The moment Asahi approached the three children's location, Mikasa seemed to sense someone targeting her. She turned her head to look around, then suddenly pulled both Eren and Armin along.
"Hey! Mikasa! What are you doing?!"
"Mikasa!"
"Don't ask, someone is following us."
The girl spoke in a low voice, nimbly pulling the two through the crowded area, returning to the secluded spot where they had been talking earlier. But before they could even breathe a sigh of relief, Asahi's voice rang out.
"The three of you don't need to run. I have no ill will."
The three children turned back in alarm. Seeing the cloak bearing the Survey Corps emblem, they stopped running.
Armin didn't recognize Asahi, but Eren and Mikasa did.
"Are you Doctor Grisha's children? Can you tell me where he is?"
He thought he could meet Grisha easily. To his surprise, the children's answer shocked him.
Grisha actually ran away?
"Wait, why did he have to run?"
Asahi asked the children for details about that day's events. They said they didn't remember clearly, only vaguely recalling that Grisha had continuously mumbled and said incomprehensible things since the Armored Titan breached Wall Maria. Then, he suddenly dove into the canal and vanished.
This further confirmed his earlier thoughts, making Asahi even more eager to find clarity.
So, he asked Mikasa and Eren to lead him to Carla, hoping she might recall more details.
Meeting for the second time, it might sound impolite, but she was extremely surprised that Asahi was still alive. After all, in that situation, trapped in a crushed house with Titans approaching.
"Ah, yes, Grisha at that time... acted very strange. He kept muttering that he should have done something sooner. It sounded very urgent."
"Is that so?"
He pondered for a moment, then continued to ask.
"Did he ever show any strange behavior, or perhaps... conceal anything from his family?"
"Well..."
"It's the basement! Dad never allowed us down into the basement!"
Eren suddenly cut in. As soon as he said this, even he was surprised by his own words.
He didn't know why he said it, as if someone had whispered it in his ear.
"Eren, what are you saying? I apologize, Asahi. Please excuse the boy..."
"It's alright, Mrs. Yeager. That's enough."
Asahi left.
To be honest, before asking, things were ambiguous. After asking, even more mysteries popped up.
Grisha was certainly someone from outside the Walls, but Asahi didn't know what the situation was like outside. Furthermore, the man had come here with his own purpose, but had postponed it many times.
It wasn't until he saw the Titan breach the Wall that Grisha finally resolved himself, leaving his wife and children to do something.
Wall Maria was too vast; there was no telling where he had run off to. The only remaining clue was the basement mentioned by Eren.
"Tsk, without power, everything is doubly difficult."
Asahi scratched his head. Not only did he lack power, but he also lacked accumulated points. If he had enough points, he could buy some tracking items and find people easily.
It seemed he would have to rely on the Survey Corps.
Wait a moment, relying on the Survey Corps...
Asahi suddenly realized he had overlooked a very important factor.
The Commander... no, the former Commander of the Survey Corps, Keith Shadis.
This man was the one who brought him to the Yeager house, facilitating his meeting with Grisha.
No sooner said than done, he immediately cloaked himself, preparing to meet Keith one last time before he officially resigned.
At night, while everyone was asleep, the leadership of the Survey Corps was still holding a meeting.
Keith was sitting in the main seat, yet he appeared slightly distracted and unfocused, seemingly out of sync with the surrounding atmosphere and decorum.
He knew it himself and excused himself to go outside.
Wandering along the open-air wooden plank corridor in the dead of night, Keith looked out, unable to stop recalling everything he had accomplished during his time joining the Survey Corps and rising to Commander.
There was nothing.
Lost in thought, a sound of footsteps appeared behind him, making him turn around.
The figure of Asahi, subtly appearing beneath the dim oil lamp light.
"What's wrong, can't you sleep?"
"It could be."
"Tell me, what is your purpose in meeting me at this time? If it's about anything unknown, I think Erwin already told you everything..."
"But you haven't told me about Grisha Yeager."
Keith offered a wry smile, his face concealing a little-known secret.
"When I decided to reveal my face, I thought we should be honest with each other."
"That's true, but this matter... it's quite shameful to recall. But if you want to know, I'm compelled to tell you."
With that, Keith continued walking. Asahi did not question him further, slowly following him.
The two men moved through the darkness using only a handheld oil lamp.
"There was a time when I thought I was truly special."
"In a sense, that's true. Because I am about to become the first living former Survey Corps Commander when a new one is appointed. I have replaced my useless self with a more talented individual."
"It started around... more than ten years ago, I think? I don't remember the exact time..."
It was a scene from the past. At that time, the Survey Corps encountered very few Titans during their reconnaissance missions outside the Walls.
And it was there, in front of the Wall in Shiganshina District, that Keith and Grisha met for the first time.
"Hey, you! What are you doing here? How did you get outside the Wall?"
"And... and what about you?! Outside the Wall... don't tell me you're fighting?"
A strange exchange, which made Keith realize that this man was very different.
Similar to Asahi, he was completely unaware of the existence of the Survey Corps, of the people, culture, or politics inside the Walls.
However, unlike Asahi, Grisha disguised this by claiming to have lost all his memories. From there, he began a new life in Shiganshina under the name "Grisha Yeager" and the profession of a doctor.
"He was an odd person. He knew nothing, from the history of the Wall's construction, to figures, places, and the currency system."
"He was also particularly interested in how people lived, and in us, the Survey Corps."
"Grisha, at that time, called the Survey Corps 'the pride of humanity.'"
Keith's eyes brightened slightly, but quickly became submerged in shadow and weariness.
At that time, the Survey Corps was formed due to the concerns of a few individuals about the government's policy of prohibiting activities outside the Walls. And the effect of this small Corps was only to further engrave the fear of the Titans, proving the government's decision was correct.
Nevertheless, it still attracted people like Keith, individuals who refused to be constrained and imprisoned behind the Walls. Going outside, beginning an endless cycle of death.