A/N: Hello, readers! Welcome to another chapter! Enjoy!

edited on july 20th, 2022 @ 4:32am

»»————-　★　————-««

»»————-　★　————-««

┏━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┓

𝓒𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝙵𝙾𝚁𝚃𝚈-𝙽𝙸𝙽𝙴,
𝓖𝚄𝙸𝙳𝙴𝚂.  

┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛

"ARMIN!"

Armin turned around, spotting Josiah and Mikasa rushing towards him. "Mikasa! Josiah! You two managed to make it here, huh?" He questioned.

"Yeah. We can't let this time go to waste. Let's go." Josiah replied.

The three of them were walking as Mikasa looked out the window. "Scout recruits? What are they doing at HQ?" Mikasa wondered.

Josiah, Armin, and Mikasa were soon in Zachary's office. "I hear Hange's all over the place." He announced.

"Yeah. I guess something needed checking out." Armin replied.

"Indeed. And I permitted a volunteer to go along." Zachary turned around. "I can't allow you three to meet Eren."

Armin, Mikasa, and Josiah widened their eyes. "Why not?!" Armin asked.

"Because we know Eren had contact with the volunteers. Eren kept quiet about his secret meeting which resulted in the raid on Marley. We're currently investigating if anyone else was involved with it. Eren hasn't said a word since the truth came to light. We're still in the dark about what he did during his time in Marley, too." Zachary responded. "We believe that Eren is being manipulated by Zeke. I'm telling you this because it's you three, but keep quiet about it."

"Eren... No way..." Armin mumbled.

"What will happen to Eren?!" Mikasa asked.

Zachary didn't answer as Josiah noticed a familiar chair. "Is that...?" He paused.

"Hmm? It's nothing. I had recruits bring it here since there was nowhere to store it." Zachary stated.

"But, Premier, if Eren isn't talking, all the more reason I think we can help. I'm not sure we can get the truth out of him, but there's no harm in trying." Armin tried to reason.

"The situation is too delicate. We're done talking here." Zachary said.

The three of them soon left Zachary's office. "Why? You're right that there's no harm in talking, so why can't we?" Josiah questioned.

Footsteps were soon heard. "One explanation might be that they've completely given up on Eren." Armin answered as the trio walked past some Military Police officers, making them look back.

"Excuse us!"

"If that's true, they're already picking the next Founding Titan." Armin claimed.

"I'll listen through the door." Josiah offered.

Armin grabbed onto his arm. "Wait, Josiah!" He warned.

"It's fine. I won't get caught." Josiah reassured.

"We can't risk it right now!"

"With all that's going on, we've gotta find out their plan! No matter what happens, I'll make sure Eren..."

Josiah suddenly widened his eyes as his words were interrupted by an explosion coming from Zachary's office. He quickly grabbed onto Armin and Mikasa, ducking for cover.

"Armin! Mikasa! You okay?" Josiah asked.

"I-I'm fine." Armin replied.

"So am I." Mikasa reassured.

"Put out the fire!"

"Was anyone injured?!"

"Over here! We need a hand!"

"Hurry up!"

"You guys okay?!" Mikasa asked as Hitch walked over towards them. "Hitch! What was that?!"

"The premier's room just...!" Hitch paused her words.

"Where is he?!" Mikasa questioned, looking up.

They glanced over, seeing a deceased Zachary being covered by a Military Police member.

"Give your hearts!"

Those three words brought the attention of Josiah, Armin, Mikasa, and Hitch.

"Our anger reached 'em! Now's the time to fight!"

"I'll fight, too!"

Soon enough, the crowd began agreeing and shouting "Give your hearts!" over and over.

»»————-　★　————-««

"Premier Zachary owned a "special" chair. We believe a bomb was placed on it. He and three soldiers were lost. The culprit and their goal is unknown."

"The volunteers were on house arrest and this one was with me all day." Hange responded, referring to Onyankopon.

"Who else could be responsible for it?"

"The premier said some recruits brought it to his room." Armin announced.

"Recruits from where?" Nile asked.

"He never said from where." Armin replied, looking at him. "But when Mikasa, Josiah, and I went to his room, we saw recruits leaving HQ. Scout recruits."

Everyone's eyes widened at Armin's statement. "Speaking of Scouts, I hear some of them leaked the info about Eren." Nile commented.

"You don't think..."

"It's an emergency! Eren Yeager has escaped from his cell!"

"Mobilize everyone and find him!" Nile ordered.

"Yes, sir!"

"Hurry! Let's go!"

"Armin..." Mikasa mumbled. "What in the world is happening?"

Armin, Josiah, and Mikasa were soon in a carriage with Hange and Onyankopon. "It's okay, Mikasa, Josiah. Eren will understand." Armin reassured. "If we talk to him, I'm sure he'll understand."

»»————-　★　————-««

"Floch Forster and some 100 soldiers and guards vanished from the prison. They thought to have defected timed with Eren's escape. I'm sure they're behind the premier's murder, too. They need a name. Let's call these anti-military insurgents "Yeagerists." And the goal of the Yeagerists... is what, Hange?" Nile asked.

