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

edited on june 16th, 2022 @ 6:52am

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𝓒𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝙵𝙾𝚁𝚃𝚈-𝙴𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃,
𝓒𝙷𝙸𝙻𝙳𝚁𝙴𝙽 𝙾𝙵 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙵𝙾𝚁𝙴𝚂𝚃.

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"IT'S CALLED A 'GAS WEAPON.' The gas contains some of my spinal fluid. Breathing just the slightest amount makes Subjects of Ymir freeze up. They can't control their bodies and lose consciousness. On my command, I send the Power of the Titans to the coordinate via Paths. That's why the people of that village obeyed my orders." Zeke explained.

"It's not 'that' village. It's Ragako." Levi corrected. "Don't forget the name of the village you slaughtered, you bearded shit."

"Well, I didn't want to do it. But if I hadn't, and they found out I was sided with Eldia, I couldn't have brought hope to this island. You know, I told you all this when I landed on the island. Why do you keep asking?" Zeke questioned.

"You don't have a shred of guilt in you and it shows. You may or may not want to save Eldia, but those lives meant nothing to you." Levi said.

"You can't have been popular. You think you know everyone's feelings." Zeke claimed.

"I do know." Levi stated. "And I was popular enough."

"Well, ain't that great? So? When will Eren and I begin the test?" Zeke asked.

"I'm not the one to decide. We're waiting for the order from HQ." Levi replied.

"Tell them if they think they have time to wait, they're gravely mistaken." Zeke said.

"I can agree with you on that." Levi told him.

"Captain Levi! Section Commander Lyon!"

A Scout came up to them and whispered something in their ears. "What?" Levi said in surprise.

"Is that true?" Lyon also asked in shock.

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"It's you guys?" Niccolo questioned as he saw the Survey Corps. "What's wrong? Something urgent? I'm busy dealing with important guests right now."

Julian raised his hands up in the air. "Well, it's fine. You can go back to work. We just want to talk with you later." He said.

"A talk? About what?" Niccolo questioned.

"I mean, well, you have like... concerns, don't you?" Julian asked as Onyankopon stepped up.

"About the detained volunteers. We'd like to ask you some questions." Onyankopon said.

"Okay. Got it." Niccolo said as they followed him into a separate room. "You guys can wait here for a while."

"Oh, never knew about this room." Hange stated, making Julian hum in agreement.

"I bet it's a room for those big shots at the Military Police." Connie muttered.

Jean picked up a wine bottle. "This is... The wine that people in the military keep talking about. I heard only the officers get to drink this." He claimed.

"What did you say? We're officers too in the Survey Corps, right?" Connie asked.

"Yeah. We should deserve some treat once in a while." Jean replied. "Just a sip—"

"Get your hand off that!" Niccolo ordered, quickly grabbing the wine from Jean's hands as everyone turned to look at him.

"What's wrong, Niccolo? We were just joking around. No need to overreact." Jean informed.

Niccolo gritted his teeth. "This wine would be wasted on Eldians!" He exclaimed.

"Niccolo... You're still saying that?" Jean asked. "Our races should have nothing to do with wines!"

Jean grabbed onto Niccolo's collar. "Don't touch me, Eldians. Don't act like we're buddies just because I was kind to you a little." Niccolo said.

"Then who do you think you are? In here you are..." Jean started to say.

"'Nothing but a POW'? Now we're even, Eldians." Niccolo finished, removing Jean's hand from his collar and then leaving the room.

"What happened to him?" Connie questioned as Jean turned around.

"Dammit! Hell if I know." Jean answered.

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"This is bad! Everyone, come here!" Armin shouted out.

"Huh? What?"

Jean and Connie widened their eyes upon seeing Gabi. "The brat who killed Sasha?" Connie questioned.

"What does this mean, Niccolo?" Jean asked. "I heard she was on the run. What are you trying to do?"

Niccolo pressed the knife up against Falco. "Stay away! Get back! I'm just going to avenge Sasha! Don't move!" He ordered.

