A/N: Hello, readers! Another chapter is here! Enjoy!

edited on july 4th, 2022 @ 11:47am

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𝓒𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝙵𝙾𝚁𝚃𝚈-𝚂𝙴𝚅𝙴𝙽,
𝓐 𝚂𝙾𝚄𝙽𝙳 𝙰𝚁𝙶𝚄𝙼𝙴𝙽𝚃.

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《 𝖳𝖶𝖮 𝖸𝖤𝖠𝖱𝖲 𝖠𝖦𝖮 》

THE SCOUTS WERE IN THEIR dark green uniforms, facing the volunteers. "Eren, I haven't seen you since you lifted out ship a whole year ago." Yelena extended her hand out. "I'm honored to work with you."

Levi stepped in front of Eren, holding his hand out. "No, you won't be working together. You're lucky enough to see his face." He claimed.

"Plenty enough for me. Today will be a joyous day." Yelena raised her arms up towards the ocean. "The port is complete and we're welcoming our first outside visitor. From Paradis Island's sole friendly nation, Hizuru—Special Envoy, Kiyomi Azumabito."

The Azumabitos soon arrived as they headed to the District of Shiganshina for a meeting. Kiyomi and the others were brought to the palace.

Kiyomi took out a box, showing Mikasa a piece of cloth with a symbol on it.

"Do you recognize this family crest?" She asked.

Eren and Mikasa's eyes widened as she touched her wrist. "That's..." Mikasa trailed off.

"Show it, Mikasa." Eren told her.

"But my mom said to keep it secret." Mikasa argued, making Josiah raise an eyebrow.

"You showed it to me when we were little. It's a secret meant for today. Go on." Eren urged.

Mikasa unwrapped the bandage on her wrist and held her hand up, revealing the crest. The Azumabitos eyes widened at the sight of it.

"Before she died, this symbol was passed down to me from my mother. She said I should pass it on to my child." Mikasa explained.

Kiyomi walked forward, placing her hands on Mikasa's shoulders. "What an admirable deed! Over a century ago, the shogun we Azumabitos descended from had a son. He was on friendly terms with King Fritz and often came to Paradis. After the Great Titan War, Hizuru was defeated and in disarray. In the confusion, a child of the shogunate was left behind on the island. You're the lost descendant of our nation's ruler! You're the hope for Hizuru!"

"So does this mean Mikasa has royal blood in her? Pardon my language but that's fucking cool." Josiah commented.

Later, the soldiers of Paradis went outside to discuss, leaving the Azumabitos with the volunteers.

"I still don't get what a nation is."

"Anyways, now we've got leverage with Hizuru!"

"What if it's a trap? I suppose we should ask Yelena's opinion."

"No! That's exactly what they want!"

"One thing is for certain: The sea has joined us to the world, but we're still just a child learning to walk. We should sit quiet and hear what others have to say." Pixis informed.

"Hey, why'd you only show Eren that symbol?" Historia asked Mikasa.

"Huh?" Mikasa looked at her.

"You've never taken off your wrist wrap for anyone." Historia pointed out.

"Well, that's..." Mikasa started to say.

"You seem happy." Eren said.

"I am! You and I were both born with a heavy burden to bear!" Historia claimed. She smiled and nudged Mikasa. "There's nobody else I'd rather rely on!"

Eren and Josiah both shared a look before smiling at the two women.

They soon went back inside the room and sat on the chairs in front of a long table.

"It's a historic day for both our nations. Today is the only possible thanks to the one who brought us together, Zeke Yeager. After meeting with him in secret, we agreed to an arrangement under the condition we were able to meet Lady Mikasa. Zeke Yeager said if we cooperate with him, our nation may just helm an industry that restores it to its former glory. And yet, he hasn't even prospected your reserves. But a resource like that in this age of modernization would be worth its weight in jewels and treasure." Kiyomi licked her lips

"And? What exactly is the arrangement you have with Zeke Yeager?" Historia questioned.

