Chapter Four:

The group made their way through the labyrinthine corridors of the scouts'

headquarters, eventually arriving at a large wooden door that led to the briefing room.

Erwin pushed it open, and they stepped inside. The room was spacious, with a long

table at its center surrounded by chairs. On the walls hung various maps of Paradis and

the surrounding seas, alongside diagrams of Titans and other strategic plans.

Inside, the core members of the Scout Regiment were already gathered: Eren Jeager,

Armin Arlert, Mikasa Ackerman, Jean Kirstein, Connie Springer, Sasha Blouse, and

Floch Forster. Their faces were a mixture of exhaustion, determination, and wariness,

evidence of their recent experiences in Marley.

As soon as Tiana and the others entered the room, all eyes turned toward them, and

almost immediately, the attention shifted to Demetri. The sleek, metallic figure of the

android was impossible to miss.

Eren's eyes narrowed in suspicion, his body tensing. "What the hell is that?" he

demanded, stepping forward, his hand already on the hilt of his blade.

Mikasa, ever protective and alert, moved in front of Eren, her hand gripping her own

weapon. "Stay back, Eren," she warned, her eyes fixed on Demetri. "It could be

dangerous."

Jean and Connie exchanged bewildered glances, while Sasha instinctively reached for

her gear, her instincts sharpened from years of survival. Floch, standing near the back,

looked positively alarmed.

"Is that a Titan shifter?" Armin asked, his voice a mixture of curiosity and concern. "Or…

something else?"

Before anyone could answer, Eren lunged forward, his blade drawn. "We can't take any

chances—"

"Wait!" Tiana shouted, moving quickly to place herself between Demetri and the Scouts.

Her voice rang out, sharp and urgent. "Please, don't! Demetri isn't a threat!"

The room froze for a moment, the tension palpable. Eren stopped mid-stride, his blade

still raised, eyes burning with intensity. Mikasa, sensing his hesitation, eased back

slightly but kept her hand on her weapon.

Erwin, seeing the situation escalating, stepped forward with authority. "Stand down, all

of you," he commanded. "Dr. Belrose, explain what this… Demetri is."

Tiana took a deep breath, calming her racing heart. She could feel the weight of their

gazes—suspicious, fearful, and confused. "Demetri is an android," she explained, her

voice steady despite the tension. "A machine, not a person or a Titan shifter. I built him

myself to assist with my work. He's completely harmless, I promise."

Jean, still holding his blade but lowering it slightly, looked skeptical. "A machine? You

mean like a… metal person?"

"Exactly," Tiana replied, nodding. "He's here to help, not harm anyone. I know this might

be hard to understand, but he's just a tool—nothing more."

Armin's eyes widened with realization, his innate curiosity piqued. "An android… so, like

a very advanced automaton?" he asked, his tone shifting from suspicion to intrigue. "I've

read about machines that can do simple tasks, but nothing like this…"

Tiana nodded, a small smile forming. "Yes, exactly. Demetri is far more advanced than

anything you might have seen before. He can perform a variety of tasks, run

diagnostics, assist in engineering, and much more. But he cannot harm anyone; I've

programmed him that way."

Mikasa, still wary, glanced at Eren. "Eren, what do you think?"

Eren lowered his blade slightly but kept his eyes fixed on Demetri. "If it's just a

machine… fine," he said grudgingly. "But if it makes any wrong moves, we take it down.

No risks."

Tiana gave a relieved nod, understanding their caution. "That's fair," she said. "But I

assure you, Demetri is only here to help."

Floch, however, seemed less convinced, his face still etched with suspicion. "I don't like

it," he muttered under his breath, loud enough for everyone to hear. "We don't know

what it's capable of… or why it's here."

Hange, sensing the lingering unease, stepped forward with her usual enthusiasm,

hoping to lighten the mood. "Come on, everyone!" she said cheerfully. "Tiana here just

showed us what Demetri can do—he's already proven to be pretty useful. We could

learn a lot from them. Let's give it a chance, shall we?"

Connie nodded, finally lowering his weapon. "I guess if Hange is on board, it can't be all

bad," he said with a grin. "And it's not like we've got anything to lose at this point."

Sasha, who had been eyeing Demetri with a mix of fascination and caution, finally

spoke up. "Does it… eat?" she asked, her tone almost innocent. "Like, does it need fuel

or something?"

Tiana chuckled softly. "No, Sasha. Demetri doesn't need food. Just maintenance and

occasional updates."

