"Four years we wasted squabbling over a peninsula's sovereignty. And our two main battle Titans were nearly shredded by the enemy fleet. 'Human ingenuity surpasses and shatters Marley's Armor at last.' The press from other nations is commending the Mid-East Forces." A tired-faced man in a military uniform sets down a newspaper on the table where other officers are also...along with the Warrior, Zeke. "Does this sound like a victory for Marley to you? Magath, do you care to comment?"

"General," The buzzed-dark-gray-haired man speaks. "I'm afraid the time has come. That is, humanity has eclipsed the Power of the Titans." Magath stands from his seat. "While we've been relying heavily on Titans and colonial expansion, other nations have been developing weapons to counter us. As a result, our strategy has come back to bite us in the ass. For the time being, our Titans remain unrivaled when it comes to land battles. However, if aircraft keeps advancing at this rate, bombs will soon fall like rain. All while Titans, the devils of the earth, can do nothing but look up and watch." Every officer present looks up...to a ceilingless roof as birds fly in the clear sky above.

"Do we not have any Titans with wings?"

"General, I'm trying to say that the era of Titans-"

"I know. In the near future, we will lose our initiative in war. No, perhaps we already have. Though once the heroes who crushed the Eldian devils, look at what we've become."

"If I may, General?" The Beast Titan raises his hand, addressing the general. "Requesting permission to give counsel."

"Zeke, the wonderboy. Go ahead."

He stands. "We should resume the Paradis Island Operation and recover the Founding Titan." The Marleyan officers look in shock that Zeke could make such a bold statement. "As Commander Magath was saying, Marley needs to develop better weapons. However, the world will not stand by and wait. Our military needs time to completely restructure. But for that, the newspapers of the world must read this: 'Marley Occupies Paradis and Wields the Power of All Titans.'"

"You have one year left in your term, correct?"

"Yes, and I'm concerned that Colt can't inherit the full power of the Beast Titan." Colt, who has been observing this meeting from his standing position, looks to Zeke in slight shock.

"I see." The General states. "In your last year, you wish to redeem yourself for your defeat four years ago?"

"That is correct. The sick exploits of Grisha Jaeger should be brought to an end by none other than me, his former son."

Zeke lights up a cigarette as he walks along with Colt up some stairs to the roof. "Sorry I bashed you to further my agenda, Colt."

"Don't be. You were amazing." They pass through some hanging laundry, then lean on the rooftop railing. Out to the distance, they see a half-sunken ship not too far off the coast. "To think, an Eldian being heard by the general! There hasn't been a Beast like you in its history. Sometimes it reminds me of the founding Titan." Colt turns to Zeke. "Why are you special? It's not like you have any royal blood."

The Beast Titan puffs out a long trail of smoke from his lips. "Who knows? Guess I'll be dead before we figure it out. Oh... But when you inherit my memories, you'll find out my big secret."

"Secret? What is it?"

Zeke, not being a fool, decides to mess with the young man as he throws his cigarette to the ground and puts it out with his foot. "The special way I wipe my ass. Hope you don't tell anyone."

"Too late," Commander Magath shows up from behind the hanging white sheets. "I want a report."

Both The beast Titan and his future successor straighten their posture and raise their right hands in salute. "Commander!"

"Everything down to the hairs on your ass. Do you think Eldians get privacy?"

"No, sir!" Zeke firmly says. Magath lights up his own cigarette, taking a long and deep breath before exhaling it back into Zeke's face.

"You can conquer Paradis in a year?"

"It's more like I only have one year left to try."

"These past three years, every scout ship we've sent to Paradis hasn't returned. Zeke, what do you think of that?"

"Considering thirty-two were sunk, I can't imagine a single Titan was responsible. At least two Titans, including Eren Jaeger, must have blocked their escape."

"I agree. If we attack the island, our ships will need support."

"Yes. But it's more than their Titans that pose a threat..."

To this day, there is still only one man who continues to haunt the back of Zeke's mind. One man who brought him down to nothing but a limbless corpse. One man who only lost because he was forced to retreat. One man...who's name is Levi Ackermann.

Reiner

"Reiner! Are we doing it?! Now?! Right here?!"

