Auf Der Suche Nach Dem Verborgenen Schatz
Seeking The Hidden Treasure
隠された宝物を探す
"Hey, grandpa, what's an "enemy?" Eren innocently asked the elderly man sitting up in bed.
Despite his stoic expression, the elderly man was taken by surprise by the sudden question. No, his great-grandson has asked him many things before. But this was the first time Eren was asking him such a complicated question.
"Why ask me such a thing?" The old man asked.
Eren swung his little legs in the chair he was sitting on and replied, "I overheard dad and teacher talking about it. Dad said, "Enemies from the outside will be coming soon." He remembered that part of the conversation, but everything else was too complicated for him to remember.
Ah, so those two were talking about that, were they? How careless of them to talk about such a topic where anyone could hear them. And for Eren to be the one who overheard! This boy was quite the enigma. Always with so so many questions about the world, but that's normal for a child his age.
But he knows Eren is not like other children. His curiosity and innocence is pure and untainted. But…
Looking into those innocent and curious green eyes, he knows the correct answer to give.
"If you are prepared to know the truth…" The old man hesitated for a moment before continuing, "…I'll tell you the answer."
The twins were sitting on sand made chairs, facing each other. It hadn't been all that long since they last saw each other, yet it felt like a long time.
"You seem lost in thought." Eren could hear the curiosity and amusement in her tone. She could always read him no matter how hard he tried to mask his expressions. That hadn't changed.
Erena's smile didn't fade as she spoke, "The two of us will exchange information. But you go first. Tell me what happened," she said.
Eren stared at her for a moment but did proceed to tell her what happened. "Right after the Survey Corps left for their Expedition outside the walls, the Colossal Titan appeared," he explained. "It breached Wall Rose and I engaged it in combat. My blades were about to dig into the nape when it suddenly disappeared. While scanning the surroundings from outside, a figure was using ODM gear to quickly flee the scene while having their face covered. They looked back and I caught a glimpse of their face. Because of that, I now know the identity of the Colossal Titan."
"I see." Erena was intrigued that they would try the very same tactic from five years ago. It looked like their opponents were getting impatient and wanted to get things over with.
"Continue."
Eren continued, "Afterwards, a swarm of Titans began to come through the breach. I led some of them away and transformed, killing them. Then I sealed the breach by hardening my skin," he finished.
This is very interesting.
Was it possible they had suspicions about Eren and decided to breach Wall Rose to confirm if they were right? Or had they gathered enough information beforehand and came to their own conclusions? The latter was a possibility, meaning they must have found what they were looking for without anyone noticing.
Very clever.
She would have Caven look into it later.
"Then I'll give my own report," Erena said.
"I'm sure you've already noticed the sudden increase in Titans, yes?" she asked.
"Yeah."
"The reason for this is simple. Those Titans were brought over from the other side to increase their numbers. Of course, you killed them, so the number reduced quite a bit, but they have more hidden away," Erena said.
So they have to prepare for another sneak attack or a direct one. He's not surprised; it was bound to happen sooner or later. The people on their side must be getting impatient, which makes sense. Five years have passed since they attacked Wall Maria, after all. They want to hurry up and put an end to this.
"After roaming around the area, I spotted something interesting. From their appearance, I could tell they were the same ethnicity as us, but only two of them stood out." Erena said.
"Titan Shifters," he deduced.
"Yes, that's right. On their side, they have six of the nine titans in their possession. We only know of the three already here." She brought up six fingers, then three, "Which can only mean two things: either the enemy decided to send only three, believing it to be a waste sending more than necessary, or…" she trailed off.
"Four were sent here, but one of them was compromised or eaten by another Titan," Eren connected the dots. Of course it was speculation for now, but it sounds plausible. Sending three shifters gives them the advantage in terms of numbers, but the problem with that is they would need a leader. And sending four would solve that problem. The Armored Titan and Female Titan are offense and defense types, with the Colossal Titan being more of an explosive bomb—a behemoth that moves slowly, but able to cause massive destruction. This means whoever their leader was before being killed had a Titan that was needed for their mission. There are three other titans that come to mind…and out of those three…
Eren lifted his head, "The Jaw Titan." It had to be. Out of all the Titans, that one was known for both speed and agility, so it would make the most sense. Once the four completed their mission, they would need to make a quick getaway. What better way to do that than by using the fastest Titan out of the nine.
"Correct again," Erena praised. "Whoever killed their leader that possessed the Jaw Titan is here."
Whoever ate the previous Jaw Titan shifter was here and staying hidden. And for good reason. If he wasn't forced to reveal himself a second time, he too would have stayed quiet. But the enemy forced his hand, and now the Garrison and, more than likely, the Survey Corps know the Attack Titan shifter is among them.