Sasha let out a small sigh of relief. "Good, more rations for us, then."

Armin, still intrigued, moved closer to examine Demetri. "What else can it do?" he asked

eagerly. "Can it help us with strategies? Calculations?"

Tiana nodded, happy to see the shift in focus. "Absolutely. Demetri is equipped with

advanced processing capabilities. He can assist with strategic planning, simulations,

and even medical assessments if needed."

Erwin, who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally spoke. "Dr. Belrose, your

contributions could prove invaluable to us," he said. "We have a lot to learn from you

and your technology. But understand, we're cautious for a reason. We've faced many

threats—some we couldn't have imagined before. So forgive us if we're slow to trust."

Tiana inclined her head respectfully. "I understand completely, Commander. And I

appreciate your caution. Trust is earned, not given. I'm here to earn it."

Eren sheathed his blade fully, his expression still guarded. "Alright, we'll see. But

remember, no one gets a free pass here. Not even a machine."

Mikasa, now slightly more relaxed but still wary, nodded in agreement. "We'll be

watching."

The room's tension slowly dissipated, replaced by a cautious acceptance. Tiana felt a

sense of relief, but also a renewed determination. She knew earning their trust would

take time, but she was ready for the challenge.

As the briefing began, she couldn't help but notice Levi watching her with those piercing

eyes. There was a hint of something in his gaze—something that made her heart beat

just a bit faster. She couldn't quite place it, but she knew one thing for certain: her time

in Paradis was going to be far more complex—and far more interesting—than she had

ever anticipated.

As the initial shock of Demetri's presence began to wear off, the core members of the

scouts shifted their attention to Tiana. Standing amidst them, her deep brown skin

glowing softly under the dim lights and her passion twists cascading down her back, she

was a striking figure, unlike anyone they had ever seen. Her form-fitting dress, which

showcased her curves, seemed almost out of place among the rugged, utilitarian

uniforms of the scouts.

Eren's expression shifted from suspicion to one of surprise as he looked her over. He

had expected an old, eccentric scientist when he heard the name "Dr. Belrose," not a

young woman with an aura of elegance and intelligence. Armin blinked a few times,

trying to reconcile the image before him with his preconceived notions. Mikasa's eyes

narrowed slightly, assessing Tiana with a mix of curiosity and caution. Jean and Connie

exchanged glances, clearly taken aback by her appearance.

Floch, unable to hold back his thoughts, spoke up first. "Wait a minute," he said, his

eyes wide with disbelief. "You're Dr. Belrose? But… you look like you're sixteen or

something! How can someone who looks that young be an accomplished engineer?"

Tiana's polite smile tightened slightly, though she maintained her composure. She had

faced such remarks before, and while they no longer surprised her, they still grated on

her nerves. "First of all," she said calmly, addressing Floch directly, "I am twenty-four

years old, not sixteen."

Floch blinked, clearly surprised by her firm tone. "Oh, uh… sorry," he muttered, looking

a bit embarrassed.

Tiana continued, her voice steady but firm. "And second, looks can be deceiving. I may

not fit your idea of what an engineer should look like, but that doesn't change the facts.

I've worked hard for my accomplishments, and I've achieved a lot in my time." She

gestured toward Demetri, who stood quietly beside her. "For instance, you just tried to

destroy one of my most significant achievements—Demetri. I assure you, he's a

testament to years of hard work, study, and innovation."

Armin, trying to smooth over the tension, stepped forward with a friendly smile. "I think

what Floch meant was just… we didn't expect someone like you. We've hardly met

anyone from the outside world before, especially someone with your… expertise."

Tiana's smile softened at Armin's attempt to ease the awkwardness. "I understand," she

replied. "I'm aware that my appearance might be surprising, but I'm here to work

alongside you, to help in any way I can. I hope you'll see that in time."

Jean scratched his head, still looking a bit flustered. "Yeah, sorry about that," he said,

trying to sound casual. "It's just… when we heard that some brilliant engineer was

coming, we were picturing, I don't know, some old guy with glasses, a white coat,

maybe a bit of a belly. Definitely not…" He trailed off, realizing he was digging himself

into a hole.

"Not what?" Tiana prompted, her eyebrow arching slightly in amusement.

Jean stammered, "Uh, I mean, definitely not someone who looks like… you." His cheeks

reddened slightly, and he quickly looked away.

Sasha, meanwhile, had been watching Tiana with wide, fascinated eyes. "Your hair!"

she finally burst out. "I've never seen hair like that before! How do you get it to do that?"

