#69
Gypsy
House of Guest
St. Petersburg, Russia, Euro Britannia
Early October a.t.b. 2018
…
Tap. Tap. Tap.
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Tap. Tap. Tap.
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The rummage of fingers drummed on the surface of the long table. Black-gloved fingers belonging to that of the black-garbed man sitting at the very end of the table. Standing still next to his maple-wood chair was the Knight of Seven, who kept his face stoic and unmoving with his gloved hands behind his back.
Sitting at the sides of the same table, was that of Commander Theo Magath and the Warrior Unit.
Magath sat to the left of the military advisor, while next to him sat Zeke Yeager and Reiner Braun. Colt Grice stood obediently with his back to the wall, not far from them.
To the right side, Tom Koslow sat next to Pieck Finger and Porco Galliard.
All of them regarded the military advisor… carefully.
Julius Kingsley still drummed his fingers on the table, while his chin rested on the hand holding the golden Imperial scepter in a manner similar to how a schoolboy would hold twirl pencil during an exam.
…
…
Before long…
"Do any of you have any idea how disappointed I am?" The military advisor held a scowl.
…
Magath could feel the air turn tense instantly after that.
…
"I'm vexed that my arrival was later than I expected," Julius explained. "And during that time… without my flawless directive… it seems things have been starting to fall apart as it is."
The young man's gaze fell on him. "I would have thought… our most loyal Titans would make mincemeat of the Republic's dogs. And yet… when I stepped onto St. Petersburg…"
His fingers tapped on a tablet in front of him.
"What do I hear on the media?" He questioned, as an article appeared on the screen. "The Europeans… actually getting the upper hand… on Titans? Our Titans? They think themselves mighty because their bullets can trip our Titans… enough to boost whatever vain morale to cause our forces to retreat and take up our territory. Territory that rightfully belongs to His Majesty?"
…
Julius turned towards the others seated at the table.
"Do you have inkling to realize what this blunder…"
"Wait a moment!" Koslow interjected.
Idiot.
"It wasn't our doing! If that second army hadn't failed to follow orders and hadn't…"
*SLAM!
Koslow stopped.
"Who are you to dare speak to without permission?!" Julius barked as he slammed the end of the Imperial Scepter on the surface of the table. The young man was glaring a burning violet gaze upon the Koslow, who not looked to be petrified, but starting to sweat and pale.
Koslow sat back in his seat.
…
"I'll look over this disrespect," Julius scowled. "But if you seek to try that again… better lose some weight in order to be more tolerable for my eyes."
…
That jab waved through the whole table, and Magath could see Pieck, Porco, and Colt trying to keep themselves from reacting to that… while Koslow…
Koslow's cheeks were starting to puff like a tomato, and it looked like he was taking whatever restraint he had to keep himself from revealing his scowl towards the military advisor.
"The Republic has been growing bold as of late," Magath said. "In the past, our Empire has held the advantage in having the Titans as part of the bulwark of our military power and expand our colonial holdings. And in time… through our research and development, it is from them we were able to make the bulwark of our Knightmare Frames. And I can say by the day, our Knightmare Frames will be advancing to the next generation for our soldiers to use.
"Meanwhile… our enemies had to improvise. They're building their own Knightmare Frames and are pulling their heads to build better weapons to push us back. And if they weren't enough… it seems as though many more terrorist factions have been getting the drop on us in recent days.
Magath rose from his seat. "Our enemies think that we have grown content in our complacency. They think due to recent events… especially in the past year… that the Holy Empire of Britannia… can be vulnerable."
"Is that what you think, Commander?" Julius questioned, looking at Magath dangerously.
"That is what our enemies would want," Magath said. "Even though we are expanding, our Knightmares advancing to the next level, all while holding onto the power of the Titans that have terrorized the earth for millennia. People start to think now that any one can pilot a Knightmare Frame… some say that the power of the Titans have become outdated and obsolete. We no longer hold the same intimidation and fear over our enemies like we had in the past. And that is something we need to rectify… immediately."
…
"I agree," Julius said. "So, tell me… Commander? What is it you think we need to make His Majesty's enemies remember their place as the prey… and us as the hunters?"
"We must repair and complete the armor that stands our military's defense and offense," Magath said. "We need to finish what we had started eight years ago: we must complete the objective of the Paradis Operation.
…
"Eight years ago…" Magath began. "Around the time of our invasion and annexation of what would become Area 11…"
Magath briefly glanced to see if Kururugi would shift, but the man kept in place.
"His Majesty had decreed and ordered the going forth of the operation to the Island where the Eldian Empire had fled into exile: The island of Paradis. The purpose of this mission was that we would send four of Warriors to infiltrate the island… and retake the Founding Titan."
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"The Founding Titan…" Julius put a hand to his chin. "Ah, yes. The very first Titan that walked the Earth. Also… known as the Coordinate, correct?"
"That's right." Magath answered. "The Founding is not only the first of the Nine… but the one that had the power… to control all of them. With powers far greater than we have seen in our lifetime.
"The Eldian Empire had used the Founding Titan to utilize the full powers of the Titans. It was what allowed them to expand their empire and conquer enemy nations in centuries past.
"We may have put end to their reign and took possession of seven of their Nine Titans… all these years since then… we've only been scratching the surface." Magath looked with grimace. "With their exile, they took the Founding Titan with them. It's out objective… that one day… Britannia would reclaim it… and finally take control of the Titan's full power."
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"Then where is it?" Julius casually questioned.
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"If the Founding Titan is the Empire's most prized treasure to have… then why hasn't it been taken yet?"
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"I had heard of your reputation beforehand, Commander," Julius stated. "But I can't seem to comprehend… how our Warrior Unit. A unit formed and trained by our homeland… were not able to secure the very thing the Emperor wishes to have."
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"Instead… I read…" the man sneered. "How this grand operation ended… in complete utter failure and disgrace."
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"Not only did our selected warriors came back… empty-handed…" Julius made to spat. "But… I heard… that we have lost two of our most valuable assets to the devils on that island."
