Bai Yu sat on a large tree not far away and looked over the gathering. This time, everyone was present: Levi Squad, Bai Yu Squad, Erwin, Mike, and Eren, Armin, and Mikasa, who had temporarily been assigned to the same squad. Hange stood nearby, excitedly holding a little notebook at the ready.
A bound Titan lay in the clearing in the middle. She was the Titan with royal blood whom Bai Yu had brought back from outside the walls. In truth, no one else was certain whether she actually had royal blood. They would have to wait until she changed back to find out.
Bai Yu slid the blade in his hand back into its sheath and looked at Annie beside him.
"Will you do it?"
Annie nodded lightly.
"Yes. I'll do it."
"So you've finally thought it through. That's a little surprising."
Annie did not answer. She bit down on her hand, and a Female Titan appeared on the spot with a thunderous crash.
Bai Yu sat on a boulder nearby, seemingly unafraid. Everyone else around him instinctively gripped the sword handles of their Omni-Directional Mobility Gear.
Annie, now the Female Titan, slowly picked up the unconscious Reiner beside her and walked toward the Titan with royal blood nearby. Suddenly, Bai Yu fired his grappling cable and landed on Annie's shoulder.
He did not seem afraid. He was merely a little worried about Eren's stepmother... well... no, his aunt, rather. After all, there was no actual relationship between them.
He watched Annie bring Reiner up to the grinning Titan's mouth and shove him inside without hesitation. Bai Yu simply watched calmly from beside her, saying nothing.
Everyone else's feelings grew even more complicated. They watched Annie in the distance, knowing full well that she was their enemy. Yet they