"Stop it. Falco is innocent!" Gabi pleaded.

"What is this boy to you? He ended up like this because he tried to protect you! Is he someone special for you? I also had someone special for me! She's an Eldian! The descendant of devils! But she enjoyed my food more than anyone else! She saved me from this shitty war. She taught me that I was meant to make food that makes people happy! Her name is Sasha Braus. That is the name of the woman you killed!" Niccolo ranted.

"I lost people who were special to me, too! Because Sasha Braus shot them! That's why I got my revenge!" Gabi shouted. "She's the one who killed them first!"

"Who cares about who did it first!" Niccolo shouted back, pressing the blade against Falco's neck.

"Come to your senses! You're a Marleyan soldier, aren't you! I'm sure that devil woman is brainwashing you! Don't let the devils win!" Gabi exclaimed.

"Niccolo. Give me the knife." Artur ordered, holding his hand out. "Please."

Niccolo hands Artur the knife, who walked in front of Gabi.

"That's enough." Julian stepped forward, not wanting the situation to escalate. "Mr. Braus. Please put down the knife."

"Sasha was a hunter."

"What?"

"I taught her how to use a bow when she was little and we'd go huntin' in the forest. 'Cause that's how we lived. But... I knew that the day will come when we couldn't keep livin' that way. So I made Sasha leave the forest. Then the world got bigger. Sasha became a soldier and went off to attack other lands, shot people, and then got shot herself. I thought I was sending her to outside the forest." Artur hands his wife the knife. "Turns out, the world was a colossal forest, where it was still about killin' or bein' killed."

"I believe Sasha got killed 'cause she wandered too long in that forest. We've gotta at least get the kids outta this forest. Or else... We would just keep circling around the same place. That's why, it is the burden of us adults to shoulder the sins and hatred of the past."

"Mr. Niccolo. Let Ben go." Lisa said as Niccolo did so while Jean and Connie restrained him

"Good. Lisa, move him slowly."

"Yes."

Mikasa went up to Gabi. "Show me your wound." She told her.

"Mia. Are you okay?" Artur asked.

"You really... don't hate me?" Gabi questioned.

Kaya rushed forward from behind Gabi with the knife in hand as Mikasa caught her wrist before she could do anything.

"Kaya?"

Artur and Lisa pulled Kaya back. "How dare you killed her!" Kaya shouted.

"Hey! Stop!"

"Murderer!"

"Kaya!"

"I thought you were my friend!" Kaya exclaimed.

"Take her to the other room. Come on." Armin said as they took Gabi to another room.

Kaya sobbed in Lisa's arms as Artur and Lisa soon followed.

"The main dish has gone cold now." Niccolo muttered, closing his eyes before opening them again. "Julian. Please rinse that kid's mouth for me. Some of that wine got in."

"Eh?" Julian turned his head.

Niccolo lowered his head. "But... it's probably too late." He claimed.

Julian widened his eyes. "Is there something in that wine?" He asked.

"I think... it's Zeke's spinal fluid." Niccolo replied.

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Meanwhile, in the forest, Zeke was reading a book. "Zachary was killed?" Levi asked.

"Yes. The Yeagerists practically have control over everything within the walls. It is believed that all the chaos is being caused by Zeke, through Eren and Yelena."

"And then?" Levi questioned.

"Eren will be brought to Zeke, following the Yeagerists demand."

"Is Pyxis really going to obediently roll with it?"

"As you say, the commander remains steadfast."

"The military plans to have someone eat Eren, right? By our hands." Levi asked.

"That's right."

Levi had a look of anger on his face as he remembered the death of his comrades.

"You gotta be kidding me. This has got to be a joke. If it's about feeding someone to a Titan, there's a better option." Levi claimed.

"Eh?"

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"What do you mean? Zeke's spinal fluid is in the wine?" Jean asked, gripping onto Niccolo's collar.