'They got me," he thought. Even if they had their suspicions, he doubted those three hadn't realized his identity at this point. However, the same can be said for them, too. Both sides knew the other's identity and will proceed with caution from now on. Until either side decides to make another move, they will feign ignorance.
"Forget finding out the identity of the Jaw Titan for now; focus on keeping an eye on the three Shifters. Since you plan on joining the Survey Corps, they will do the same, but it will look suspicious if all three of them join."
"The other won't follow suit." Eren already knows where she was going with this. One of them would join the Military Police to find out what the Royal Family's move would be. He knew this already after eavesdropping on their conversation. He'd like to know himself since Wall Rose was breached and the Attack Titan made another appearance after five years of silence. News of it would have surely reached them by now.
"Make sure to watch yourself from now on. The Survey Corps aside, the Military Police will also try figuring out who you are. We don't need them making a move just yet," Erena warned.
"I know. We don't have to worry too much about the Survey Corps exposing me to the Military Police," Eren assured.
"Oh, and why is that?"
"Because the two divisions don't see eye-to-eye. The Military Police see the Survey Corps as a waste of people's tax money. They feel it's pointless trying to reclaim territory that's been lost to the Titans. Before you started killing Titans outside the walls, they were under constant threat of being disbanded," Eren explained."The Survey Corps believe the Military Police to be corrupt and only caring about power because they protect the monarchy. Not to mention them being incompetent when it comes to the nature of their work."
Both sides have been at odds for so long no one knows when it all started. Even if the Survey Corps find out he's the Attack Titan, they won't expose his identity to the Military Police. To the Survey Corps, he'll be seen as a potential secret weapon, while the Military Police will see him as a threat to their way of life. He refuses to be used as a tool or let himself be killed. But in this case, it's best to gamble with the Survey Corps.
"In other words, if the Military Police demand they tell them who you are, the Survey Corps won't comply," Erena said thoughtfully.
"No, the Commander of the Survey Corps will refuse to tell them because they believe if I feel my life is being threatened…I'll leave the walls." Which wouldn't be a lie because that's exactly what he plans on doing. He hates leaving Mikasa and Armin behind, but nothing should happen to them. Since they don't know anything, the Military Police won't be able to accuse them of treason.
"There's also the fact you are the only one standing between them and the three shifters, whose identities they still don't know. If they want to find out, the best course of action would be to gain your trust," Erena said, understanding.
"That's Erwin Smith's plan," Eren said. Erwin Smith is a complex man, but he gets the job done, and once he sets his sight on something, he never fails to deliver results. That man will first seek out his identity before strategizing how to gain his trust. It's the only move the man can make.
"It sounds like a fun treasure hunt. Too bad I can't participate, but I wish you luck in trying to stay hidden," Erena teased.
'How encouraging,' Eren thought, standing. "We both know our objectives. If anything else happens, I'll contact you through here."
"Eren," she stopped him from leaving, "remember that sacrifices must be made in order to achieve something. Don't forget, you can't save everyone."
Eren looked into those cold, emotionless eyes that to an outside observer would seem to express emotions. That's not what he sees. Just as she sees through him, the same can be said of the opposite. She keeps her true nature hidden, but most can see it. His sister wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice the people around her if she feels they aren't necessary.
"I know not every life can be saved, but I'm not going to sacrifice a life either," Eren said, firm in his decision. The two had a stare-off as neither was willing to back down from their convictions. Erena's smile never left her face as she leaned back.
"Of course you'd say that. And I don't expect you to change that mentality of yours," she said softly. "It's refreshing, actually."
Eren stayed silent.
"Don't look at me like that, I won't do anything morally reprehensible behind your back," she promised.
"I'll hold you to that." Eren said, but he wasn't fooled, 'I know you're lying. Unlike me, you can cross a line that I can't.' And there lies the problem. This is what makes them different despite being identical twins.
He opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling for a moment. Being there always feels strange, as though time never flowed and remained still. No time seemed to have changed here, either. Looking over to his left, he saw Armin sleeping peacefully. Sitting up, he grabbed the blanket and lifted it over his shoulder. Armin didn't even stir, a testament to how tired he was. They all were. Eren looked over the dorm room to see everyone deep asleep and dead to the world around them. The events that happened today could have been much worse. Most, if not all, of their graduating class would have perished—with the exception being the top ten and those skilled enough to survive. His eyes lingered in the corner of the room. Cold, green eyes stare at two individuals sleeping in the dark corner, contemplating if he should just get rid of them here and now.
