AUTHOR'S POV:
A small house could be seen in the middle of a forest. A wagon was parked outside.
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Sasha, Faye and Armin were bringing some supplies to the house.
"Just try to swipe some of this food, Sasha." Faye said. "I'll have Mikasa to turn you into mincemeat if you do."
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Eren and Connie were cleaning the floor, a white cloth covering their mouth.
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"I won't, unless..." Sasha replied.
"Remove your shoes guys." Faye said. "Eren and Connie must be cleaning now."
"Right." Armin replied and the three of them removed their shoes and got inside.
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"Hey guys!" Eren called out, turning around. "Did you remove your shoes before you guys came in ?"
"Yeah Eren." Faye replied.
After a few moments, Mikasa and Historia arrived with firewood.
"We are back." Mikasa said.
"Wait!" Armin said. "Why were you chopping firewood?"
"I don't want to get rusty." Mikasa replied."
"You were injured by a titan!" Armin said with concern. "You should still be in bed!"
"I told her not to do it but she insisted." Eren said and Mikasa walked away. "She was even doing sit-ups earlier."
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"Mikasa, you are not a wild animal." Armin said, going after her.
"I kinda feel like we are back in the training corps." Sasha said, grabbing everyone's attention, placing potatoes on the table.
"Yeah." Armin replied, turning around. "But why were we all picked for the new Levi squad?"
Sasha was drooling, looking at the potatoes.
"Isn't protecting Eren and Historia too important to leave up to us?" Armin asked.
Sasha quickly put a loaf of bread in her bag when no-one was looking.
"It just means they can see we are talented." Sasha said.
Armin turned to her with a darken expression.
"Sasha!" Armin called out. "What did you just put in your bag?"
"Nothing remotely resembling bread." Sasha replied, turning around with a darken expression.
"Sasha!" Faye called out, approaching her. "Just put it back."
"Forget that." Sasha replied.
"We gotta finish cleaning before the captain gets back." Eren said, holding a broom.
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Historia just stood there, holding the firewoods with a blank expression.
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"Come on! We know you have it!" Armin said.
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"Why are you all fighting?" Levi asked, approaching them.
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"You just never learn. Do you?" Faye said.
"We can't afford to waste food." Armin said, standing behind Sasha, who had her eyes closed, hands up.
Eren turned around to look at Levi.
"Cut the crap, Sasha!" Faye said.
Levi stopped before the table and ran his fingers under the it, grabbing everyone's attention. He rubbed his fingertips against each other.
"Nice work, Eren." Levi said, turning around. "Hange is itching to get the experiment started. Let's see if Faye is a titan shifter or not."
"Right." Eren replied and Faye just nodded.
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Faye was standing at the bottom of a Cliff.
Hange, Levi, Eren and Moblit were on the edge of the cliff while Mikasa and Sasha were on their horses near Faye.
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"Ready, Faye?" Hange asked, looking at Faye. "When it's prepared, I'll use the smoke round to notify you. After that any decisions are up to you."
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"Understood!" Faye replied.
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"Have a clear goal in mind that you have to do experiments!" Hange said and Faye nodded.
After some moments, Hange shot a green flare.
"That's the signal." Hange said.
"Don't stay too close to the edge, squad leader!" Moblit warned.
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Faye just nodded and bite her hand.
Blue lightning struck, turned everything in sight blue.
Then the Female titan with brown hair appeared, taking everyone by surprise.
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Faye's Female titan's had brown hair and green eyes. Her titan jaws were exposed and her ears were pointy.
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"Huh?" Hange said and gasped. "The female titan?"
"How is this..." Eren trailed off.
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The female titan just stood there, looking down, not moving.
After a few moments, she turned towards Eren and Hange.
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"Squad leader!" Moblit cried out.
"Back off now!" Hange said, backing off. "She isn't in control!"
The female titan brought her arm and punched the place where Hange and Eren were standing.
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Mikasa quickly shot a hook to the female titan's shoulder and cut her nape, taking an unconsious Faye out.
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"Is it possible that there are more than one female titans?" Hange said, looking at an unconsious Faye who was now laying on a bed, unconscious.