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"Yes…" Magath looked down with grimace. "We not only failed our objective… but we lost both the Female Titan and the Colossal Titan." He turned. "Hell… we barely recovered the Jaw Titan."
The commander saw the brief flash of bitterness washing over Galliard, who sat with crossed arms. He almost caught the young man's gaze falling on Reiner… who was looking already miserable.
"Since then, we had to put the Paradis Operation on hold," Magath said. "I'm ashamed to say… that hold has been going on for too long. We had to rethink our new strategy, and we couldn't be too quick about it. Rumor of how we lost the Female and Colossus spread like wildfire, and that caused our Empire a major headache. That… and we would be giving the enemy nations a good idea on why we are obsessed with the Island of Devils."
"Ah, yes …" Julius said. "We don't the next rumor to be that we are seeking the Coordinate that will allow Britannia to wield the Titan's full power. They wouldn't be too happy about that, would they?"
"That's right," Magath stated. "Many other countries and nations already despise Titans to very core and would love nothing than to see them wiped off the face of the earth. If they learn we've been busting our asses to get a hold of the Founding Titan… who is to say they send their armies that island to the ground than to let us have what we want."
"I see… so it is in the best interest of His Majesty and Our Holy Empire… that we begin launching an invasion on the Island of Devils?"
"Forgive me, Lord Kingsley," Zeke Yeager raised his hand. "Permission to speak?"
…
Julius' eye turned to the bespectacled blonde man. "Zeke Yeager, is it? The holder of the Beast Titan."
"Yes, my lord." Zeke rose to stand.
"What is it that you speak for my ears to hear?" Julius questioned.
"Recapturing the Founding Titan has been our priority for a long time…" Zeke began. "And to that… it was necessary to invade Paradis in order to retrieve it. However…"
"However?" Julius raised an eyebrow, curiously.
"However…" Zeke continued. "Due to recent circumstances… and with what we have learned… we may not need invade Paradis to find the Founding Titan."
This was it.
Magath turned to see those in the room who were clueless regarding it… and he caught Colt, Galliard, and Braun's expressions.
"We've learned… for a fact…" Zeke began state. "That the Founding Titan… or I should say… the wielder of the Founding Titan… is no longer on Paradis… but here on this continent."
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…
…
Magath felt almost as if the air froze in the room, and that coming from the look of shock coming from some faces. He noticed Braun… freezing completely still as if a dead man had come before him.
Lord Kingsley however…
…
"Is that right?" The young man's lips curled with a look of intrigue. "Would you care to… elaborate this? I'm now curious."
"Let me explain," Magath said. "It first started… when we received word from our contacts here in this tributary branch of our Empire. Months ago… Euro Britannia sought to intercept the retreating Republic's regiment that was retreating after their failed attempt to invade St. Petersburg.
"Lord Andreas Farnese and his Order of Raphael was the force ready to intercept the retreating regiment near Narva. They were intercepted by a special unit sent by the Republic in order to give their retreating troops an opening to escape. Lord Farnese's forces met and collided with the enemy. It seemed likely… that the skirmish would fall in the Order of Raphael's favor… but… unexpectedly… it wasn't. Somehow… the enemy was able to overwhelm them… and allowed the retreating Republic regiment to retreat.
"It looked as though the enemy had capable fighters on their side… at least… those who were not suicide bombers.
…
"But one Sutherland had been salvaged… and from its recorded footage… our contacts communicated to us in the Homeland… on what it caught…
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"A Titan. A Titan had massacred Lord Farnese's forces at Narva."
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…
Julius laughed.
"Is that so?"
…
"We are capable of turning ordinary Eldians into Pure Titans thanks to our Titan Serum," Magath said. "And sometimes… it can be considered it hazardous when one transformed Eldian is left unchecked and allowed to roam amok in some part of the world. But there were many things left unchecked and questions unanswered regarding the appearance of this… Titan. And by analyzing more of the footage we had been sent… we suspected otherwise. It was suspicion… that I we brought up Lord Bismarck Waldstein. He in turn… allowed for the whole Warrior Unit to come to Euro Britannia."
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"I see…" Julius smiled. "And under the pretense to the nobles that we are here to assist them in pushing back the Republic dogs. Interesting. But… since it is likely… the Order of Raphael had discovered the footage from the wreckage first… it's likely that Lord Farnese… and Grand Duke Velaines… suspect our primary motive."
"Yes," Magath said. "But we pointed that we also hope to track down this Pure Titan and learn where it came from, while we would lend our services to help the Order's fight against the Republic."
"But so," Zeke said. "We had a hunch… that this Titan that was in Narva… was not some mindless Pure Titan… but an intelligent one. A Titan Shifter."
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"A Titan Shifter… as in… another wielder of the Nine Titans?" Julius surmised. "But… if our Homeland… which currently wields five… which is a shame that needs to be rectified…" He sneered. "That means… there can only be four others…"
"Yes, my lord," Zeke said. "And by chance have it… not several days ago… I encountered this Titan in Slonim."
…
"You… encountered this very Titan… in flesh?" Julius raised his eyebrow, now looking very interested. "And only recently?"
"Yes," Zeke nodded. "And I can tell you… without any doubt… it was the Founding Titan himself."
…
"The Founding Titan?" Julius laughed. "You are telling me… you found it? The Titan that the Empire seeks? The one Our Majesty seeks?"
"Yes," Zeke reaffirmed. "I know because I saw his true form rising out from his Titan's nape. The same face I saw that day on Paradis. The face that belonged to a man I will not forget.
…
…
"It was Eren Yeager."
…
At the sound of that name, Magath could feel the entire room swept in silence.
Except for the brief gasp he could have heard from Braun… who was just sitting next to Zeke's seat.
…
"Eren… Yeager?" Julius let the words roll off his tongue.
Pieck raised her hand, and before long, Lord Kingsley waved for her to rise.
"I can confirm what Zeke is saying is true, milord," She said. "I was present alongside Zeke during our time on Paradis when we first met the current wielder of the Founding Titan. And I saw him again along with Zeke during in Slonim."