"I don't have any proof. But... The first survey ship has a lot of these wine packed in. A short-term surveying voyage does not need wine, much less one that many." Niccolo explained as Connie was trying to wash the wine out of Falco's mouth.

"One more time." Julian said.

"And also... Just as I started to settle here as a cook, I was told to serve it to the military, staring with high-ranking officers."

"One more."

"By who?!" Jean questioned.

"Yelena." Niccolo answered, looking away. "As far as I know, she was the only one who acts on this. I'm not sure about the other volunteers."

Julian looked towards Onyankopon. "I-I've never heard about this before." He claimed.

"But that doesn't make sense! Eldians will freeze once they drink Zeke's spinal fluid, right?" Connie asked.

"That's what Zeke said. It's not like we have anyone who saw that happen, so we can't even confirm it. But... The effect of that one lie is enormous. We won't even suspect getting dozed with his spinal liquid if we don't see the symptoms." Julian explained.

"But... still... That's just your theory, right?" Jean questioned.

"Yeah. I have no proof. But every Marleyan soldier knows about it. Just how Zeke's spinal fluid has been used in the past. Around ten years ago, Marley took down the enemy nation's capital in one night. Hundreds of Titans appeared in the town out of nowhere, after all. They must be plotting to do something like that. Though, why must I get the military higher-ups to drink that suspicious wine is beyond me." Niccolo explained.

"So when you took that wine from me back then... it was to protect us?" Jean guessed.

"Dunno. Just what am I doing? I was supposed to survey the island of devils and save the world. Now that I told you all about this, I'm sure I won't live for long. But Mr. Braus. I still can't be as forgiving as you, but... I hope this can make up even a little for what I did." Niccolo clenched Jean's arms. "I tried to kill a child... What's wrong with me?"

"Niccolo..." Artur muttered.

Julian was trying to wash Falco off in the bath along with the others when he suddenly heard Onyankopon yelp.

"What's wrong?" Julian asked, opening the door only to see Floch pointing a gun at Onyankopon.

"Commander?" Floch questioned.

"Floch?" Julian exclaimed in shock.

"Glad to find you." Floch turned around. "You should know Zeke's location. You're going to take us to him."

"Listen, we have no intention to oppose you guys." Julian informed.

"We already rejected that offer. We won't negotiate with the military." Floch claimed, making Julian narrow his eyes.

"And why is that?" Julian questioned.

"It was Eren's decision. Commander Pixis would never bet the fate of the island on our hand. He's probably busy right now trying to devise a plan to steal the Founder from Eren when they're showing us the way." Floch replied.

"You're delusional. Or is that what your friend from Garrison told you?" Julian asked.

"Do I look like one of your kind-hearted subordinate who will answer all your questions?" Floch countered. "Or should I prove it to you that I'm no longer your subordinate? Please come with us."

"Dammit! How did they know we're here?" Jean asked as Niccolo looked over.

"Griez? Was this all Yelena's order?" Niccolo asked.

"Niccolo. You've gotten too close to Eldians. I knew this day would come. I was right not telling you how to contact them." Griez replied.

"Listen to me, Floch! There is no time for us to fight amongst ourselves! Wine contaminated with Zeke's spinal fluid has been served throughout the military! We're being manipulated by Zeke through his plan!" Julian argued.

"Even if that's true, the idiotic military police will just look even stupider." Floch said. "Is that all?"

Julian gasped. "I didn't say anything about the military police drinking the wine." He said as he got handcuffed by one of the Yeagerists. "Could it be... You guys knew about the wine?"

Floch turned around and smiled while a finger was in front of his mouth. "Please keep your voice down within the restaurant." He said as Julian got taken away.

"We're going ahead."

"Yeah."

"That voice just now... Did you come with Floch and the others?" Armin asked.

"Yeah."

Blood was dripping on the white table cloth. "I wanted to... talk with you guys." Eren said.

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

Word Count: 2150 words.