"Zofia? Where are you taking us? The meeting is about to start soon?" Falco asked in confusion.
Udo and Colt were also full of doubt, only Gabi looked like she had something heavy on her mind.
But Zofia wasn't in the mood to explain right now. She brushed them off with a few vague words and just kept walking ahead with her head down.
However, this couldn't go on. Colt, the oldest and most steady among them, couldn't take it anymore. He stepped forward, grabbed Zofia's shoulder, then crouched down and said seriously,
"Zofia, you said there's something very important that needs our help, but you have to tell us what it is first."
Zofia fell silent. She turned her head to look around. The alley entrance was completely quiet, not a single person in sight. This wasn't what Airi had said at all. They had already walked this far, and there was still no one.
So Zofia hesitated, preparing to make up another excuse to stall, but Gabi suddenly exploded in a way no one expected. She rushed forward, grabbed Zofia by the collar, and yanked her close.
"Still lying to us! Zofia, are you still going to hide it? Why? Why betray Marley? Why join the Eldian Revival Army? Didn't you once say you wanted to become a warrior who fights for Marley? Then why do this?"
Gabi's words shocked everyone present. Falco's eyes widened.
"Gabi! What are you talking about?? What kind of joke is this??"
Udo also started stammering, "N-no, no, Gabi, y-you… how can you say something like that?"
As the oldest warrior candidate, Colt knew exactly how serious Gabi's accusation was. She was accusing Zofia of betraying Marley!
A Marleyan warrior candidate betraying Marley? That was both terrifying and absurd. If it were true, it would bring everlasting shame upon Marley.
Colt said sternly, "Gabi! You can't say things like that! Do you know what would happen if Commander Magath heard what you just said? If this gets out, both you and Zofia will be punished, and you might even lose your status as warrior candidates!"
But Gabi ignored him. Her brown eyes were already misting over, and she spoke with a trembling voice,
"Ask Zofia yourselves! Is what I said true? I heard her conversation with Airi! Something about joining the Eldian Revival Army, about liberating the Eldians!"
Airi? That was a Titan warrior! If what Gabi said was true, and Airi was also part of the Eldian Revival Army, then the consequences would be severe.
Colt looked at the silent Zofia, unable to believe it. He hesitated before asking,
"Z-Zofia… is what Gabi said true?"
Zofia lowered her head, clenching her fists tightly as if struggling internally. Finally, she lifted her head with determination and shouted,
"That's right! I joined the Eldian Revival Army! Airi said that our Revival Army exists to liberate all Eldians! So that everyone no longer has to be trapped in this tiny Liberio internment zone!
We want all Eldians to live normal lives, not like now—being discriminated against, even trampled on! We want future Eldian children to grow up happily, instead of struggling desperately like us, pitifully begging to become so-called Honorary Marleyans!"
Zofia grew more emotional as she spoke, her voice rising. Everyone stared at her in shock. Was this really the same cold and distant girl from before?
"So! Colt! Falco! Udo! And Gabi! Join us! Instead of chasing after the title of Honorary Marleyan that still earns no respect, why not join the Eldian Revival Army? Let's fight together to liberate the Eldians. What do you say?" Zofia looked at her companions expectantly.
Falco and Udo were so shocked they couldn't even speak. Gabi stood frozen in place with tear stains on her face. Only Colt regained his composure.
But Colt knew very well—they were in Marley's capital right now. What could they possibly do?
Colt didn't care about Marley's fate, but he cared about his family and his younger brother Falco. For their sake, he couldn't take any risks.
"Sorry, Zofia. We can't promise you anything. I hope everything you just said was a lie. Now, we should go back." Colt's expression darkened as he slowly approached Zofia.
Zofia stepped back twice. Though she was afraid, she still tried to persuade them.
"Believe us—we can do it!"
Colt showed a trace of guilt, but still walked toward her firmly.
"I'm sorry, Zofia, but I can't let Falco fall into danger."
Just when Zofia had run out of options, a gentle voice came from behind her.
"Well done, Zofia. The Eldian Revival Army is honored to have an outstanding member like you. Leave the rest to me."
The sudden voice immediately drew everyone's attention. Under their gaze, a tall figure slowly appeared.
When the person's face was fully revealed, Colt and the others were shocked. The man in the black coat looked very familiar. Colt was the first to recall and exclaimed in shock,
"Officer Loya??"
Seeing that familiar face, and reminded by Colt, Falco and the others also recognized him. He was the Marleyan officer who had temporarily commanded them on the front lines. But why was he here? And what did he mean earlier by "our Eldian Revival Army"?
Gabi, upon seeing Yago appear, seemed to recall something unpleasant. Her body trembled in fear as she instinctively stepped back.
As expected, Zofia became excited the moment she saw Yago.
"Boss Yago!!"
Yago rubbed Zofia's silver-white hair and smiled,
"Well done, Zofia. Later, I'll need your help with something else. Is that okay?"
Zofia nodded repeatedly.
"Of course!"
At this point, Colt could no longer hold back. He rushed forward and said,
"Officer Loya! I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm sorry—we're taking both you and Zofia back!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Colt clenched his fist and charged straight at Yago.
But in Yago's eyes, Colt's movements were full of openings. With just a slight sidestep, he easily dodged the punch. Then, at the moment Colt's body stalled, Yago grabbed his shoulder.
With a smooth pull, Colt immediately lost his balance and fell toward Yago. Yago bent down, instantly moved behind him, and with a sudden burst of strength, executed a powerful over-the-shoulder throw.
Bang!
With a dull thud, Colt was slammed hard into the ground, leaving him dazed and completely unable to move.
Seeing his brother get beaten, Falco panicked. Shouting anxiously, he charged toward Yago. Udo followed right behind him, also yelling as he rushed forward.
The outcome needed no explanation. With one hand each, Yago easily flipped the two boys over, grabbing them by their ankles and lifting them upside down like piglets.
"You want to try too?" Yago glanced sideways at the trembling Gabi. Hearing that, Gabi immediately collapsed onto the ground in fright.
"Zofia, go help me find Reiner and have him come see me here," Yago said to the still-stunned Zofia.