"And in what form were you in?" Julius asked. "You are supposed to be the wielder of Cart Titan? Finger, is it?"
"Yes, milord," She answered. "Also, when I am in Titan Form, I carry a surveillance camera to broadcast and record what the Cart Titan sees on the battlefield. I was able to get a view on The Founding Titan and some of who we would suspect to be his compatriots."
"Compatriots?"
"The Founder wasn't alone," Pieck continued. "When he was out of his Titan Form… we noticed that he was wearing the attire of a European Knightmare pilot."
…
…
Julius laughed again. "Seriously?!" He chortled again, barely containing himself. "You're telling me… that… an Eldian… an Eldian from the Island of Devils… is in league with Europia's Republic?" His laughs nearly echoed throughout the room. "I never thought I would hear something that so… amusing… and almost preposterous."
"Begging your pardon, my lord," Zeke said. "But as much as I would agree that the last thing Europeans would want is to allow Titans into their military, even if they did become desperate… there could be more to this than meets the eye.
"What we do know… is that the Founding Titan is here." Zeke said. "Not on Paradis… but on the other side of the continent. I believe we must use this opportunity… to strike and reclaim it."
"Oh?" Julius raised an eyebrow. "You mean… that we advance to strike at the EU… and take the Founding Titan?"
"Yes," Zeke stated. "Whatever reason for the Founding Titan to be in the EU and far away from Paradis… this is something we should not let go. If we act now… say perhaps… in a month… or even before the year is over… the new headlines on the media the world will read would be this:
"'The Holy Empire of Britannia Seizes the Power of All Nine Titans.'"
"Hmm…" Julius looked amusing. "What catchy title."
"Indeed, it would be. Britannia would be able show their enemies their Titans are no longer obsolete and will be at their disposal with no one else taking control of them. The Holy Empire will gain a new advantage and time needed to further strengthen the armies and reaffirm its hold over the colonial areas."
…
"My, My…" Julius chuckled. "I barely expected you to have a way with words, Mr. Yeager. If you weren't an Eldian, I would have mistaken you to be a high-end politician. But then again…" He sneered. "Most politicians I see are just gluttonous, incompetent nobleman with no real skill at all."
"As an Eldian, it's not for me to decide for such aspirations. My blood makes me unworthy of such things." Zeke stated. "But as a Warrior, I have a duty to ensure the welfare of the Holy Empire and every Britannian living in it."
"Hmm…" Julius hummed as he regarded Zeke. "And as Warrior… how much longer you have to serve the Empire? How long has it been since you've acquired your Titan? How much longer till your term is up?"
"I have less than two years left," Zeke stated. "And I'm quite anxious whether or not, Colt, can inherit the full power of the Beast Titan."
That part caused the blonde boy standing at the wall to glance at his mentor.
"I see…" Julius pushed a hand to rest his chin on. "Since you are running out of time… you wish to redeem yourself. You wish to wipe away the stain of the failure you suffered you and your fellow Warriors suffered years ago." His single violet eye narrowed. "You would hate to die while having unfinished business, right?"
"You understand me completely, Lord Kingsley. My father, Grisha Yeager, set something great and terrible in motion on that island. And as his former son, I would like to be the end of it."
Information Available for Public Disclosure:
The Paradis Island Operation to Retake the Founding Titan
In 2010, Four Warriors were sent to complete the mission: Marcel Galliard, Reiner Braun, Bertholdt Hoover, and Annie Leonhart. Their objective was to infiltrate Paradis Island, retake the Founding Titan, and return it to Britannia. Five years after it began, two Warriors were capture by the enemy and one other was killed. Though a prisoner possessing the Jaw Titan was brought back to Britannia, of the original members, only Reiner Braun returned safely.
Warsaw, Poland, Europia United
Early October a.t.b. 2018, r.y. 229
The marketplace was bustling with activity. In the center of the town's square, surrounding the city's monument of a hybrid statue, tents and stalls were set up as locals and soldiers strolled around with interest.
There was even a troupe of clowns wearing white makeup and colored suits entertaining nearby.
Eren couldn't but think… how much the atmosphere of the marketplace reminded of him of a place he had visited… not too long ago…
"Hmm… well, this place looks nice and all…" Ryo quipped, interrupting his thought process.
"Pfft… why couldn't come here earlier?" Ayano muttered. "The air is fresher here than staying in that dump."
"You really think we should be shopping?" Eren asked, skeptical. "Do we even have the money to afford anything from here?"
"My I.D. is connected to my account here," Leila lifted her dogtags. "And I think I have enough for us to buy some things."
"Yeah?" Yukiya asked. "How much?"
"Well…" Leila pondered. "At least… one million Euros."
…
…
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!"
"Hmm…"
…
"Mm-hmm…" Ryo hummed as he stared back at the beady stoic black eyes… that were just staring back him.
"Ahem… may I help you, young man?" The saleswoman said. "If you're going to be staring at it, are you willing to buy it?" She made mention to how Ryo was staring so intently… at the garden gnome on her table full of on-sale items.
…
"You know… there's a lot you can do with that much money…" Eren said to Leila as they strolled between the booths of the market.
"You think so?" Leila asked.
"Well, yeah…" Eren said. "Food we can get, but maybe… perhaps… you could get a ticket."
"A ticket?"
"A ticket for a train…" Eren clarified. "We won't have to wait for Headquarters to pick us up and say goodbye to this place."
"I thought about that," Leila said. "But we would be leaving our Alexander's behind."
"There's not much left of them…" Eren reminded. "Especially… what happened to mine."
"Well, maybe…" Leila said. "But even without them, I'm not sure it's the best route to use to the public transportation. That would involve a lot of trips from here to Paris. And… I'm not sure it would be as secure as our transport. After all, the train station has been busy of late with refugees coming and going."
"I guess, so…" Eren shrugged. "Just thought about looking for a better option. Sorry."
