Failed warriors and undercurrents (part two)

Bill exhaled a smoke ring, and seeing that Ebson had suddenly fallen silent, he pressed, "What's wrong, Master? What's the next step? How do we coordinate with Marley and the Middle East?"

Ebson suddenly stood up, his breathing a little rapid, his pupils behind his black-rimmed glasses filled with excitement.

Ebson said urgently, "Leave the matters of Marley and the Middle East to Kenk, Bill. Now I ask you, do you remember the day Father brought me back to the family?"

Bill paused for a moment, seemingly surprised that Ebson would ask about something so far in the past. He thought about it carefully for a moment and then nodded.

Suddenly, Ebson lunged forward, grabbing Bill's collar tightly. The slender Ebson looked like a bamboo pole next to the robust Bill. Ebson's eyes gleamed with unprecedented excitement as he asked, "Remember those failed experiments from that day? What did you do with them?"

Bill frowned, and after a moment said uncertainly, "It seems they bribed the Marley Navy to throw them into the sea."

"Hahahaha, I knew it! I knew it! Hahahaha! I knew it!" Ebson suddenly burst into hysterical laughter.

He pushed open the window, and sunlight streamed into the perpetually dark room. Ebson squinted; although the sunlight made him uncomfortable, he couldn't suppress his excitement. Suddenly, Ebson looked down through the window and saw a furtive figure.

As if suddenly remembering something, he turned his head and asked, "How are those Eldia Restorationists doing?"

Bill nodded and said, "We've already exposed them to that greedy guy Landon as planned, which is why he's supporting us in re-equipping us. We've also found all the Eldians who were hiding. Should we trade them again?"

"No, go protect them, give them help and supplies, hehehe, fate is on my side..." Ebson's lips curled into a strange smile.

The document on Ebson's desk lay open, with a circled name standing out. "Yago Norman."

Wearing a top hat and scarf, Selina, walking along the road of Louis Estate, suddenly felt like she was being watched and spied on. She turned around abruptly, and a tall, burly man was already standing in front of her. The oppressive aura emanating from him made Selina tremble slightly, and her left hand secretly gripped the Dagger hidden at her waist.

In the empty camp, Reiner walked along the road, somewhat lost and confused, his mind wandering.

He returned home in the morning, but his mother seemed more surprised and bewildered by his return. She was even more at a loss after learning that Reiner's mission had failed. Reiner forced a smile and chatted with his mother, but her slightly cold attitude chilled Reiner to the bone.

Ultimately, Reiner couldn't stand the oppressive atmosphere at home and returned to the Warrior Unit' camp ahead of schedule.

Wandering aimlessly, Reiner inevitably thought of his life on Paradis Island, of his former friends, and of Marcel, Annie, and Bertholdt, who hadn't been able to return with him.

"Porco! Don't be impulsive!" Pieck's voice suddenly rang in Reiner's ears. Reiner sluggishly raised his head, and a fist loomed larger and larger in front of him.

Bang! Reiner's nose stung, followed by a sharp pain that Reiner stagger backward. He instinctively covered his nose with his hand, Reiner immediately felt a moist, warm sensation in his hand.

Blood seeped from Reiner's fingertips, but this did not stop the young man's anger in front of Reiner. Pieck desperately pulled Porco, who had short blond hair, back, while Porco was furious, with veins bulging on his neck.

Porco glared at Reiner and yelled, "Trash! Reiner, you piece of trash, how dare you live? Why did I lose to someone like you? You bastard! How could my Older Brother have sacrificed himself for you? Damn it, Pieck, let me go!"

Pieck: "Calm down! Porco! What are you trying to do? Marley Warriors shouldn't be fighting amongst themselves like this!"

Reiner covered his nose and walked up to Porco, looking at Porco with some guilt. Porco's face, which resembled Marcel's, made Reiner feel a little overwhelmed.

"I'm sorry, Porco, it's all my fault. I was too cowardly. I'm sorry to Marcel, I'm sorry to Annie, and I'm sorry to Bertholdt. Pieck, please let go of Porco. I'm willing to bear Porco's wrath."

Pieck's eyes widened. "Reiner? What are you talking about?" he exclaimed.

But Porco broke free from Pieck with a single effort, rushed in front of Reiner, raised his fist high, and Reiner could even hear Porco's angry teeth clenching.

But just as Reiner closed his eyes, Porco abruptly released his grip, turned and walked away. After a few steps, he stopped and said without turning back, "If you have any self-awareness, just give up the power of the Armored Titan. You bastard, you don't deserve the Armored Titan!"

After saying that, Porco left. Pieck turned to look at the two of them, sighed slightly, and then left as well.

Reiner stood frozen in place, his nose already repaired by the Titan Power, but the pain in his heart was growing ever stronger.

On the other side of the Warrior Unit' camp, Colt, wearing a yellow Armband, was patiently admonishing a row of young boys, also wearing yellow Armband, standing in front of him, "When you see Captain Magath, you must be serious and not laugh, understand? Captain Magath is very strict."

And Colonel Koslow, who's next to Captain Magath, is extremely unfriendly to the Eldians. Don't offend him! Hey? Falco! Got it?

Falco, standing at the back of the line, was startled and snapped out of his daze, quickly saying, "I understand, Older Brother!"

Colt shook his head as he looked at his eight-year-old Younger Brother. Deep down, he didn't support his family's decision to send Falco as Warrior Candidate. They already had him as a candidate, so why send Falco in?

At this moment, a little girl standing next to Falco whistled dismissively and said, "What's there to be afraid of? Once Captain Magath sees my outstanding performance, becoming a candidate for warrior will be a piece of cake."

Colt choked for a moment, looking at the brown-haired little girl, and was about to say, "Gabi, you..."

Before he could finish speaking, a sneer came from behind him, "Heh, you Eldia brats are really confident, huh? Don't get scared and wet yourself on the battlefield!"

Startled by this, Colt immediately turned and stood at attention. "Colonel Koslow!"

The short, somewhat overweight Koslow walked up to them with a cold smile and said, "All Warrior Candidate, prepare! The motherland is calling! Those despicable Middle Easterners have declared war on us! It's time for you Eldians to shed your blood and fight for Marley!"

"What? Go to the battlefield? But they're still just children." Colt was incredibly surprised, but Koslow scoffed and said, "The descendants of demons have no right to refuse!"

Colt could only lower his head, "... Yes."