Not far from Russell Manor, there was an abandoned estate, perhaps once belonging to so noble from many years ago. But ti had flown by, things had changed, and the once-prosperous manor was now nothing but ruins.
Yago noticed that throughout this area, there were quite a few abandoned estates. It seed this had once been a gathering place for Marleyan nobles. But judging from its current desolate state, and thinking of how Loya had to borrow money just to enlist, it was clear that life in Marley wasn't going well.
Puchi! The sharp grappling hook pierced deeply into the brick wall. The gas within the tank strapped to his back, connected to the turbine, transford into a continuous source of power, fully driving the turbine to spin and provide directional force. The device at his wrist rapidly retracted the fired steel cable, its durability greatly enhanced by the addition of black-gold bamboo.
Yago's body was pulled by the retraction force, flipping through the air.
Using the montum, he leapt onto the wall and paused briefly. In that instant, Yago released the device in his hands and drew the hilts hanging from his waist.
Swish! Swish! In a blink, both hands used the hilts to latch onto the blades stored in the thigh-mounted scabbards and pulled them out. Two flashes of cold light streaked through the air, and in an instant, two wooden stakes as thick as buckets were cleanly severed at the waist.
Pulling the trigger again, this ti the cable shot out from the device at his waist, dragging Yago forward at high speed.
After slicing through several more stakes, Yago used the montum to charge straight toward the ground. His specially made leather boots even sparked against the surface.
Stabilizing himself, Yago sheathed the blades and looked at the hilts in his hand. The new combat uniform on his body felt sowhat awkward. Unlike the previous one, this new uniform had an additional special device mounted on the wrists—a pitch-black exterior, a cold barrel.
That's right—a handgun was mounted on the wrist of the combat suit.
The feeling was strangely familiar. After thinking for a mont, Yago rembered. Back in Trost District and beneath the Reiss family's underground chamber, when fighting Kenny the Ripper and the Central Military Police, their equipnt had been quite similar. What did Lynch call it again? Right—Anti-Personnel Vertical Maneuvering Equipnt!
Yago felt that this was an improved version of the Central Military Police's Anti-Personnel Vertical Maneuvering Equipnt. It was also what Paradis Island was currently training with. The higher-ups on the island understood clearly that in the future, the enemies they would face would likely be humans rather than Titans. However, the Vertical Maneuvering Equipnt on his body was still far more advanced than the anti-personnel version. Just the two wrist-mounted guns with twenty rounds of ammunition alone completely outclassed it in firepower.
But what Yago couldn't understand was that aside from this, all the original Vertical Maneuvering Equipnt was still there—the traditional blades and scabbards, the waist device, the gas tanks, and so on. Other than the scabbards being lighter and strapped to the thighs, there wasn't much difference. Wouldn't combining the two systems feel awkward?
With two bursts of gas, Annie and A-One landed beside Yago, both wearing Vertical Maneuvering Equipnt.
Annie's expression was a bit strange as she sized Yago up.
"How does it feel?" she asked.
Yago spread his hands helplessly.
"It feels too bulky. Wearing two sets of equipnt at once is really uncoordinated. I think it's better to choose one—either guns or blades."
A-One tilted her head.
"That's how it is. Right now, so soldiers on the island are equipped with handguns, while others use blades and Thunder Spears. But you didn't wait for us to finish explaining before putting everything on."
Yago froze.
"What? Annie, you—you didn't remind ?" Only then did Yago notice that Annie and A-One were both equipped with lightweight blade scabbards, without any turbine or bulky gear on their backs like his.
But in response to Yago's question, Annie rely turned her head away arrogantly.
Yago: "..."
Right… she was still mad. Why would she remind him? Wasn't it more fun to watch him make a fool of himself?
Putting aside this small episode, although Annie was angry at Yago for teasing her, the longing she had felt over the years—and Yago's embrace—quickly dissolved her small resentnt.
When Yago hugged Annie, he was surprised.
"Annie, you've grown taller!"
He gestured with his hands, then ruffled her hair, confirming that she really had grown. Originally, she might have been under 1.6 ters, but now she had grown to over 1.65 ters. (Even the Captain now had one more person to look up to.)
Even in older Eren's mories, Annie hadn't been this tall. But Yago quickly realized—the Annie in those mories had been trapped in crystal for nearly four years. His heart twitched slightly, and the way he looked at Annie beca even gentler.
Annie: "????"
What was wrong with him? Was it that strange for her to grow taller? What was Yago even thinking? But… that look in his eyes felt so comfortable. It made her feel warm inside.
...
The iron door was slowly pushed open. Jean Kirstein, tall and sturdy, frowned as he looked into the room, then sighed.
"Armin, co out first. Don't waste ti."
As Jean finished speaking, a sowhat dejected Armin walked out of the room, lowering his head awkwardly.
"Sorry… I still couldn't persuade him."
Jean glanced at the self-blaming Armin and patted his shoulder.
"How can that be your fault? If he won't listen, then he won't listen. We've already done enough. But if that guy Bertholdt remains stubborn, then we have no choice."
Armin raised his head. He understood clearly that the power of the Colossal Titan within Bertholdt was extrely important. It was precisely because of that world-destroying power that Marley was feared by most nations.
Not long ago, the new commander of the Survey Corps, Hange, had been discussing the issue of the Colossal Titan with her subordinates.
Floch couldn't understand it. Why was there even any hesitation about sothing like this? Why try to persuade that soldier nad Bertholdt? Back then, it was he who destroyed the wall—how many civilians died because of him? A person with such grave sins—why try to persuade him?
But in response to Floch's opinion, the forr comrades who had trained alongside Bertholdt all remained silent—Connie, Jean, Armin, Sasha… even Eren, who had once shouted about killing the traitors Reiner and Bertholdt, wore an unnatural expression. Of course, they all understood what Floch was saying, but…
In the end, the decision was made: Armin would act as the representative and attempt to persuade Bertholdt. If it failed, then they would have no choice but to seize the power of the Colossal Titan.
But if the persuasion failed, who would inherit that power?
(A/N: Recently, my thoughts have been a bit chaotic. It's not that it affects the main plot, just that I've had more ideas about certain characters. I was thinking of adding so tragic monts, but it doesn't feel quite right. A bit conflicted.
Finally, after writing up to this point, a reader has finally guessed the protagonist's identity, haha! Not in vain that I planted foreshadowing for two hundred chapters! Next, the real exciting show is about to begin!)
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