Eren sighed and settled back in the bunk bed, deciding not to go along with it. Even if he were to kill them, it would only be inconvenient, not to mention causing unnecessary questions to be asked. Better off leaving them be for now.
But, still…
'When will this repeated cycle end?' he thought, closing his eyes. Tomorrow is a new day.
Armin yawned as he stretched his arms above his head. Today was a new day, and the only thing they had to do was relax. They will start choosing which branch of the military to join soon. To be honest, he was kind of nervous, which was funny since he already made his choice to join the Survey Corps. Maybe the reason he felt so nervous was because it was really happening. He, Eren, and Mikasa will be members of the Survey Corps, who explore outside the walls and uncover more things about humanity. Speaking of Eren, where was he? The door opened as Eren walked inside the dorm room and saw him awake.
"Good morning," Eren greeted, wearing only pants with a towel over his head. He must have just gotten out of the bath, Armin surmised.
"Good morning, how long have you been awake?" Armin asked.
"Since dusk," Eren said simply, drying his hair.
'How early! That's earlier than he usually wakes up,' Armin thought, surprised. "You don't normally get up that early. Is something on your mind?" he asked, curious and worried at the same time.
Eren doesn't respond right away, seeming to be lost in thought, but eventually replies, "…you could say that." Tossing away the towel, he grabs his black shirt. "We have another day off today, right?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, they said we could take it easy today before the interviews," Armin said, having just remembered himself. Everyone was tired from the aftermath, which they called the "Battle of Trost District." From what he heard, members of the Survey Corps who left for the expedition that morning before everything happened wanted to interview everyone involved. That would be the graduating cadets and members of the Garrison who fought off some of the Titans. He was glad for the two days of rest because there was a lot on his mind, plus the lack of sleep would drain him.
Eren became quiet again, which to Armin meant he was thinking. Was he wondering what to do today?
"I'll be right back," Eren left again to head off somewhere.
Armin became more curious to know what his friend was planning, but didn't wonder for long as everyone was starting to wake up. As expected, the one having the hardest time waking was Jean, which surprised no one given the amount of alcohol he had consumed last night. Hannes would constantly tell them not to drink any alcohol for this very reason. Though his words are very hypocritical, the advice was appreciated all the same.
Jean groaned in agony, "Never again…never…" he moaned, curled up in his blanket.
"Geez, just how much did you drink last night?" Connie had never seen Jean look so pathetic. It was a good thing he didn't drink any alcohol last night, otherwise he'd be in the same sorry state as Jean.
"This is why I told you to take it easy," Marco said.
Reiner noticed they were missing someone and asked, "Where's Eren?"
"Oh, he's—" Armin was about to say, but Eren came back into the room with a glass cup and a mug. There was a raw egg mixed in with juices in the glass cup. What is that? Before he could ask, Eren walked over to Jean and thrust the glass cup in his face.
"Drink this," he said.
Jean stared at the unknown contents of the drink with suspicion. "What the hell kind of drink is that?" he questioned.
"This drink is called 'prairie oyster.' It's good for hangovers," Eren replied.
Connie leaned closer to the offered beverage with interest. "What's in it?" he asked.
"Raw egg yolk, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, salt, and pepper," Eren said, listing off the ingredients. Connie looked ready to throw up, and Jean became paler at the contents in the drink.
"Are you trying to kill me?!" Jean screeched and regretted it instantly as he winced and held his head at the searing headache.
"It won't kill you. The taste is gamey but it works," Eren assured Jean the drink was safe. "You drink all of it while holding your nose to the smell. I brought water for the aftertaste."
Jean leaned away from the unusual concoction. "…I'll pass," he refused the drink.
"You either drink it and feel better or suffer in agony, the choice is yours," Eren was unsympathetically. He could take the drink back and let Jean suffer the consequences of drinking too much. The only reason he wasn't was because this was a better alternative than listening to Jean whine about how his head hurts.
"Wha—asshole!" Jean was offended by the detached tone.
Connie rolled his eyes. "C'mon, Jean, just drink it already. Eren said it won't kill you."
"Sure, it looks disgusting, but if it helps you feel better, then what's the harm?" Marco said, seeing the positive side.
"The taste may be gamey, but it will help nurse your hangover, so go ahead and drink it," Armin smiled, hoping he sounded convincing enough.
Jean looked around to see the rest were waiting for him to drink something that could make him feel worse than he did now. Dammit! Why are they all on Yeager's side?! It's not fair!
