Reiss's story
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"Soldiers! Do you know what you are doing?! You were originally honorable Military Police, and it should have been your honor to defend the monarchy! But what are you doing now? What you are doing now is a complete betrayal of your honor!"
"Take a good look at the Unicorn Insignia on your chests! It's not too late to wake up! Don't let a moment of ignorance ruin your lifelong honor!" Commander Randy shouted loudly at the Coup Military Police on the city wall from below, holding a megaphone.
It must be said that Randy's words did touch the hearts of some Military Police. Not all Military Police wanted to participate in the Coup. The Imperialists only accounted for more than half of the Military Police force. Many other Military Police were simply coerced into participating by their superiors.
On the city wall, seeing some of his subordinates' eyes begin to waver, the Captain, who belonged to the Imperialists, immediately shouted, "Don't listen to that guy's lies! Everything we've done is truly for the royal family! That little brat on the Throne is just a puppet supported by these politicians!"
What our Eldia Empire needs is a true king! Only True King can lead us to a brighter future! Now, I tell you! The True King who will lead us to a brighter future is Arno! Arno Reiss! He is the true king!
Randy couldn't hear the sounds from the city walls. He was making a last-ditch effort to avoid bloodshed and unnecessary war, but if the Military Police remained obstinate, Randy would show no mercy!
Inside the Royal Palace.
With gritted teeth and boundless rage, Eren emerged from the Attack Titan's neck. Several Coup Military Police seized the opportunity to swarm him, binding Eren like a giant dumpling in the blink of an eye, and even stuffing his mouth with Wooden Plug.
Why did Eren surrender so readily? Beside Arno, two Military Police were escorting a haggard-looking woman. Carla saw her son being captured by the Military Police and struggling desperately, tears streaming down her face.
Indeed, the Military Police had arrested Eren's mother Carla, long ago. His mother was Eren's only weakness, and when he saw the Military Police taking his mother away, Attack Titan massive body collapsed instantly.
Arno walked up to Eren, took out Small Knife, tapped Eren's head with the back of the blade, and laughed under the latter's angry glare. "The power inherited by the Reiss Family for generations is in your body? Heh heh heh, King Cheng, those old fogies say that as long as they reclaim the power within you, they can restore the glory of the Eldia Empire. Is that true or not?"
"Don't even think about it! You and my father are both blinded by this so-called power! If the Founding Titan's power was truly so great, then why Capital ignored the survival of millions of their compatriots on Paradis Island?! Have you ever been to Marley? Do you know what kind of lives those Eldia compatriots in Marley are living?"
Moreover, the Founding Titan Power can only be activated by the bloodline of the Reiss Family. I will never submit to you! Now, release Eren and Carla! Don't force me, I cannot attack my own people!"Historia shouted, pointing at Arno.
Arno turned to face Historia, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Oh? What makes you think we need you to submit? Historia, do you think you're the only one with Reiss's blood? We, the Imperialists, need True King, but that True King isn't you, it's me, Arno Reiss!"
"Arno Reiss, Reiss!?" Historia stared wide-eyed at Arno in disbelief. "You!"
In the brief moment that Historia was stunned, Arno suddenly lunged forward, rushing to Historia with lightning speed, his hands as if cast in iron, firmly gripping Historia's hands and twisting them forcefully.
Historia felt a sharp pain in her wrists, and then both hands went numb.
Seeing Arno attack the Queen, Keith and the others roared in anger and raised their Dual Blades.
Bang! Bang! Bang! A series of gunshots, like popping beans, rang out in the main hall, accompanied by various piercing screams.
More than a dozen Instructors dead in pools of blood. Similarly, more than a dozen Coup Military Police were also sent to hell by Blades. Instructors Keith barely managed to stay upright with only half a Blades remaining, but blood was flowing from his legs, arms, and even abdomen.
The pungent smell of blood deeply aggravated Historia. "You bastard!" Yellow Lightning erupted from Historia's body, but a Garrison Soldiers rushed out from behind Arno. It was Herman, who had betrayed Lance. Herman rushed to Historia in two steps, drew his Dagger, and with a swift stroke, sliced off Historia's hand with the Ring on it.
If it were someone like Yago, Eren, or Zeke, who were trained Titan Warriors, they could complete the Titan Transformation through sheer willpower, even if their human bodies were severely injured. But Historia couldn't do that because of Historia status as Queen, neither the Parliament nor Yago had ever considered having Historia undergo this kind of training.
Historia screamed, her face turning deathly pale, steam rising from her wrists, but the electric arcs on her body had disappeared.
Arno appeared unmoved by Herman's actions.
"Arno Zot, Zot's surname comes from my mother, but I despise it because I find it dirty. Historia, in some ways we're similar, but not quite Rod Reiss, like a dog in heat, defiled a Maid, and that's how you came to be, Pa. At least you were born in the peaceful Reiss Estate, while I..." Arno said, suddenly squatting down in front of Historia, his face slightly distorted.
"And I, the first thing I saw when I was born was a filthy, Underground Brothel! I don't know how that bastard Rod could have fallen for my mother, that old prostitute with yellow teeth, maybe he drank too much horse piss."
"To be honest, my mother was quite something. She never treated me like her child. I never had a proper meal back then. She was also a fool, so naive as to think she could blackmail Rod with me. But I have to thank her for not treating me like her child. She brought her lover's child and impersonated me to the door of Reiss Estate. You can probably guess what happened, right?" Arno laughed.
"The next day I saw her and that child's bodies soaking in Sewage Ditch. As for that lover? Hah, just another alcoholic old bastard. Who knows when he'll die in the street. Thank God I'm still alive. Zot and Reiss, to me, both names are as filthy as garbage!"
Historia endured the pain as she listened to Arno recount his origins. She was equally shocked, as were everyone else present, including the members of the Imperialists. They knew of Arno's Reiss bloodline, but were unaware of the story behind the name Arno Reiss.