Yago had imagined many scenarios. Even though he had already prepared himself mentally, facing dozens of blades and muskets aimed at him from all sides, an unavoidable trace of sorrow still welled up in Yago's heart.
Yago stood empty-handed, not gripping any hilt, looking as if he had no intention of attacking. Yet there was not the slightest relaxation on the faces of the Survey Corps soldiers around him; their muscles were taut, because they knew the power hidden beneath Yago's human appearance.
"Commander Erwin, do you not believe me?" Yago looked at Erwin before him and asked somewhat bitterly.
But the expression on Erwin's resolute face did not change, so Yago could only continue,
"No matter what, I did save Squad Leader Mike's life, didn't I? Can't we discuss this?"
Indeed, from Mike, who was currently lying in a medical tent, Erwin had already learned what Yago had done. He spoke,
"Yago, we do indeed owe you thanks for saving Mike. But I believe you also understand that for the sake of the people within the walls, we must remain vigilant toward any unknown threat. Or rather, Mike also said that you were together with the Female Titan, Annie Leonhart. So now, where is the Female Titan?"
Yago fell silent for a moment. Annie's existence truly made the Survey Corps wary. No matter how one looked at it, Annie was indeed guilty. Perhaps it was not Annie's intention, and she even tried as much as possible to avoid harming the Survey Corps soldiers.
But some things, once done, are done. Some soldiers still lost their lives because of Annie. Perhaps this was also a bit of Yago's own selfishness—people cannot be completely without selfish motives. Moreover, he still did not know Reiner and Bertholdt's situation. Annie could not be exposed right now; otherwise, once Marley learned that the Female Titan had defected, Mr. Leonhart in the Eldian internment zone would be in danger.
"I'm very sorry, Commander. About that, I can't tell you. But I can make one thing clear: we are not enemies. If you are willing to give me a chance, I will explain everything," Yago could only say tentatively. What Yago least wanted to face was this current standoff with the Survey Corps.
Whether it was Vige who once saved him from outside the walls, his foster mother Lucia, or the companions who had trained together with him for three years—these people all held an important place in Yago's heart.
Or rather, Yago was more willing to believe that this island was his true home, not the cold and indifferent Eldian internment zone within Marley that existed only in his memories.
At this moment, Erwin standing opposite Yago was likewise lost in thought. Erwin was not acting purely for the people within the walls, or rather, Erwin himself also had selfish motives, only that such motives were hidden deep in his heart.
"Erwin, think it through. Your decision concerns this entire Survey Corps." A cold voice pulled Erwin out of his thoughts. Levi's expression was calm as still water; though his body looked as if it had no preparation at all, he had in fact already made the most complete battle preparations.
Perhaps Erwin had brought Levi back from the Underground because of Levi's strength and talent. But for Levi, it was like a bright light igniting in a muddled life. Joining the Survey Corps was a choice Levi would never regret.
Under everyone's gaze, Erwin slowly spoke,
"Yago, I'm sorry. Whether someone is an enemy is sometimes not something I can decide. And also—"
"ROAR!!!" A sudden roar from atop the wall interrupted Erwin's words and drew everyone's attention.
Turning their heads, amid dazzling yellow lightning, clumps of flesh and blood appeared and intertwined in the air. Bones and skin began to take shape, and finally, accompanied by an enormous amount of steam, two colossal figures emerged. Two Titans appeared just like that on top of the wall.
One Titan had sharp, pointed ears, its muscles bulging all over its body. Its mouth split all the way to its ears, roaring incessantly as it swung massive fists at the equally gigantic Titan before it. Everyone in the Survey Corps naturally recognized it—this was Eren, the Titan who had once helped humanity win the battle to retake Trost.
Opposite Eren stood a white-haired Titan whose entire body looked as if it were clad in armor. Except for the joints, all other parts were covered with large patches of hardened skin. If any survivors from the Shiganshina District were present, they would surely recognize it in terror—this was the Armored Titan that had once smashed open Wall Maria.
"Have Reiner and the others already made their move?" Yago's expression turned solemn, because the enemy was not just Reiner alone.
The Attack Titan and the Armored Titan became locked in fierce combat.
"All units! Support Eren immediately!" Commander Erwin reacted at once and issued a decisive order.
Levi frowned and glanced at Yago. "Did you collude with the Female Titan to let them out?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the Survey Corps soldiers surrounding Yago tightened their grips on their blades.
Yago was stunned. This didn't seem right—what did colluding and letting them out mean? Had the Survey Corps already uncovered Reiner and the others' identities?
"Captain Levi, can I say that I don't know anything?" Yago said, feeling somewhat wronged, as if he were inexplicably taking the blame.
"Hmph!" Levi snorted coldly, activated his Vertical Maneuvering Equipment, and shot toward Eren's position at high speed. Compared to Reiner's Armored Titan, Eren's Titan was at a disadvantage.
Yago shook his head. What an undeserved disaster. There were still several Survey Corps soldiers nearby who continued to watch him vigilantly.
...
Twenty minutes earlier.
Reiner and Bertholdt were suspended, both with their eyes closed, letting Hange chatter on endlessly. In the end, Hange couldn't keep up the one-woman show and had to withdraw first—after all, Hange had plenty of time to slowly deal with the two of them.
After Hange left, the tent holding Reiner and Bertholdt fell into darkness.
Not long after, the tent was lifted again. A ray of sunlight shone onto Reiner's face. Reiner raised his head; the figure before him was indistinct under the sunlight, but as the tent flap fell, the visitor's face naturally came into clear view before Reiner.
Reiner's body began to writhe, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Bertholdt was startled by Reiner's movement, but upon seeing the figure before him, he too became excited.
"Ah~ Reiner, Bertholdt, how pathetic. If Porco saw you like this, he'd probably regret it so much he'd jump into the sea. After all, he did lose to you back then, Reiner." The lazy tone carried a hint of teasing, yet Reiner and Bertholdt were not angry, only deeply surprised.
Slightly messy, faintly wavy black hair; delicate features; a face that always wore an expression of
"I'm so weak." Pieck Finger squatted on the ground, teasing the two before her.
"Hey, your performance really wasn't good. The Warrior Captain is probably furious right now. Such a hassle." As Pieck muttered on, she took a small knife out of the pocket of her Survey Corps uniform and freed Reiner and Bertholdt.
"Tch, Pieck, why are you here?!" Spitting out the cork from his mouth, Reiner blurted this out as his first question.