"Fine, dammit!" Jean snatched the beverage and took a deep breath before finding his nose. He then drank it all down, raw egg included. Swallowing it felt so nauseating that he felt like throwing up, but thankfully he grabbed the water Eren brought and chugged it down.
Eren took both the glass and mug away. "Drink plenty of water and get some rest. You should feel better by some time today."
"Gee, thanks…" Jean felt like he just drank animal brains and was tempted to throw up, but the water helped him keep it down.
"Hey, Eren, who taught you how to make that strange drink?" Connie asked.
"My grandfather. He said this is what they used to help deal with hangovers back in his day," Eren said, his tone neutral but filled with pride. "Dad would make this for Hannes when his hangovers got too bad."
"Really? I didn't know that," Armin said, not expecting to hear that. If that was the case, you'd think Hannes would limit the amount of alcohol he drinks, but the man was stubborn.
"Hey, hey, what else did he teach you?" Connie asked, eager to hear more about Eren's grandfather.
"A lot," Eren replied, not going into further detail, much to the groans of everyone else except Armin. Of course he'd say that. What were they expecting?
Thomas sighed, sounding a little exasperated. "As usual, a vague response." Well, he wouldn't be Eren at all if he started being more open about himself.
"That's just how he is," Armin said, smiling a little.
Jean lay back down. "Whatever, I'm going to sleep," he grumbled, suddenly feeling tired.
"Marco, make sure he stays in bed," Eren said.
"Leave it to me," Marco promised.
"I don't need a babysitter!" Jean protested.
"You do," Eren countered.
"Fuck you, Yeager!"
"I'm not interested in men."
Connie snorted in the background, as did a few others. Oh, god, did they love Eren's comebacks.
Jean's expression was a mix of disgust and embarrassment. "Wh—Who would be interested in you, dumbass!" he exclaimed.
"Quite a few."
"That's a lie!" Jean refused to believe that.
"It's not."
"You—Suicidal Blockhead!"
"Arsch mit Ohren."
Armin snorted so hard he almost choked on his own spit. Of course, none of them aside from Armin understood what Eren just said, so they waited for him to translate, "He…called Jean a…" he snorted again, shoulders shaking, "…butt with ears. In other words, a fool that lacks common sense."
That did it.
Connie started laughing his head off, which set off a chain reaction as everyone joined in. Jean had once again been outwitted by Eren and it was pure comedy gold! What made it even funnier was Eren's comebacks; the dry tone made the humor of the situation absolutely hilarious!
Eren was already out the door after completing his task, leaving behind the laughing cadets and an enraged Jean.
"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" he hollered.
Unfortunately, his shouting only further worsened his hangover.
"Did you guys just hear shouting?" Hannah asked.
Ymir rolled her eyes, "It's probably Jean bitching about something."
"I'm glad we have another day off today," Mina said, sitting in the bed. "Although, being interviewed by the Survey Corps is starting to make me a little nervous."
"I get what you mean. They just feel more intense compared to the Garrison and Military Police," Hannah agreed.
"Hah? Are you guys seriously worried about that?" Ymir scoffed at the idea of being nervous around the scouts. "All we gotta do is tell them what happened and that's all."
"Ymir's right. We just have to be honest and there won't be anything to worry about," Krista said, assuring them everything will be okay.
While the two girls seemed more at ease at this, Annie sported her usual apathetic expression. It was hard to tell what she was thinking at this time, but it's clear she wasn't nervous about anything. If anything, she wanted to get the interviews over and done with.
"Hey, I just noticed Mikasa isn't here. Where did she go?" Mina said, noticing her absence. Her question was answered when Mikasa came through the door with a towel wrapped around her neck, the ends covering her chest.
"Kyaa! Mikasa, please put a shirt on!" Krista blushed, covering her eyes.
Mikasa blinked at her. "I just finished washing up. I'll put on a shirt once I'm completely dry, so it's fine."
"Yeah, that's not really the problem." Ymir sometimes wanted to shake her head at this girl's lack of common sense.
Mina and Hannah chuckled nervously, while Annie quickly lost interest. Mikasa shrugged her shoulders and grabbed her white blouse shirt. "By the way, I spotted Sasha sneaking into the kitchen earlier." All of them, except Annie, groaned in annoyance. That girl was truly a menace when it came to food.
Ymir rubbed the back of her neck. "C'mon, let's go make sure Potato Girl doesn't clean us out." Seriously, they couldn't take their eyes off that damn weirdo for even a second.
But going to stop her turned out to be unnecessary, as Sasha was in a corner of the kitchen, bound and gagged. They were about to ask themselves who could have possibly done this when Eren came through the door. "Good morning," he greeted casually.