She pointed at Tiana's passion twists with a look of wonder.

Tiana chuckled softly, appreciating Sasha's straightforwardness. "It's called passion

twists," she explained. "It's a protective style. I can show you how it's done sometime, if

you're interested."

Sasha nodded eagerly, a broad smile spreading across her face. "I'd love that!"

Connie, still staring, couldn't help but add, "You really are something else. I mean,

you're so smart, and… well, you're definitely not what we expected."

Mikasa, however, remained silent, her eyes never leaving Tiana. She seemed to be

weighing something, her expression guarded. Tiana could sense Mikasa's protective

instincts, especially given her proximity to Eren.

Eren finally spoke up, his voice measured. "You've done a lot, that's clear," he said, his

tone still holding a hint of skepticism. "But we've been through a lot, too. If you're here to

help, that's good. Just know that trust isn't easy to come by here, especially not now."

Tiana nodded, fully understanding the weight of his words. "I wouldn't expect it to be,"

she replied. "But I'm here to earn it, not demand it. I know the gravity of the situation

you're all in, and I'm here to contribute however I can."

Erwin, sensing that the initial introductions had reached a tentative understanding,

spoke up to guide the conversation forward. "Let's sit," he suggested, gesturing to the

table. "There's much we need to discuss about how we'll work together going forward.

And Tiana," he added with a small, approving nod, "I think you'll find we're very open to

your ideas and your assistance."

They moved to take their seats around the large table, Demetri standing quietly by

Tiana's side, ever the silent guardian. As she took her seat, she felt Levi's presence

beside her once again. He had remained unusually quiet during the entire exchange,

but now, as they settled in, he leaned in slightly.

"You handled that well," Levi said quietly, his voice just low enough for her to hear. "Not

everyone would have kept their composure."

Tiana glanced at him, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Thank you, Captain," she

replied softly. "I've had a lot of practice."

Levi gave a slight nod, his eyes still sharp but not unkind. "I'm sure you have," he said,

settling back into his seat.

As the briefing began, Tiana knew she had only just scratched the surface of what lay

ahead. But she was ready. She would prove herself, not just to the Scouts, but to this

entire island. She would show them that despite her appearance, despite their initial

doubts, she was here to make a difference.

Tiana stood at the front as everyone settled into their seats around the large wooden

table. She felt the weight of the scouts'

eyes on her. She knew this would be her first

real test—how well she could communicate her knowledge and ideas to people who

had been isolated from the rest of the world for so long.

"Demetri," she instructed softly, "dim the lights, please."

The room suddenly darkened, the warm glow of the lighting fading to a soft, muted

flicker. The scouts exchanged confused and wary glances, unsure of what was

happening. Then, Demetri stepped forward, his eyes glowing brighter as he emitted a

soft beam of light onto the wall behind Tiana. The scouts gasped as a clear, detailed

projection of Tiana's notes appeared on the stone wall—a series of diagrams,

equations, and complex designs.

"What… what is that?" Jean whispered, leaning forward in his chair, his eyes wide with

astonishment.

Mikasa's brows furrowed in confusion, her gaze darting between Tiana and the

projection. "It's like… light on the wall," she muttered.

Armin's eyes lit up with excitement, his mind racing with possibilities. "It's a projector,"

he said, more to himself than anyone else. "Some kind of… advanced technology. I've

read about similar concepts in books, but I've never seen anything like this in practice."

Tiana nodded, catching his words. "Exactly, Armin," she said, appreciating his quick

understanding. "This is a basic function of Demetri's capabilities—a simple way to

display information visually."

Floch, still skeptical, narrowed his eyes at the projection. "Looks like some kind of

witchcraft," he muttered under his breath.

Ignoring Floch's remark, Tiana turned back to the projection. "I've put together some

notes on potential strategies, technologies, and enhancements we could implement to

strengthen Paradis's defenses and improve our chances against Marley," she began,

her voice confident and clear.

She started to go through her notes, pointing at various sections of the projection. "First,

we have the integration of advanced weaponry systems—these diagrams show how we

could modify existing equipment to improve accuracy and range. The recalibration of

the omni-directional mobility gear with enhanced pneumatic components could increase

speed and maneuverability by approximately 20%. Additionally, I've outlined a potential

redesign of the fortification walls, incorporating a layer of resilient, alloy-based materials

to mitigate artillery damage…"

As Tiana continued, the scouts listened intently, but their expressions quickly shifted

from intrigue to bewilderment. Her notes were filled with complex engineering jargon,

mathematical equations, and references to technologies they had never heard of. She

was speaking as if she were still among her colleagues at the Androsian University, lost

in the details of her scientific language.

