« Chapter 39- Midnight Investigation »

Hazel's P.O.V

I was fitting in the new gloves I asked for from the Survey Corps since the previous one was tattered and it actually felt perfectly. It doesn't feel as warm as the previous one, but I like it since it looks just like the first one. I looked over my shoulder to see Titus looking blankly at his palms and his pair of new gloves sat beside him. Since I told him my superstition about this camp and that Harry guy, he keeps on thinking deep on his own.

I clicked my tongue and stood up from my bunk and walked over him. As I walk along the wooden floor, the heels of my shoes are the only sounds I hear in this lonely cabin. The moon is high outside, though the my is cloudy and stars hide behind those dark misty clouds.

"Titus," I coldly called and his attention is fully poured on his palms not even giving any to his sister. Not that I care for his attention anyway, "Tch, Titus. Snap out of it! We're here on a mission right now so no need to be starring at your stupid pa--"

"Nee-chan, what if he's our uncle?" I fell silent at the question and crossed my arms.

"I don't care if he's really our uncle. All I want is for all of this to end so we can go back to the Scouting Legion," I said and I heard him sighed. Titus took his gloves and wore it, wiggling his arms so it would fit on his hands.

"Why didn't Tou-san told us about his side of the family?" He paused and clutched his hands after he fully wore his gloves "All I heard about them is that they slowly disappeared taking in other names from their husbands and some become priests and died. Soon, we were the only Braugstein who stayed loyal to our name and blood."

"Tch, and they said Ackerman were extinct," I muttered and Titus looked up at me. Okay, now that just sound ridiculous and in the same time insulting, "Look. I don't really know the whole story of our family except for the shifting powers and that's why we're here right now. To find the answers ourselves."

"Nee-chan..."

"Tch, now stop sulking like a stupid little kid and do your job here. Kirstein and the others are outside, waiting," I said and yanking his arm up so he would stand. He laughed sheepishly and clutched his hand.

"T-This gloves are like the first one. Cool. Hehe," he said and I clicked my tongue then muttered the word troublesome under my breathe.

I blew the fire off the lamp in the cabin and we quietly walked out. We wore the black cloak provided for us and pulled the hood over our head. I looked left and right to make sure there's no one roaming around and when the coast is clear, we ran towards the forest nearby and avoid making any unnecessary noises.

I heard zipping noises and three cloaked figures landed in front of us. The taller on pushed back his hood revealing the horseface kid, Kirstein.

"Took you long enough," he said as Blouse and Springer took off their hoods too.

"If it weren't for someone being dramatic earlier, we should have been here  earlier," I said and Titus sheepishly laughed.

"Oh! By the way, Hazel-san! Captain Levi asked us to give this to you," Blouse said and handed me a white air mail envelope. I swear I saw Titus smirked under his hood and I mentally punched him because this is not the time to make a riot.

I took the envelope and tucked it inside my pocket, careful not to lose it.

"Now, let's go to business. What are Erwin and the others planning on doing?" I asked and Springer pointed his forefinger at me.

"Why wouldn't you took off your hoods?"

"There are people at camp who know us so it's better be safe," Titus responded and Springer's mouth formed an 'o'

"Commander and Squad Leader Hange are just waiting for one valuable reason to attack so unless you report anything that these people do that are unnecessary, we won't attack," Kirstein said and I nodded.

"So far we haven't found anything," Titus said and looked back at where the camp are.

"But it's really suspicious that a camp like that stood long without any acknowledgment of the government," Springer said and I shifted my eyes sideways and grabbed Blouse and Springer's wrists.

"Duck!" I half whispered and half yelled and Titus seem to get the note ad dragged Kirstein down as I dragged the two. Kirstein fell on his face as the other two fell on their back. Titus and I are fin in a squatting position hiding behind a bush.

"What the--"

"Shut up, horseface," I said as I peeked over the bush to see blond man walking near the border of the camp. He's looking at our direction and gritted my teeth. Shit, he might have sensed me and Titus.