"Um, good morning, Eren," Krista returned the greeting. She, like the rest of the girls, was confused by the situation.
Ymir was the one to ask, "So, are you the one who tied up, Potato Girl?"
"I am," Eren answered simply.
"Why?" Mina couldn't help but ask.
Eren leaned Sasha against the wall, "I caught her trying to steal food and tied her up." He explained no further, but honestly, they didn't need to hear more.
"What were you doing in the kitchen?" Hannah asked.
"I was cleaning. Jean had a hangover, so I made him my grandfather's hangover cocktail," Eren explained.
Mikasa blinked, confused by what he meant but then remembered. "Oh, you mean the prairie oyster drink!" Hannes was forced to drink that once because he had a really bad hangover.
Ymir raised her brow. "The hell's a prairie oyster?" Whatever it is, it sounds gross.
"It's a special drink that helps with hangovers," Mikasa said.
Annie was curious to know more about it, so she stayed silent and waited. Krista was the one to ask in her place, "What's in it?"
"Raw egg yolk, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, salt, and pepper," Eren listed off the ingredients. The girls reacted in the same way as Connie and Jean, with the exception of Annie and Mikasa.
"I think I'm gonna be sick…" Mina said.
"I'm not hungry anymore." Hannah sighed, rubbing her stomach to keep from throwing up.
"That sounds so gross…" Krista said, covering her mouth.
"And you gave that to Jean?" Ymir grimaced. "I actually feel sorry for the poor bastard."
Eren, as usual, was stoic, "Drink in moderation," he said. "I'll leave Sasha to you. Mikasa, come here." Mikasa didn't hesitate to come to his side. His warm hands startled her a little when touched her dry hair and started tying it in a mid ponytail. Mikasa would normally do this herself, but Eren is doing it instead. It isn't the first time he's done this for her, either. "There you go." He left the dining area, unaware of the stunned expressions at his actions.
"For fuck's sakes…will you two just go out already?!" Ymir groaned, exasperated. Everyone was in agreement.
Mikasa ignored them as she happily touched her hair.
The day went by smoothly as the graduates relaxed and did whatever they wanted until tomorrow. Members of the Survey Corps would be interviewing them about the events in Trost, so for today, all of them were just taking it easy. Jean recovered from his hangover but still felt annoyed when Eren made him drink nasty concoction. Ymir lost it when Connie told her Eren called Jean a "butt with ears," as did some of the others. Speaking of Eren, he and Mikasa both disappeared after breakfast, and their absence did not go unnoticed by everyone. Armin figured his best friend decided to spend the whole day with Mikasa since they never have the time anymore. Jean wasn't happy about this, of course, but honestly? He lost the fight from the beginning.
As for the two in question, they were taking a leisurely walk around Trost District in civilian attire. Eren was wearing black pants with his matching black long-sleeved shirt and shoes. Mikasa wore her white blouse, a purple long-sleeved jacket, long gray skirt, and black boots. Her red scarf wrapped securely around her neck. The two were simply walking around, enjoying eachothers company. Mikasa couldn't be happier right now. The last time she and Eren walked around like this was back in Shiganshina when they were children. These small moments are what she treasures most because they don't last.
Mikasa looked around to see plenty of merchants selling their goods with smiles on their faces. And they weren't the only ones. All of them survived and were still celebrating in their own way. Unfortunately, some members of the Garrison were killed by the Titans, but they didn't die in vain. Another thing she was grateful for was the survival of everyone in her graduating class. All of them survived, and it was thanks to the Mysterious Titan.
"Everyone is smiling." Mikasa said, watching children run around.
"It's because they're alive," Eren said softly, observing the happy faces of Trost citizens. So many of them could have died, yet here they are, smiling and laughing to their heart's content.
"Yes, and it's because of the Mysterious Titan." Mikasa could still feel the warm sensation from when it gently touched her cheek. What caught her attention most were those green eyes that expressed concern and relief—emotions she had never seen in a Titan before. Green eyes…
She looked over at Eren and saw his attention elsewhere. As she followed his gaze, she understood why. A father and son were laughing and having a great time. The son was sitting on top of his fathers shoulders with a huge smile on his face. Oh, Mikasa's chest felt tight at the sight. Eren and Grisha had a close bond as father and son. Mikasa remembers how Eren's face would light up when his father came home and told him about his day. Eren would ask if he could learn more medical knowledge, and his father indulged him. One time, she found Eren fast asleep in his father's lap, his facial expression content. Grisha sat there and let his son sleep with a smile. It was one of those sweet moments that would last forever.
But, it didn't last.
