Persuading them to surrender
Yago's words struck a chord with Porco. Porco's face turned ashen. He wanted to retort but couldn't utter a word. In the end, he could only lower his head and remain silent, one cheek still red from Yago's slap.
Seeing Porco, whose collar he was holding, bow his head like a quail, Yago lost the will to continue. Some people, no matter how much you say, it's useless; the servility in their hearts will never disappear.
Yago released Porco's collar and turned to look at Pieck. Pieck noticed Yago's gaze and immediately tensed up, raising his hands and saying, "I... I didn't do it for Marley, I... I just wanted my family to have a better life..." Pieck was a little scared, afraid that Yago would slap him across the face.
Yago clearly couldn't bring himself to hurt Pieck, only gesturing for Pieck to continue drinking the porridge. However, Pike, who had already drunk two large bowls of porridge and eaten a large piece of Pieck, was quite full. "I... I'm full."
Upon hearing this, Yago stretched his body. Perhaps because he had just absorbed the power of the Cart Titan, his bones cracked and popped as Yago stretched, which was particularly eerie.
"Now that we're full, let's get down to business. Pieck, do you think I'll let you off the hook now? After all, you worked really hard for Marley on Paradis Island." Yago asked Pieck with a smile.
Pieck's heart sank slightly. This was also her biggest worry. From Paradis Island's perspective, Pieck and the other Marley Warriors were undoubtedly traitors to the Eldians, and the people would never have a good opinion of traitors.
But since Yago had asked the question, Pieck felt that things might be turning around. After all, if Yago really didn't want to let her and Porco go, there was no need to waste time arguing with them here. He could just unleash a burst of Thunder Spear, and she and Porco would be blown from 100 pounds to 5 pounds with a box on the spot.
"Yago-san, just say what you want to say. We know the situation very well. We're in the very center of Paradis Island, and there's no way Porco and I can escape," Pieck said helplessly, while secretly observing Yago's expression.
As expected, Yago's expression remained calm, as if Yago had anticipated this. Yago knew that Pieck was different from the other Marley Warriors; she didn't really identify with Marley at all, and her family and friends were what she cared about most.
In other words, every Marley Warriors has their own selfish motives. Zeke is doing it for his Eldia Euthanasia Plan, Reiner is carrying his mother's expectations, Annie is carrying his father's expectations, Marcel and Porco are doing it for their families, and Marcel is also concerned about his Younger Brother Porco. Pieck and Bertholdt are doing it for their sick father.
Aside from Gabi, whose values are somewhat distorted, there don't seem to be many truly loyal Marley Titan Warriors.
Yago clapped his hands lightly, stared into Pieck's eyes, and said, "Since that's the case, then I'll be frank. We need the power of the Titan. Paradis Island needs the power of the Cart Titan and the Flying Claw Titan. Originally, my idea was to directly strip you of your Titan Power, but now, I want to give you a chance."
The words were blunt and straightforward, laying everything bare. Yago presented Pieck and Porco with a choice: continue their brainless loyalty to Marley or abandon their allegiance and embrace the light?
Porco, who had been keeping his head down, raised it and asked, "You want us to betray Marley?"
Yago frowned, pointed at Porco, and said, "Remember, you have Eldians blood flowing in your veins. Eldians are your compatriots. Betray Marley? You mean Marleyan are your compatriots? How good have your Marley compatriots been to you? Would they let you leave the Liberio Internment Zone freely?"
Seeing that Yago was displeased again, Pieck quickly tried to smooth things over, "Yago-san, that's not what we meant, but if we're willing to fight for Paradis Island, are you willing to trust us?"
Yago: "Distrust."
Yago's words nearly choked Pieck. Distrust? If you don't trust me, why are you trying to persuade me to surrender?
Yago chuckled, "Pieck -chan, you've been Marley Warriors for years, haven't you? You've seen your share of battles. Trusting a former enemy is simply impossible, isn't it?"
Pieck: "So what do you mean?"
Yago stood up and waved, and two Soldiers immediately fell from the roof of the Courtyard, carrying two pairs of shackles. Yago looked at Pieck, "So I need you two to prove your resolve."
Pieck looked at the shackles in the Soldiers' hands in fear, Porco saw them too, but neither of them resisted, letting the Soldiers tie them up tightly.
"Why do this? Wouldn't it be better to take their power and hand it over to our trusted people, as you said? They were once Marley Warriors, after all." On the way back, A-Wu voiced his confusion. He couldn't understand why Yago wanted to recruit Pieck and Porco; wouldn't it have been better to do it like Floch?
Floch gained the power of the Colossal Titan, and the Soldiers of Paradis Island trusted Floch. Having the Colossal Titan's power in their own hands gave them peace of mind. So why couldn't the Cart Titan and the Flying Claw Titan do the same?
Yago shook his head. He understood A-Wu's doubts, but he also had his own reasons. First of all, as mentioned before, the Marley Titan Warriors all had their own selfish motives. They were not as loyal to Marley as the Marleyan imagined. Pieck and Porco both had their own selfish motives, which was the basis for Yago giving them a chance.
If Gabi inherited the Titan Power, Yago wouldn't waste any time. He would simply order Gabi to be tied up, smeared with hot sauce, and while she's still hot, have a warrior from Paradis Island transform into Titan and chew on her.
More importantly, due to the unique nature of Titan Warriors, the Cart Titan's power on Pieck was beyond what was expected. Looking back at Big Eren's memories, Pieck's Cart Titan was arguably one of the most outstanding, and his multiple transformations in the final battle were truly dazzling.
Only Pieck could wield the Cart Titan, originally the least remarkable of the Nine Titans, to such an extraordinary level, and this is the reason why Yago values Pieck the most.
As for Porco, Yago was wary of the power of the Flying Claw Titan Power within Porco, because the Flying Claw Titan was not one of the Nine Titans, Yago didn't know if the Artificial Titan created by Ebson could be transferred and inherited like the other Titan Power.
If Ebson were to have a way of doing something to the Flying Claw Titan Power when Porco dies, Yago would be powerless to stop him. Therefore, even if Porco is unwilling to fight for Paradis Island, Yago will not kill him, at least not before defeating Ebson.
"Time is running out." Yago had lost count of how many times he had repeated this phrase.