"Yeah. We settle this...right here, right now!" I step forward to a puzzled Eren...but I never make it.

"YOU BASTARD!" Blades out, I watch as Elijah leaps out from behind Eren, severing my newly healed right arm while Mikasa dashes after he does and cuts Bertholdt's throat, His blade in my left arm, Elijah and I share a glance, knowing why he came for me specifically before I throw him aside and shove Mikasa off Bertholdt.

An acoustic shell fires from outside my hiding spot, above the inner gate. "Here! There's a cavity here- Huh?" Moving quickly, I move the covering off my hiding spot and stab the Scout straight through his chest. Watching his surprised, dying face, I disengage the blade from my ODM gear and watch him drop to the street below. I climb out of the hole and look to my left, seeing a familiar blonde-haired boy of my age, his face reeked of fear as he called my name.

"Reiner!"

"REINER!" Hearing a much angrier call, I look up to a fast-diving Elijah. Too late to react physically, I make a desperate internal action before one of his blades goes through my neck. He runs me down the wall and with an angry roar impales me in the heart with his other blade. Regaining my consciousness, I take a gasp of air, surprising him enough for him to release his blades and let me drop to the ground below.

"Now's your chance, Elijah!" With my jaw fully exposed, Elijah finally heads for me. I reach out for him but he dodges and uses my arm as a platform to jump off as he heads for my mouth. Landing on my tongue, I am helpless as he attacks.

"Reiner! Get out here!" He shoots the mysterious projectile down my throat and pulls back. In a big flash of light and force, I am expelled from the Titan and caught by my foe.

Blinded...holding on to life by a hair... I hear as Jean reads out what I can only imagine is a letter...from Elijah's father. "Just...make sure he comes home to his family...and his new little brother or sister. Oops, did I forget to mention that Lyra is..." Jean, for some reason, pauses. What the hell is the point of- "...pregnant."

"I let you live, Reiner. You once said you didn't have a choice...back when you and Bertholdt destroyed my home, but here I am...and I let you live. You've taken everything from me. My home...my family...my friends...and you almost took away the woman I love. I once saw you as a brother, Reiner. And somewhere, no matter how small, there's still that same soldier I grew to admire and respect, but now he's replaced by this... You call yourself a warrior...but there's one thing that you fail to realize, the harsh reality is, no matter what you claim, no matter what your comrades say you are back wherever you come from, it's you that's the real monster. My mercy will eat away at your very soul. All the death and destruction you've caused will haunt your nightmares like you did for me."

"Wait!" Reiner suddenly wakes up, feeling his arms, neck, and chest bursting in pain Dropping his arm, Reiner raises up and places a hand on his head. He hasn't dreamed about Elijah in a long time. That boy... He swore to kill him so long ago...only to be spared, promising his mercy is a more severe punishment. Every now and then, Reiner is reminded of that pledge. Just another result of being on that cursed island.

"It seemed like you were having a good dream, so I didn't wake you."

Reiner cuts his eye to the young adult sitting at a nearby desk. "I still haven't thanked you for back then. Galliard... Thank you."

The possessor of the Jaw Titan scoffs as he looks back to Reiner. "Don't thank me. It wasn't you I saved. I just saved my motherland of Marley from losing the Armor as a result of you screwing up. If I inherited the Armored Titan nine years ago, this wouldn't have happened. My brother wouldn't have protected you and been eaten by a Titan, either."

"You saw Marcel's memories?"

"No, but I learned enough from that girl before me, Ymir. What an impressive name for such a pitiful woman. Isn't it thanks to her that we got my brother's Jaw back?"

Reiner nods as he slides himself over to the edge of the bed. Ymir came back home with Reiner, Pieck, and Zeke to Marley from Paradis and surrendered the Jaw Titan. "Yeah, that's right..."

"What the hell were you doing on that island? Getting saved by someone new every day?"

"Yeah..."

"I saw how you acted through her memories. What's with that? Pretending to be a reliable guy, huh? I'd say you were imitating my brother!"

"Pock," The men turn their attention to the newcomer, a young, black-haired, beautiful yet sickly-looking woman. "let's not pick on people who just too cannons to the face."

"Quit calling me that, Pieck."