"Oh, not to worry…" Leila smiled at him. "I don't blame you. I have thought about it… but…"
"Oh, this looks pretty!" Ayano looked pleased while holding up a red-pink dress from the pile of clothes on sale.
"Please, Leila!" Ayano turned to her with the purple-red dress in hand with excitement. "At least just this one!"
Eren rolled his eyes at the way the girl was pleading with Leila the way a child would with her parents over a new toy at the store.
"Well, I suppose we do need new clothes…" Leila considered as she glanced at her own uniform. "And… it would be better if we didn't have to keep wearing the same attire for days now."
"Yeah… sure."
At that, Eren could agree.
Keeping up with the same suits they had since the launch. It is what caused so many a headache lately.
It wasn't helping with how Ayano would (daringly) pulled her zipper at the top for some air (well, he didn't bother to ask), thus allowing everyone to see a good portion of her… assets.
Eren groaned at that. It was hard to look at her when part of her suit was open…
He wouldn't get started with Leila's case with it. He knew that she didn't have the audacity to open her suit a bit for some air… or the attention that she would bring with it. As if she hadn't brough unwanted attention by already walking around with her suit as the rest of them were.
Still, the dress Ayano pulled out and was now starting to play with… looked a bit too girly. Even if she would change into that and started walking around the stadium base while waiting for their transport back…
…
"Poor boy…"
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…
Eren instantly froze, and he felt his blood turn cold.
…
"You have been cursed…"
…
He heard that strange voice again…
It came not from Leila… and it was nothing like the idle chattering from the bustling crowd around them.
The voice… felt as if it was directed… to him.
…
He turned his head… and his eyes locked with that a haggard figure standing between two of the booths. Her eyes were covered by black glasses. She looked small, her back almost hunched, while dressed in a dark shawl, with beads and jewelry adorning her neck and arms. She held a gnarled cane to keep herself up.
She seemed… to facing in the direction of… him.
…
It seemed… no one else was taking mind of the old woman's presence… except for Eren.
He felt himself feeling transfixed by the elderly woman still staring at him, yet he was disliking this feeling that was making his blood turn cold… as if… she was staring right through him.
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"Invalid?"
Eren's thought was interrupted as he turned to see Leila and the others at the register table where the Squadron held an array of… stuff that they had picked out.
He turned back… and looked to see the old woman was no longer there.
"Could you try it again?"
"Sorry, miss," The old man acting as the cashier already scanned Leila's dogtag, yet his screen flashed red. "It seems you can't make your payment. I'm sorry, but I can't give you your purchase if you are unable to pay."
"Oh, c'mon! Can't we just…" Ayano was helpless when the man took the dress from her hands, causing her to look deflated.
"Well, isn't that just a bugger…" Yukiya sighed as he looked down at the pile of CD's and accessories he had in his hand.
Ryo… looked at the gnome in his hand… before shrugging.
"What's going on?" Eren asked.
"I don't know…" Leila said, looking at her dogtag. "I thought it was fine before morning. It probably must be some glitch in the system."
"Is that supposed to mean we can't use your allowance?" Ryo asked.
"Well… I'm sure it's only temporary…" Leila still looked unsure. "Perhaps it will be resolved soon."
Somehow… Eren doubted that.
"What do you mean invalid?!" Leila exclaimed.
"Sorry, but your ID is not on our register…" The screen at the doorway to the stadium base showed an officer speaking.
"But wait a moment!" Leila leaned in to get closer to the screen. "You just saw us leave barely an hour ago. "We were just…"
"Sorry, ma'am," He apologized… barely caring. "No I.D. or registration… and I can't let you pass."
"You got to be kidding me…" Eren facepalmed.
"That's just a load of crap!" Ayano balled her fists.
"Wait a moment!" Leila beseeched. "If you let us speak to Officer Murnau, he knows us…"
"Citizens can go to the Public and Human Resources to check for I.D…."
"Were not citizens, dammit!" Ryo yelled, before pushed Leila away from the screen and…
*KICK!
"Well… this is a funny, yet familiar situation…" Yukiya quipped as the five of them sat dejectedly at the stairs of one of the buildings in the town square. "We are… technically… broke…"
"Yukiya don't…" Ayano facepalmed.
"Our I.D.'s are invalid," Yukiya dared to pull up a second finger. "And…"
"Damn that… idiot… receptionist…" Ryo glowered as he kept stomping the foot that had made contact with the glass monitor not too long ago.
"That was a reckless thing to do…" Leila chastised.
"Or it's because that careless idiot doesn't give a damn about his job as long as he can keep comfortable at the desk," Eren scoffed.
"Well said, Kruger!" Ryo turned to Eren with both a grin and thumbs up.
"Are you guys losing on how screwed up we are now?!" Ayano stood up, shaking her fists. "We've been kicked out, and by the time our ride gets here, and they don't see us then they're gonna leave and we'll be stranded here in the middle of… of nowhere!"
"That won't come to that…" Leila said, as she picked up her dogtag. "I just… don't understand… how this could have happened…"
"Eh, it would be too much to wait and hope anything changes," Yukiya said. "I feel like there's something more regarding that…"
…
"Poor boy…"
…
Eren's eyes widened.
There it was again.
That very same voice… calling out to him.
…
He slowly turned his head to his left… before catching sight of her.
The very same woman.
She was standing just a foot away from him. She was dressed in black, ready to mourn the dead. She held a gnarled cane. And her eyes were covered by black shades.
Eren could feel the pair behind them staring back at him.
…
"You have been cursed, boy."
…
He froze.
She stepped forward.
"You have been cursed… with the devil's blood."
…
His eyes widened further, and he felt his blood turn cold.
…
He froze when she extended a hand… and grabbed hold of his wrist.
…
"Ugh?! What are you…?!" Eren gaped, almost feeling her grip was strong on his wrist.
"I can sense it. I can sense it… radiating from your very flesh…" The hag continued as she stared up at him.
…
…
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Eren growled as he shook off the woman's grip, causing the woman to fall to the stone ground on her back.
