Bill blew out a smoke ring. Seeing that Ebson had suddenly stopped speaking, he pressed on,
"What's wrong? Sir, what should we do next? How should Marley and the Middle Easterners be coordinated?"
Ebson suddenly stood up, his breathing a little rapid. Behind the black-rimmed glasses, his pupils were filled with an excited gleam.
Ebson said urgently, "Leave the matters of Marley and the Middle Easterners to Kenke. Bill, I want to ask you something now—do you remember the day Father brought me back into the Louis family?"
Bill froze for a moment at the question, seemingly surprised that Ebson would ask about something so long ago. He thought carefully, then nodded.
Ebson suddenly lunged forward, grabbing Bill tightly by the collar. Thin and gaunt, Ebson looked like a bamboo pole in front of the well-built Bill. An unprecedented excitement shone in Ebson's eyes as he asked,
"Do you still remember those experimental failures from that day? How did you deal with them?!"
Bill frowned. After a while, he answered somewhat uncertainly,
"I think… we bribed the Marleyan navy to throw them into the sea."
"Hahahahahaha! As expected, as expected! I knew it! Hahahahaha! I knew it!" Ebson suddenly burst into hysterical laughter.
He flung open the window, letting sunlight pour into the room that had been dark all year round. Ebson narrowed his eyes. Though the sunlight made him uncomfortable, the excitement in his heart could not be suppressed. Suddenly, he looked down through the window and spotted a sneaky figure below.
As if something had occurred to him, he turned his head and asked,
"What happened to those Eldian Restorationists?"
Bill nodded and said, "According to the plan, we've already exposed them to that greedy fellow Landon, which is why he's supporting us in rearming with weapons. We've also found all the Eldians who were in hiding. Do we need to trade them again?"
"No. Go protect them. Give them help and supplies. Hehehe… heaven itself is helping me…" Ebson's lips curled upward into a strange smile.
The document spread out on Ebson's desk lay open, and one circled name stood out conspicuously—
"Yago Norman"
...
Wearing a top hat and wrapped in a scarf, Serena was walking along the road inside the Louis estate when she suddenly felt as if someone were watching and spying on her. She spun around sharply, only to find a tall, burly man already standing before her. The oppressive aura he gave off made Serena tremble slightly, and her left hand secretly clenched the dagger hidden at her waist.
...
In the empty camp, Reiner wandered aimlessly down the road, his mind filled with chaotic thoughts.
That morning, he had returned home, but his mother's reaction to his return was more surprise and confusion than joy. When she learned that Reiner's mission had failed, she was even more at a loss. Reiner forced a smile and chatted with her, but her slightly distant attitude still left his heart chilled.
In the end, Reiner couldn't stand the oppressive atmosphere at home and returned early to the warrior camp.
Walking without purpose, Reiner inevitably thought of life on Paradis Island, of those former friends, and of Marcel, Annie, and Bertholdt, who hadn't returned with him.
"Porco! Don't be impulsive!" Pieck's voice suddenly rang out beside Reiner's ear. Reiner sluggishly lifted his head, just in time to see a fist rapidly enlarging before his eyes.
Bang! Reiner's nose stung, followed by a sharp pain. He staggered backward, instinctively covering his nose with his hand, immediately feeling a warm, wet sensation.
Blood seeped out between Reiner's fingers, but it did nothing to stop the fury of the young man in front of him. Pieck desperately held back the short-haired blond Porco, while Porco was furious beyond measure, veins bulging from his neck.
Porco cursed at Reiner, "Trash! Reiner, you piece of trash! How do you still have the shamelessness to live? Why did I lose to someone like you? You bastard! How could my brother die for you? Damn it—Pieck, let go of me!"
Pieck shouted, "Calm down! Porco! What are you trying to do? Marleyan warriors shouldn't be fighting among themselves!"
Reiner covered his nose and walked up to Porco, looking at him with guilt. Porco's face, so similar to Marcel's, made Reiner's heart verge on collapse.
"I'm sorry, Porco. It's all my fault. I was too cowardly. I'm sorry to Marcel, sorry to Annie, and sorry to Bertholdt. Pieck, please let go of Porco. I'm willing to bear Porco's anger."
Pieck widened her eyes. "Reiner? What are you talking about?"
But with a sudden exertion, Porco broke free from Pieck's grip and rushed up to Reiner, raising his fist high. Reiner could even hear the sound of Porco grinding his teeth in rage.
Yet just as Reiner closed his eyes, Porco suddenly let his hand fall, turned around, and walked away. After taking a few steps, he stopped, without turning his head back, and said,
"If you have even a shred of self-awareness, then give up the power of the Armored Titan yourself. You bastard aren't worthy of the Armored Titan!"
With that, Porco left. Pieck glanced at the two of them, sighed softly, and then also walked away.
Reiner stood there in a daze. His nose had already been healed by the power of the Titans, but deep inside, the pain only grew worse.
...
On the other side of the warrior camp, Colt, wearing a yellow armband, was patiently instructing a row of small children in front of him who were also wearing yellow armbands.
"When you meet Captain Magath, you must be serious. No smiling, understood? Captain Magath is very strict.
And there's also Colonel Koslow beside Captain Magath. He's very unfriendly toward Eldians, so you absolutely must not offend him. Hey—Falco! Did you understand?"
Standing at the back of the line, Falco jolted, snapping out of his daze, and hurriedly replied, "Got it, brother!"
Colt shook his head as he looked at his eight-year-old brother. From the bottom of his heart, he didn't support the family's decision to send Falco here as a warrior candidate as well. There was already one candidate in the family—himself—so why send Falco in too?
At this moment, a little brown-haired girl standing beside Falco let out a disdainful whistle and said,
"What's there to be afraid of? Once Captain Magath sees my outstanding performance, becoming a warrior candidate will be easy."
Colt choked for a moment. Looking at the brown-haired girl, he had just started to say,
"Gabi, you—"
Before he could finish, a snicker came from behind them.
"Heh, you little Eldian brats sure are confident. Just don't piss yourselves when you get to the battlefield!"
Colt was startled and immediately turned around and stood at attention. "Colonel Koslow!"
Short and slightly chubby, Koslow sneered as he walked up to them and said, "All warrior candidates, prepare yourselves. The motherland is calling. Those damned Middle Easterners have already declared war on us. It's time for you Eldians to shed blood and fight for Marley."
"What? Go to the battlefield? But… they're all still children." Colt was utterly shocked. Koslow snorted coldly and said, "The descendants of devils have no right to refuse!"
Colt could only lower his head.
"...Yes."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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