"Was it you who saved those Eldian Restorationists and their families?" Serena looked at Yago with a complicated expression.
Yago replied, "If nothing unexpected happened, then yes, it was me."
Serena took a deep breath, then bowed deeply in apology.
"I'm very sorry! I was far too rude. Thank you so much for helping our Eldian Restorationists!"
Yago waved his hand, signaling that it wasn't a big deal.
"So what are you planning to do next? If nothing unexpected happens, the only Eldian Restorationists left are probably just these few Eldian soldiers in the army. Do you really think you can overthrow Marley with just this? On what grounds? With what?"
Yago's words left Serena speechless.
And it was the truth.
With the people they had now, let alone overthrowing Marley, they wouldn't even be able to make a splash in the war between Marley and the Middle Easterners.
Yago looked at the silent Serena and continued,
"Before Jack died, he learned that there are still countless Eldians on Paradis Island. He asked me to do something. Do you know what it was? Take a guess."
Serena looked up blankly.
What else had Jack said before he died?
After learning that there were compatriots on Paradis Island, what would Jack have wanted to do?
Would he have wanted those compatriots to join the Eldian Restorationists and overthrow Marley together?
Would he?
Probably…
"He asked me, for the sake of being fellow Eldians, to make sure I saved their families and children. And he said he was sorry to you, Serena."
Serena lowered her head, biting her lip as mist welled up in her eyes once more.
"Jack…"
Yago walked over to her and pressed a hand onto her shoulder.
"Serena, the goal of the Eldian Restorationists is simply too unrealistic. With only the Eldian Restorationists in Marley, it's impossible to overthrow Marley."
Serena said helplessly,
"Then what should we do? Are we supposed to just let the Marleyans enslave us Eldians? Are we really meant to be wiped out?"
Yago shook his head and said seriously,
"No. Maybe the Eldian Restorationists alone can't accomplish that. But you're not alone. On Paradis Island, you still have countless compatriots. We can be your backing."
"Paradis Island?"
"That's right. Paradis Island. Only by uniting all Eldians can we possibly break the shackles that have bound us for so long. Serena, join us."
Yago extended his hand toward her.
Looking into Yago's firm gaze, Serena didn't know what to say.
She reached out and shook his hand.
"I agree. But you have to answer one question. Why have the compatriots on Paradis Island never contacted us Eldians outside the island? Are they really like the Marleyans say—have they abandoned us?"
Yago hesitated.
The reason was complicated.
But before he could explain, Serena asked again,
"And one more thing. Is uniting the Eldians truly the idea of the people on the island? Or is that just your own opinion?"
Under the gaze of Serena's amber eyes, Yago felt slightly uncomfortable.
But in the end, he told the truth.
"It's my idea. But I believe it's the right one. The Eldians on the island would probably agree as well. Other than uniting, we Eldians don't have many choices left."
Pfft—
Serena suddenly burst into laughter, loud and clear.
Yago frowned.
Was what he said that ridiculous?
But after laughing, Serena suddenly stepped in front of him with a solemn expression and spoke with great seriousness.
"I strongly agree with your idea. And I can represent all members of the Eldian Restorationists in supporting you.
Yago Norman, we don't know what the compatriots on the island truly think. But as for your vision, we support it without reservation. We will forever remember the help you gave the Eldian Restorationists. In return, I, Serena, am willing to lead all Restorationist members to follow your command."
After saying that, Serena even knelt on one knee to show her submission.
Yago was dumbfounded.
What was going on?
What did she mean by follow his command?
He meant cooperation between the Restorationists and Paradis Island—not becoming his subordinates. This was a misunderstanding, wasn't it?
But Serena gave him no chance to refuse.
She unilaterally declared that the Restorationists would fall under Yago's command.
Even before this, Serena herself had been deeply lost about the future of the Restorationists.
When Jack was alive, she could still rely on his advice.
But after Jack's sacrifice, the already dim and uncertain future of the Eldian Restorationists had grown even more desperate.
Yago's words, however, felt like a new ray of hope to her—one with even greater promise than the Restorationists' original goal.
So Serena chose to believe in Yago.
She was willing to lead the Restorationists in pledging allegiance to the man who had helped them, hoping that Yago could truly accomplish everything he had said.
Serena did not have much trust in the unseen compatriots on the island.
But Yago was different.
At the very least, his ideals and actions had earned the Restorationists' trust.
"Then perhaps the Eldian Restorationists should withdraw from the stage of history. Yago, give us a new name."
Yago thought for a moment before speaking softly.
"Our goal is to unite all Eldians, to break free from our shackles, and allow our people to rise again. Then let's call it the Eldian Revival Army."
Serena murmured the new name to herself.
The Eldian Revival Army…
Revival instead of restoration.
Just a single word difference—but the meaning was vastly different.
...
By this time, Yago's wounds had fully healed.
Seeing that his injuries had completely recovered, Serena was somewhat surprised.
"You possess the power of the Titans? Is it one of the Titan powers Marley lost on Paradis Island before? The Colossal Titan? The Jaw Titan? The Female Titan?"
Yago smiled and shook his head.
"No. It's the Fate Titan. The Titan that changes destiny."
Serena didn't understand what he meant, but she nodded anyway.
"I'll make arrangements as soon as possible. I'll have the core members of the Restorationists—no, the Revival Army—come meet you. Yago, I hope you can make some preparations."
Yago chuckled softly.