"What the?!" Ryo exclaimed.
"Monsieur Kruger, what are you doing?!" Leila spoke out as the rest of the squadron looked to see what Eren had done.
"Argh!" The elderly woman made a cry, and no sooner after that…
"Oh, dear, what happened?!" The first of the approaching group of more elderly women asked.
"Oh-ho-ho!" The dark-robed hag cried out as she held her leg. "It hurts! It hurts so much!" She started to shake to her side back and forth… very quickly…
That caused Eren to give a blank.
"Oh, dear!" Another of the elderly women cried out. "Her leg is so banged up! She can't walk!"
"She's in such poor health! Even one single scratch could kill her!"
"If only we had money for a hospital!"
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME!"
Eren's outburst caused all, including the bickering old ladies to pause and turn their full attention on him.
"Am I the only one who can see through this charade?!"
"Charade?" Leila asked, confused.
"How dare you!" A brunette elderly woman glared with a pointed finger at Eren. "Our dear sister lies in agony, and you have the gall to call it fake?! Shame on you!"
"Yeah, well even if she was, we wouldn't have a single mark to pay!" Eren growled. "We're already broke as it is!"
"You're what?!"
…
All paused when the black-gowned hag rose straight, an obvious frown on her face.
…
"You're broke?!"
Eren only lowered his eyes in response.
"And I stand corrected."
"What?" Leila asked, confused. "Wait… she's not really hurt?"
"Lighten up, girl," Ayano elbowed her. "They tried to scam us."
"Huh?"
"What would you expect from gypsies…" Yukiya grinned.
"Haha!" One of the women laughed.
"All that work for nothing, I suppose!" Another laughed.
All the rest of the elderly women gathered laughed, while the gypsy in black looked ready to sulk.
"Yeesh…" Ryo groaned.
"Hold up!" One of the gypsies said. "Even so… your friend was rude enough to shove our dear sister to the ground, without even offering to help her back up."
Eren looked adamant at that.
"We're sorry for any rudeness," Leila stepped up. "We hope if you would forgive him."
"Well…" The next gypsy grinned. "There can be a way for us to forgive you…"
St. Petersburg, Russia, Euro Britannia
Early October, a.t.b. 2018
A thumb folded over the trigger of a lighter before it clicked for the spark to issue a flame. A flame was then lit for the cigarette between the man's teeth.
"Sorry for insulting your competence to further my agenda, Colt," Zeke apologized as he leaned over the stone railing overlooking the palace gardens.
"No, I'm glad you did," Colt said, standing next to his intended predecessor. "It was amazing… seeing an Eldian talk like that a Britannian. And a high-ranking one at that. I don't think I could look that man in the eye."
"Heh… then that is something you'll have to gear upon before you eat me," Zeke took another sip of his smoke. "As a Warrior, you need to know a thing about politics if you want to get them to listen to you."
Colt sighed. "I don't think I'll be able to fill your shoes after you're gone, Zeke. You… you're special, Zeke. Your Beast Titan is unlike any other in history." He turned to his mentor. "It's like you're a Second Founding Titan."
…
"Hmm…" Zeke took out his cigarette, in order to exhale a puff of smoke.
"What makes you so special, Zeke?" Colt asked. "It's not like you have royal blood in your veins."
"I've been trying to figure that out for a long time. Not even those docs in Code R could crack it." He took another sip, before blowing out more smoke. "Who can say? Chances are I'll be dead before we can figure it out. Perhaps, you'll figure it out, Colt. When you'll inherit the Beast from me… you'll see my memories… and my secret."
"Your secret?" Colt questioned, now curious. "About what?"
"The way I wipe my ass," Zeke stated before he threw his cigarette to the ground. "It's real special." He crushed the fallen cigarette with his boot. "I hope you don't tell anyone."
"Too late, I want a full report," Magath stated as he walked in.
"Commander!" Both Zeke and Colt addressed immediately straightened and addressed their approaching superior with a raising of their right hands.
"You tell me everything," Magath said, before pulling out a cigarette of his own. "Down to the number of hairs on your ass. You think when people hear an Eldian having a secret they won't suspect something's up? You think it's wise that Eldians deserve privacy?"
"Certainly not, sir," Zeke answered without any hesitation in his tone. Magath held up his cigarette for Zeke, who pulled out his lighter to light it.
"Do you believe… in some way…" Magath looked out at the gardens. "And I still think it far-fetched… that the Republic is willingly allowing an Eldian from Paradis on their side."
"It does sound far-fetched… but knowing how corrupted the Republic is…" Zeke said. "Maybe if somehow some of their higher-ups have become desperate and greedy to allow a Titan Holder among their ranks. Or… it could be what Pieck and I had witnessed… maybe that Eren's collaboration is in secret with someone else in the Republic. A third party. I don't all the details."
"I would like to know this…" Magath said. "How did the Founding Titan end up a thousand miles away from Paradis?"
…
…
"Whose is to say other Eldians from the Island are here on this continent with him?"
"The thought crossed my mind as well," Zeke said. "And that has me concerned."
"In the past two years we have tried sending reconnaissance teams to check on that island… and none have returned." The commander's face was full of grimace.
"I'm sorry to say this, Commander," Zeke apologized. "There is so much that could have transpired since we fled Shiganshina years ago."
"Heh… that makes me want to piss my pants," Magath didn't hide his sarcasm. "It makes me scared the thought of what they may be doing now."
?
Warsaw, Poland, Europia United
Early October, a.t.b. 2018, r.y. 229
"Ah, nothing like a fine glass of wine after a hard day's work."
"Except…" The elderly lady next to her grinned. "We didn't!"
The seven gypsy ladies erupted with a chorus of laughter as they sat around a set up table, where a few wine bottles stood uncorked, and glasses filled with a dark-red vintage they merrily drank.
Their table next to a lush green forest that stretched for a mile, and up on a hill that stood above a blue river. Next to the banks of the river were two carriage wagons, each being of a different color: one purple and one red.