"They're hoping to bring Zeke and Eren together. They'll reform the military with Eren on top. Murdering the premier shows their resolve. It's obvious what provoked them. The military schemed to take the Founder from Eren, all without telling us." Hange replied.

"We knew what would happen if we had. In any case, many of the Yeagerists are from the Scouts. How will you take responsibility, Hange?"

"I'll accept any punishment. But resigning now would be an irresponsible thing to do. Besides, we don't know how many Yeagerists are still in hiding." Hange responded.

"Indeed. There might even be a suicide bomber standing in front of me." Roeg claimed.

"Roeg, don't be ridiculous." Hange said.

"Can you be trusted? Until we know, we can't let you Scouts roam as you please!" Roeg stated.

"Enough! We have a guest here!" Pyxis informed. "We have more important things to do than bicker! Hange, who knows where Zeke's being held?"

"Levi and the 30 other soldiers with him. Also, three soldiers who deliver supplies. Lastly, there's me." Hange replied.

"Have those three brought here. Nile, is the Queen's residence safe?" Pyxis asked.

"Only a few know the location, but I'll check it out." Nile responded.

"Eren will attempt to contact Zeke and Queen Historia. Protecting those two is an absolute must!" Pyxis informed.

"Yes, sir!"

"Commander Pyxis! Now that we lost the premier, the only one who can lead us is you." Armin stated. "What do you think we should do?"

Pyxis raised his hands in the air. "We've been utterly beaten. Let's surrender to Eren." He answered, shocking everyone.

"We can't do a thing about enemies in our midst. Even if we flushed them out, who knows how much blood it would cost? We don't have time to waste on such folly. Our decisions made soldiers turn their backs on us. It brought about our defeat." Pyxis stated.

"You're kidding! Bow down to the people who killed the premier?!"

"I knew Zachary for many years. To live and die by revolution would be what he wanted. Anyways, the four who died wouldn't want their deaths to cause Eldia's fall." Pyxis replied.

"So instead, we submit to the Yeager brothers?!" Nile questioned.

"We're not submitting. We'll use the location of Zeke to negotiate with the Yeagerists. Like before, Eldia's survival will depend on a test run of the rumbling. However, we must look past the fact that they murdered the premier. If that's the price to prevent countless comrades from being killed..." Pyxis trailed off as the Garrison soldiers were shaking uncontrollably and had gritted teeth. "... so be it."

"Get moving, soldiers!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Commander."

Kiyomi stood up from her seat. "I'm ashamed you had to see that." Pyxis admitted.

"Don't be. Every country goes through this." Kiyomi told him.

"I'm afraid I can't guarantee your safety. Please wait at the port until all this is over." Pyxis said.

"Right. We're hoping for Eldia's victory from the bottom of our hearts." Kiyomi stated before glancing over towards Mikasa. "Lady Mikasa."

Mikasa turned around when her name was called, walking over towards Kiyomi who grabbed her shoulders. "If anything happens, please escape to my ship." She said.

"I appreciate your concern, Lady Kiyomi. However, I am an Eldian. I want the place I was born to have a future. Don't concern yourself with me." Mikasa told her.

"What are you talking about? The whole reason we came was for you!" Kiyomi argued.

"Not our resources?" Mikasa questioned. "You don't care who leads the country as long as the rumbling succeeds, right?"

"Yes... Unless the rumbling's power is proven, Hizuru will hang us out to dry. Our investments will go to waste and the Azumabitos will be done for." Kiyomi explained.

"All the more reason I can't rely on you." Mikasa claimed.

"The Azumabitos had to adapt to these turbulent times. Now, we're best known for being wretched, money-grubbing vixens." Kiyomi said. "Still, we haven't lost our pride in the clan that your mother passed on to you. No matter what comes of the country, we wish to protect you!" 

»»————-　★　————-««

"We're helping Eren when he killed the premier?" Connie questioned.

"Nobody knows if Eren did it." Josiah argued.

"Keep it down, Josiah. People suspect us of being Yeagerists." Jean reminded him.

"Whose side are you on anyways, Josiah?" Connie asked.

"Armin, Mikasa, and I almost got caught in the explosion. You have to ask?" Josiah countered.

"Huh?"

"Enough. Like Pyxis was saying, infighting will be our downfall." Hange informed.

"So you're okay with entrusting everything to Eren and Zeke?" Jean asked.

"No, it's not good. Zeke and Yelena took precautions and were ready for this sort of situation. We have to expect they took other precautions, too." Hange turned to Jean. "We need to figure out Zeke's intentions before he makes fools of us. Let's just hope my concerns turn out to be nothing."

"Something worrying you?" Jean questioned in concern.

"Yelena secured work for Marleyan prisoners in odd places. Like restaurants, for example." Hange responded.

The Scouts were on their horses, following Hange towards Niccolo's restaurant as dust gathered behind them.

"Tsk! The military's always in a rush."

Nearby was a disguised Pieck looking at a newspaper, staring at the now departed Scouts.

»»————-　★　————-««

A/N: Another chapter is completed! Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 1695 words.