"May be it's the case." Armin said, standing beside Hange. "But, she doesn't know how she got her power."
"I don't remember Dad injecting her with that strange liquid though." Eren said.
"I see." Hange replied. "Is it possible that Annie's Titan shifting ability somehow transferred to Faye?"
Everyone's eyes widened.
"It would explain why Annie haven't woken up from her coma yet." Hange said and walked out of the room and stood at the doorway. " She might christalize her skin too but, the female titan's christalised skin breaks easily. So, we have to keep doing experiments on Eren."
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Blue lightning struck and the attacking Titan appeared with a roar. But, it wasn't normal. It was roughly 10 metres tall and it's body lacked muscles.
After a roat, the attacking Titan fell to the ground while Eren's lower body was hanging out of it's nape.
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"Ereh!" Mikasa called out.
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What's wrong, Eren? Get up!" Hange said angrily. "All of humanity is counting on you! Get up! Damn it!"
"Hey four-eyes!" Levi said, standing beside her. "Something is off about that body. It's not even 10 meters tall, and the lower half is just bones. And Eren's ass is hanging out."
"I can see that!" Hange replied and raising her blade. "Eren! Can you still move? Give us some kind of signal!"
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"Ereh!" Mikasa called out, dismounting from her horse and ran towards Eren.
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"She is acting on her own again." Levi said, looking at Mikasa. "Is it about time to punish her?"
"No, he is not signalling. We have got to cut him out." Hange said and jumped off the cliff, using her ODM gear, Moblit followed her. "Eren!!"
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"Hot! He is almost too hot to touch!" Hange yelled while pulling Eren from his titan nape.
Moblit was holding a clipboard while Mikasa just stood there with worry, holding two blades.
"Hange, wait! Eren is bleeding!" Mikasa said.
Eren's face came out completely disfigured.
"Look at that Moblit!" Hange said, looking at Moblit while continuing to pull Eren. Mikasa gasped. "Quick! Do a sketch of Eren's face!"
"Squad leader! Have you lost your Humanity!" Moblit asked while Mikasa was looking at Eren with wide eyes.
Then she gasped and cut the muscles, connecting to Eren to his titan form.
Hange fell back with Eren, whose face was completely disfigured and his tongue was hanging out.
"Sorry. I got carried away..." Hange said.
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"Looks like it will be a long while," Levi said and turn to Armin. "before we can use the Titans hardening ability to seal the wall."
"Yes." Armin replied. "I knew it was a long shot when I suggested it. It's a good plan in theory."
"It's a good plan in theory." Levi repeated, looking ahead. "We wouldn't need to transport tons of materials to the wall, only Eren. But in the end, only Eren can take the shot even if we have another titan shifter now on our side now."
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"The experiment is over!" Hange said, holding an unconsious Eren. "All troops, disperse at once!"
"Understood!" Keiji replied and turned towards Connie. "Make sure nobody witness the test!"
"Yes sir!" Connie replied and both of them left with their horses.
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Historia had her hood up with a clock.
"Get in the wagon Eren's in." Levi ordered Historia as she was about to leave. "I'm headed for Trost District with Hange's group."
"Yes sir." Historia replied.
Levi just stared at her, remembering Nick's words.
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"You must find her at once. Only she... She may know the truths which even we cannot perceive."
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Levi watched her leave.
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Off in the distance, 2 persons were spying on them, telescope in their hands.
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Levi was sitting on a chair in Erwin's office in Throst while Erwin was standing by the window, reading the report.
"I see. Another failed attempt." Erwin said. "If the plan had worked, we could have plugged the hole in Shiganshina District in less than a day. Faye's titan couldn't seal the gate. We don't have enough information."
"We'd be in a better position if there was a book about the hardening ability." Levi said. "But we have Christa- no, Historia Reiss. May be she can tell us more about the walls."
"I read the report about her upbringing." Erwin said, looking ahead. "She is the illegitimate daughter of Lord Reiss and her life's story is truly miserable. But our real concern should be why a mere regional lord would know the secrets of the walls.
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Nick was sitting alone in a room, eyes closed, fingers interwined.
A knock on the door broke him out of his trance.