She closes the door and takes a deep breath. Dropping the previous subject with Galliard, Reiner concerns himself with Pieck's condition. "You all right?"

"It's been two months since I've been a human. I kinda forgot the whole bipedal thing." She sets herself on the bed across from Reiner, setting the wooden crutch she was using to support her to her left side. "By the way, Reiner... You oughta see Gabi and the others. They're worried about you."

"I think I will." Reiner stands up, leaving the Jaw and Cart Titans to themselves.

Now alone with just the Jaw Titan, Pieck flops back onto the bed, letting out an exhausted sigh. "I'm pooped."

"Feels like ages since I've seen you."

"Really? Even though we're always fighting together?"

"Well, we might not have to for a while."

"Let's hope so."

"Hey, if Titans lose their usefulness in battle, what will happen to the Warrior unit and us Eldians?"

Ignoring Udo's question, Falco sets himself down beside a distraught Gabi looking off to the coast. "Mr. Braun will be fine."

"I know." The girl reluctantly says.

"Huh? That's..." The other Warrior candidates look to where young Falco does, seeing chained men being led onto a boat.

"They're probably enemy soldiers that survived the Pure Titan attack. Once they get home, they'll talk about how inhumane Titan warfare is!" Udo begins to rant. "It'll make things worse for us Eldians! 'People of the world! Let us kill the Subjects of Ymir!'" The four-eyed boy storms over to a wooden pole and begins kicking it in frustration. "Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!"

"Cut it out, Udo." Reiner heard Udo as he approached the four young Warriors sitting at the docks. The boy is correct, the boat is a prisoner transport for surviving soldiers of the enemy, now with first-account knowledge of a Titan attack. They know how cruel it can be, and further warp the world's perspective of Eldians. "Don't beat up the city."

The kids turn, seeing the possessor of the Armor up and about. Gabi, Reiner's cousin, jumps to her feet and throws herself onto him. "Reiner! You're okay to walk?!"

"Yeah. Are you guys all right? Gabi?"

"Yeah!"

"Udo?"

"I guess."

"Zofia?"

"Same old."

"Falco?"

"...Hello."

"Hey!" Gabi shouts excitedly. "They said we're going back to Liberio!"

"Gabi, keep your voice down," Reiner says but it falls on deaf ears.

"But we can finally go back! But let's walk around till then!" Gabi suddenly pulls Reiner along, not giving him any time to think about it.

"Hey..."

"We never get chances like this!" Relenting, Reiner chaperones the young warriors around time. To be honest, it is better than lying in bed, listening to Galliard's interrogation

"Shouldn't Mr. Braun be resting?"

Reiner pats Falco on his head. "I'm alright. Don't worry."

"You go home and rest!"

"I'm coming too!"

Interrupting Gabi and Falco's argument, Reiner sees where Gabi is leading him. Oh, he can't let them go in that direction. They're too young for a shop like that. "Wait, Gabi! Commander Magath said you shouldn't go there."

"But I saw Commander Magath go there himself!" As the kids bicker amongst themselves, Reiner sees a familiar reflection in the four kids. Quiet, reserved Sophia, just like Annie. Cautious Udo, much like Bertholdt. Loud, daring Gabi, much like Marcel. And himself, within the equally as stubborn Falco. No, he just doesn't see the reflection of his younger days in the kids, he sees the younger days right now. Marcel, Bertholdt, Annie, himself…

"Wait," he says as the four turn away. The image disappears, with Gabi and her friends coming back. Clearing his throat, Reiner turns around, heading in the opposite direction. "You guys are too young for that shop. Let's go this way…"

"Did you guys witness the bravery of our Eldian goddess?!" Reiner stares from his standing position in the cargo car of the train taking the Eldian soldiers back home. Everyone, including Colt Grice, is a little too rowdy tonight, but it seems the Marleyan leadership in the adjacent car is allowing it. Of course, if he wanted to, he could join the other warriors in the same car, but leaving the kids alone with a drunk crowd isn't right. A drunk Colt is worse. "Gabi took on the armored train in place of 800 Eldian soldiers!"

"Man, Colt! You stink of booze!"

"Comrades! Do you have any idea why this idiot risked her life?! Well, I do! She did it to save all your asses in the Eldian unit!" Colt hoists Gabi on his shoulders, allowing the Eldians to shower her with praise.

