Chapter 123: The 'Opportunity' to Tell the Truth
The news that Eren Jaeger had joined the Survey Corps spread quickly, throughout Trost and even beyond. The young hero who had single-handedly suppressed three Intelligent Titans, cleared countless Pure Titans, and saved the city was now a member of the Survey Corps!
In an instant, public morale surged. The soldiers and civilians, teetering on the brink of despair, saw a new ray of hope. Eren's name became synonymous with courage.
This fervor ignited an unprecedented recruitment drive.
"I'm joining the Survey Corps!"
"For Eldia! For humanity!"
"Dedicate your hearts!!!"
A huge wave of cadets, and even Garrison soldiers, flooded the Survey Corps recruitment stations. This included most of the 104th graduates. Jean, Connie, Sasha—they had witnessed Eren's power and the betrayal of their comrades. Anger, regret, and the pursuit of strength led them to choose this most dangerous, yet most promising, path.
The Survey Corps' numbers swelled dramatically.
Erwin stood atop the Wall, looking down at the training grounds below. The new recruits were fired up. Their numbers were vast, their morale higher than ever. The public's admiration for Eren was bordering on fanaticism. This power, if wielded correctly, would be an invincible weapon. But a flicker of worry crossed Erwin's mind. Such intense, focused hero worship carried its own risks.
"Still, since Eren has joined the Survey Corps, it's time he participated in the interrogations," Erwin mused. "When the time is right, we'll give him a suitable 'opportunity' to tell the truth."
…
Trost District, underground cells.
Cold, damp. The smell of antiseptic and blood hung in the air. The interrogations had been ongoing for days, with minimal progress.
Reiner Braun. Bertolt Hoover. Annie Leonhart. They were bound to chairs in separate cells. The joints of their limbs were severed daily to prevent them from transforming and escaping. A repeating cycle of agony.
"Talk, Reiner," Hange said in his cell. "What is it like outside the Walls? Where is your 'homeland,' and why did you need to return?"
Reiner's head was bowed, sweat matting his blonde hair. His lips were clamped shut. He said nothing. Only the occasional, slight spasm from the pain proved he was still alive.
In another cell, Bertolt was curled up in silence. Threats, bribes, and appeals to his conscience were all ineffective.
As for Annie, she was even more withdrawn. She kept her eyes closed most of the time, her breathing even. Only when Armin brought her water and mentioned the past would her eyelashes tremble slightly. Armin watched her, his heart heavy. He tried to awaken the part of her that was "Annie," for the sake of intelligence, and for a sliver of desperate hope. But it was to no avail.
They were "Warriors." They had a homeland they cared for. For the sake of those they had to protect, their wills were unbreakable.
Hange slammed her empty notebook shut in frustration and ran her hands through her hair. "Their mouths are tougher than the Walls!"
Erwin stood in the shadows, reviewing the reports. "As expected," he said. "They aren't ordinary soldiers." His gaze shifted to Ymir's file. Her situation was slightly better, but she only offered trivial details. She kept all core secrets.
Erwin mused. "A frontal assault is useless. Let's try the flank." He turned to an aide. "Arrange for Historia to speak with Ymir. Alone."
…
Ymir's cell. The light was dim.
The iron door opened. Historia walked in, now in clean civilian clothes. The lost look on her face had been replaced by determination.
"Ymir," she called out, crouching in front of the restraint chair to meet her gaze. "I came to see you."
Ymir looked back. She didn't want Historia to see her like this. "What are you doing here?"
"Ymir, listen to me. I know you've done… a lot of things. Maybe in the eyes of others, they were wrong. But I don't care about that. You told me to live as my true self, to stop playing 'Krista.' Well, the real Historia Reiss is telling you now—" She reached out and touched Ymir's face. "No matter what happens, no matter who you are, where you're from, or where you're going… even if it's death… I will stand with you. We're comrades, right? The most important person… to each other."
Ymir's breath caught. She looked at the sincere face before her, at the eyes that reflected all her own unworthiness. Stand with me… no matter what…
"I knew it…" she whispered, her voice choking. "Marry me, Historia…"
Historia didn't answer, just stayed with her quietly. After a long time, she slowly stood up. "I'll come see you again, Ymir." With that, she turned and left. Her footsteps faded.
Ymir slowly raised her head, staring at the iron door, her eyes filled with struggle, pain, and confusion.
The sound of footsteps returned. Hange entered. "Finished talking? She's a good kid."
Ymir's eyes narrowed warily.
"Ymir," Hange crouched down. "I know you're different from Reiner and the others. You don't have a 'homeland' you're loyal to. Everything you did was just to protect Historia, wasn't it?" Hange pressed the opening. "Tell me everything you know. About the outside, about the Titans, about their goals and weaknesses. It's vital for us. For your own sake, and to better protect Historia. If we know nothing about the enemy, how can we protect the person you care about?"
Hange's words were a temptation, every one of them striking at what Ymir cared about most. Ymir's heart pounded. For Historia… She was her weak spot, and her only armor. But Ymir closed her eyes, forcing herself to remain calm. It's not enough. Telling them will only put her in more danger.
Hange observed Ymir, understood, and didn't press further for the moment.
…
Inside the command tent.
"Still a stalemate," Hange reported. "Historia's words moved her, but she's still holding back."
Erwin tapped his fingers on the desk. "As expected. We need a stronger card." He looked up. "Send Eren. He might be able to provide a 'reason' Ymir can't refuse."
Hange's eyes lit up. "Of course! Eren! That kid is an enigma himself! He had contact with Ymir during the battle—he might really have a way!"
Levi, leaning against a post and cleaning his blade, just grunted in acknowledgement.
"Hange," Erwin looked at her. "Go arrange it. Create an… 'opportunity' for them to talk alone."
"Yes, Commander!" Hange accepted the order.
…
The iron door opened again. Hange walked in, with Eren in tow.
"Ymir, how are you feeling?" Hange glanced at the instruments, then turned to Eren. "Eren, didn't you have some questions for her? This is a good time. I've got to go check the regeneration data on Reiner, see if there are individual differences, it's vital data! And I need to cross-reference the interrogation logs, look for contradictions."
Hange found a plausible excuse and left in a hurry before either of them could respond, thoughtfully closing the door from the outside. The sound of her footsteps faded.
The cell fell silent once more. Only Eren and Ymir remained.