but he's your boyfriend. I think it's just as good." Ruby smiled.

"Yup." Ai laughed at her daughter.

Ruby and Ai jumped as they heard the door opening. Ai scooted back towards the wall, terrified of who it could be. She knew that at any time, Yoshida could change his mind and be rid of them.

She imagined the horror of her daughter being grabbed by the ankles and slammed into a wall till she died, or what would happen to her if she was left defenseless to Yoshida's men. The threats he said to Eren were heavy on her mind.

Instead, there was a yellow blur that flew into the cell before the cage door closed again.

"Aqua!" Ai yelled as she rushed over to him.

"Mama." He said quietly.

"Oh my... what happened!?"

"T-they took me mama." He said as he ran up to Ai and Ruby, holding them.

"No...no no no." Ai repeated.

At least one of her children would be safe... at least she hoped. But now, Aqua was destined for the same cursed fate as them. She shuttered to imagine North Korean Soldiers hurting her baby boy, especially since he still had bandages on after he was attacked by her bastard of an ex.

"Aqua..." Ruby said quietly, just as upset that her brother was here and in danger.

"I'm glad you're ok mama." He said.

"That's not important." She shook her head. "I didn't want them to take you."

She had to think of something. All three of her children were about to live a terrible life, trapped in a foreign country. She needed to find a way to save them. Maybe... maybe she could convince Yoshida to at least let her children go. She'd use her body if need be, but she needed some way to save them.

"Itai-" Aqua quietly as he reached into his sling.

"Are you ok?" Ai asked.

"Y-yea... just a bit in pain." He said.

While he was in pain, he started sending the message to Eren.

Stern of ship SEND. Port SEND. Third deck from the main SEND

Hopefully Eren would be able to avoid most of the chaos around the stern when he attacked.

"It's ok baby." Ai went back into motherly mode as she held both her children. "Mama's here, everything will be ok."

"I know." He said, squirming out of Ai's grasp.

He walked up to the door, making Ai confused.

The cage door luckily had a simple tumbler lock system. All he had to do was use his lockpick set and he should be able to escape.

He reached into his sling and took out the bent bar he had and the bobby pin. It was hard, but he managed to use both hands by awkwardly positioning himself. His slung was mostly useless, but his fingers and hand could move well enough, though with some effort and pain.

"Aqua-Chan...?" Ai said carefully.

"Got it!" He said in excitement.

The cage door swung open as the lock opened.

"Y...you..." Ai was amazed.

When did he learn to pick a lock? Should she be happy her baby boy is so smart or worried that he could be a delinquent one day and steal things.

"Come on mama." He motioned for her to come.

"We can escape!" Ruby exclaimed happily, though kept it at a whisper.

No time to ponder anything. Ai ran over and picked Aqua up. She made sure Ruby was on her back and Aqua was on her front. One hand reached behind her and supported Ruby's rear, so she'd stay on her back and the other hand held Aqua much the same way.

Ai knew that they needed to escape, and quick. The guard who delivered Aqua might be nearby, so she needed to escape with her children.

"We can escape. Once we see a police officer, we'll be safe." Ai said.

She had no time to question things about Aqua. She could do that later. Right now, they needed to escape.

"Hey!" A voice shouted.

Ai's heart quickened as the guard spotted them. She didn't think, only reacted.

She sprinted away from the guard, hoping, praying that she was fast enough. She was an idol after all, all that dancing had to make her fast.

However, carrying two toddlers slowed her down too much, and she felt her head get yanked back as the guard reached her and pulled her heair.

"Itai!" Ai screamed, falling backwards as Ruby and Aqua fell away from her.

Aqua reacted quickly. He drew a knife from his sling and rushed at the man, stabbing him in the leg. The man screamed, let go of Ai, and fell to his knees.

Aqua made to stab his neck but the man was too fast and reacted to it. He grabbed Aqua's wrist and held it back. Aqua smirked, glad that Sergei gave him this weapon.

He pressed the button and the ballistic knife shot out and stabbed the man in the neck. It grazed his neck, but it left a deep gash in the side that severed an artery. The man would be unresponsive in seconds.

With a whimper, he passed out at Aqua's feet, blood leaking from the wound as his life faded away.

Aqua turned to his mother and sister, both looking at him in shock and fear.

Ai was horrified at what her son just did. He killed a man, killed him in cold blood. A four-year-old, used a knife that she had no idea where he got it from, and killed a man with no hesitation.

