The cell

In the Shiganshina District, a Bunker stands, surrounded by numerous vigilant Scout.

"Hey, Ah Wu, what a coincidence? It's your turn to be on duty today?" Yago greeted Ackerman Ah Wu, who was leaning against the wall, as he entered the bunker.

A-Wu, who was wearing a half-mask, turned his head and nodded in acknowledgment.

Around A-Wu were rows of cells, where Marley prisoners of Wall Maria Reclamation Battle were held. For the sake of absolute secrecy, these prisoners were guarded by the most elite Soldiers of the Survey Corps.

Apart from a few high-ranking members of the New Parliamentary Government who knew about the existence of these prisoners, the people the Walls were completely unaware of it. For the Parliament government, whether to reveal the truth to the world was also a major issue, and the Parliament government was still discussing it intensely.

Five Ackerman are known as Captain's squad within the Survey Corps, and the reason for that is self-evident.

The more than fifty Titan who fell to the Blades of the Five Blades in the Battle of Maria speak volumes. As a result, Commander Erwin sent one of the powerful Ackermans each day to help guard the prisoners.

Yago lifted his foot, about to walk away, when suddenly, as if remembering something, he turned back to A-Wu and said, "By the way, A-Yi free lately? Could you invite Annie to my house for a visit?"

With a whoosh, Yago's hair stood on end. The seemingly lazy A-Wu suddenly raised his head, his Black Eyes fixed on Yago, a hint of murderous intent seeping into them, even making the two thin scars at the corners of his eyes look ferocious.

"What do you mean? Don't you have a girlfriend? What do you want to do to A-Yi?"

Realizing something was amiss, Yago quickly explained after being bombarded with three questions, "No, A-Wu, don't misunderstand. It was Annie who invited A-Yi, and Hitch too. They just hadn't seen A-Yi in a long time and wanted to get together."

Upon hearing this, A-Wu calmed down and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "A-Yi came out with Section Commander Hange. I'll tell her when she gets back."

Don't misunderstand, A-Wu doesn't have any strange feelings for A-Yi. He treats A-Yi like a younger Younger Sister and won't allow anyone to have bad thoughts about his Younger Sister. This is also the unanimous opinion of the four Ackerman who were at the Claude Manor.

The youngest member A-Yi, is arguably the darling of the five Ackermans.

After explaining, Yago left somewhat awkwardly.

The Bunker was quiet; you could hear the screech of boots on the ground. Dozens of Marley Soldiers were held in different cells.

Hearing the commotion, the Soldiers of Marley would look up, and many of them had a complex expression in their eyes.

Contrary to the expectations of most Marley Soldiers that the island's demons would cruelly torture them before killing them, they believed the demons had no intention of abusing them at all. They were well-fed and slept soundly, and apart from being taken away from time to time to be questioned, they experienced nothing else.

This took the Marley Soldiers, who had already given up hope and were even prepared to die, by surprise, because they had always been taught that the Eldians were demons, and Paradis Island was an island of demons.

The brutal assassinations of Marley Soldiers and Officer by the underground Eldia Restorationists in the Marley Capital further solidified the Marley Soldiers' belief that the Eldians were evil.

But some of the Soldiers detained here today are truly wavering, especially those wounded Marley soldiers who were rescued by doctors the Walls, and as time goes on, the beliefs of these Marley Soldiers may become increasingly shaky.

Leaving those aside for now, Yago went straight to the deepest cell. After the two Scout confirmed that the text message in Yago's hand was a personal letter from Commander Erwin, they opened the cell door.

Yago went inside. The cell was large and empty, with nothing in it except for a brand-new Gas light bulb on the ceiling.

And right in the center of the cell was Yago's destination.

Heavy chains bound the area, and the light from the Gas bulb refracted through the Crystal, creating numerous spots of light on the ground. Beneath the Crystal lay an enormous Crystal, within which a tall, slender figure was imprisoned with his eyes closed.

Indeed, standing before Yago was Bertholdt, sealed within the Hardening, a warrior of Marley, and the host of the Colossal Titan.

If he could, Yago wouldn't want Bertholdt to be their enemy. Back in the Training Corps, it was hard to believe that the gentle, taciturn, but helpful Bertholdt would be the Colossal Titan kicked down Wall Maria and plunged humanity into the abyss.

Without a stool, Yago stood there, looking at Bertholdt inside the Hardening enclosure, and slowly said, "Long time no see, Bertholdt. I know you can hear me, and I believe you also know that those locked outside are Marley Soldiers. Let's talk."

Yago suddenly reached out, his fingernail slicing through his palm, leaving a tiny wound that emitted a faint steam, but Yago showed no intention of transforming into Titan.

Instead, an unbelievable scene unfolded: a wisp of crystal-clear, Hardening Hardening spread from the wound on Yago's hand, quickly enveloping Yago and forming a translucent Yago, Hardening claw.

This is also a technique that Yago has recently figured out regarding the power of the Titan Power, allowing him to Hardening a small portion of his body through wounds while in human form.

Extending the Hardening claws towards Bertholdt, without hesitation, it grabbed down, quickly leaving several marks on the Hardening directly in front of Bertholdt's face.

After some time, as Yago slashed down with his last claw, a fist-sized piece of Hardening fell off, revealing Bertholdt's face.

"Cough cough cough!" Before Bertholdt could even open his eyes, there was a violent cough and rapid breathing.

Yago looked at the Hardening covering his hands; it was already beyond recognition.

"Cough, cough, Ya, Yago, it really has been a long, long time. You seem to have changed a lot." Bertholdt said in a hoarse voice as he opened his eyes.

Bertholdt looks quite pathetic right now; his body is still trapped in Hardening, and only his face can make expressions and speak.

Yago shook the Hardening off his hand and said, "Changed? Have I? Come to think of it, Bertholdt, you and Reiner are probably the ones who have changed the most among the 104th New Recruits, aren't you?"

(I've finished my Muzi! Regular updates will resume today (๑>؂<๑) Sorry for the long wait, everyone! The Fate Titan will officially enter the Marley Arc and begin a new story.)