It was the day when the festival was starting, Gabi was in her bed and snoring. Suddenly loud music woke her up and she looked out the window. "What the...?"

She stood outside and gaped at her surroundings. Many people were there and music was played. A clown with long legs was there and at many stalls, people sold different food. The people were happy.

"What in the world?!" Gabi was shocked.

"Gabi! You're finally up!" Falco, Udo, and Zofia stood in front of her with ice cream in their hands.

"What's happening?"

"The festival!" Udo answered.

"People from outside came pouring in and opened all these stalls!" Falco said excitedly. "Try this!" He stuffed ice cream in Gabi's face.

"This is a festival?"

"Let's go!" And they ran together through the streets.

Pieck, Reiner, and Porco were there, too. They stared at the four kids, who seemed to have no money anymore for more food. They looked sadly at the Warriors.

Reiner bought all of their food at different food stalls. He was depressed at first because of his emptied wallet, but seeing the kids happy, he smiled at them.

The sun was setting. Gabi was dragged down the street by Reiner. "It hurts!"

" 'Cuz you stuffed your face." Reiner replied.

"I wish we had festivals every day." "Yeah."

"Lately, it seems like lots of new things have been happening." Gabi noticed.

"It does." "It kinda feels like something is about to change!"

Reiner looked at her before he answered. "Yeah. It does."

While the warrior candidates were enjoying the festival, Eren and the others managed to get to the beach, where a ship was landing with a lot of scouts. Levi was there to lead the group as he stared at Eren.

"Damn, you're a filthy sight. Did you fall into a pile of shit?" Levi asked.

Floch said, "Hey! This is the King you're talking to-"

"It's fine, Floch." Eren said. "I got injured in the battle of the Mid-East battle. I couldn't risk healing myself because it would reveal that I'm the Titan shifter. So these are the scouts that are going to help?"

Captain Levi folded his arms and said, "Yes, your highness. Although what would you gain after attacking during their festival? Because to me, it sounds like a stupid idea."

After explaining everything that Jean told them, Floch said, "Damn it... as if sending Titans to our island was not enough... they were going to create a slaughter and dumped all of the faults on us?"

"Since we were the devils of Paradis, those people wouldn't care if we were able to come to Marley this whole time." Eren said, "If they wanted to make us the culprit behind their framing, then we'll play their game."

Once the scouts were going to their positions, Levi asked, "Killing their own people to make themselves victims in other people's eyes. That was the dumbest plan that I've ever heard..."

"It was dumb, but people outside the walls were dumb as well. They blamed their misery on Eldians even though they have been continuously abused them." Eren said, "By the way, I wanted to ask, was the queen safe?"

"Relax, she was guarded by the military, nobody could touch her if they wanted to." Floch said.

"Good." Eren turned to the other scouts. "The declaration won't start until nighttime. So if I heard any one of you starting to kill people, whether innocent or not, you'll be dealt with by the law once we got back to Paradis Island."

"Yes, sir." The scouts said in unison before they all left to prepare. Eren also left as he brought Mikasa with him to the basement.

In front of the stage, the others met up with Zeke and Colt. "Oh? Did you guys have fun?" Zeke asked.

"Huh? Where's Falco?" Colt asked.

"He said he saw someone he knew and ran off." Udo replied.

"Really? What's the matter with him?" Colt asked.

"Can't you just loosen up for a day?" Porco wrapped his arm around his shoulder.

"So many people..." Zofia looked around.

"Huh? Looks like he's back." Pieck said.

Falco rushed toward Reiner. "Mr. Braun!"

"Where the hell did you go?" Gabi asked.

"Can you come with me?" Falco panted.

"Right now?" Reiner asked.

"You'll be fine. It shouldn't start for a bit." Zeke said while looking at the watch.

"What's this all about?" Falco brought Reiner underground as he pointed in the direction. "You'll see soon enough.

Once he arrived at the stairway, Falco said, "In here!"

"Okay." In the room, Eren was sitting on the chair with Mikasa standing by his side. "I brought him!"

When Reiner appeared with Falco, Eren decided to drop the illusion in Reiner's eyes. "Hey. It's been four years, Reiner." Reiner was still staring at him with shock, unable to speak a word.

Falco stood at the wall and looked at Reiner. "Um, huh? Aren't you three supposed to be old friends? Isn't that right, Mr. Kruger, Ms. Miki?"

"Yeah. There's so much to catch up on. I don't even know where to start."

Falco turned to Reiner, who had fear in his eyes, "Impossible... Eren! Mikasa!"

The stage was finished and the curtains were closed. The guests and citizens were sitting in their seats and waiting for the announcement to begin.

Lord Tybur was behind the stage and stood in front of a mirror. The guard standing beside him said, "Lord Tybur, it's almost time."

"Right." Willy turned around and saw the woman who helped Udo.

"My goodness!" The woman said smiling.

"Well, well! Come to give me a pep talk, Madam Azumabito?" Willy greeted.

"I hope I'm not a bother. I just came to see your face." Kiyomi replied.