"As you know, Zeke Yeager has a secret plan in mind. To achieve it, Hizuru's cooperation is needed. Here are his three points to protect Paradis with the rumbling." Kiyomi replied, handing them pieces of papers with writing written on them.

"The first set is a test run of the rumbling—to release a sample of its power and show the world its devastation. Next is Hizuru's cooperation. Your military must be strengthened until use of the rumbling isn't necessary. Lastly, the Founding Titan and a Titan with royal blood must be passed down. That's the third point. Zeke will pass on the Beast Titan to someone of royal blood. Until their 13-year term ends, they must bear as many kids as possible." Kiyomi explained as all of them were shocked. Some were angry.

"Very well. I will inherit the Beast Titan. As long as the rumbling is tied to our survival." Historia announced as Kiyomi looked away.

"Historia..." Mikasa muttered.

Eren stood up in anger, gritting his teeth. "After years of getting trampled on, now we've gotta breed like livestock? If that's the price of getting to live, Zeke Yeager can take his damn plan and shove it!" He declared. "It's too dangerous to gamble on having the rumbling. We need to spend our time exploring what other options are available to us."

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"Hey! Is this... something... they really need us... to do?!" Connie questioned, out of breath.

"Nope! We wouldn't be doing this, but that idiot opened their mouth." Jean responded,  Jean responded, glancing over at Eren who was wiping the sweat off his face. "'We can develop the island and our muscles at the same time,' my ass."

"We can't do much but wait for Hizuru's answer anyways." Connie pointed out, seeing Armin and Sasha chasing each other.

"Yeah. And hope they can be our mediator to the world." Jean agreed. Mikasa soon walked by the three, holding pipes. "We're grasping at straws here trying to avoid the rumbling and save Historia."

"Yeah."

"Hey!"

Hange and Levi got off their horses as the others approached them. "Man, you're all working in this heat!" Hange pointed out.

"Yeah, well, we're stuck watching this idiot." Jean complained, looking over at Eren.

"Unbeliveable. You're all growing so damn big." Levi commented with his arms crossed.

"Is it about Hizuru?" Eren asked.

"The Azumabitos sent their reply." Hange replied.

"And?" Eren questioned.

"No good. Looks like we can't turn to Hizuru. It seems they want to monopolize Paradis Island's resources. They won't help us trade with the others. The world wants Paradis Island to be the root of all evil. It helps to unite all nations and brings stability to the world." Hange explained.

"So, we've got no choice but to rely on the rumbling and sacrifice Historia?" Eren asked.

"That's right." Levi replied.

"You're kidding! They decided we're devils without knowing our intentions?" Armin asked in disbelief. "Why won't they consider the path a path of peace?"

"I think... because they don't know. They fear us because they don't know what we are." Mikasa stated.

"That's right. They won't trust people whose faces they haven't seen. So let's meet 'em! If you don't understand something, go figure it out!" Hange said.

Levi glanced over at Hange with a surprised look on his face. "Isn't that what we Scouts do?" They questioned.

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The sun was soon setting as everyone was riding back. Josiah was sitting next to Mikasa. "Make a base in Marley and infiltrate, huh?" Jean spoke.

"Hange-san sure has a plan for everything." Sasha stated. "I'll be able to chow down on real Marleyan cuisine!"

"Yeah? What should I bring? It would stink to get the runs." Connie said.

"Stomach medicine, toothbrush, a taste of home..." Sasha began listing things off.

"Did you even hear Hange-san's plan?" Mikasa asked her.

"If the world knows that we want peace, maybe something will change." Armin pointed out. His declaration made everyone fall silent.

"If only we had more time. I've got just over five years left." Eren announced, breaking the silence. "We're gonna have to decide who inherits my Titan soon."

"I will." Mikasa said.

"Not you. We still don't know what the Ackermans are." Jean informed. "And won't it hurt any plans with Hizuru if you become a Titan? No, for so many reasons."

"Then who will?" Mikasa asked.

Jean pointed to himself. "Me. First of all, I'm way smarter than Eren." He replied. "Instead of a suicidal maniac, you'll have a gifted leader who shows good judgment in all situations. In other words, me. I hate getting an Eren hand-me-down, but who better than me?"

