"Move, move, move! Be quick about it! Don't smash or dent anything! These are all supplies for the Marleyan Guard Corps. Get a move on!"
Bagge, so overweight that his military uniform was stretched tight across his body, stood in the quartermaster camp shouting and directing soldiers as they carried supplies.
At that moment, a messenger trotted over and leaned close to Bagge, reporting in a low voice,
"Sir, someone outside is looking for you. He says you'd better go over right away, or you'll face the consequences."
Bagge froze, then exploded in fury.
"What the hell? Who the fuck is that arrogant? Me? No one dares talk to me like that. Let me see which bastard has the guts to act so high and mighty."
Bagge stormed toward the gate of the quartermaster camp with the messenger.
He had already imagined burning that arrogant bastard a hundred and eight times in his head, but the moment he saw the figure at the entrance, he deflated like a punctured balloon. The rage on his face vanished, replaced by a beaming smile as he jogged forward, belly leading the way.
"Oh my, oh my! I was wondering who it could be—turns out it's Loya! What brings you here? Staying for a drink? Don't worry! Whatever you need, just say the word!"
Yago looked at Bagge's smiling face and smiled faintly as well.
"I actually do have something."
Bagge's smile stiffened.
"Damn it…" he cursed inwardly.
Not long after, Yago began pointing at the mountain-like piles of supplies.
"This looks good—give me fifty crates. That canned food looks decent too—fifty crates to try out. Hm? What's this? Disposable personal items? Never heard of them. Fine, fifty crates of those too! …This… this… and this… fifty crates… fifty crates… crates!"
Standing beside Yago, Bagge's face had twisted into something resembling a deformed steamed bun.
Suddenly, Yago turned and smiled.
"This isn't too difficult for you, is it?"
Bagge forced a smile onto his face.
"Not at all! Not at all! Are you satisfied, Loya?"
Yago nodded, looking at him.
"Very satisfied. Extremely satisfied. But I still prefer how unruly and defiant you were at the beginning. How about returning to that?"
Bagge instantly understood—this was about what happened in the military camp before. A naked threat. But he had no choice but to swallow it.
"You must be joking…"
After a while, Yago looked at the more than a dozen vehicles now fully loaded with supplies and nodded in satisfaction. He patted Bagge on the shoulder.
"Sorry for the trouble. I'll remember this favor. Once the war's over, I'll treat you to a drink."
Bagge cast him a resentful glance and muttered under his breath,
"A drink? May you get blown to pieces by Middle Easterners' cannons just like those unlucky bastards. Drink my ass…"
"What did you say? I didn't catch that."
"Ah! I—I said drink! Drink together! Next time I'll bring my little friend along. She's really beautiful!"
Yago chuckled, climbed into the car, and headed back to the Third Regiment with the large convoy of supplies.
Watching the departing vehicles, Bagge felt his heart bleeding. There were quite a few valuable items he had skimmed off from the Marleyan Guard Corps' supplies, and now they were all gone. He had lost everything.
Wiping tears from the corners of his eyes, Bagge wailed miserably,
"You damned bastard! Hurry up and get blown to death by Middle Eastern cannons!"
.....
Knock. Knock. Knock.
A crisp sound of knocking echoed.
Erwin set down the documents in his hand and rubbed his temples wearily before saying,
"Come in."
Recently, with Commander Pixis about to be promoted to Commander-in-Chief Zackly, Erwin was set to take over Pixis's former position as Southern District Commander. As a result, he had been extremely busy. As for the position of Survey Corps Commander, Erwin had yet to decide. Among the subordinates he trusted most, only Hange and Mike had the ability to take over, but he still hadn't made up his mind.
The one who walked into the office was a short figure.
That's right—it was Levi, dressed in combat uniform, having just returned from leading Survey Corps training.
Levi walked straight to Erwin, pulled out a chair without ceremony, and sat down.
Seeing the mountain of documents piled on Erwin's desk, Levi let out a cold snort.
"You've been holding that pen for so long, Erwin. Can you still grip a blade?"
There was a hint of sarcasm in his tone, but Erwin didn't mind. He smiled faintly.
"What? Did you come here today just to mock me? Or did something happen in the Survey Corps?"
"Wouldn't dare. You're about to become Commander. How could minor matters within the Survey Corps trouble you?"
Erwin was momentarily stunned. He had no idea where Levi picked up that strange, cutting tone.
"What's going on with the Survey Corps?" Erwin suddenly grew serious.
Seeing him become earnest, Levi dropped the barbs.
"Recently, a lot of talk about the Eldian Restorationists has appeared within the Corps. There are also rumors about the outside world. Many soldiers have become somewhat radical. And information about the outside world seems to be spreading from the Corps to the civilians. Erwin, you understand what I mean."
Erwin frowned.
"The Eldian Restorationists? Those Eldians Yago rescued from outside the island?"
Levi nodded.
"That's right. They go on all day about overthrowing Marley and rebuilding the Eldian Empire. They're spreading all kinds of stories about how Eldians are oppressed in the outside world. It's drawn quite a bit of attention among the soldiers. If this continues, I think it'll become a problem."
After thinking for a moment, Erwin stood up and walked to the wardrobe behind him. He took out a uniform bearing the Wings of Freedom and put it on in front of Levi, lifting the green cloak and fastening the buttons.
"Let's go."
Levi was momentarily taken aback.
"You're going?"
Erwin's face was firm and composed.
"I'm still the Survey Corps Commander. I have a responsibility to my soldiers. I'll investigate this personally."
With that, Erwin pushed open the door and left.
After a brief silence, Levi decisively followed. The two men, cloaked in the Wings of Freedom of the Survey Corps, walked out of the military office building under the watchful eyes of the surrounding staff.