"Given my stage fright, I'm sure I look hideous." Willy said while wiping some sweat with his handkerchief.

"No, you look courageous." Kiyomi said. "My whole clan knows how brave you are." She took out her hand. "I wish you the best of luck."

"I appreciate it, Lady Kiyomi." Willy shook her hand.

"Sit down, Reiner." Eren said. "They're good seats, right? You can hear everything on stage. The building above us is all housing."

The scene showed some people watching from the windows. "It's behind the stage, but it's full of people waiting for the curtains to rise." 

Reiner gasped with wide eyes, and Eren pointed his finger at the ceiling. "Directly above us."

Mikasa said, "Reiner, sit down."

Reiner closed his eyes and sit down. Falco said, "Well, I think I'll head back."

"No, Falco. You should stay here and listen." Eren said.

"Huh?" Falco looked confused.

Reiner held up a hand. "Falco... Just do as he says."

"Okay." Falco whispered.

Lady Kiyomi turned to her guards while some people were walking. "Now then, shall we leave?"

Reiner's mother greeted Annie's father. "Oh! Long time no see, Mr. Leonhart."

"Ms. Braun... Not since your son came home, right?" Mr. Leonhart was sitting on his seat waiting for the announcement.

Karina sat down on her seat as Mr. Leonhart continued, "Speaking of which, I hear Hoover passed away in bed?"

"Yes." She answered. "He never failed to say how he was of his son's sacrifice for Marley. I'm sure your daughter also-"

Leonhart cut her off. "She's not dead. Annie is alive. She promised she would come back."

On a roof of a building, Marley soldiers had a good look at the stage. "To think, war will be declared in the internment zone, of all places." Magath said.

Important people in the military were sitting in their seats. "Whoa! Even General Calvi came to the zone!" Gabi said.

"The whole backbone of Marley's military is here!" Udo said. "And all these powerful families and ambassadors!"

"Not to mention every newspaper in the world that matters." Porco said.

"It's like we're in the world's spotlight!" Pieck said while holding Zofia's shoulders, who was chuckling.

Colt, Porco, Zeke, and Pieck were sitting behind Gabi, Udo, and Zofia in the audience seats. Colt said, "The Tyburs sure are powerful."

"Yet they're Eldians, same as us." Porco said.

The trumpets were playing, and Zofia was shocked at the loud noise and covered her ears.

"It's begun." Gabi said.

"Falco and Mr. Braun aren't back yet?" Udo asked.

A soldier came to them and turned to the Warriors. "Warriors of Marley, Commander Magath has summoned you."

The music was also heard in the basement where Eren, Reiner, and Falco were.

After a silence, with Falco glancing at each person, Reiner finally asked, "Eren, Mikasa... How? Why did you come here?"

"Same reason you did." Eren answered.

Reiner grabbed his head with terror and Eren said, "Don't you get it? The same reason you did. Because we had no other choice."

Willy Tybur stood on the stage and bowed to the audience, who clapped and shot pictures of him. Eren said, "Sounds like it started. Let's listen."

The clapping slowly died down. "Let's look back in time." Willy began. "Roughly 100 years ago, the Eldian Empire ruled the world with the Power of the Titans. From the rise of Founder Ymir until today, Titans have robbed enough lives to eradicate humanity three times over."

Behind Willy, a shadow puppet show with Titans eating humans appeared. After the lights went out, it was silent for a moment before the scene showed many people whining, covered in blood.

"Countless cultures and people have been wiped out by Titans; their histories were stolen away. The Eldian Empire's path of slaughter became humanity's history." Willy looked down. "And when the Eldian Empire ran out of enemies, they soon began slaughtering one another."

The scene now showed Eldians fighting against each other. "The Great Titan War had begun. Families holding the eight Titans waged a bloody war." A man in uniform stood on the stage holding a lance. "Using this to his advantage, one Marleyan sought victory. It was the hero, Helos. Thanks to his clever manipulations, the Eldian Empire was tricked into killing each other, one by one."

Helos stood with one foot on King Fritz's back, who kneeled on all fours on the ground. A member of the Tybur family stood beside Helos. "By joining hands with the Tybur family, they forced the unbeatable King Fritz to flee and retreat to the island." Everyone clapped at the history lesson.

"However, though he fled to Paradis Island, his power still remained." Titans appeared behind King Fritz. "Tens of millions of Titans await on the island to trample the world. To this day, the only reason we haven't been trampled is merely a fluke. Our scholars have no other explanation. To eliminate this threat, our motherland Marley sent four Titans to the island, but they were beaten back and only the Armored Titan returned. The darkest blot on humanity's history, the Eldian Empire, is alive and well."

"You hear that, Reiner? Isn't that why you destroyed the wall? You guys were trying to save the world. Weren't you?" Eren asked the traumatized Reiner.

"I..." Reiner was speechless, as they continue to listen to the history.

Here is a new chapter, and Reiner finally realized who Kruger and Miki are. I hope you like this chapter.