"Gabi! Gabi! Gabi! Gabi!"

"Me! Me! Me! Me!"

"They're lifting her up again."

"They shouldn't let my brother drink. And Gabi gets carried away too easily." Falo says in an annoyed tone.

"Still, it's looking like she'll be the one who inherits the Armored Titan."

"Yeah. The girl who adores you will inherit your Titan and will live till she's twenty-seven. if canons don't shred her first, that is. Are you fine with that?"

"..." No, Reiner is not okay with it. Not at all. But he can't answer Falco's question in such a way, and he cannot allow Falco to question the 'gift' of the Nine Titans. Bending down, he glares at the boy with a look that will put the fear of the Colossal Titan in him. "What did you say? Are you insulting the honor of inheriting one of the Nine?" he lets Falco realize what he did before continuing. "If I report this, you and your whole family will become Titan weapons. The next ones to be dropped off a plane would be you and the rest of the Grice family."

"W-Wait! Let me rephrase what I said!" Falo raises his right hand, shaking in his boots. "I, Falco Grice, hope to be freed from the evil blood of Ymir and my ancestors! I pledge my life to Marley!"

"And what about the honor of inheriting one of the Nine?"

"I would be proud to be an Honorary Marleyan and be given the chance to display my loyalty to our motherland!"

Now that he has 'corrected' Falco, Reiner decides to answer Falco's question with one of his own. "Do you want to inherit the Armor?"

Falco looks off to the side, seeing the continued praise of Gabi. "The one who should inherit it...is me!"

"Yes. If you want to protect Gabi, you must surpass her."

"Huh?"

Reiner leans closer, almost pleading with Falco. "You have to rescue Gabi from the dark future that awaits us."

Falco

Coming home to Liberio was a mostly calm procession, for most of the tired Eldians. For Gabi, who can't help but yell, it is a boastful demonstration of her strength. For Falco, it means that they won the war and live to fight another.

Speaking of wars, Falco cannot help but think about the words Reiner said to him the previous night. He takes a glance back, seeing the officer attempt to silence his cousin. "Officer Braun. Four years ago… He took on full responsibility for the failure on Paradis Island and was stuck in a precarious position, about to have his armor Titan power revoked. However, because of the countless military gains achieved thanks to his bravery in risking his life, his loyalty to Markey went undoubted and there were no more calls to revoke his possession of the power. That's right… This man has demonstrated more loyalty to Marley than any other soldier in the army, both in the past and present. That's who Officer Reiner is." Colt suddenly catches Reiner's eye and turns around. "But then...what was up with him last night? He wants me to save Gabi? If anyone else overheard that, he'd be in deep water, but he still brought it up with me… If… If Mr. Braun is thinking what I'm thinking… If he also wants to free the Eldians from the war, then..."

"What are you scheming?" Gabi suddenly appears in Falco's face, scaring his soul. "You keep stealing glances back over here. It's annoying. What do you want? I'm gonna report this to the squad as suspicious rebellious behavior.

"What? Do you… Whose fault is it that...Urgh!"

"Huh? Whose fault is it?"

"Gabi, it's your fault." Reiner's comment alleviates the focus on Falco, in which other Eldians join in and call Gabi a 'sinful woman'. His frustration subsides, and Colt once again looks up to Reiner, the man doing the same.

"Is it really alright...to believe him?"

Reiner

The families of the Eldian soldiers waited just within the gate to the ghetto. Reunited, the place was filled with happiness, but even as he and Gabi searched for their own family, Reiner couldn't bring himself to share in the atmosphere.

"There they are! Mom! Dad!" Reiner watches as Gabi rushes to her parents, hugging both of them.

"Gabi!"

"Did you hear?"

"Yes, we did! You fought bravely for the sake of Eldia!"

"Yeah… But it was a little dangerous."

"But thanks to your courageous feats, many of your fellow troops' lives were saved."

"We're proud to have you as our daughter. We're sure that you'll become the best soldier in the entire army."

"Soldier…"

"Yeah… I'll do my best."

"Reiner."

Hearing her familiar voice, Reiner turns around, seeing a woman followed by three other people. He solely focuses on that one person. "Mother."