Not only was he four, but he was her son. It broke her heart to see Aqua forced to defend himself like that, especially after all the times that he was the one attacked and hurt. She vaguely began to worry about his mental health but was also preoccupied in escaping.

Ruby was also horrified. She never saw so much blood before. Even when Ryosuke attacked, her head was buried in her mother's back, unable to see what Eren did exactly. She stared, wide eyed at her brother, horrified that he was capable of killing.

Though, at least Ruby knew he was technically an adult, maybe not all that different from Eren.

"Shit, the kid killed someone!" Another guard shouted.

Aqua turned to try to do something but was too late. Even if he could react, he was defenseless.

The guard ran up and kicked him, almost like kicking a football. Aqua flew back and had the wind taken out of his lungs, barely able to breath.

"Stop!" Ai screamed.

As two men surrounded Aqua to beat him, Ai picked up a pipe on the ground and ran over to protect her child. The guard with his back to her didn't see her. Although Ai was weak, a metal pipe being swung at an unsuspecting person's head was more than enough to knock them out.

"You bitch!" Another guard screamed.

Ai swung at him as well, but he reached out and grabbed the pipe and wrestled it out of her hand. He then backhanded her in the face, causing her eyes to explode in colors and dots as she slipped to the ground.

"Ai!" Aqua yelled out, though mostly paralyzed from the beating he took.

"Mama!" Ruby yelled.

The guard grabbed her by the hair, while another two grabbed the injured Aqua and the terrified Ruby. Ai was conscious, but in a lot of pain. She couldn't fight back as the guard dragged her down the hall by her hair.

Ai screamed and tried to get free, but she was too weak to open the man's grip from her hair. Her short height and lack of weight made it impossible to fight back.

"Please!" She screamed to the man. "Please let my children go!"

She was ignored.

"Let's take them to Oyabun. We can't keep her down her-"

boom

An explosion echoed in the distance, maybe towards the front of the ship.

"What the hell was that?" A guard asked.

"Let's get them there, quick." The guard said as they dragged the family towards Yoshida.

A few Minutes Ago

"We're pretty high up Eren." Sergei said.

"It'll be a good jumping off point." Eren said.

"For your repelling stuff?" Sergei asked.

"Sure." Eren said.

Eren was on top of a crane from a construction area, a little way away from the ship that was in the harbor. It was a short trip by ODM, but Eren needed to ensure he took Yoshida by surprise.

The dark night was contrasted with the bright lights from the building and traffic in the streets. The noise of the city was muffled with how high they were. Eren adjusted the straps on his body and made sure his blades were firmly seated in their sheaths.

Eren realized that it's been a while since he used ODM gear, not since before he left the Scouts while they were in Marley. Since then, he hadn't had the chance to use ODM gear again, so he may be a bit rusty. But he knew it would be easy to get used to it again.

"So, you go in, save the girl, then escape. Right?" Sergei asked.

"That's the plan." Eren said, adjusting the four Ar-Peegee's on his back and the pistol holster on his side, carrying his Marleyan pistol.

"Then what?" Sergei asked. "Live together happily with Ai? A fugitive from the law?"

"No." Eren said. "Ai is too important to me to live like a wanted criminal."

"You could always "kidnap" her." Sergei brought his hands to do quotes.

"No." Eren shook his head. "She deserves a good life. So, once I save her, I won't be able to be with her."

"So, I should have the boat ready?" Sergei asked.

Eren took a deep breath, standing on the edge of the crane, letting the cold wind cut him to the bone. He felt a shiver as it ran over his slacks and black turtleneck.

"After I save her, I'm turning myself in." Eren said.

"What?" Sergei asked. "Why? Are you crazy?"

"Ai was kidnapped because I went too deep Sergei." Eren said. "She was taken because she was used to manipulate me. For so long I've been running from my consequences. Not giving a damn about what happens after my choices."

Eren reflected on the advice Sergei gave him. How Sergei told him that this would be the result if Eren acted rashly or without thinking.

"So, you're going to let yourself be taken?" Sergei asked.

"Ai is a currency in this. Her and the children." Eren said. "As long as I'm free, her and the children will be used against me."

"After that speech of wanting freedom above all else... you're going to give it up?" Sergei asked.

"For my child... yes." Eren said, looking down. "I burned the world to the ground to save the people I care about. I marched knowingly to my own death, trapped in a fate of my own making. If I have to do that again for Ai and the children to be safe and free... so be it."

