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

edited on september 16th, 2021 @ 12:58pm

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𝓒𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝚂𝙴𝚅𝙴𝙽,
𝓢𝚃𝙸𝙻𝙻 𝙲𝙰𝙽'𝚃 𝚂𝙴𝙴, 𝙽𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃 𝙱𝙴𝙵𝙾𝚁𝙴 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙲𝙾𝚄𝙽𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙾𝙵𝙵𝙴𝙽𝚂𝙸𝚅𝙴, 𝙿𝙰𝚁𝚃 𝙾𝙽𝙴.

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JOSIAH WAS WITH THE OTHER cadets as he was sitting next to Armin and Mikasa. "A debate over Eren? What for?" Mikasa asked.

"I'm not really sure, but I think it's about what they plan to do with him." Armin replied.

"What do you mean?"

"My guess... is they're going to decide if he should live or die."

Mikasa stood up in shock while Josiah clenched his fist. Some Military Police soldiers came in.

"Are Mikasa Ackerman, Josiah Verlice, and Armin Arlert here?!"

"Yes!" Mikasa replied.

"You are ordered to attend this afternoon's deliberation, as witnesses!"

And that's how Josiah found himself in a court room. Eren widened his eyes when he saw Josiah, Armin, and Mikasa.

"Shall we begin?" Darius Zackly asked. "You are Eren Yeager, a soldier who has sworn to give his life for the people. Is that correct?"

"Yes." Eren responded.

"Give the extraordinary circumstances, this deliberation will be held as a court-material. Regular law will not apply, in other words. I have full decision-making authority in this matter, which includes determining whether you should live or die." Darius concluded.

"Just as I thought!" Armin thought.

"Any objections?"

"No, sir."

"Your astuteness is appreciated. I'll get right to the point." Darius said. "As expected, concealing your existence has proved impossible. Unless we publicly disclose your existence, in one fashion or another, we risk the outbreak of a new, non-Titan threat. It falls on me to decide which Regiment should take charge of you. The Military Police Regiment... or the Scout Regiment..."

"Now let's hear what the Military Police Regiment proposes."

"Yes, sir." Nile spoke and read from his paper. "I, Commander of the Military Police, Nile Dawk, will present my proposal. After a thorough investigation of Eren's body, we believe he should be eliminated immediately."

Silence.

Nile's eyes soon turned to Eren. "It's certainly true that his Titan power overcame our previous peril. However, now his existence threatens to spark a civil war. So we ask him to die for humanity's sake, leaving behind all the information he can." He continued.

"There is no need for that!" Someone stated. Josiah's eyes fell upon a priest from a church.

"He is an invasive pest! He has deceived the walls that embody God's wisdom! He must be killed at once!"

"Pastor Nick. Order, please. " Darius looked at the man. "We'll hear the Survey Corps's proposal next."

"Yes, sir." Erwin stood up. "I, 13th Commander of the Survey Corps, Erwin Smith, will present my proposal. We would welcome Eren as an official member of our forces, and use his power to retake Wall Maria. That is all."

"That's all?" Darius questioned.

"Yes, sir. With his power, we can retake Wall Maria. We believe it is clear what our priorities should be."

"I see. And where do you plan to begin this mission?" Darius asked, then turned to Commander Pixis of the Garrison Regiment. "Pixis, the Trost wall has been completely sealed, correct?"

"Yes." Pixis replied. "It can never be opened again."

"We would like to set out from Karanes, in the east." Erwin explained. "From there, we will proceed to Shiganshina. We will determine the route as we go."

"Wait a minute!" A merchant came in. "Shouldn't we seal all the wall gates once and for all? The Colossal Titan can only destroy the gates. If we strengthen them, we needn't endure further attacks!"

"Shut up merchant dog! With that Titan's power, we can return to Wall Maria!"

"We can no longer indulge your delusions of grandeur!"

"You talk a lot, pig." Levi spoke. Josiah's attention moved over to Levi, since this was the first time he spoke. Everyone looked at him with shock.

"Where is your proof that the Titans will wait while we seal the gates? The "we" you speak of are only those you wish to protect, your "friends" who help line your pockets. The people who starve because their isn't enough land to sow don't even figure into the thoughts of you pigs." Levi stated.

"We just thought that we could survive by sealing the wall gates—" The merchant began.

"Silence! Impious traitor!" Priest Nick came in with a glare. "Mere humans altering Wall Rose, walls that were a gift from God? Can you truly see those walls, God's work far beyond human capabilities, and not understand? Humanity is not fit to lay a single finger on those walls!"

"It's their fault... it took so long to arm the top of the walls." Armin commented.

"They have that much support and power now. They're a bad sort." Rico explained.

The two of them kept on shouting until Darius silenced them. "Silence. You may discuss your personal philosophies and opinions elsewhere. Yeager, I wish to confirm something. Can you continue to serve as a soldier, using your Titan powers to benefit humanity?" He questioned.

"Yes, I can!" Eren replied with confidence.