"Someone that amazing we don't wanna lose in 13 years, moron." Connie responded.

"Huh?!"

"You should aim to be a regiment leader. I'll inherit Eren's Titan. It works out good, right?" Connie offered.

"Connie..." Eren trailed off.

"That's not good at all. You're an idiot." Sasha admitted.

"Eh?" Connie turned his head over to her.

"Don't "eh" me. We can't leave such an important role up to an idiot." Sasha claimed.

"Eh?"

Sasha sighed. "Doggone it... I'll inherit it." She offered. "I've got combat experience... I'm someone you can trust... By process of elimination, it's gotta be me."

"You guys..." Eren paused for a moment.

"I dun wanna. I sure dun wanna though." Sasha admitted.

"Wait, huh? Isn't that weird?" Connie asked.

"What?"

"Well, you know... You said an idiot's not fit for the role." Connie pointed out.

"Hmm?"

"You're more of an idiot than I am, so you're contradicting yourself."

"Huh?"

"Huh...?"

"I don't want any of you to inherit it." Eren spoke up, getting everyone's attention.

"Why not?" Jean questioned.

"Because you're important to me. More than anyone else. So, I want you to have long lives." Eren answered as it when silent amongst the group.

Eren then suddenly blushed. "Huh?! What are you turning red for?! The hell kinda mood is this?!" Jean shouted out.

"Sorry." He apologized.

"Jean, it's the sunset. It's making our faces red." Armin said.

"Oh. Nothing we can do about the sun." Jean stated.

Eren and Josiah were blushing at each other, making Josiah smile.

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Connie, Jean, Josiah, Armin, and Mikasa were all in a room as Connie looked out of the window. "To think Commander Pyxis would go so far as to detain the volunteers." Jean said with his hand on his chin.

"Since they and the Scouts are so close, we weren't told in advance." Armin revealed.

"Yeah. I'm sure he didn't have much choice. Until Zeke's intentions are made clear, it puts us in a real pickle." Jean stated. "And Eren's suddenly aboard Zeke's plan. Whatever the two of them talked about is something only they know."

"Hey. Did that look like Eren to you guys?" Connie suddenly questioned. "Not me. That wasn't Eren. If he's made up his mind to side with his half-brother over us..."

"If he has, then what?" Josiah asked.

"We've gotta be prepared to cut him down if necessar—"

"I won't let you!" Josiah interrupted him.

"Huh?" Connie turned to look at her.

"Are you siding with them, too, Josiah?" Connie accused.

Josiah looked away. "I don't think it'll come to that." He admitted. "Eren cares about us more than anyone. You guys should know that."

Connie, Jean, Mikasa and Armin all stayed silent. "Maybe that's why he's so hostile to anyone who isn't one of us. He cares too much." Mikasa continued on.

"That's not it." Jean looked up. "No matter how strong you were, the old him tried to keep you off the front lines. But he made Armin destroy the port and pulled you into the fight. All of us, too. The ones he called important."

"I think that's because he trusts us. If we hadn't gone, he couldn't have done it." Josiah argued.

"And Sasha wouldn't have died." Connie countered, causing everyone to turn to him. "Josiah... When Sasha died, what did Eren do? Did he cry? Did he regret his actions?"

"Connie, stop." Jean told him.

"He laughed." Connie finished, making Josiah widen his eyes.

"What part of it was so funny to him? What part of Sasha dying? Explain to me, Josiah. Why was Eren laughing? You know everything about him, right?" Connie questioned as Jean looked down.

"We'll talk to Eren. Just me, Josiah, Mikasa, and him. We'll find out his goal." Armin said.

"But will it help? What if his goals are the same as Zeke's?" Jean countered.

"Now that the miltary has Titan serum, we've got options." Armin informed.

"You don't mean—!" Josiah started to say in shock.

"The option of making someone we trust into a Titan, who would then inherit Eren's Founding Titan." Armin declared.

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

Word Count: 2141 words.