Attack on Titan: Power of 12 Titans

Chapter 31

Hitch Dreyse and Marlo Freudenberg search the forest near Stohess District for rogue members of the Scout Regiment. They find Armin Arlelt collecting water from a stream and tell him to turn around while they point their rifles at him. But before they can take him into custody, Levi and Aya ambush the two of them and take them captive.

"Hand over your guns to the one in front." Levi says.

Armin takes their guns away and says, "And not a word, right?" After that, the two of them are tied up.

Elsewhere in Trost, Flegel Reeves being pursued by the Interior Police before being rescued by Hange Zoë. Hange correctly concludes that Flegel is being pursued because he knows the truth about his father's death. However, Flegel does not want to speak out, since taking on the Royal Government will likely get him killed. Hange tries to force him to think about what is truly in his own best interest and takes him along with them.

Back in the forest near Stohess, Levi has Hitch and Marlo stripped of their gear with the idea that two members of his squad will infiltrate the Military Police Regiment in disguise and figure out where Eren and Historia have been taken.

"Because of you guys, over 100 people from Stohess District were killed! You people... You might think that you're all heroes of justice, but the victims and their families were dropped straight into hell!" Hitch yells at them.

"You there... You're from the Southern Cadet Corps, yeah?" Hitch turns to Aya. "Just like Annie Leonhart. Were you friends of hers? No... I doubt she had any friends. Being as gloomy and aloof as she was. It's like she was a kid afraid of other people...I never got the chance to know anything about her. And the reason they still haven't found her is that she was pulverized by a Titan into a puddle of jelly!"

"No... Because the Titan in hiding was Annie Leonhart herself." Levi replies.

"And I still remember how she mercilessly killed our comrades, Petra, Oluo, Eld, Gunther..." Aya frowns.

"Goddammit, it makes me sick. Nobody knows a damn thing about this world... Except for those bastards at the center of it all. We'll release you both as soon as we get out of here." Levi says.

Marlo asks Levi to let him help on the grounds that he will do whatever it takes to correct injustice. Levi declines, being uncertain whether he is truly ready to make an enemy of the government, and tells Sasha Braus to tie them up. Jean Kirschtein asks if he can do it instead and Levi allows him.

While on the road, Marlo asks Jean, "Is it true that Aya is captain Levi's daughter?"

"Yeah, they only got reunited after graduating like us..." Jean mutters. "What's with you and wanting to know about Aya?"

"I guess I admire her...she's really strong and can act quickly in dire situations. She's also someone who looks like could become a good leader one day..." Marlo replies.

"She already has a boyfriend just so you know." Jean says. "And don't let him hear what you said or I'm sure that he will kill you on the spot."

Then they arrive at the wall and he says, "Maybe we don't need to wait for him, I can kill you two right here right now!"

He draws a knife and says he will kill them because it is too dangerous to let them run free. The two protest, but Jean lunges at them. He trips, dropping his knife, which Marlo grabs as he tells Hitch to run. Jean jabs a stick under Marlo's chin and pretends to have a gun that he will shoot.

"Why the hell would anyone believe you'd wanna join us?" Jean asks. "We're so severely outmatched, you really think we can save humanity?"

"Then, why are you...? Why are you still with the Scouts, then?" This causes Jean to gasp. "I picked the wrong regiment to join. As long as you guys have it in you to risk your lives and keep fighting...I will trust you."