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"Ereh!" Mikasa called out, seeing Eren coming to the kitchen. "You should still be in bed!"
"I am fine Mikasa. Don't worry." Eren replied, standing at the doorway. "I slept through the whole day." He slowly walked towards the table and picked up a knife. "It's my fault the plan to retake Wall Maria got selved."
"No, it's not!" Mikasa said. "Don't blame youself. We have another titan shifter on our side now too."
"How is Faye by the way?" Eren asked.
"She is fine now Eren." Mikasa replied.
"All I really want is another shot at that Beast titan." Connie said and Eren looked at him. "I won't forgive that damn monster as long as I live!" His hands began to tremble.
Eren was looking at him with concern.
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Outside, Sasha and Faye were looking out.
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"It's about time to switch look outs." Connie said and turn to Mikasa. "Mikasa?"
"Yeah." Mikasa replied and both of them left.
Both Eren and Historia continued to do what they were doing.
"Must be nice." Historia said and Eren looked at her. "You and the others, all have such clear goals, even if they lead to hardship." Eren turned around. "I don't even know what I want anymore, now that Ymir is gone."
"Don't you want to save her?" Eren asked.
"Yeah, but..." Historia said, remembering Ymir apologising to her. "At the time, I felt like I couldn't forgive her, but I also wanted to save her. But, now that I have had a chance to think, I can see that Ymir chose her own fate. I have no right to change that and no need to."
"Atleast you're talking normally again." Eren said and Historia looked at him. "When we came here, you told us all about yourself, but you haven't smiled once since then, and you've hardly spoken either."
"It's too much effort." Historia replied, looking at him. "Sorry. I'm not going to play at being happy and kind as Krista ever again."
"Well, I think I like you better this way." Eren said and Historia gasped. "You always used to seems like you were putting on an act. It was so unnatural, it always creeped me out."
"I see." Historia replied, looking down.
"But, now you are acting a lot more natural." Eren said. "Honest to a fault, but completely normal." He looked down. "Anyway, you have plenty of time to think about Ymir. I am still thinking about her too." He realised something. "Wait, wasn't that..."
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"Hange and the others are here!" Sasha said, grabbing Eren and Historia's attention. "Everyone to the main room!"
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Everyone were now standing in a circle. Hange was looking down.
"Huh? Come again." Levi said.
"Pastor Nick is dead." Hange said, looking at Levi. "He's been murdered. This morning, in the Throst district barracks."
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Nick was bleeding from his nose, nails removed, laying on the floor.
Hange had teary eyes.
"Hey! Don't sully the crime scene, you dumb Corpsman!" Sannes said, pushing Hange with his rifile. "Stay right where you are! This is our job, not yours." Ralph closed the door. "Another victim of armed robbery and assault. These types of crimes have been on the rise."
Hange and Moblit continued to stare in shock.
"That's absurd!" Hange said, stepping forward. "Look! His nails were torned off!"
Sannes shoulder grabbed her collar. "Which unit are you in?"
Moblit removed his hand hold his wrist tightly. "Fourth Squad Leader Hange Zoe and Executive Officer Moblit Berner."
"Your ranks are meaningless coming from the trash that is the Survey Corps." Sannes soilder said. "Look, it wasn't a titan that killed this man." The first soilder said. "It was a murder, plan and simple. It's not your place to intervene."
"First inferior squad?" Hange asked.
Sannes straightened. 'What is a squad from the capital doing all the way down here in Trost? What's so strange about that?'
"What's so strange about that ?" He asked, leaning forward. "Unlike you useless layabouts, we Military Police have a lot of work to do."
"Oh... How could I forget?" Hange said. "It must be because I am so worthless. Meeting such illustrious soldiers in person is an honor! Please let me shake your hands!" She grabbed his right plam. "But, to see poor Nick robbed like this... It's such a pity. Did he have anything that was worth stealing in the first place?"
"Ofcourse." Sannes replied, looking away. "Who doesn't know that the Church's holy objects are made from precious iron?"
"Huh?" Hange asked with fake surprise. "So, Nick was a pastor from the Church of the Walls?"
