The heavy oak doors of Marley's military conference hall groaned open, spilling the yellow glow of lamplight onto the polished stone floor. Inside, the air was thick with smoke from cigars and the murmurs of men in crisp uniforms.
Eldian aides, heads bowed, hurried about carrying documents, careful not to meet the eyes of their Marleyan superiors. At the long central table, the fate of nations was about to be decided.
General Calvi, the stern-faced Defense Minister, rose from his chair at the head of the chamber. His voice carried a weight that silenced even the whispers in the corners.
"Gentlemen, the matter has been settled. We have chosen the warriors who will embark on Operation Paradis. They will infiltrate the island of devils and seize the Founding Titan for Marley. The names are as follows: Marcel Galliard, Reiner Braun, Bertolt Hoover, and Annie Leonhart."
He paused for effect, his sharp eyes scanning the officers and candidates in the hall. No one dared breathe too loudly.
"Does anyone object to this decision?"
The silence was suffocating. It was the kind of silence that carried authority—everyone already knew the answer was no. Then, the Marshal lifted a ceremonial baton. "Very well. Marcel Galliard, Reiner Braun, Bertolt Hoover, Annie Leonhart—step forward to receive your commission as warriors of Marley."
The four recruits, barely into their teens, straightened their backs. Their eyes shone with nervous excitement. Reiner's hands trembled against his sides, though his chest swelled with pride.
At last, the path to his dream—his father's acceptance—was opening.
But just as Calvi began the oath, a voice cut through the silence.
"I have an objection."
The words were spoken firmly, not loud, but sharp enough to slice the atmosphere apart.
Gasps rippled across the chamber. Heads turned toward the speaker as though the ground itself had shifted.
"Captain…?" whispered Reiner, his golden eyes wide.
Standing tall, one hand raised calmly, was Zeke Yeager—the warrior-captain, the Beast Titan, the very "Spear of Marley." His reputation preceded him. Since inheriting his Titan, Marley had clawed back military dominance, using his devastating stone barrages as living artillery. To question him was to question Marley's strongest weapon.
Yet here he was, questioning Marley.
Calvi's eyes narrowed. "Warrior Captain Zeke… what is your objection?"
Zeke's gaze swept across the room, then settled on the four trembling youths at the front. "They are too young."
A stir ran through the officers. Too young? The decision had been debated countless times already. Everyone knew the candidates were children. What was Zeke playing at?
General Calvi's voice turned hard. "You were present when these discussions were held. We agreed that this mission requires Titan powers, and the candidates have been chosen. Why raise this now?"
Reiner's stomach sank. Why now? He had dreamed of this moment, worked harder than anyone, endured humiliation as an Eldian, all for this. Did Zeke want to take it away?
Zeke did not flinch. He spoke with deliberate calm, as though he had rehearsed every word. "I do not object to the chosen warriors themselves. But sending four inexperienced children alone into hostile territory is courting disaster. Paradis Island is unknown. Failure would mean the loss of not one but four Titans. Do you expect children to handle the collapse of a plan, to adapt under fire, to fight enemies who may already control the Founding Titan?"
The hall buzzed with uneasy murmurs. Some nodded reluctantly; others bristled at the implication Marley's generals had overlooked the obvious.
Zeke continued, voice heavy with authority. "If the worst happens, these recruits cannot secure their Titan powers from falling into enemy hands. Only an experienced warrior can. Only a veteran can guide them."
Calvi's jaw tightened. "So what do you propose?"
Zeke's eyes glinted. "That a veteran accompany them. Not just any soldier—someone who understands Titans, who has commanded in battle, who can adapt. I propose that I lead this mission."
The uproar was immediate. Chairs scraped against the floor, officers muttered frantically.
"Zeke himself? Impossible—he is Marley's strongest asset!"
"If he goes, who will guard the mainland?"
"He alone has given us victory against Mid-East artillery! Without him, we are exposed!"
Even the Eldian aides exchanged shocked looks, though they quickly bowed their heads again to avoid being noticed.
Reiner's throat went dry. The Captain… wants to go with us? For a fleeting moment, hope lit his eyes. If Zeke went, maybe his father would truly see him as important. Maybe this mission would succeed.
But others in the room saw only danger. Calvi raised his hand to silence the chaos. His cold gaze pinned Zeke. "Do you understand what you are asking, Captain Yeager? Marley's future rests on your shoulders. You are not simply a warrior—you are our Spear. If you fall, our enemies will tear us apart."
Zeke bowed his head slightly. His glasses caught the lamplight, concealing his eyes.
"Marshal, I am fully aware. But consider this: what value is there in a Spear if the enemy pierces us first? The Founding Titan is the key to the world's b Erence of power. Without it, Marley will crumble. Entrusting its retrieval solely to children is recklessness bordering on treason. Allow me to guide them, and the plan will not fail."
The room fell into tense silence. Calvi clenched his baton, weighing the risk. Around him, generals whispered furiously. To let Zeke go was dangerous—but to ignore his words, even more so. His voice carried too much weight among soldiers and citizens alike.
Reiner stood frozen, torn between awe and fear. Bertolt's hands twisted nervously. Annie's expression was unreadable, though her eyes flicked toward Zeke with quiet calculation. Marcel bit his lip, shoulders tense—he alone knew the true burden he carried.
Finally, Calvi exhaled, his voice sharp as steel. "This… will require further deliberation."
But the seed had already been planted.
And in the back of the hall, Zeke Yeager lowered his hand, hiding a thin smile.