Sergei looked down, sad to see that Eren made up his mind and that Eren would undoubtedly suffer the same fate he did with his own love. Unfortunately, Eren chose this path and had to face the consequences of his actions.

"I promise you; I'll take care of them." Sergei said. "I'll make sure whoever takes Yoshida's place will leave them alone."

"I've been meaning to ask about that Sergei." Eren said.

"What?" Sergei asked.

"You've been manipulating everything... haven't you?" Eren asked, turning towards Sergei.

Sergei raised his eyebrow, more as a surprise than an actual question. For a moment, he said nothing, but then looked down and sighed.

"How did you come to that conclusion?" Sergei asked.

"I first grew suspicious when you easily found Kaguya." Eren said. "Yoshida may work closely with you, but I doubt he'd actually tell you where she was. I doubt anyone would have told you where she was. But, you have a lot of resources, so I let it go at the time."

"True, there's a lot of resources I have." Sergei said.

"But then, you knew exactly where Ai was being taken. Even knew where Yoshida's Commanders were and when and where the Yakuza bosses would be in their trip to Yoshida's meeting." Eren deduced.

"I do have resources." Sergei said.

"You knew everything about Yoshida's operation. I'd even guess that you knew about Mao's as well. Both gangs had a rat... but looking back, I think the rat was the same person... you." Eren stared right at Sergei.

"I may have fed information to both sides... Da." Sergei admitted.

"The shooter at the concert... what do you people call it... a sniper? He belonged to you." Eren said.

"He was me." Sergei said. "I couldn't have you and Mao killing each other at that time." Sergei admitted.

"So that's it then... you manipulated everything from the beginning." Eren said. "Why?"

Sergei walked over until he was standing next to Eren on the edge, looking out over towards the bay. Eren stared at Sergei, but Sergei was thinking, deciding how to tell Eren the truth.

"Was it to increase weapons sales or something?" Eren asked.

"No, though that was a bonus." Sergei shrugged; his voice serious but soft.

"Then what?" Eren asked.

"I'm a simple man Eren." Sergei said. "I grew up poor outside of Vladivostok. My father was an angry drunk that beat me every time he had nightmares of the Great Patriotic War. Or his time in a Siberian work camp before he was conscripted. I grew up hungry and ate off of the scraps my father missed at the dinner table."

"When I became a man and joined the Red Army, I still lived poor. I got into this life because a long time ago, I chose my standard of living over the lives and happiness of others. Just like you did when you first got here, though I stamped out my sympathy years ago."

"The truth is Eren, I did it because I was paid very well to do it. And it did help weapons sales."

"Who paid you?" Eren asked.

"The Chinese Communist Party." Sergei said. "They have a desire to spy on Japan, but the Japanese government is too robust for that. So, they want to control the criminal element in order to ensure that they have a way to conduct espionage."

"So, the gang war was a convenient way to kill Yakuza members that are not sympathetic to the Chinese." Eren said.

"A Chinese agent could never directly control a Yakuza group." Sergei said. "Japan and China hate each other. A Yakuza member would never listen to a foreigners order."

"So, you instill a puppet leadership that is sympathetic." Eren concluded.

"Exactly." Sergei said. "Which is why I know everything. Every phone Yoshida had was tapped by Chinese spies I smuggled into Tokyo. They relayed information to me, and I used my connections to ensure the information got where I wanted. Mao knew this and wanted to kill me." Sergei chuckled to himself. "Though, the Chinese weapons they bought were from fake connections that I have, so I still profited."

"Is that why you recruited me?" Eren asked.

"At first? No. Back then, I just needed an extra hand to move boxes. I actually didn't factor you into my plans until that warehouse job. You don't let talent like that go to waste." Sergei explained.

"Yet you did everything you could to convince me to leave." Eren said.

"I needed to test your conviction. No use to use you if you quit halfway." Sergei explained. "Better to have you walk away early then to waste resources on someone with no conviction."

"Is that the only reason?" Eren asked, not fully buying it.

"Truth is." Sergei sighed as he looked down in sorrow. "I didn't want you to get involved. I'd rather have had you do small jobs and live a good life with the single mom. But, if you were going to be stupid, might as well use you." Sergei shrugged. "I'll be honest, I never would have helped you save Kaguya if it didn't result in Yoshida taking action against you. I need him eliminated."

"Last question." Eren said. "Is Ai in Yoshida's hands because of you?"

Sergei remained quiet for a moment, but only a small moment.