"Jorge! Come inside already! It's cold!" A woman's voice said and the man walked back to where he came from, but without a final look at our direction. Once he was finally out of our eyesight, I slowly stood up again and so as the others.

"What the hell was that for, Titus?" Kirstein asked as he hold his bleeding nose.

"G-Gomen ne, Jean."

"They must have sensed us. You three go fly around the camp and tell us if there are still people outside. Be careful, they might see you," I said and they all nodded then put back their hoods. They geared up and zipped upwards. Titus headed towards the camp as I tapped my pocket.

Is this a letter from Levi? How is he doing? Is he eating well? Is he still making Eren do all the cleaning? Is he gonna answer all of that in the letter? Does he miss me? I miss him. Wait! What?!

My cheeks started burning and my eyes are wide open as I shook my head, erasing those thoughts. Damn, you Hazel! Focus on the mission! Set aside your feelings for Levi and focus on your stupid job! Damn it!

"Nee-chan, are you coming or what?!" Titus asked, smirking and I glared at him.

"Tch, shut up, you brat!" I said as he snickered. I walks up to him and strutted near the border of the camp. Blouse landed near us and told us that the coast is clear.

"Good."

Titus did our part and peeked at each cabin, looking for some clues. When we found nothing, we went to the library they have in camp. I opened the door and was greeted by limited amount of books. The library isn't that big anyway and since they are in the middle of nowhere, they only had few books too.

"Start looking for clues. Records anything. Go," I dictated and Titus nodded and we split up. I opened the window and the three entered, "Go find any good informations. Be alert at all times or I'll really skin you all alive and stuff you in bags made of your skins. Go."

"Hai," they all said and started scanning the library. Blouse started whining at how hungry she is ad I tossed a potato at her and her eyes sparkled. The boys' gazed turned to me and I shrugged and kept quiet.

I started looking myself and came across a certain book.

"Braugstein Family. Record of different generations," I took it from the shelf and scanned it.

No one knew where the shifting powers of the Braugstein Bloodline came from or maybe the first shifters never decided to tell the succeeding  Braugstein.

Tch, now I thought I'll be able to unlock the mystery of this ability. What a party pooper these first shifters are. I turned some pages and landed on a some random Braugstein that I don't even know. Tch, don't know there's so many damn Braugstein, but this book isn't even that thick! It only have names and pictures of different dudes in suits and dresses.

But I stopped when my eyes landed on a familiar face.

Leonardo Braugstein and his family.

My grandfather. Even though he looks way younger in the photo, I know it's him.  And beside him is my father who was around the age of ten or eleven. But they are not the only people in the photo. There is also a woman sitting down on a chair beside Grandfather holding an infant child wrapped around a cloth. I looked down the picture and names were listed.

(Left to right) Leonardo Braugstein; Eduard Braugstein; Harry Braugstein; and Lillian Braugstein.

"Harry..."

*THUD*

I shot up after hearing a sound and the others quickly placed back their books and so did I. I ran towards the window and followed the others outside.

"Man, Uncle Harry scolded me again. Now I need to keep watch on the library! Like, so not cool!" It's that bratty kid, Michael. I can recognize his voice so I know it's that spoiled kid from before.

"You three, go back to camp and say wait for a report from us tomorrow evening. Don't let anyone see you on your way out," I instructed quietly and they nodded. They ran towards the forest and maneuvered away from camp. Titus and I also went back to our cabin, careful not to let anyone see us. Michael doesn't seem to notice us anyway.

"I'm going to sleep. I'm tired," I said after slipping out my cloak. I tossed it to Titus and he looked at me.

"Aren't you gonna read Heichou's letter?" He asked as I kicked off my boots and laid on my bunk.

"Tch, I'll read it tomorrow. I'm tired," I said and pulled out the folded envelope from my pocket and placed it on my bag with my other stuff.

"Oh, oka. Good night."

That's not really it. I'll just pretend I'm asleep until I can read my letter in private.

"Goodnight, brat," I said and closed my eyes.

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