Jean leaned over to Connie, whispering, "Do you have any idea what she's talking

about?"

Connie shook his head, his eyes glazed over. "Not a clue. Something about… metal and

flying faster?"

Sasha, still staring at the projection, muttered, "I thought I was good at understanding

things, but… this is on a whole different level."

Realizing her mistake, Tiana paused, noticing the confusion spreading across their

faces. She took a deep breath, reminding herself that she was no longer surrounded by

fellow scientists. "I apologize," she said, offering a sheepish smile. "I realize I may be

speaking too technically. Let me try to simplify."

She took a moment to collect her thoughts, then started again. "In simpler terms, I'm

suggesting ways we can improve your gear—make it faster, more efficient. We could

also reinforce your fortifications, making them stronger against Marley's attacks. And,

with some modifications, we could develop new weapons that would give us an

advantage."

The scouts still looked somewhat lost, but there were a few nods of understanding.

Hange, who had been scribbling furiously in her notebook, looked up with a glint of

excitement in her eyes. "So, you're saying we could make our ODM gear better?

Faster? More agile?"

"Yes," Tiana confirmed, "with the right materials and adjustments, we could significantly

enhance its performance."

Armin, starting to piece things together, added, "And the fortifications… you're talking

about making the walls stronger, so they can withstand more damage?"

"Exactly," Tiana replied, pleased to see him catching on. "And not just stronger, but also

more adaptable to different types of attacks."

Eren, still processing, looked from the projection to Tiana. "So, all this… it's to help us

fight better? To make sure Marley doesn't stand a chance?"

Tiana nodded. "Yes, that's the idea. To use what we have—and improve it with new

techniques and technology."

But as she continued, she noticed the looks of confusion had not entirely disappeared.

Tiana sensing the need for more clarity, shot Demetri a glance. "Demetri," she said, "can

you make it clearer for everyone?"

Demetri's eyes flickered in acknowledgment. "Of course, Dr. Belrose," he replied in his

even tone. He paused for a moment, as if processing how to best convey the

information. "In essence, Dr. Belrose is suggesting three main improvements: one, we

enhance your existing equipment to increase combat efficiency; two, we reinforce your

defensive structures to better withstand enemy attacks; and three, we develop new

weapons to gain a strategic advantage over Marley."

The room fell silent as Demetri's words sank in. The scouts, now able to grasp the basic

ideas behind Tiana's suggestions, began to see the brilliance of her plans. The

simplicity with which Demetri explained it made it clear just how much thought and

expertise had gone into her proposals.

Jean's eyes widened as he finally understood. "Wait… so you're saying we could be

stronger and better prepared than we ever were before? All because of these…

changes?"

Tiana nodded, a faint smile of encouragement playing on her lips. "That's right. With the

right adjustments and some ingenuity, we can turn the tide in our favor."

Mikasa, ever practical, asked, "How long would these changes take to implement? We

don't have much time before Marley makes another move."

Tiana considered the question. "It depends on the resources available and how quickly

we can mobilize. But with cooperation and effort, we could see significant improvements

in a matter of weeks."

Armin's face lit up with realization. "This could change everything," he said, his voice

filled with excitement. "We've been fighting with limited resources, but with this… we

might actually have a chance."

Eren, still cautious but intrigued, nodded. "Alright," he said, "let's do it. Whatever it takes

to protect our people and win this war."

Hange clapped her hands, her enthusiasm bubbling over. "I knew bringing you here was

the right choice, Tiana! This is exactly what we need—a fresh perspective, new ideas.

We've been stuck in our ways for too long."

Erwin, who had been quietly observing, spoke up with a firm tone. "Then it's settled. Dr.

Belrose, we will implement your suggestions to the best of our ability. Your expertise is

invaluable to us, and we're fortunate to have you here."

Tiana nodded, feeling a surge of pride and relief. "Thank you, Commander. I'm here to

help, in any way I can."

As the briefing continued, the room filled with a newfound sense of hope and

determination. Tiana could see that, despite the initial confusion and skepticism, her

ideas were beginning to take root. The scouts were starting to understand the potential

of what she brought to the table. And as she glanced around the room, she felt a

growing confidence that, together, they could achieve something

remarkable—something that could change the course of their fight against Marley

forever.