Trost District—today is destined to be recorded in the history within the Walls, because today is the day the Survey Corps sets out to carry out the operation to retake Wall Maria!
More than three hundred soldiers wearing the Wings of Freedom cloaks stood in the vast square, standing tall, their eyes bright as they looked toward the high platform at the very front.
Commander Erwin was delivering the final declaration before departure.
"Soldiers, humanity's future will be opened by us! The Wings of Freedom behind us will guide us toward victory!" Erwin said loudly, his expression resolute.
As soon as Erwin finished speaking, the high-ranking military officials seated behind him—including Historia, who wore a crown—solemnly stood up.
Erwin swept his gaze across the soldiers below, looking at the excited, exhilarated expressions on their faces.
Swish! His clenched fist was placed before his left chest. Erwin's vision suddenly blurred for a moment; the fist pressed to his chest seemed to feel the vigorous beating heart within. Facing countless soldiers, Erwin roared loudly,
"Offer up your hearts!"
"Offer up your hearts!" The soldiers' voices pierced the clouds; even the high-ranking officials behind Erwin shouted the words together with the soldiers.
A gentle breeze brushed the black hair on Yago's forehead. He loosened his clenched fist, feeling a momentary daze in his heart, not knowing what he was thinking.
"Yago, it's time to set off." Annie's reminder pulled Yago back to reality. He fastened his belt assembly, slid the sharp blades into their sheaths, and tied on his cloak. Just as Yago was about to swing himself onto his horse, he was suddenly pulled back by Annie.
"What's wrong? Hey, Annie, what's that in your hand?" Yago looked at the box in Annie's hands, puzzled.
Annie opened the box in front of Yago. Seeing what was inside, Yago's pupils shrank slightly. With a hint of emotion, he took the item out of the box.
An auxiliary leg belt assembly for stabilization—an exquisite structure, clear blade slots. It was unmistakably a brand-new set of rotary equipment. Seeing this completely new device, Yago didn't know what to say. (See Chapter 37 for details)
Since the Battle of Trost to retake the district, after Yago's original device was damaged, he had never used this equipment again. Only Yago himself had ever used this device he invented.
"Squad Leader Hange asked me to give this to you. It was personally crafted for you by Lynch. She hopes you haven't forgotten how to use it," Annie said as she handed the rotary equipment to Yago.
Yago smiled and said, "Of course I haven't forgotten, old friend. I've missed you quite a bit."
He strapped the device to his leg, and a long-lost sensation surfaced. Having relied on the power of the Fate Titan for so long, Yago had nearly forgotten the feeling of being a human soldier. Now, fully equipped, he finally felt that familiar sensation again—the feeling of a Wings of Freedom soldier fighting Titans.
"All units, prepare to depart!"
One by one, mounted on fine horses, the Survey Corps soldiers advanced in neat formation toward the walls. As they entered the streets, they were greeted by the cheers and encouragement of the civilians.
"Soldiers! Do your best!"
"Commander Erwin! Lead the Survey Corps to reclaim our land!"
"The Survey Corps will definitely achieve victory!"
"Captain Levi is so handsome!" …
The cheers of the civilians made the Survey Corps soldiers even happier. When had the Survey Corps ever received such support from the public? Every soldier lifted their head high, accepting the cheers of the people.
Marlo, who had been assigned to Yago's squad, had never seen a scene like this. Back when he was in the Military Police, civilians and merchants looked at them as if they were vampires. How could it compare to today? Marlo could even see a light called hope in the eyes of the people.
Yago rode his horse, and among the civilians along the roadside, he suddenly spotted some familiar faces—the child named Alex, his eyes shining as he looked at the Survey Corps soldiers (see Chapter 57 for details). The chairman of Reeves Company in the city also stood by the roadside with his wife and children, cheering for the Survey Corps.
That's right—Yago had become a Squad Leader again. But the members of his squad, aside from Annie, Marlo, and Hitch, now included five more Ackermans wearing masks.
Originally, Erwin had planned to assign Yago to Levi's squad, but first, Levi's squad already had too many people, and second, Yago had proactively requested to lead a new squad.
After careful consideration, Erwin agreed to Yago's request, though he didn't understand why Yago wanted to transfer in two people from the Military Police who had just joined the Survey Corps.
Looking at Hitch in the back, chatting animatedly with Annie and A-One, Yago smiled. Perhaps it was his own selfishness—within the Corps, Annie was still too withdrawn. Hitch was unexpectedly someone who could chat easily with Annie, which was why Yago had applied to Erwin to have Marlo and Hitch transferred into his squad.
Otherwise, aside from himself, there would only be those five wooden Ackermans. Annie already spoke little—wouldn't there be even less conversation that way? Yago also hoped Annie could be a bit more cheerful.
With Hitch around, Annie did speak quite a bit more, but the Ackerman girl A-One beside Hitch was still extremely wooden. Annie and Hitch might chat for more than ten sentences, and she would only say two words.
While Annie and Hitch chatted happily, Yago could only strike up a conversation with Marlo to relieve his boredom.
Before long, amid the cheers of the street-side civilians, the Survey Corps gradually arrived beneath the walls.
One drawbridge after another was lowered by the Garrison soldiers stationed there, carrying Survey Corps soldiers and supply wagons up onto the wall, and then using the same method to lower the soldiers who had climbed the wall down to the outside.
Standing atop the wall and looking at the cheering, encouraging civilians below, Yago flicked his cloak with an extremely dashing motion.
"Huh—what are you trying to look cool for?"
The familiar voice made Yago freeze. He turned his head.
"Ymir? Why are you here? Weren't you with Historia! Why are you here too?!"
Yago widened his eyes. Before him were people wearing Survey Corps uniforms and equipped with Vertical Maneuvering Equipment—wasn't that Ymir, and beside her, that hooded figure whom Yago recognized at a glance as Historia?
"Aren't you supposed to return to the capital? What are you doing in the Survey Corps?!"
Ymir said indifferently, "I'm just here to accompany Historia."
Yago looked at Historia. Historia put her hands on her hips and said,
"I am Her Majesty the Queen, and I also have Titan power, so I'm going to fight alongside the soldiers!" Though her words were firm, her tone carried a hint of guilt.
"This is too reckless. Hurry back. The operation to retake Wall Maria is very dangerous," Yago instinctively tried to stop the two of them.
But Historia was quick and nimble. Leaving behind a single sentence—"No way!"—she directly pulled Ymir and jumped onto a drawbridge that was descending. A Survey Corps soldier on the bridge was startled.
Yago: "..."
Swish! Sharp blades pointed forward. Erwin let out a furious roar—"Advance!!"