"I bet you're exhausted. Come home and take a rest."

He nods. "Thanks, I'd like that."

"Auntie Karina!" Reiner's mother turns to her niece, smiling sweetly.

"Gabi, we'll be having a celebration party at our house today!"

"Yay! Awesome!"

Falco

"Come this way. Sheesh, can't you even walk straight?" Falco steps away from his family, taking an interest in the line of soldiers not being coddled by the masses. Most of them look to be injured.

"Mr. Koslo," Falco says to the leading officer, "are they injured soldiers?"

"Huh? Stay outta the way, forehead kid. These are the Eldians that got PTSD out there. And they ain't got relatives to boot. They're gonna get treated at the hospital here."

Falco remembers the same classification of soldiers from a few days ago, but they were the enemy. He didn't think the people of this country could experience a similar feeling, especially when the Titans are their 'allies' in battle. "In this country, too?"

"Apparently it's what happens when you have 'em digging the trenches for too long at the front. Ya know, 'cause the bullets and bombs always come flyin' like, hwooo...BA-BANG!" At the sudden shout, the soldiers cry out and drop to the ground, scared of nothing but the mocking sound of bombs.

"Hey, come on. Don't do that, Koslo," another Marleyan says to the laughing officer. Falco, not finding it funny, checks up on the frightened men. He bends down to calm one down and eyes another right behind him. The latter man is unable to stand up, due to having a severed leg and using crutches. But that isn't what Falco addresses. The man's armband is on his right arm instead of the left. Falco walks over, switching the band over.

"It's alright," he says to the dark-haired man, looking into his uninjured right eye. "You're safe. You'll get better soon. Because you don't have to fight anymore."

Reiner

"Boom! Just like I planned, I blew the armored train right off the tracks! It actually worked! But as I ran away, they fired a machine gun at me! And just before I ate lead...G-Galliard protected me with the Jaw Titan!"

"Amazing, Gabi!"

"You and your bravery saved a bunch of our soldiers! You're the savior of Elida!"

"I'm so proud of you!" Gabi's parents rejoice at their daughter's accomplishments for the sake of their people.

"Reiner. Do you think Gabi will become a Warrior?"

Reiner stares silently at his mother. How badly he wished he could say otherwise, but the truth is that Gabi will become one at this current rate. "Yes. It's almost a given she'll inherit the Armored Titan."

"That's good to hear," Karina says. "To think our family would have two Warriors. I'm so proud. Now... If only those island devils disappeared, we Eldians could finally be happy."

Reiner once again stays silent. Those devils...if only she knew just how true yet also how wrong about them she is. How innocent and how guilty they are. If she knew...what her son did with those devils, would she be proud of him?

"But, Reiner... Even you barely escaped from the island devils, right?"

"Don't, Dad! He survived on that island of rotten devils for five years! Even if it wasn't classified, it's stuff he wouldn't wanna talk about."

"You're right. Forgive me, nephew."

"We were inconsiderate."

"No, I can talk about it," Reiner says as he drops his hand from his mouth. "I infiltrated their military. Every last one of 'em was a savage, heartless devil. During the entrance ceremony, one of them started eating a potato."

"Hey, you there. What do you think you're doing?" She doesn't answer, sending steam out the ears of the drill instructor, angering Sadies as he steps up to the girl, shouting, "You are officially on my shit list. Just who in the hell are you?"

Her voice, as brave as her actions, answers Sadies. "Sasha Braus from Dauper Village, at your service. Reporting for duty, sir!"

"The instructor yelled at them, but they hardly seemed to care. Said they stole it 'cause it looked tasty. Realizing they crossed the line, they said they'd share half with him. But the piece of potato they offered wasn't even close to half. Being considerate doesn't even cross their minds. They're truly beyond all help. There was an idiot who forgot why he went to the bathroom."

"Connie! Are there any survivors?"

"No. None at all. It's all over. My hometown… It's gone forever."

"An insincere jerk who only thought about himself..."

"She really does have intelligence," Armin reminds us. "From her point of view, we're literally just like insects. All it takes is one swipe to kill us."

"You don't say," Jean says with some dread and humor mixed together. "That's some scary stuff."