Several supplies had been unpacked from the wagons, and those being wooden crates filled with wine bottles and jars containing food.
They had been unloaded and served to the gypsies by none other than the Wyvern Squadron, who stood baffled at the sight of the laughing ladies enjoying their drink.
"It sure is nice to have such cute able-body servants to cater to our every whim!"
"But those outfits of theirs are so indecent!"
"I know!"
"Dear goodness!"
"Just looking at them is enough to give me a heart attack!"
"You'd know you'd like it!"
…
"I thought old ladies were supposed to be sweet…" Ryo commented.
"Not in my experience," Ayano waved off.
"They don't act like their age," Eren muttered.
"Are you kids done gossiping over there?" One of the gypsies asked.
"Go and get your working clothes on!"
"Wait, what?" Eren questioned.
"Working clothes?" Yukiya asked.
"Of course!" One gypsy rose from her seat. "You can't expect to go around wearing… that."
She pointed to the pilot suits they were wearing…
What they had been wearing… for nearly a week.
…
"And another…" The gypsy came in front of Ayano and started to sniff with her nose…
"W-HEY!" Ayano balked back.
"Phew!" The gypsy waved her hand. "You girls are starting to stink like a pair of wet cats! We need to get you cleaned up with haste!"
"HEY! CUT IT OUT!"
Ayano screamed as she struggled with the old ladies, who kept grinning as they pulled down the skintight suit down her legs, while she lay with her back on the ground.
With a final shove, the suit came off from her feet… leaving Ayano on the floor completely…
"ARGH!" Ayano cried out as she curled herself into a ball while crossing her arms over her chest, while the women standing over, giggled at the sight of her trying to hide as much of her skin as possible.
"STOP LOOKING AT ME!" She cried as her cheeks were flustered red with complete embarrassment.
"Stay still, dearie…"
"Um…" Leila looked unsure as she stood now in the center of the wagon while two of the gypsies came at both sides.
They pulled at the openings at her chest and started pulling down the tight sleeves from her arms before pulling the fabric down to her navel.
"This bottom part looks even tighter than above."
Leila started to fluster as the gypsies struggled a bit more to pull the covering down her long legs before she pulled each of her bare feet off the fabric. Leaving her standing in the center of the room completely without…
She felt a pause around her.
"Uh…" She looked shyly to the old ladies still gathering around her.
"Dear child…" One of the gypsies smiled as took Leila's hand. "You have such beautiful skin."
…
"Oh… um… thank you…" Leila made a very shy smile… while she felt her cheeks turn pink.
"It takes us back to when we were young and sexy!"
Leila could contain the pinkness forming, even as she felt what she felt were like gooseprickles on her as she felt being…
"Now we got you out of that thing, let's get you clean up!"
"What?"
"Right this way, dear…"
They led her to the entrance of the open door.
"Wait?! W-Why are you taking me outside?" Leila stuttered with confusion… and almost panic, even as the wind came and brushed against her skin. Her mind flash white at being a few feet away of standing outside with nothing on…
"W-Wait a moment!" She quickly folded her arm over her chest.
"C-Could I at least have a towel… a… a robe?" She felt the elderly women take her arms as they pushed her towards the open door.
"Don't worry dear, not before we get to the good part."
Leila didn't realize before she was shoved right out into the open, before falling off the wagon and into…
*SPLASH!
Leila gasped as she pushed her head out of the water of the tub she fell right into.
"You grannies are real jokers you know that?!" Ayano muttered as she sat in a tub next to Leila's, before a gypsy dumped a bucket of water on her, causing her to screech.
"It's freezing!" Leila shuddered as she held her arms while her head popped out of the water.
"What were you expecting? A hot tub?" One gypsy said, before pouring liquid from two bottles that formed bubbles on top of Leila's hair.
"My, oh, my! What a whole bundle of hair!" Another gypsy helped to wash the shampoo-like liquid through Leila's long, golden hair. "Reminds me of that nice golden wheat field my mother used work in."
It was strange, while Leila was mortified that she and Ayano were deliberately being washed in a tub while in the middle of the outdoors without running water or gas to heat up…
It felt refreshing.
Refreshing to be free from those pilot suits they had burdened to wear for nearly a week and have some form of wash to cleanse them.
"We… we really appreciate you doing this for us…" She made to smile as the gypsy's fingers were busy combing through her with the soap.
"Just remember, darlings…" One gypsy said. "We barely have enough soap and liquids to keep us clean. So, this'll be a one-time service for you."
"If you want to wash again, you'll have to use the river."
"Ugh?! What?!" Leila asked, now mortified.
"Wow, that sounds more like it…" Ayano deadpanned as she sat in her tub.
"We… we would have to use… the river… to bathe…?" Leila asked, now mortified. She knew that in past times, people would use the river to bathe… but the fact that it would be the only option for bathing… at least for now…
It would mean… bathing in the wide open. The feeling of being exposed…
"Why, of course," One gypsy said. "When we get tired of having to carry the water just to fill the tub, we just take a little dipping in the wide blue!"
"What… never tried it before?" Another gypsy teased Leila's pink face.
"I've had worse…" Ayano rolled her eyes.
"Alright, girls, time for you to rise," One gypsy ordered as she dumped another bucket of water to wash Leila's hair.
"Jeez, about time," Ayano sighed as she started rising from the water.
"It's… over now…" Leila wondered, before trying to cover herself as her soaking form stood up from the water.
"Not yet…" One gypsy corrected. "Just one last thing."
"And what's th—AH!" Ayano screeched when she felt something bushy and sharp forcibly scratched against her back.
"What?! What's… AH!" Leila was caught off her guard when the same feeling scrubbed against her rear.
"What the hell are you hags doing?!" Ayano tried pushing away when she felt her arms being held, keeping her in place when a scrub was rubbed against her side.
"What?" A gypsy shrugged. "You didn't think a simple wash of the hair and out of those filthy clothes would get rid of the stink so easily?"
"This is where we scrub the stench off…"
"Make sure that lovely skin sparkles!"