Sannes looked terrified. "What fresh nonsense are these?"
"He and I were friends for a long time." Hange said, still holding his hands. "But I was under the impression that he was a mere chair maker." She looked down. "It's even written right on his application."
"Will you stop-"
"Well, I guess this means I just never knew old Nick as well as I thought I did." Hange said, caressing his red knuckles.
"Hey! Let go!"
"Oh! I am so sorry!" Hange said and backed off. "I wasn't thinking!" She saluted. "I wish you luck with the investigation. And I'd like you to convey a message to the culprit for me. I'm sure you feel that the things you did to him were righteous and just. But I don't have a shred of sympathy for that line of thought. I will personally see to it that you are tortured alive, like Nick was, so that you might suffer the same fate you brought upon my dear friend! Yes, you will be sorry! Please tell the criminal that." Hange said and began to leave. "We will take our leave now."
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The MPs looked at their retreating with blank expression.
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"Squad leader, do you really think they..." Moblit asked.
"Yeah, without a doubt." Hange replied. "First interrior squad, Djel Sannes... The skin on his knuckles were split wide open. Nick was tortured by Inferior Military Police and then murdered."
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"I knew the Church would have it in for Nick after he agreed to help us." Hange said, as everyone were sitting in front of the table. "That's why I put him up in the barracks with a fake identity."
Everyone had a grim expression on their faces.
"I never expected them to send soilders to execute him." Hange said. "I was so careless. It's entirely my fault."
Levi took a sip from his tea.
"Did the Military Police torture Pastor Nick just to find out what he told us?" Armin asked.
"Most likely." Levi replied, putting his cup down. "But it was also the Interior Military Police, so there must be more to it." He turned to Hange. "So, how many of Nick's nails were torn off?"
"Huh?" Hange said.
"You saw right? How many?" Levi asked.
"I only caught a glimpse of him." Hange replied. "But, from what I could tell, all of them."
"People will either spill the beans after one, or hold out no matter how many nails you pull." He said, looking ahead. "Honestly, I don't think much of pastor Nick, but he stood by his beliefs all the way to the end."
Hange looked down, clenching the couch.
"That means they probably have no idea that we've learned about the Reiss family. But now we also know that someone is watching us from on high, and not for friendly reasons." Levi said.
Then the door opened, grabbing everyone's attention.
"Captain Levi!" Nifa said, coming in. "There is word from Commander Erwin." She walked towards him and handed him a paper. "I meant to tell him about Pastor Nick, but he sent me right back with this."
"Evryone out." Levi ordered, looking up. "We are not safe here." He stood up. "Leave no trace of our presence."
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An MP kicked open the door, rifile in his hand.
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A lot of MPs surrounded the house, torch and rifile in their hands.
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The Levi squad watched them from afar, standing on a cliff, holding a rifil.
"That was close." Connie said. "What would have happened to us if we hadn't left immediately?"
"But how did Commander Erwin..." Armin trailed off.
"New orders come from the Government." Levi said. "The Survey Corps are banned from venturing outside the Walls. And we are to hand over Eren and Historia."
"Immediately after he gave me that message, the MPs arrested Commanded Erwin." Nifa said.
"Why are they treating him like a criminy?" Hange asked.
"Someone isn't working from the shadows anymore." Levi said. "They don't care who sees them anymore."
"They must want to protect the Wall secrets at all costs." Hange said. "But, what could they want from Eren and Historia?" She put her hand on her chin. "I could see killing them but, why do they want them alive?"
"Who knows?" Levi said. "Atleast it's clear that the enemies are after those two. But, we shouldn't stick around here any longer. We are moving her and Eren to Throst district."
Everyone looked at him with surprise.
"Why move them to the city where pastor Nick was killed?" Moblit asked.
"We need to stay away from the interior. With Throst in a panic, it should be easy to slip in." Levi said. "And if it becomes necessary, we can use this more freely in the city." He removed his hood to show the ODM gear."
"Good point." Armin said.
"Plus, we are at a disadvantage against an unknown enemy." Levi said and looked up. "We need to find out who is behind this... Hange, lend me some of your soilders."