Reiner raises an eyebrow. "Are you really Jean? The Jean I know only ever cares about himself."

"That's rude. I just don't want to meet a disappointing end as a bunch of burnt bones that you can't even tell are mine. I… I know what needs to be done now! Plus, we chose to take this job! Help me!"

"An uptight oaf who only cared what others thought..."

"Wait… Why? What are you guys in such a hurry for? We hadn't...even...had a chance to talk this through!"

"A single-minded fool who charged ahead and the chumps who followed him..."

Bertholdt looks about, turning to Eren. "What about you? Why did you sign up?"

Eren frowns initially, but as he speaks his face becomes more and more fierce. "Why'd I join? I decided I have to kill them. I won't stop till every single Titan is dead and rotting. Dead. Every last one."

"...And a guy...who only had one thing that kept him going... Revenge."

"I couldn't stand idly by and let that one continue to live on, the Armored Titan, it took my family away from me. Eren can kill all the Titans for all I care, but I will be the one that sends the Armored Titan back to hell."

"There were all sorts of people there. And we were there, too. My days there were true hell."

CRASH!

The slam of the window shutter being fluttered by the outside rain and wind wasn't enough to gain the attention of everyone at the table listening to Reiner talk of his hellish experience. All Karina could do...was look in disgust at the thought of what her own son had to endure.

"...I'm sorry," Reiner says, realizing his mother's reaction. "I've said too much. Forget it."

"What do you mean, 'all sorts of people'? They're all bad people, right?"

"That's right, Gabi," Karina answers as she shuts the shutters. "Those island devils have turned our world into hell. There's no knowing when they'll attack with giant Titans and flatten the world. It's up to good Eldians like us to make sure they never do."

Gabi nods. "Mmm."

"Those who left us and fled to the island deserved to be punished. They're the ones who abandoned us."

"..."

It's disheartening, really. Someone can be so right...yet so wrong at the same time.

"What's wrong, Gabi? You seem down." Reiner and his young cousin walk outside the gates of the Eldian Internment Zone towards the military headquarters, but the smaller Braun is unusually quiet. She didn't even boast while being praised by the guards. Considering how she was when the Eldian Unit praised her a few days ago, it is strange to see her like this.

"Aunt Karina's worried about you. She says you changed after coming back from the island alone."

"Heh. Her twelve-year-old son came back a grown man. You can't really blame her."

"It feels like you're lying."

"Lying? About what?"

"I don't know. But Aunt Karina surely does. She said that since you came home from the island, you've been acting like a completely different person. She's really worried about you, you know?"

So his mother has taken notice too? They wouldn't understand. Gabi won't, at least for a while if she inherits his power. But no one else in his family will ever understand how those five years on that island changed him, and the two that could are captured and or dead. However, he doesn't want to show weakness in front of Gabi.

Gabi sighs and drops her head. "Just tell me the truth one day, okay? The guy from the Titan research center… He said that blood ties have a significant effect on passing down the memories of the Nine Titans, right?"

"Yeah."

"So… If I inherit the Armored Titan, I'm sure you will continue to live inside of me. Even those things you find to tell other people...the two of us could figure them out together. Don't worry. I'm sure that if we both put our strength together, we can create a safe future for Eldia."

If only she knew just how wrong she was. No amount of heroics can save the Eldians from the world's hatred. Marley protects them only because the race is useful, but if anyone hates Eldians more, it is the very people Reiner and Gabi fight for. But he can't say those words anywhere, and he won't dash Gabi's hopes either. He reaches over, patting her head gently. "That's right."

"Good morning," Colt says as Galliard and Pieck enter the meeting room of the Warriors. Reiner simply acknowledges the pair with a nod as he sips on his cup of tea. It is only them in this room, though Reiner and hopefully the rest of the warriors know that the Marleyans are listening. They are always listening.

Looks like we're all here," Zeke says as he sets another pair of cups on the table, one at the other end, another across from Reiner and Colt. Pieck takes the placement of the latter, as it is close to the couch on which she settles. Galliard takes the end seat.

"This is unusual...for us to meet in the head warrior's room. Is there anyone from the Marleyan army here?"