"Well, no kidding… AH!" Ayano screeched when a gypsy scrubbed under her arm. "Urgh!"
"Ugh… uh!" Leila was the same as she felt the elderly ladies starting to scrub at her hip. "We… appreciate this… but… maybe we could… do this ourselves…"
Her suggestions came ignored as one gypsy made Leila lift her whole leg and set at the edge of the metal tub, allowing one gypsy to scrub a sponge down from her thigh down to her foot.
"Oh, you seem to take good care of your feet," One gypsy praised as he held up Leila's foot, and gestured at set of fine trimmed nails.
"Ugh! You know… we can scrub ourselves!" Ayano exclaimed as covered herself while her back was being scrubbed relentlessly, she felt she was being skinned alive. "Where did you hags learn this? This isn't Japan… WHOA!"
The girl slipped and fell back into the tub with a splash, and then came more of the gypsies' laughter.
"Geez…" Ryo muttered as he and Yukiya came out of the wagon with their new attire. "We finally trade those damn suits… for this?" He gestured to his attire consisting of a dark, open vest, a pair of blue trousers, along with a red headband over his head.
"Ugh! You think?!" Ayano came out, wearing attire with a long flowing light purple skirt, and a short dark purple blouse that exposed her midriff, and opened to show her…
"This feels so musty!" He pulled at it.
"That's because we have taken them out in over fifty years!" One of the gypsies came by and laughed.
"What?!"
"You're kidding, right?!" Ryo exclaimed.
"Ooh…" One of the gypsies came close to Ryo… eyeing his open vest. "That vest does wonders for you. Shows a nice view…"
"Huh?!" Ryo balked.
"Ryo's clothes are nice, but what about mine?" Yukiya looked over his attire. "You sure this isn't one of the girl's clothes?"
"What's wrong with that?" Another gypsy came next to him. "You look so pretty in it."
"Say… where's Eren?" Ayano wondered before…
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!"
Everyone paused when they heard a screech coming from inside the wagon the boys had used to change in.
"Wait… was that Eren?" Ayano said.
"Oh, boy…" Yukiya sighed.
"What's wrong?" Ayano wondered.
"IS THIS SOME KIND OF JOKE?!"
One of the gypsies came close to the wagon, but not close enough to peak inside.
"Is what a joke, boy?!" She called out.
"Why are my batch of clothes different than Ryo and Yukiya's?!"
"How so?!"
"Th… These… THESE GARMENTS!" Eren's voice… almost stuttered. "Are… Are they supposed to be for a man or a woman?! They're…"
…
"THEY'RE PINK!"
…
…
So… that was it?
…
Ayano glanced to her friends, before sharing one with the gypsies…
…
Before all of them erupted in laughter.
"There's… There's no way I'm coming… wearing this… This… stupid…"
"Aw, don't be shy, boy!"
"Come on, come out!" Another gypsy beckoned.
"It's that… or nothing!"
…
They might as well have heard Eren gasped.
"You… You people are… savages!"
…
Everyone started laughing… even as a familiar figure finally emerged from the wagon door and into view.
"I… can't… stand this…"
Everyone glanced to see the new attire upon Eren.
"I… I look like…" He said with gritted teeth.
His bottom half consisted of bright green and yellow trousers, while his top half… consisted of a pink shirt with red lining, before topping it off with a blue cap over his furious face.
"I LOOK LIKE A FLOWER!"
…
"Ooh…" Ayano grinned. "Well, Kruger… you smell good…" Her mood had been completely uplifted by the sight of Eren's new attire, and it caused her and everyone to erupt in laughter.
…
"STOP THAT!" Eren yelled, his face growing red with humiliation. "UNLESS YOU WANT TO SEE ME REALLY ANGRY!"
…
"Who's getting angry?"
Eren paused, and he and everyone turned to see the last member of the squadron stepping out from the ladies' wagon with red shoes.
The sight of her new attire was enough to cause Eren's fury to dissipate and look in shock.
The girl was dressed in a long skirt tied with a green scarf. Her midriff was exposed, while she wore a purple-red vest with an orange top that showed her bare shoulders. An orange hairband was at the crown of her head, which let her long blonde hair flow out in the back.
"Is everything alright?" Leila asked.
…
"Dear girl," A gypsy came up to her. "That dress does wonders for you."
"As much as it did for me a long time ago!" Another gypsy joked.
"Urgh…" Ayano groaned as she struggled to spread a tablecloth over the table. "This job ought to be for two people."
"Well, then…" A gypsy quipped as she passed by. "Why don't you hire a servant?"
*CHOP!
"Ugh…" Ryo sighed after bringing the woodcutter's axe to cut in half the block of firewood on the stump in front of him. "Crazy old bats…"
He bent to grab the wood and then…
*RUMP! *RUMP!
"Dah!" Ryo squealed as he felt his rear being squeezed.
"Oh… you can bounce a coin off of that."
"What the hell was that?!" Ryo turned to the gypsy with anger.
"What?" She dreamily smiled. "Can't a girl get a little loving?"
"NO WAY!"
"Hey, there…" One gypsy came up to Eren as stood at the foot of the river. "Eri, is it?"
"It's Eren…" The young man corrected, still annoyed as he glanced at his shirt.
"Eren," The gypsy pointed to the two buckets in front of them "Fill these buckets with water from the river here."
"Monsieur Kruger!" Leila approached hastily towards him. "Let me help you with that!"
"I can handle it," Eren said as he took to buckets in his hands. "I think you should help Ayano with setting up the dinner."
"Uh… oh… you mean… the cooking?"
"Well, it kinda looks like she's got her hands full."
Leila carefully took the carving knife, raising it over the carrot on the cutting board. She took a deep breath before…
*CUT! *CUT! *CUT!
She quickly cut with the blade through the carrot… dividing it in only three big pieces.
"There!" Leila said, trying to smile. "I think I've…" She faltered a bit. "…done that right."
"What?" One gypsy came over to see the sliced-up carrots with an adamant look. "My teeth aren't strong anymore to chew through that!"
