The 57th expedition beyond the Walls had ended.
Judging by the results, it was an overwhelming success. Four full hours of investigation resulted in only a little over a dozen casualties, while the gains were enormous: a vast stretch of terrain had been mapped, and detailed geographical charts had been completed.
The new recruits were delighted. They suddenly felt that the expeditions weren't as terrifying as Erwin had made them sound during recruitment. The casualty rate didn't seem that high after all.
What they couldn't see was the disappointment weighing heavily on the high command.
Erwin and the others rode at the front, talking as they went.
"So they really didn't show up," Hange said with a sigh. "That means all the traps we prepared in the Forest of Giant Trees were for nothing."
"Yeah," Levi replied. "I really thought we'd catch one this time."
"It's fine," Erwin said, sounding far more optimistic than either of them.
"This mission wasn't a total loss. Successfully scouting a third of the route with such low casualties is a huge gain. And it'll help us earn more public support—slowly easing the people's resistance toward Eren."
"Don't force it, Erwin," Levi glanced at him. "None of that compares to the value of capturing an intelligent Titan."
"Of course."
Erwin had to admit it. He was disappointed—and confused.
From his perspective, the enemy shouldn't have passed up such a perfect opportunity. The longer they waited, the greater the chance that the Survey Corps would reach the Yeager family basement.
Did the enemy really not care if the people inside the Walls uncovered their secrets?
No. That couldn't be it.
"Is there a possibility," Erwin muttered to himself, "that it's not that they didn't want to come—but that they couldn't?"
Hange, Mike, and the others heard him, but none of them could answer. After all, they knew virtually nothing about their enemy.
Meanwhile, at the back of the formation, Reiner and Bertholdt were riding side by side.
Both of them looked grim.
"What the hell is going on with Annie?" Reiner growled, barely containing his anger.
"I don't know…" Bertholdt was just as baffled.
According to the plan, Annie should have appeared today and taken Eren.
She was in the Military Police—acting wouldn't draw suspicion. Reiner and Bertholdt, on the other hand, couldn't move. One mistake would expose them, and neither of them matched Annie in speed or agility. Especially Bertholdt—on open plains, the Colossal Titan was practically useless. It would only attract hordes of Titans, and without terrain, even with ODM gear, escape would be impossible.
More importantly, Annie wouldn't be suspected because she wasn't officially part of the Survey Corps. Dropping in out of nowhere, no one would know who she was. But Reiner and Bertholdt had fixed positions in the long-range scouting formation, soldiers on both sides. If one of them transformed, even an idiot would know who it was.
"Could it be that she never received the letter?" Bertholdt suggested.
Reiner shook his head. "No. We tested that before. It always arrives the next day. Military mail is delivered separately from civilian letters."
"Then…"
"Could something have happened to her?" Reiner frowned.
Bertholdt was startled. "Hey, don't say that! How could anything happen to Annie? Even in the worst case—if her identity were exposed—she could still escape. No one could stop her! The Survey Corps' elite forces weren't even there!"
"..."
After a moment of silence, Reiner said, "Either way, the opportunity's gone. We'll have to wait for the next one. But first, we need to figure out what's going on with Annie."
"Another letter?"
"No," Reiner said. "Next week's rest day. I'll go in person. This kind of thing can't be explained in a letter. If it leaks, we're finished."
"…Alright."
---
By the time Lillian and Annie returned to headquarters, it was already noon.
Naturally, they didn't return together. Without saying a word, they'd reached an understanding—arriving at the same time would draw attention and invite speculation. Annie returned first; Lillian showed up at the barracks an hour later, strolling in unhurriedly.
Marlo, who was about to take a nap, was startled when he saw him.
"Lillian? Where did you go? You're the captain—skipping duty like that?"
"Case-related," Lillian replied. "I went down to the underground city in the Inner District. Just got back. Anything unusual during patrol?"
Marlo shook his head. Talking about it actually made him smile.
"Crime's gone down a bit in Stohess lately. A lot of civilians are saying it's thanks to you."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. A bunch of kids really admire you. They say they want to become Military Police someday and work under you. Looks like our hard work this past month wasn't for nothing!"
"Of course it wasn't," Lillian said with a smile. "But we can't get complacent. The work still needs to be done."
Earlier that day, in the girls' dormitory, Annie had barely stepped inside before Hitch cornered her for questioning.
"Come on, Annie—tell me the truth. Did you go on a date with Lillian?" Hitch looked at Annie with a puzzled expression. "Why do you look so exhausted? After doing that, aren't you supposed to be glowing?"
"…No."
Annie was definitely not about to describe being tied to a wooden frame all night as a "date."
"Then why didn't he show up this morning either? I even asked Marlo—he didn't come back to the dorm last night," Hitch said with a teasing grin, waggling her eyebrows. "Annie, if it really is that, don't hide it from me. I swear I won't tell anyone."
"No." Annie's expression turned cold, her eyes icy. "Who would ever go on a date with a guy like that? A self-righteous, underhanded bastard who doesn't care in the slightest about a delicate girl's feelings."
"…"
It was the first time Hitch had ever heard Annie curse someone out. She froze completely, having no idea what was going on. After a moment, she laughed awkwardly.
"Damn i–is that so? Well… okay then. I mean, Lillian's not that bad, really. He's… fine."
Annie said nothing more. She took off her jacket and lay down on the bed.
"I'm going to sleep."
"Huh? W–wait, aren't you eating lunch?"
"I already ate."
Annie pulled the blanket over her head, covering her face.
Her eyes remained open in the darkness. Lillian's final words to her replayed in her mind.
Let's fight together for that future.
Seriously… why didn't I transform back then?
She thought that the moment Lillian released her restraints, she should have turned into a Titan and crushed him underfoot. After everything he did to her—why hadn't she?
Was it because she agreed with what he said? That as an Eldian, she was nothing more than a tool used by Marley? That once the Founding Titan was taken and she lost her value, she would be disposed of… or, as Lillian put it, imprisoned. Then, when her thirteen years were nearly up, another Eldian would be brought in to devour her.
'This is your fate', Lillian had said. 'Do you accept it?'
Seriously…
Annie closed her eyes. After going a full day and night without sleep, exhaustion finally washed over her completely. But mixed into that fatigue was something else—something felt as though it had been set down, while something new had been picked up.
Why should I accept… a fate like that?
"Be a bee."
…