"Not in this room," Zeke says, confirming Reiner's suspicion. He takes his seat and scans the room. "I know this is sudden, but the situation is dire. Over the last couple of years, Marley has been engaged in, and won, a war over resources. They had us, those possessing the power of the Titans, silence all those countries that opposed it. Because of this, the world's contempt towards the Eldians is growing bigger and bigger, beginning to resemble their sheer hatred towards us during the age of the Eldian Empire. We have devoted ourselves to Marley in order to show our remorse over the atrocities our people have committed in the past. That in itself was not a wrong, but because of it, the voices calling for the elimination of the Eldians have grown louder and louder. On top of that, in the latest battle, it has become clear that soon conventional weaponry could very well outgun the power of Titans. Therefore, the Eldians will lose their tactical value in the very near future. When that happens, Marley will no longer be able to preserve its position as a superpower. If Marley becomes weaker, the barrier protecting the Eldians from the rest of the world will disappear, and the Eldians' very right to live would be greatly threatened. Even now, some of the world believe that Eldians don't deserve human rights. We Eldians...are facing imminent risk of annihilation."

"There's no way to fix this?" Colt asks.

"The only way to fix this is to keep doing what we did so far. We need to help Marley get their hands on the Founding Titan and Paradis Island's resources as soon as possible. By doing so, we'll not only be helping stabilize Marley's power as a nation but we'll also be doing the world a favor by eliminating the threat that is Paradis Island with our own hands."

'But," Pieck interjects, "I think the world hates us so much right now that even if the plan to retrieve the Founding Titan does succeed, it won't be enough to alleviate their hatred."

"Well noted, Pieck. It's as you say, what is important is the story, the narrative. We need to prepare a storyline of what's happening up until the retrieval of the Founding Titan. First of all, we need to once again emphasize to the world how much Paradis Island is truly a menace to us all. But every story needs someone to tell it. It seems the Tybur family is willing to take on that role. The same family that currently has the Warhammer Titan's power in their possession."

"The Tybur family?"

"Correct. They are the first noble family to oppose King Fritz in the Great Titan War a hundred years ago. As honorary Marleyans they are not allowed to get involved in politics or in the war, but because of their concern with the future of both Marley and the Eldians, they decided to take action and rise to the task."

"It's true that the Tyburs never once used their Titan power against an enemy nation, and because they were the ones to dispose of King Fritz, they have a lot of influence amongst the other nations. So if we pass this on through them, the world would have to at least listen."

"Again, very well noted, Pieck my dear. That is exactly right."

"But," Galliard speaks, "Even though they possess the power of the Warhammer Titan, the Tyburs have not raised a single finger to protect this country. And while the other Eldians spend their lives in the ghetto they live a life of luxury in their extravagant estates. And suddenly they are trying to pass as our valiant saviors? Isn't that… A little bit too good to be true?"

"I understand what you're trying to say," Zeke says, "but both the Tyburs and our motherland Marley are extremely worried about the situation."

Galliard frowns. "But we're-"

"We should be nothing but grateful if this plan helps save our motherland, Marley," Reiner interrupts." If only to save Galliard's hide from the listening Marleyans, he will speak in support of the unusual plan. However, he silently agrees with the Jaws. "Us warriors should cooperate with the Tyburs and help in the revival of the heroic nation of Marley."

"That's right," Zeke says with a nod. "And soon, we will be holding a festival to celebrate right here in Liberio."

"A festival?"

"We will invite people of power and reporters from the other nations and the Tybur family will make a declaration. That within one year, we will take total control over Paradis Island, and that the fates of both Marley and the Eldians depend on the success of this plan. Failure...can no longer be tolerated. We must make our hearts as one to ensure the sade future of both the Eldians and the motherland Marley…"

Reiner watches as the four kids train in pairs in combat as he reflects on the meeting. He doesn't like the idea of the Tayburs getting involved now as much as Galliard does, but if that is what needs to be done, then so be it. The mission...the takeover of Paradis… After four years, he's going back.

"Before executing any significant plan...first they do an ideology test. They still do it the same way as they did back then…" Gabi knocks Falco to his back, and holds her mock bayonet over him, forcing him to yield. However, both contenders for the Armor have a similar ferocity in their eyes. Turning away, Reiner bows his head and walks. "So it turns out… I'll be going to that island again."