Arrival in Marley
Texi Province is the coastal province in Marley and the closest to the Marley Capital, making it arguably the most important transportation hub in the entire Marley.
Despite its unique geographical location, the Texi Province surprisingly prosperous, where you can see all kinds of people and things, and people from different countries and with different customs come together.
Although Marley is at war with the Middle Eastern Union, the war does not seem to have affected the bustling activity of the Texi Province; it's just that there are fewer bearded Middle East men among the people coming and going.
Inside the Train, Yago and Annie got off the Train. Due to Annie's special identity, Yago decided to settle Annie here first and then sneak into the Marley Capital alone.
Only Zeke, Reiner, and Pieck knew his identity. At this time, their Warrior Unit was on the front lines of the war in Marley and the Middle East, so Yago wasn't worried about his identity being discovered. But Annie was a different story. As the host of the Female Titan Power, there was no guarantee that many high-ranking Marley would know Annie, so she had to be more cautious.
Of course, Annie is not yet clear about Yago's plans, and Annie also a little nervous about the upcoming trip to the Marley Capital, after all, it has been almost four years since he last saw his father.
Stepping out of the station, the first thing that catches their eye is a variety of vendors and pedestrians. There are countless vendors selling snacks, toys, clothes, and lollipops, with all sorts of colorful things dazzling Annie and Yago's eyes.
When they reached an ice cream cart, Annie stopped and looked up at Yago.
The ice cream vendor was very perceptive, smiling as he introduced, "Young lady, why not try the most famous chocolate hazelnut ice cream in Texi Province? Hazelnuts are at their sweetest and most delicious this time of year. Have your boyfriend buy you one."
Yago looked down and met Annie's bright blue eyes. Well, this girl really has no resistance to sweets.
So Yago said to the shopkeeper, "Please, two chocolate hazelnut ice creams, please."
Boss: "Okay, just a moment, a large chocolate hazelnut ice cream is 8 Marley."
Yago scratched his head. Eight Marley dollars? He remembered buying a cream dessert in the Marley Capital when he was a child for less than two Marley dollars. Have prices risen so fast in just a few years?
The two ice creams were made quickly, and the owner handed them to Annie with a smile.
Yago also took out a gold coin from his purse and handed it to the shopkeeper. Instantly, the shopkeeper froze, staring blankly at the gold coin in his hand.
The internationally recognized Rute Gold Coin is a currency accepted by most countries. Since its unique minting method was lost, its value has increased several times over. However, for ordinary people, this kind of gold coin may never even be seen in their lifetime.
The ice cream shop owner had traveled extensively in his youth and was quite knowledgeable. He had seen Rute Gold Coin and wealthy people before, but this was the first time he had ever seen someone so rich that they used Rute Gold Coin to buy ice cream.
These gold coins were mostly used by wealthy merchants for transactions; they would be cashed out at a bank when needed. Who would actually use them to buy things?
The shopkeeper, both amused and exasperated, said, "Young man, are you trying to make fun of us? This gold coin is worth 100,000 Marley. Where am I supposed to get change for you?"
Yago was also taken aback. How much? One hundred thousand? To be honest, Kiyomi Azumabito is really generous.
Yago never expected the gold coins to be so valuable, and even Annie, standing to the side, gaped in astonishment.
Fortunately, it seemed that Kiyomi Azumabito had anticipated this situation. In the pouch containing the gold coins, there were some small-denomination Marley banknotes and a note introducing them to the bank in Marley that the Hizuru had opened.
After paying for the ice cream, I apologized to the owner before leaving.
Holding an ice cream in one hand and examining Rute Gold Coin in the other, Yago truly hadn't expected the thing to be so valuable.
Without warning, Yago tripped over a stone, and the gold coin slipped from his hand, rolling on the ground. Yago quickly handed the ice cream to Annie and chased after him.
The gold coin finally rolled to the side of a pair of somewhat worn black cloth shoes. Yago stopped and watched the child bend down to pick up the gold coin.
Brown vests, bright red caps, and brown skin—this is the attire of the Indians. Since the Indi kingdoms were long colonized and ruled by the Marley, the Indians' status in the Marley was only slightly better than that of the Eldians.
Upon seeing the child's face, Yago froze on the spot. It was the boy who had died tragically in the Rumbling in Big Eren's Memories. Big Eren had once wept bitterly in front of the boy when he activated the Rumbling.
"Ramzi?" Yago called out the boy's name.
The boy Ramzi Ramji heard Yago call his name, looked at the gold coin, and Ramzi ran towards Yago.
As Ramzi ran toward him, Yago realized that the child had not yet gone down the path of stealing wallets, nor had he had a hand cut off for stealing.
But Ramzi's reason for stealing was to give his family a better life, at least so they wouldn't have to live in a cramped and shabby tent anymore.
While he was pondering, Ramzi had already come up to Yago, holding up the gold coin with clear eyes, "Uncle, is this yours?"
"Uncle??" Yago's eyes widened as he pointed incredulously at himself. What was going on? I'm just a seventeen-year-old Older Brother, how did I suddenly become an uncle?
Just then, Annie caught up with him, ice cream in hand. "Yago, did you find the gold coins? Hey, who's this kid?"
"Hello, beautiful sister," Ramzi said, but his eyes were fixed on the ice cream in Annie's hand.
"Little friend, call me Older Brother, I'm not uncle." Yago squatted down and ruffled Ramzi's hair.
"But Grandpa told me to be polite, and to call someone like you 'Uncle'," Ramzi said honestly, but Yago's face showed two Black Thread.
Annie was amused, while the dejected Yago looked at Ramzi in front of him and suddenly seemed to have thought of something.
After some time.
Ramzi held up the ice cream that originally belonged to Yago, with Yago and Annie following behind him.
However, Annie looked very unhappy, her face full of resistance, while Yago kept explaining to Annie.
"It's really dangerous. What if you're exposed, Annie? It's just me. The Marley don't even know me. Don't worry, I'll definitely get Mr. Leonhardt out safely."
Annie stopped and suddenly hugged Yago. Before Yago could react, Annie whispered, "Yago, I can promise you, but you must promise me one thing in return."
Yago smiled and said, "Sure, don't just mention one thing, a hundred will do."
Annie looked up, and the two looked at each other. "Don't go looking for that Doctor Ebson."