"I did need to speak to her, regarding your relationship. For no other reason than to give you closure." Sergei said. "Though, I'd be lying if I said I didn't drop her off in a spot that I knew Yoshida would act to take her."

Eren looked away from Sergei.

For a moment, there was a tense atmosphere that enveloped both me. Sergei reached into his coat, ready to pull a gun if he needed to. Eren loved Ai, he loved her very much. Sergei knew he was unpredictable when it came to her safety. There was a chance he would retaliate against Sergei.

"I won't attack you Sergei." Eren said with a sigh.

"Oh?" Sergei asked.

"What right do I have to attack you for manipulating me?" Eren asked. "I've been manipulating my best friends... the woman I loved... for four years. Chasing a future that I knew would burn the world. Hurting the people I love to reach my goal. Why would I attack you for doing the same?"

"Interesting way to look at it." Sergei said.

"Perhaps." Eren said. "But please... when this is over-"

"I'll make sure the new leadership stays away." Sergei said. "I promise."

Sergei relaxed as another silence fell over both men. Eren looking down towards the ground, his eyes full of sadness and exhaustion.

Eren took out his phone as it vibrated, opening the text from Aqua and putting it in voice mode.

"Stern of ship. Port. Third deck from the main."

"What's a stern and main in this context?" Eren asked.

"You don't know nautical terms?" Sergei asked.

"I've only been on a boat once." Eren said.

"Stern is the rear of the ship, three decks below the main means that they're on the third floor beneath the main deck. The main floor on the top of the ship." Sergei explained.

"So, I'll focus most of my firepower on the front of the ship." Eren said.

"That's the bow." Sergei said.

"And Port?" Eren asked.

"It means left." Sergei said. "The Starboard is the right of the ship. Easy way to remember is port and left both have four letters."

"Right." Eren said.

"Oh yea, illiterate. Sorry." He said.

"So back left, three floors down. Understood." Eren said, pocketing his phone and taking the handles from under his arms.

"This may be the last time I see you kid." Sergei said. "I know you have a grim fate after you save her, but I do hope you find peace in whatever decision you make."

"Thank you, Sergei." Eren said with a small smile.

Perhaps it was weird to think, but Sergei reminded him a lot of Levi. Someone who cared for him and someone Eren saw as a mentor. Levi was a hard man, but he cared deeply for his subordinates. Sergei was different in many ways, but Eren knew Sergei did care in his own way.

"Good luck kid." Sergei said.

Eren smiled warmly, but knew it was time to part ways. Eren took in a deep breath, before jumping off the crane. The familiar feeling of free falling hit him, his instincts in using ODM gear were not rusty at all. It felt familiar, like walking after waking up in the morning. Slightly hesitant in his movements, but that quickly went away.

Eren shot a line forward, the gas helping to launch the grapple to the nearest building and the thrust propelling. him forward.

"EREN!" Sergei screamed as Eren jumped.

He didn't see Eren connect the line to anything, he just jumped with no safety. He was going to die, and Sergei couldn't help him.

"What the fuck..." Sergei said as he saw Eren rocket forward, following a line connected to his hip.

How was... what was... he can't just...

"There's no way he's from another world." Sergei said to himself. "There's no possible way."

Sergei checked his pockets. No alcohol or drugs... this was real.

"It can't be." Sergei walked back towards the ladder on the crane, pondering what he just saw.

Sorry for the delay. Work was a pain lol.

So, finally we got ODM in action lol.

So interesting test. Similar to Yoshida learning that Eren saved Kaguya, I didn't want to overtly show that Sergei was the mastermind. I wanted it to be subtle, something that Eren puts together after seeing multiple weird instances from Sergei.

How does Sergei know so much? Why does he seem like he knows everything? It's less of having a scene showing Sergei do something suspicious, and more so the characters connecting the dots over time. So, when you go back and reread it, you think "Oh, that makes sense. How did he find Kaguya so easily?" Or "How did he know so much about Yoshida's operations?"

That's the thing, instead of a big reveal or someone telling the characters a revelation, they work it out themselves. One event isn't too suspicious, but multiple events are.

At the same time, I didn't want to make Sergei an antagonist to Eren. I wanted him to manipulate things but also be the one to help and mentor Eren. Even way back in chapter 2, you see him transporting Chinese spies. You don't think anything of it until the truth is revealed.

I hope it worked. If not, please let me know.

Hope you guys enjoyed.