A conversation (Part one)

A few dry branches were piled together, and a small flame slowly burned among them. Above the branches, a small aluminum kettle was placed, with the flame licking at the bottom of the kettle. Two cups were placed next to the kettle.

A figure sat cross-legged behind the small pot, wearing a brand-new Marley Navy. Zeke noticed that the lid of the pot was trembling slightly.

Looking up, what appeared in Zeke's eyes was a Withered Forest, with dead branches and fallen leaves everywhere. However, at the edge of the withered forest, a huge figure was rapidly approaching.

Zeke's lips curled into a slight smile as he muttered to himself, "Has it finally arrived?"

From a higher vantage point, Zeke is sitting atop a huge and peculiar boulder. Why is it peculiar? Because the boulder resembles an inverted gourd, top-heavy and bottom-light. The upper part of the boulder is nearly ten meters wide, but the base is only about three meters wide.

The enormous figure drew closer and closer. Zeke could feel the earth trembling slightly. He calmly set out the two cups and just picked up the small pot.

Bang! A Titan's head was slammed against the rock, blood splattering everywhere, and a blood-stained, Hardening, bone-like claw was pressed down not far from Zeke.

Zeke felt a sudden darkness before his eyes as an enormous body blocked out the sun.

Zeke raised his head slightly, squinted, and saw the Titan in front of him clearly: a pair of incomparably scarlet eyes, and sharp, dagger-like teeth faintly visible beneath the white mask.

The boulder was no more than ten meters high, and the Fate Titan was bent over, staring at Zeke. The Fate Titan's face was less than two meters away from Zeke could clearly see the crazy killing intent in the Fate Titan's eyes.

But Zeke was confident. Zeke raised his glass and shouted, "Won't you have a drink? I've been brewing this for a long time."

After a long while, the killing intent in the eyes of the Fate Titan faded, and its head lowered. A figure emerged from the back of the Fate Titan's neck.

Yago tore off the muscles attached to his face and easily leaped to Zeke's side.

However, to Zeke's surprise, another figure jumped from the Fate Titan's shoulder to Yago's side, took off his hood, and Zeke's faint smile froze instantly.

"Annie?" Zeke was very surprised. Annie was still alive? He had always thought that Yago had taken Annie's Female Titan, but now? Zeke once again felt that sense of loss of control over the situation.

"It seems I was wrong. I thought you'd come alone." Zeke poured a fragrant black drink from a small pot and handed it to Yago. Yago took it, looked at the foam floating on the surface, and said, "I thought you'd bring everyone with you. Reiner and Pieck are lurking in the shadows, aren't they?"

Zeke poured himself a drink, took a leisurely sip, and remarked, "Indeed, coffee is only delicious with sugar."

Yago glanced at Zeke, then turned and handed the coffee to Annie. Annie was a little surprised. Yago said, "You've been out in the wind all the way. Have some to warm yourself up."

Zeke laughed and said, "I didn't realize Yago-san was so considerate. No wonder our Annie betrayed Marley for you."

Annie, holding her coffee, heard Zeke's words and her eyes immediately sharpened. Was he threatening her with her family in Marley?

Yago interrupted Zeke, "Enough with the nonsense, Zeke. You told me about this location back then so you could meet me after you escape, right? Were you confident you could escape then?"

Zeke held up one finger and wagged it. "Just a little insurance measure. Don't worry, now that Yago-san is here, I'm sure you know my purpose."

Yago lowered his head, struggling to suppress the murderous intent he felt towards Zeke, then raised his head. "Eldia Euthanasia Plan, right?"

A glint flashed in Zeke's eyes. "Although I don't know how you learned about Euthanasia Plan, I'd like to hear your thoughts on it."

Yago cracked his knuckles and said, "My opinion? I quite agree. Euthanasia might indeed be a good end for the Eldians, after all, the whole world thinks we're demons."

This was the first time Zeke had heard anyone other than his followers agree with Eldia Euthanasia Plan. Regardless of what Yago's intentions might be, Zeke was genuinely happy.

"However, Eldia Euthanasia has prerequisites, and War Chief Zeke should understand that, right?" Yago stared intently at Zeke, saying each word clearly, "Tigers don't reason with sheep, and the weak have no right to make demands of the strong, don't you think?"

Zeke adjusted his glasses, seemingly guessing what Yago was going to say, and said, "Of course I know, but do you know the secrets hidden inside the walls on your island? That's where the real authority lies."

"The Founding Titan Power has been sealed!"

"What?!?!" This was the first time Zeke had lost Zeke composure. He stood up abruptly, his face contorted with shock and rage, demanding, "How is this possible? How could the Founding Titan be sealed away? Are you kidding me?"

Yago sneered, "Thanks to you, in order to quell the Titan in Shiganshina District, Eren overused the Founding Titan's power, resulting in him being unable to use the Founding Titan's power for three years." Of course, Yago made this up to deceive Zeke.

Zeke calmed down and recalled the power he felt in the Shiganshina District that day; it seemed that it could only be the Founding Titan.

Both fell silent, the only sound the soft sipping of Annie's coffee. Before Zeke could react, Yago picked up the small pot in front of Zeke and refilled Annie's empty cup with coffee. Then, quite rudely, he placed the pot behind him and declared righteously, "It's been so many years since I've had such a good drink. I must try it."

Zeke didn't pay much attention, but instead asked Yago, "So what exactly is your purpose?"

Yago: "Although the world is very unfriendly to the Eldians, I believe there must be quite a few countries in the world that are dissatisfied with Marley, right?"

Zeke: "What did you say? Wait, I'm curious, Yago-san, are you really from this island?"

Yago shook his head and said, "Zeke, don't you understand now that you see Annie? I didn't steal the Female Titan Power, but I'm not the Founding Titan either. So, for the sake of our conversation, I can tell you that what I inherited is the power of the Tenth Titan, the Fate Titan, which comes from outside the Nine Titans!"

Zeke was also hearing the name "Fate Titan" for the first time, and was momentarily surprised. "Fate Titan?"