𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐎𝐌 | 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐢 𝐱 𝐎𝐂

My name is Daphne

No. I really had no idea. So, I stayed silent. I wanted to open my mouth, say something, fight, but I really didn't know much more than "four targets, kill them all and you'll be free".

"Because I'm a merciful man and I can quite tell what kind of situation we're dealing with, I'll explain everything to you, prisoner. We, the survey corps fight the titans, we try our best every day to help people, but we're very broke. Not only broke, but we're also constantly hampered by some nobles who still prefer to spend money on futile stuff rather than help humanity. Old news, right? Well, one of them in particular, your beloved Lobov, didn't quite like the idea of me getting more supplies and helps for the future missions, so he tried to get me out of the picture. But I was no fool and I cut him off first. Yes, little girl, Lobov is now worm food. I'm sorry to disappoint you but you were used for some futile and pointless revenge, but we are quite used to this kind of game."

He paused, then looked again at the puzzled expression painted on my face, while I was still trying to elaborate the whole story. Then he said, "I must admit I'm curious: what did he promise you to accept? To risk your life against the Survey Corps?"

"Four passes..." I tried to whisper.

"What? I can't hear a thing, kid!"

"Four passes" I coughed "Gold, four passes and a house to live on the surface"

"Did you hear that Levi, we're worth like two other peopl-"

"No" I interrupted him "Four passes for four targets"

"Who else, then?" asked Erwin.

"A-a certain Isabel... and a certain Farlan"

Another one. Then another one. Levi started to kick me so hard I almost lost my consciousness again, but luckily Erwin stopped him right away.

"Levi, calm down... she couldn't know... "Erwin said while still holding the captain's arm "Sorry kid, you're late for that too. They're dead. The titans got them"

I wasn't thinking right because of the pain, but I digested that information and Levi's anger. That Isabel and that Farlan must have been some comrades, or worst, some friends of his... someone close to him.

I felt a little empathy for him. I felt sorry. He was visibly hurt. I was trying to kill people he cared about, people who were already stolen from him. I really deserved to die.

My eyes started to get a little glassy. I thought that I've never felt more misery than at that moment.

But Erwin's voice caught me again by surprise, so I lifted my chin to listen to him: "You, just a last question. I promise. Where did you get the 3D maneuver gear? And who taught you how to use it?"

I noisily swallowed and immediately answered, fixing my eyes on the ground, shaking, afraid of another of Levi's feral kicks: "I won them not so long ago on the black market. In the underground capital" I paused "There are very few specimens down there but it is pretty easy to notice them... they are quite evident" I caught a little breath "Nobody taught me how to use them. I spent months studying them and once I got them, I knew how to use them. That's it."

"So, you're a fast learner, aren't you?" said Erwin.

"No. It's the underground. You have to adapt. Swim or you'll drown"

Levi tensed. On the contrary, Erwin seemed pretty excited by my little preach: "That's the spirit, prisoner! And that's why I have a proposal for you, a proposal that you cannot refuse..."

I wasn't the only one confused by his words. Levi's forehead frowned, just like a little earlier when I escaped from his grip. Still silent, he turned in front of his commander, with a visible question mark right between his eyes. "What the hell are you talking about?" he whispered, but Erwin ignored him.