On the day of Grisha Yeager's funeral, she saw Eren standing there, still as a statue. His gaze was empty and devoid of all emotion, as no words reached him. Since the body was never found, it was decided they would make an empty grave as a way of feeling close to the deceased. Eren didn't come home one day, causing Aunt Carla to panic, but she knew where he was. She could always find him no matter where Eren was, and she did. He had fallen asleep on the headstone, uncaring of the earth's soil dirtying his clothes and the bugs crawling around. A truly sad sight. It didn't take long for Aunt Carla and Hannes to find them. Hannes held Eren's sleeping form and brought him home.
Such sad times none of them can forget. Mikasa hadn't seen him look this melancholy in a long time. Gently grabbing his hand, she smiled, "Let's go." Green eyes widened a little, then settled back. He squeezed her hand, and she returned the gesture.
"Yeah."
The two spent the rest of the afternoon walking around and eating food that looked good. Mikasa shyly let Eren have a bite of the food she was eating, and he did the same. As the sun began to set, they decided it was time to head back to the dorms. Today ended perfectly in her opinion, especially since Eren held her hand on the way back.
When they came back, their fellow cadets teased them about their "date," but the two paid them no mind. Mikasa was assaulted by many questions from the girls, while Eren ignored some from the boys. Jean reluctantly thanked Eren for helping with his hangover but was still irritated about being called a "butt with ears."
Eren stared at him. "Hosenscheißer," he said bluntly.
Armin spit out his drink, Mikasa had to hold in her laughter, and Krista busted out laughing, much to the surprise of everyone. But they were eager to hear what Eren called Jean this time.
"He…he called Jean a…" Armin's shoulders were shaking, trying to contain himself, "…trouser-pooper, in other words a 'coward'…" He couldn't hold it in anymore and laughed.
Everyone lost it, with Connie, Ymir, and Sasha being the loudest as tears streamed down their eyes. Like last time, Eren left the area as Jean's face turned red with anger.
"GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE, YEAGER!" he hollered for the second time today.
A perfect end of a perfect day…
…or not.
-進撃の巨人-
At sunrise, all of them were gathered before Keith Shadis. Standing next to him were members of the Survey Corps, the same that left for the expedition. Except two notorious members weren't present, them being Erwin Smith and Levi. Eren figured the two wouldn't take part in interviewing the cadets. Erwin Smith would focus on questioning the Garrison along with Levi, while the subordinates would focus on them. That suits him just fine since having an encounter with the man at this point in time would be inconvenient.
Eren knows his identity will be discovered eventually, but he could just feign ignorance. And if that doesn't work, there was always the second option, which he'd like to avoid. But if there's no other choice, then so be it.
"ATTENTION!" Shadis shouted. "These are members of the Survey Corps! Give them your undivided attention!" He stepped back as someone with brown hair and glasses took center stage. Eren didn't know their name but remembered seeing them leave for the expedition that day.
"Good morning, all of you!" Hange greeted them with a smile. "My name is Hange Zoë, and I'm the Section Commander of Squad Four! Nice to meet you all!" There was no response from the cadets. "Oh, wow. You guys are so quiet." Hange looked at Shadis, "You've got an interesting selection of graduates this year, Shadis."
Keith scoffed, "Little pissants are just too damn stubborn, that's all." It was his way of praising them.
"Yes, yes, we all know how much of a big softie you are underneath all that hard exterior of yours," Hange joked then addressed the cadets again. "Anyway, we'll be interviewing you all about the events of the Battle of Trost. None of you have any reason to be nervous about anything. We only want to know what you witnessed with your own eyes, and that's all."
'In other words, they want to know if any of us saw someone acting suspicious before the Mysterious Titan appeared.' Eren would have to be careful around this one. Hange Zoë was dangerous in their own way. They didn't just want to know if anyone was acting suspiciously, but also if an individual stood out by behaving outside the norm. He can see why Hange is the one interviewing them instead of Erwin Smith. He's confident none of the cadets saw him transform or come out of his Titan, but if that one Garrison soldier managed to at least catch a glimpse of his face…
Oh, well.
No point dwelling on it. He was prepared for this.
"Okay, we'll start by interviewing each of you in alphabetical order by last name," Hange said, gesturing to the other four soldiers. "Each of us will talk to you individually, so we can get through this more smoothly."
So it begins.
Before the interviews could even begin, they were brought back to Trost District. Doing the interviews at the very same place where the chaos started—how ironic. Eren sat in the waiting area along with those who hadn't been called in yet. He was curious which Scout member would be interviewing him. Possibly the Section Commander, but that was just his guess. Armin and Mikasa had already finished their interviews, but the two were unusually quiet. In fact, they appear to be lost in thought about something.