"Ofcourse." Hange replied. "All right. I am going after Erwin." She turned to Moblit. "Moblit stays with me... The rest of you, go with Levi." She began to walk away, Moblit followed behind.
"Roger!" H
Then Eren remembered something.
"Hange-san!" Eren called out, stoping Hange from mounting her horse. "Here." He handed her a note. "Earlier I remembered something Ymir and Bertolt talked about. I didn't have time to tell you so I wrote it down."
"Alright." Hange replied and put the note in het coat. "I will be sure to read this later." She mounted her horse and rode off.
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"They certainly move quickly." Caven said, walking forward, Levi squad house visible in the distance.
"That runt actually knows what he's doing." Kenny said, standing beside her.
"You've met?" Caven asked.
"A while back, yes." Kenny replied, pulling out a gun.
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At Throst district, bell rang in the distance.
The Levi squad were walking through a alleyway, hooded up.
"Don't walk too close together. We will stand out." Levi said. "Eren and Historia, try to walk normally."
"Why is the royal family's flag hanging everywhere?" Connie asked, looking around.
"Oh! Today must be the anniversary of the monarchy's establishment." Sasha replied. "They gave out special ration for it every year."
"Huh?" Connie said, stopping on his tracks.
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"We will begin distributing ration shortly!" An MPs, standing on a stage announced. "King Fritz has heard of Trost District's hardship and will donate the royal family's reserves! There is enough for everyone so form an ordinary line!"
The crowd began to praise the king.
"Thanks goodness!"
"Long live King Fritz!"
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"Now, that's generosity befitting a king!" Sasha said.
"It means he had that much to spare." Levi said. "People are so easily swayed by food." He walked away, his squad following behind.
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"We used up over 60% of our reserve in one day." Aurille, a nobleman said to Rod Reiss in the Royal Palace, the fake King was behind them, sleeping on the throne. "Don't you think this is too step a price for raising the people's morale, Lord Reiss?"
"Not at all. This was a necessary sacrifice to endear the royal family to the public." Reiss replied. "What we need now is that power and the vessel. The sooner, the better."
"The Military Police failed, eh?" Another Nobleman asked, turning to Sannes.
"I will continue the persue at once, sir." Sannes replied.
"No, soon we both will have what we need." Reiss said. "The plan has already set in motion."
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Levi squad continued to walk in silence.
Then Levi suddenly stopped in his tracks as if sensing something.
"Watch out! Behind us!" He informed, turning around.
A wagon was coming towards them, fast.
The Levi squad stepped aside but, two men in the wagon grabbed Historia and Eren and kidnapped them.
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"Armi- I mean Christa and Eren!" Sasha yelled, standing up.
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The wagon continued to go.
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"They have been kidnapped again!" Sasha yelled.
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Mikasa and Levi were on their knees, looking at the cart. Then Mikasa stood up and walked away.
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In another wagon, Eren and Historia were sitting, led by Keiji.
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"Can this really work?" Eren said, looking down, fingers interwined. "I am concerned for Faye's safety."
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In a warehouse, Faye was sitting on a chair, hands tied up, gritting her teeth.
Infront of her, a man was molesting Armin who was disguised as Historia.
"Yeah. You like that? Let me hear you moan." The man said. "Come on! Admit it! You are enjoying this!"
Armin was making a disgusting face while the man was keep molesting him.
"Go on and let me hear your voice. You know you want to." The man said.
Armin gasped when the molestor brought his face closer to his neck. He desperately looked at Faye who kept glaring at him.
'Free me one time! Then I will kill you the the same way my brother did!' Faye thought, glaring.
"You are so muscular for a girl your age." The man said.
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Mikasa was looking at them from the window.
She went away, using her ODM gear.
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She landed on the roof where Levi was.
"How's it going down there?" Levi asked.
Mikasa turned to him. "We should hurry before they realise Armin isn't who he seems." She looked down. "I also feel bad for him."
"I see." Levi replied, turning to her.
"How's your leg feeling?" Mikasa asked, turning to him.