"Oh? But in the report on Trost's defense says this... Immediately after turning into a Titan, he swung his fist at Mikasa Ackerman and Josiah Verlice." Darius read from the paper as Eren looked at them in shock. Mikasa covered her scar.

"He doesn't remember that he wasn't in control..." Armin thinks to himself.

Josiah and Mikasa both glared at Rico. "What, you expect me to lie in a report?" Rico questioned. "Hiding this fact wouldn't do humanity any good."

"And who are Josiah Verlice and Mikasa Ackerman?"

"That would be us, sir." Josiah answered as both him and Mikasa looked to him.

"You are Verlice and Ackerman?" Darius questioned. "Is it true that, as a Titan, Yeager attacked you both?"

Josiah looked towards Eren, as did Mikasa. "It's in Eren's best interest that you two answer honestly." Rico informed.

Josiah closed his eyes. "She's right. It wouldn't do Eren any good if Mikasa and I lie." He opened his eyes and looked towards Mikasa, nodding to her.

"Yes. It's true." Josiah finally answered as gasps and whispers came from the court room. Eren also had a shocked look.

"I tried to kill Josiah and Mikasa?! Me?!" Eren thought.

"However..." Mikasa began. "He also saved my life on two previous occasions while in Titan form. The first time, just as I was about to fall into the hands of a Titan, he intervened and protected me." 

"The second time, he protected Armin, Mikasa, and I from a bombardment." Josiah continued. "We ask that you take these facts into consideration as well."

"I object. I believe these comments are greatly colored by their personal feelings. At an early age, Mikasa Ackerman lost her parents, and was taken in by the Yeager household." Nile spoke.

"Our investigation has also revealed a surprising fact about the underlying events." Nile continued as he read from the paper once more. "At age nine, Eren Yeager and Mikasa Ackerman killed three robbers who tried to kidnap her."

"Even if it was in self-defense, we cannot help but question his basic humanity. Should we really place personnel and funds in his hands, not to mention the very fate of humanity?!"

"Huh?!" Josiah shouted out. "What nonsense are you speaking of, you bastard?! I have the right mind to kick your ass, Commander or not!"

Soon, everyone began to mumble amongst themselves.

"That's right!"

"He's just a Titan that infiltrated us by pretending to be a child!"

"Them too!" Someone pointed to Josiah and Mikasa. "I bet they're both not human at all!"

"Yeah! We should dissect them both just to be safe!"

"Hold on! I might be a monster, but they have nothing to do with this! Nothing at all!" Eren defended.

"Like we can believe you!"

"It's the truth!"

"They are both one if you have to protect them!"

"No!"

The handcuffs slammed onto the pole as it went silent.

"I mean... You are wrong. But you're simply coming up with theories that fit whatever it suits you to think. Besides, all of you people... You've never even seen a Titan! What are you so afraid of? What is the point if those with the means and power do not fight? If you're afraid to fight for survival, then help me! You... cowards!" Eren shouted.

"Just shut up! And bet everything you have on me!" Eren screamed.

"Take aim!" Nile ordered as a soldier took his rifle and aimed it at Eren.

It all happened in a flash, one second a rifle was aimed at Eren and the next Eren's tooth came out of his mouth.

Levi strained Eren's neck and kicked him over and over again. Mikasa grew angry as she rushed forward but Armin and Josiah grabbed both of her arms to stop her from interfering.

"Wait, Mikasa!" Armin warned.

"He's not doing this without reason." Josiah informed.

Levi finally stopped as he placed his foot on Eren's head.

"This is a personal opinion. But I believe pain to be the best way to train someone. What you need is to be trained like a dog, not a man. It's easier to kick you while you're kneeling, too." Levi said and continued to kick him down.

"Wait, Levi..." Nile spoke up.

"What is it?" Levi questioned with his foot against Eren's face and then dropping his foot down.

"That's dangerous... What if he gets angry and turns into a Titan?" Nile asked as Levi kicked him once more.

"What are you saying?" Levi countered before grabbing his hair. "Aren't you going to dissect him?"

"When he turned into a Titan last time, he killed twenty other Titans before collapsing. If he is an enemy, his intelligence makes him a more formidable foe. Still no match for me, of course. But what will you do? Anyone persecuting him should also consider that fact. Do you really think you can kill him?" Levi asked.

Erwin then raised his hand. "Sir, I have a proposal." He informed.

"What is it?"

"The details of Eren's Titan power remain uncertain. Making it dangerous. Thus, I propose to have Captain Levi take responsibility for Eren's control, and embark on an expedition outside the walls."

"With Eren in tow?"

"Yes, sir. Based on the expedition's results, I'd like you to judge whether Eren can control his Titan power and whether he is a boom or bane to humanity."

"Control Eren Yeager... Can you do it, Levi?" Darius looked at Levi.

"I'm certain I can kill him. The only problem is I doubt I can do any less." Levi answered.

"Then my decision is made." Darius concluded.

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

Word Count: 1861 words.