Had they…
"Eren Yeager!" Hange called his name in a cheerful manner. "I'll be doing your interview. Are you ready?" she asked.
Eren stands up and walks over to Hange, following behind her.
"Eren Yeager…such an interesting name! It sounds very unique! Does your name have a special meaning? And if it does, then…"
He ignored her because at this point she's just rambling. If this was her way of getting people to open up, it was effective. Not on him, but any other person would be scrambling to answer her questions. Interesting, yet annoying.
"Here we are!" Hange brought him to a room. "Now, there's no need to be nervous, just relax and tell me what you saw that day." Despite her reassurance he knew to be careful with what he said. He explained where he was when the Colossal Titan appeared and his actions after that encounter. Of course, he left out the part of him transforming into his Titan, but that was it. Sometimes it's better to tell half-truths instead of outright lying, and yes, he was leaving out important details, but he had his reasons.
Hange wrote down everything he was saying with a hum and smiled. "Okay, that's all. The interview is over! You can head back to the other cadets."
Eren didn't need to be told twice and did just that, but he made sure to give a polite bow before leaving. He walked back to the waiting area where Armin and Mikasa were already waiting for him.
"How did your interview go?" Armin asked.
"Fine."
Armin sighed in relief. "Good. I was a little nervous, but the other female soldier made the interview easy and my nerves settled down."
"I wasn't that nervous," Mikasa said.
"Of course you weren't." Armin wasn't even surprised. "How did you feel talking to her, Eren?"
Eren was honest. "Her personality is unique, but not intolerable." To him, maybe, but he can't speak for the other cadets. He's curious to find out what their next move would be now that all their interviews are finished. Erwin Smith is the one he needs to be prepared for. Once the man sets his sights on something, he becomes tenacious. That means Eren needed to be prepared for what the man had planned. There were possibly three things Erwin Smith could do:
First, bring him in for extensive questioning, pretending it wasn't an interrogation. He could feign ignorance as planned, and if things get physical, then he'll respond in kind.
Second, try coercing him into joining the Survey Corps, which would be pointless since he's already joining them. But they could monitor his movements at all times to discern what kind of person he is. Being watched and followed around sounds incredibly annoying, but he'd have to endure it.
Third, create a situation in which he has no choice but to reveal himself as the Mysterious Titan. The only way he could see that scenario happening is during an Expedition. He doubted the man would go that far, but who knows?
There's one thing Eren knows he should prioritize above all else, and that's Armin and Mikasa.
Protecting them is all that matters.
Four days later, they were back at the Survey Corps Headquarters. All members were gathered in Erwin's office, along with Pixis and Rico. So far, no one had stood out among the Garrison or Cadets. Erwin, Levi, and Mike took the initiative to question the Garrison extensively about their movements during the breach. All of them said the same thing: when they heard the wall had been breached, it was their duty to stand their ground. The Cadets were asked to assist, then most of the Garrison were killed before the Mysterious Titan appeared, controlled the Pure Titans, and the breach was sealed.
'Not very helpful,' Hange huffed, but couldn't really blame them since they were more focused on staying alive. Besides, she couldn't see any of them being the Mysterious Titan, no offense intended. There has to be something else—something about the Mysterious Titan's physical appearance or facial features that stood out. For two days, she skimmed through the Garrison testimonies, re-reading everything. While going over the physical description of the Titan by some of the Garrison soldiers that were close enough to see it, one thing stood out. The color of its eyes were green, an interesting and unique color for a Titan. Most of the Titans they encountered had either brown or black eyes, but it was possible some had other eye colors she didn't know about yet.
Green eyes…
Hmm…why does that particular detail stand out?
"We've finished interviewing the Garrison and Cadets, but still haven't narrowed down any potential suspects," Moblit said, a little disappointed.
"Technically all of them are suspects, but you have a point," Petra sighed, feeling a little frustrated. "Either the shifter's already left the walls, or they really don't want to be found."
"It's been two days and we haven't gotten any closer to finding out who they are," Gunther grumbled, about the give up.
"Just who could it be? Is there something we missed?" Eld was going over the testimonies of the Garrison, but so far nothing had stood out.
Oluo threw his hands in the air. "Where the fuck is this giant bastard hiding?! Come out already so I can get some sleep!" He hadn't gotten a proper night's rest because of this and wanted to sleep already.
"Quit complaining," Levi said, his glare silencing them, "You aren't the only ones not getting enough sleep. Shut up, and get back to work." It wasn't a request but an order.
"Yes, sir!"