Levi grabbed his leg. "I can move. It's just fine. It's not bad. But the bad thing is those kidnappers are awfully green. Why would they send ametures on a job like this?" He stood up. "I think you can handle the rest yourself. I will rendezvous with Eren. Take out the trash and come meet up with me." He walked away.
"Understood." Mikasa replied.
Levi stopped in his tracks. "And there is one more thing I should tell you, just in case. Let the rest of the squads know. "
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Dimo Reeves, his son and two others entered the warehouse where Faye and Armin were kept.
"You are positive that this is Christa and Eren?" Dimo asked.
"Yes. They match the discription we were given." The man replied.
Mikasa was hiding behind a crate.
"Huh? Where is the guard?" Dimo asked.
Suddenly, Mikasa kneed the man behind Dimo, in the head, grabbing everyone's attention.
Then she smacked the second man to the ground, knocking him out.
Flegel pulled out a gun, scared.
"What the-" Flegel said.
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Armin and Faye stood up and ran towards them.
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Mikasa ran towards Flegel and kicked him on his face. He fell to the ground, rolling down. His gun fell far away from him.
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Armin and Faye tied up the two men.
"Where is your molestor friend?" Faye asked angrily.
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Mikasa pinned Dimo down and turned around.
"Connie! Are you sure it's just these four?" Mikasa asked.
"Yeah!" Connie replied, standing on a big crate. "That's all of them! There is nobody else nearby."
Dimo pulled out a gun but, it was shot with an arrow.
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"If you move again, I won't aim for the gun next time." Sasha threatened, pulling the string of her bow with another arrow, sitting on a big crate.
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"Alright. Once you finish tying them up, let's meet with the captain." Mikasa said, tying Dimo up.
"Wait, why is that?" Armin asked.
"Those are his orders." Mikasa said, standing up. "And he left a message too."
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The cart carrying Eren and Historia stopped infront of a crowd.
"Hey! Get out of the way!" Keiji yelled.
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Behind them on a rooftop, Nifa was looking out. Levi landed next to her.
"Captain?" Nifa said.
"Well?" Levi said.
"The road is crowded but nothing seems out of place. Commander Pixis is just a little bit further ahead." Nifa reported, looking at the wagon.
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Further away, Abel was looking out too.
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"Did they fall for the disguises ?" Nifa asked.
"They did." Levi replied, looking ahead.
"You don't look too happy about it." Nifa said, looking at him.
"No." Levi replied.
'Something is not right.' Levi thought. 'The military police can't be behind this. Those self important bastards would never hire ametures. This feels like...'
The crowd continued to leave.
'What if another group was following the wagon and waiting for the chance to strike.' Levi thought.
"Captain!" Nifa called out, grabbing his attention. "The wagon is about to start moving."
"Nifa, have you ever heard of Kenny the ripper?" Levi asked.
"The mass murder of capital?" Nifa asked. "The one who slit the throat of over 100 military police? Isn't that just an old urban legend?"
"He is real and the stories are true." Levi said, standing up. "I lived with him for a while when I was a kid."
"Huh?" Nifa said and smiled, blushing a bit. "What are you talking about? This isn't a good time for jokes."
'If it were him, he wouldn't object to hiring ametures.' Levi thought. 'If a group was trailing the wagon, they would flank it from the rear, using a high up vantage point.'
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Someone slowly approached them from behind, with two guns in hand.
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Levi sensed his presence.
"Nifa!" Levi yelled but it was too late.
Nifa's face was blew up from Kenny's bullet while Levi dodged it. His eyes narrowed at the sight of Nifa's death.
He quickly hid behind a pillar.
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Abel was looking at them. Then, one of Kenny's man shot him on his face.
His dead body fell to the ground, infront of a mother and daughter, who screamed at the sight.
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Levi was a bit scared.
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Kenny slowly approached him.
"Yo, Levi." He called out with a smirk. "Have you grown since I last saw you?" He droped the silencers of his guns and put new ones.
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Then Kenny's squad members came, maneuvering through the market and surrounded Levi from every direction.
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Kenny used the ODM gear and appeared infront of Levi, upside down.
"Oho! It looks like you haven't gain an inch!" Kenny said with a smirk.
Levi pulled out his blade with an angered expression.
"KENNY!"
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