The dark-robed gypsy looked on as she sat in her chair, stroking the back of an orange-white cat on her lap, almost blissfully.
And watched as Eren came up the hill with two buckets of water from the river.
"Ooh… you cut so nice…" One gypsy admired as she watched Yukiya rapidly, yet gracefully dicing a batch of onions and cabbage on the cutting board.
"Well, when you're trying to survive in the ghetto's," Yukiya smirked. "It was either learn how to cook or go hungry."
"You done over there, Yukiya? I got the pasta!" Ayano said as carried a pot full of recently well-cooked pasta before she glanced at Eren. "Hey, Kruger!"
"Yes?"
"We need more water to boil for the cooking!" She said.
"Right," He nodded. "I'll just…"
*BREAK!
Everyone paused in shock by the sound of glass shattering. They turned to the source… of Leila on the ground… looking shock at the broken bowls that carried the salads… the contents now scattered on the ground.
"Hey…" Eren went over to her. "Are you okay?"
"Yes…" She nodded when he helped her up. "I'm fine… I just… lost my footing… I should have been careful…"
Leila turned to Ayano holding the pasta. "Ayano… you need help?"
"Uh…" Ayano gulped, before turning. "No, it's okay! I can take care of the pasta."
That caused Leila to look dejected.
A gypsy came over to Leila. "Maybe you could help with something else besides the dinner, darling."
"Ugh… how can these bats drink so much of this?" Ryo muttered as he placed the crates of wine bottles out of the wagon, ready to carry them…
"Wait, Ryo!" Leila came up to him, extending her hands to take hold of one of the crates. "Let me you help with that…"
"Whoa-Whoa-wait!" Ryo grabbed hold of the crate before she could take hold. "These are too heavy, let me! If you drop them, they can easily break!"
"But…"
"Don't worry, I got this." Ryo said. "You should… try doing something else…"
Ryo didn't understand why that seemed to make her face look even more dejected.
Eren sighed as he pulled out another bucket of water from the river in front of him. "At least I don't need to travel the extra mile to get this."
"Let me help you with that, Monsieur Kruger!" He barely could roll his eyes when he heard Leila's voice.
"Don't worry, I told you already I got this."
"But…" She tried saying. "We may need… more water to bring. And… you could use an extra pair of hands."
"I think I can manage it," Eren said, ready to get the next bucket. "You can just…"
"No, I insist!"
"Hey, wait!" Eren protested when he saw Leila taking another bucket before leaning to scoop up a full bucket of water from the river's edge.
"It's simple enough!" Leila said, as heaved a full bucket of water.
A very full bucket of water.
"Wait!" Eren cried out as the woman was carrying to full bucket with both hands and started to go up the hill. "You can't carry bucket all the way up! You'll…"
Leila squealed when the weight of the almost full bucket dripped water down on her shoes that caused her to slip on the slope…
They heard Leila's screaming before there was a thud…
"Is the next batch of water done yet?" One gypsy asked as came at the top of the slope and looked to see…
"What the blazes are you two kids doing?!"
She exclaimed at the sight… of Leila… having fallen on top of the Eren…
Both of them now wet… courtesy of the full bucket.
"Stop full around and make yourselves useful!"
"Uh… Monsieur Kruger!" Leila flustered as she quickly hopped off from the man's chest and came to his side. "I'm so sorry… I…"
Kruger sighed as he rubbed his head.
"Oh, dear…" Leila noticed. "Your clothes… they're… wet…"
"Are they?" Eren glanced at his attire. "Good."
"Huh?"
Eren Kruger stood up and started walking away. "It means I can change out them, now."
There.
Honestly, it felt like doing two different chapters at once with this one, considering the two different sides at work.
The first official meeting with Julius Kingsley and the Warrior Unit is something I looked forward to for a while. While a challenge, it also felt enjoyable, especially the dialogue that is shared between Theo Magath, Julius Kingsley, and Zeke Yeager. I can imagine Neil Kaplan, Johnny Yong Bosch, and Jason Liebrecht voice acting out the majority of that first scene. The three English dub VA's also known for Madara Uchiha, Ichigo Kurosaki, and Dabi. The same can be said for those who prefer the original VA's: Jiro Saito, Jun Fukuyama, and Takehito Koyasu.
And don't get me started on the Gypsies. I waited since the beginning to get to them.
Points to anyone who caught that Pink Shirt reference from a certain other manga/anime… regarding a Sayian Prince's humiliation in wearing Earth clothes for the first time!
Thank you for making us laugh, Akira Toriyama.
Please review and take care!
The footage was being played on a wide monitor. It even zoomed and sped back and forth to stop and slow at certain parts from the Cart Titan's point-of-view. It started to display a view starting at the outskirts of Slonim… before it went to show the view of Pieck's Titan taking down an EU Knightmare before starting to hop across the rooftops like a frog.
Right to when the footage showed Zeke's Beast Titan… standing across from a kneeling Titan… that was not of the Warrior Unit.
And the footage was paused… to zoom up close to the figure standing out of the Titan's nape.
"So, that's him..." Magath said as he looked at the image of the young man. "That's the Founder himself."
"That's right," Zeke nodded.
"Hmm…" Julius almost snorted as he sat, almost looking unamused, while Suzaku Kururugi stood next to him. "I guess I should have not expected much regarding who I'd imagine inheriting the first Titan…"
"He may not look majestic, but he is one we are looking for," Zeke said, as the footage video resumed, showing the view of the Cart Titan carrying Zeke, before descending from the rooftops and ready to exit the town square, before coming upon…
"Stop right there!" Julius commanded.
The film paused… to display the footage taken of…
"Stop the press…" Julius' brows raised upon looking at the paused pic of a figure he did not expect to see. The figure of a woman. Her long and light blonde hair dressed in girly pigtails… and she was dressed in something that almost looked… indecent.
That did not stop the smile coming upon Lord Kingsley. "Well, who do we have here?" His lips curled back even more. "Hello, Beautiful…"
To Be Continued…