Pixis felt sorry for them. Some, if not all, had dark circles due to lack of sleep. Nothing new to them since it was the norm when dealing with Titans, but they aren't dealing with a Titan this time. He had to admit the shifter is being quite clever, hiding themselves that it's made Erwin all the more eager to find them. Erwin's got that gleam in his eyes, a clear sign of his excitement at finding a potential secret weapon against the Titans. Good grief.
"Forget about the Garrison soldiers for now. What about the 104th Cadet Corps? Was there anyone among them that stood out to you, Hange?" Pixis asked, recalling she volunteered to interview them along with Levi's Squad.
Hange thought about it. "To be honest, all of them gathered together didn't garner much attention. But when interviewed individually, it was a different story." Particularly the top ten graduates and those after them.
"Oh? Care to explain what you mean?" Pixis asked, a little eager to know the details.
"During my time interviewing some of them, I've noticed a few qualities that made an impression on me. For example, I interviewed some who made the top ten, and after reading Commandant Shadis's evaluations," she paused briefly, "I can see them as being potential suspects."
"Shadis is tough with recruits and his evaluations are to be considered valid." Erwin hadn't read the evaluations yet, but knew Shadis was thorough.
"I interviewed a few who made the top ten. Their names were Jean Kirstein and Bertolt Hoover." Petra said, remembering how both boys were a little nervous when speaking to her, or in Bertolt's case. very nervous. "Those two didn't raise any red flags."
"Same here, I interviewed Reiner Braun and Annie Leonhart." Gunther liked Reiner; he's the embodiment of a soldier and has a good head on his shoulders. Annie, on the other hand? That girl is the definition of ice cold. It was like talking to a block of ice, "Reiner Braun is a trustworthy young man. As for Annie Leonhart…I'm not sure, but I doubt it's her."
Oluo scoffed, annoyed. "At least you didn't have to deal with the two brats I was saddled with." His eyebrow twitched. "Sasha Blouse and Connie Springer, how in the hell did those damn brats even survive the training?!" Damn menaces!
"I would have taken them over Mikasa Ackerman." Eld was eerily reminded of the Captain for some odd reason. "Her personality is similar to yours, Captain Levi."
Levi raised a brow at his words but otherwise had no comment.
"I had a very pleasant conversation with Eren Yeager and Krista Lenz!" Hange smiled, having taken a liking to the two. "Krista is such a sweet girl! She asked about my well-being and told me to get plenty of sleep!" She gushed, "Why can't more people be like her!"
"Focus, Hange," Erwin reminded.
"Right! Anyway, given her small, petite frame, it would be impossible for the girl to be our Titan shifter," Hange concluded.
"What about Eren Yeager?" Erwin prodded.
"He's a very interesting one. Not only did he answer my questions calmly, but he was very polite. I may have gotten off track a bit about mentioning the physique of the Mysterious Titan, but he still listened!" Hange appreciated someone like that. "The best part is when he asked me questions about my interest in Titans! Oh, I could have talked for hours, but I knew time was important, so, unfortunately, the questioning was over." Levi actually sighs and was nursing a headache just listening to Hange talk."Such a unique personality, along with his name, and physical appearance…" she trailed off, frozen stiff.
Physical appearance…
Appearance…
Green eyes…
"Hange?" Pixis questioned, curious about her silence. Hange snapped out of it and snatched some papers off the desk. This action caught everyone off guard, and before they could question what was wrong, Hange asked Rico a question, "Members of the Garrison got a close glimpse of its face, correct?"
"Um, yes!" Rico answered.
Hange looked back at the papers. "All of them testified the Mysterious Titan's eye color was green."
"What's your point?" Levi questioned.
Hange placed the papers down. "And none of the Garrison soldiers you interviewed have the same eye color, nor did any of the cadets." She grabbed one of the papers off the desk, the same paper of the person she interviewed. "Except for one."
At her last words, the atmosphere in the room became tense. No one spoke as they let her words sink in, as things were finally starting to become clear. Four days of guessing and scoping for more information, all of it had led up to this moment. With bated breaths, they waited for Hange to tell them the identity of a hidden treasure that can't hide anymore.
"Who is it, Hange?" Erwin prompted.
The light from the sun made her glasses glow as she faced them. "The identity of the Mysterious Titan is…
At the dorms, the cadets were outside just hanging around. Armin and Mikasa spotted someone walking towards them and smiled in their direction. Kruger's wings were heard in the background, and the person looked up to see a feather fall. Green eyes sparkled like emeralds. Their hair moved against the light breeze as they stared at the clear blue sky.
…Eren Yeager."
To be continued…
Next time:
Gründen
Found
基づく