"Um, Squad Leader Hange? Please wait a mont, can I talk to you?" Soone called out from behind Hange. She turned around, looking at the person's face with so confusion, and asked,
"You are?"
The man awkwardly scratched his head and said sowhat nervously, "My na is Koris. I was the Marleyan captain captured by you three years ago."
Hange froze for a mont before reacting, slapping her forehead as her expression beca a bit flustered. She hurriedly bowed deeply to Koris.
"I'm really sorry! Captain Koris, my mory is terrible. Thank you so much for your help to Paradis Island!"
Seeing the commander of the Survey Corps bowing to him, Koris was also very surprised and quickly stepped forward to help Hange up.
"Squad Leader Hange, you're too polite."
But Hange's expression remained serious, because Koris's help to Paradis Island had truly been imnse. Without him, relying solely on Hizuru and the Marleyan Volunteer Army, Paradis Island would never have been able to develop its own navy. Hizuru had wealth and technology, but due to various limitations, its navy was all show and no substance.
As an experienced naval captain, Koris not only possessed outstanding command ability but was also very familiar with naval training. Moreover, because of his prestige aboard the destroyer, he rallied more captured Marleyan soldiers to actively assist Paradis Island. That was what led to the rapid developnt of Paradis Island's navy today.
Thanks to the island's incredibly abundant Iceburst Stone resources, Hizuru beca insanely wealthy. Azumabito Kiyomi's family rose to the peak of prestige in Hizuru. With their imnse wealth, Hizuru directly helped Paradis Island expand its navy with more than a dozen warships. Although they were all light destroyers, the scale was still quite impressive.
"Captain Koris, is there anything I can help you with?" Hange adjusted her glasses.
Koris rubbed his hands together before finally stating his purpose.
"I heard that Paradis Island will soon carry out an important operation against Marley. I... I was hoping to ask Squad Leader Hange if you could take along when the ti cos? I haven't seen my family in three years. I want to go back and see them..."
A flicker of surprise passed through Hange's eyes. This operation of Paradis Island should have been highly confidential—so why did Koris know about it?
However, thinking of Koris's contributions to the island, Hange still agreed without hesitation. But before Koris could celebrate, Hange—who was usually rather carefree—suddenly beca serious, speaking solemnly:
"Captain Koris, first of all, thank you again for your help. Unlike other Marleyans, you are a friend to us Eldians. When you go back this ti, we may et again on the battlefield. But we will never forget what you've done for us. Please take care."
Hange's words moved Koris as well. Over these years of interaction, he had co to understand that these Eldians—once called devils by them—were no different from them at all. They laughed and cried the sa way, and they were just as kind and friendly to their friends...
Koris had originally been worried he would be refused, but he hadn't expected Hange to agree so readily. Deeply moved, he extended his hand to shake hers.
"Don't worry. I understand the kindness and sincerity of the Eldians. I will always rember our friendship. I believe that one day, Marley and Paradis Island will shake hands and beco friends."
...
"Commander Erwin, please, let us go." Inside the simple study, Erwin held his forehead with a headache, because two girls were standing in front of him.
Dressed in light hunting outfits, with bits of dirt still on them—this was already the fourth ti Queen Historia and Ymir had tried to sneak out of the palace and been caught red-handed by the Military Police.
"Your Majesty, first of all, I have already stepped down as the commander of the Survey Corps. Secondly, as a queen, you should maintain your dignity, not be constantly instigated by others to participate in dangerous operations."
Hearing this very pointed remark, Ymir imdiately flared up.
"Commander! What do you an by that? This ti it wasn't instigating anything! Do you think I don't know how dangerous Marley is? How could I possibly encourage Historia to go to such a place!? She insisted on going herself!"
Erwin pressed his temples and shot back, "Then why didn't you stop the queen? Why did you help her escape?"
Ymir replied righteously, "Because Historia asked ! How could I refuse such a cute Historia's request?"
Erwin: "....."
Seeing that Erwin remained unmoved, Historia dropped her pitiful expression. Her small face tightened as she beca serious.
"Commander Erwin, although I am the queen now, I was once also a soldier of the Survey Corps who fought for humanity.
When I was a soldier, I rember what you said—every soldier must have the resolve to dedicate their heart to humanity. Now that I am the queen, shouldn't I have that awareness even more? Besides, I carry the power of one of the Nine Titans—the Jaw Titan. The greater the power, the greater the responsibility. I don't want to stay in the palace as nothing more than a mascot!"
Erwin was montarily stunned by Historia's impassioned speech. It took him a while to recover, after which he let out a wry smile.
"Historia, you've really beco more and more clever."
...
"Huh? Nicolo, why are you here?" Armin asked in surprise. In front of him, a petite female Survey Corps soldier with faint freckles blushed slightly, then hurriedly left the underground prison.
Armin was a bit puzzled, but thinking of the more important matter at hand, he took a deep breath and pushed open the iron door in front of him.
The iron door creaked loudly. It was a sowhat dim cell.
As soon as he entered, Armin looked at the crystallized Bertholdt in front of him with a complicated expression.
After a mont of silence, Armin sighed and slowly spoke:
"I'm sorry, Bertholdt. The military has already decided to take the power of the Colossal Titan..."
Before Armin could finish, the crystal-like hardening surrounding Bertholdt suddenly began to crack without any warning. Cracks spread across the surface of the hardened shell, catching Armin completely off guard.
Dense fractures covered the entire structure, followed by the sound of glass shattering—crack! crack!
"A-Armin..."
A dry voice entered Armin's ears.
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