Lillian observed the subtle shift in Reiner's expression, instantly sensing his intentions.
The three warriors had assumed that Eren held the power of the Founding Titan. But they overlooked one possibility: the Attack Titan.
Of the Nine Titans, seven were in Marley's hands: Colossal, Armored, Female, Jaw (taken by Ymir), War Hammer, Cart, and Beast Titans.
The remaining two? The Founding Titan was confirmed on the island. The Attack Titan's location was unknown.
When the leader of the "Eldian Restorationists," the Owl, entrusted this power to Grisha, he ensured his identity remained secret. After the Owl's death, only Grisha knew.
On the day Wall Maria fell, Grisha was inland treating patients. Upon hearing the wall had been breached, he stormed into the Reiss family territory—his intent wasn't to fight, but to have the royal family control the Titans invading Wall Maria, since his wife and child were inside.
However, the person possessing the Founding Titan's power refused.
This was Frieda Reiss, the half-sister who had played with Krista when she was a child.
Why did she refuse? The inheritor of the Founding Titan was subject to the "Vow of Renunciation" brainwashing. Enraged, Grisha transformed and attacked, killing Frieda and seizing the Founding Titan's power.
Though the Founding Titan was theoretically stronger than the Attack Titan, Frieda had just acquired her powers and hadn't mastered them, making her no match for Grisha, who had wielded Titan power for over a decade.
Afterward, Grisha returned, discovered his wife had been eaten by a Titan, and, with his 13-year lifespan ticking down, injected Eren with Titan spinal fluid, passing on two Titan powers to him.
Tragic indeed—the Titan that ate Grisha's wife was his former wife, a nightmarish cycle of violence.
---
Under Levi's harsh treatment, Eren slowly regained his senses.
Memories resurfaced bit by bit. He recounted being eaten by a Titan, transforming, and receiving a key from his father during the fall of Wall Maria…
Everyone's eyes fixated on the key dangling from his neck.
"I see. In your old home, the Yeager residence in the Shiganshina District, there's a basement holding Titan secrets. Is that right?" Erwin concluded after hearing Eren's rambling account.
"Yes… my father told me," Eren replied, still dazed from his Titan transformation, feeling completely detached from reality.
Levi studied him suspiciously. "You lost your memory, and your father's whereabouts are unknown. Convenient excuse."
"No! I'm telling the truth!"
"…."
Erwin and Pixis remained silent. They couldn't yet determine if Eren was friend or foe.
But one thing was certain—Titans could possess intelligence. Erwin thought: My deduction was correct.
Moreover…
Watching Eren, he concluded he wasn't the informant who had left the paper note. If it were him, revealing nothing would be pointless; he'd have disclosed his identity to manipulate the situation and possibly capture the Colossal Titan.
But if Eren were an enemy, could his "willingness to risk death" be a ruse? It didn't seem so.
The air grew tense. Then a cautious, nervous voice spoke.
"Um…"
A blonde trainee spoke up.
Under the gaze of several prominent figures, Armin was nervous, but glancing at Eren, he gained courage. "I'm Armin Arlert of the 104th Training Corps. I have a proposal! A plan to retake the wall!"
"Retake the wall?" Erwin reacted first, intrigued. "You mean using Eren's Titan body to move heavy objects and block the breach?"
"Uh…"
Armin froze, scratching his head as Erwin read his thoughts. "Commander Erwin… you already figured it out."
"No, you reminded me," Erwin replied calmly.
I only mentioned retaking the wall… Armin thought. Observing Erwin's composed expression, he marveled at the Survey Corps leader's intellect.
Commander Pixis looked surprised for a moment, then addressed Eren. "Can you really do it? Block that large hole?"
"There's a huge boulder not far from the gate!" Armin called urgently. "If we use that, it'll definitely work!"
"Hmm…" Pixis paused thoughtfully, glancing at Erwin. "If it works, this would be humanity's first real victory over the Titans."
"…."
Levi asked sharply, "Erwin, what if he tries to escape while doing this?"
Pixis' words struck a chord. "This is our chance," Erwin said, turning to Eren. "You won't run, right, Eren?"
"Of course not!"
"Then… can you block the breach?"
Eren opened his mouth but said nothing.
Can I do it?
He recalled the chaos when he first transformed into a Titan—a nightmare in which he unleashed all his rage. But now, to enter that state consciously and act with purpose… he wasn't sure he could.
Eren's silence caused some disappointment. Pixis looked out over the Trost District, now crawling with Titans.
"About 90% of the residents have successfully evacuated to the inner wall. But the remaining 10%… they may be dead, or hiding in basements, waiting for rescue. And we can't save them. Eren, do you know why?"
"Why…?" Eren asked instinctively.
"Because the soldiers' blades will turn against them."
Pixis took a swig from his flask. "If we try to save them, it would require another full-scale corps operation. But look at the expressions on the soldiers' faces."
Eren did look: one ashen face after another.
"If we try to make them leave the inner wall for Trost, they might mutiny en masse."
"What?!"
"Exactly," Erwin continued. "'Such suicidal missions are pointless.' Soldiers can recognize this. To get them to fight to the death, they must believe in victory—or at least have a psychological anchor to rely on."
Erwin crouched down, locking eyes with Eren. "Do you understand, Eren? This isn't about whether you can do it—it's about whether you will do it."
"Commander Erwin…"
"Enough talk." Levi's patience ran out. He grabbed Eren by the collar, yanking him to his feet. "Do it."
Eren's pupils flickered. He gazed at the shattered wall in the distance, remembering five years ago—when all he could do was cry and scream. Was he still powerless now, five years later?
"I'll do it," he said, a fire burning in his eyes. "I will do it!"
"Hmph."
Levi released him. Erwin patted Eren's shoulder. "Good. Let's start planning in detail immediately."