After 2 Months
The expedition to District Shiganshina was finally set into motion. Publicly, its goal was to reclaim the district. However, Erwin Smith harbored a deeper, more secretive objective—one so carefully guarded that even his most trusted comrades remained unaware. It wasn't a matter of distrust; rather, he needed undeniable proof before he could forge an absolute plan.
For Eren, the mission held an equally crucial purpose—the basement of his house. His father had left behind a truth buried there, a truth that had haunted him ever since he learned of it. Now, at long last, he would uncover it.
This time, Erwin had orchestrated the expedition with meticulous precision. Eren's location was no longer a secret among the squads. Even Levi, usually privy to Erwin's thoughts, was left in the dark. Something was different.
The expedition progressed smoothly—at least, as smoothly as one could hope in Titan-infested territory. The Survey Corps had spent years studying their enemies, learning their nature, weaknesses, and behavioral patterns. Their strategies had been refined accordingly.
As expected, Titans attacked along the way, but this time, the Corps had the upper hand. New recruits, including Eren's entire training squad, were assigned to experienced teams, ensuring they never faced the Titans alone. The result? Minimal casualties.
By midday, they reached the entrance to Shiganshina. A specialized team immediately ascended the wall, deploying massive nets to temporarily block any further Titan entry.
Levi's sharp eyes flickered toward Erwin. Something was off. The commander was too calm.
"You're hiding something," Levi muttered under his breath, watching as Erwin merely smirked in response.
Then came the order.
Eren bit his hand, and in an instant, a brilliant flash of light erupted. When the dust settled, his Titan form loomed over them. Without hesitation, he moved, pressing his arms against the gaping hole in the wall.
What happened next left everyone stunned.
The sealing wasn't just quick—it was instantaneous. The material that solidified in place wasn't like anything they had seen before. It was stronger, denser, more impenetrable. This was different. This was something else entirely.
Gasps and murmurs spread among the soldiers.
"What... just happened?" Armin whispered, his analytical mind struggling to comprehend.
"The seal... it's the same as the walls," Mikasa murmured, her eyes narrowing.
Only a select few—Erwin, Hange, and a handful of others who had been training Eren in secret—remained unfazed. As cheers erupted around them, Erwin unsheathed his sword and raised it high, a triumphant gleam in his eyes.
He was right.
He had figured it out.
With the first objective secured, the remaining Titans were swiftly eliminated. Yet, strangely, the district itself was eerily empty. Shiganshina had become a void—sealed away from both the outside world and the inner walls.
Before the expedition, a pressing question had loomed among the officers.
"Shiganshina will remain cut off from the walls, so what's the purpose of recapturing it?"
Erwin's answer had been deceptively simple: an underground tunnel would connect it back to the walls.
Beneath the ruins of the gate, a passage would be carved, allowing safe movement between Shiganshina and the inner walls. While unsuitable for horses or carts, it would provide a secure route for people. A temporary yet effective solution.
As operations commenced, most of the Survey Corps focused on setting up pulleys to transport their horses. But Erwin, Levi, Hange, Mike, and two other captains—along with Eren, Mikasa, and Armin—were nowhere to be seen.
**In Front of Eren's House**
The house had been reconstructed on the surface, yet below, the basement remained untouched—frozen in time, exactly as Grisha Yeager had left it.
The air was thick with tension as they entered. Dust coated every surface, undisturbed for years. The scent of old books and parchment filled the room.
"Start looking," Levi ordered, his voice cutting through the silence.
They spread out, scouring the basement for the evidence Grisha had hidden away.
Hange muttered, pushing aside an overturned chair. "Sana mentioned everything important, but she never specified where the evidence was hidden."
"Eren, the key," Erwin said.
Eren's fingers trembled as he clutched the key hanging around his neck. He stepped toward a wooden cabinet in the far corner, inserting it into the lock.
With a faint creak, the compartment opened. Inside lay a small drawer.
It was empty.
Eren's heart pounded. A mistake? Was this the wrong place?
Levi's sharp gaze scanned the drawer and immediately spotted it. A false bottom.
"Here." He removed the hidden panel, revealing what lay beneath.
Books.
Eren, Mikasa, and Armin leaned in, their eyes widening. Unlike the others, their expressions weren't of shock—but of confusion.
Eren hesitated before touching the book. Mikasa, sensing his turmoil, reached out, her hand gently steadying his.
Together, they opened it.
Inside the cover was a photograph—one that changed everything.
It depicted Grisha, a woman, and a child, all dressed in unfamiliar clothing. Below the image, a description detailed the people in it. Grisha. His first wife. Their son.
Zeke.
This was undeniable proof that life existed beyond the walls. That everything they had been taught was a lie.
The world was far larger than they had ever imagined.
Levi and the others exchanged glances, understanding that this truth was something only a select few could bear for now. The image was sharp and clear—unlike anything produced inside the walls.
There was also a note detailing how these photographs differed from the ones Sana had taken. Her technology was still developing—lacking refinement, requiring further innovation. But this photograph? It was perfect. Detailed.
Undeniable.
Eren's hands clenched into fists, his breath shaky.
"So… it was all a lie," he whispered.
Mikasa remained silent, her grip tightening on her scarf. Armin, though his mind raced, could only breathe out, "What are we fighting for?"
Erwin observed them carefully. He knew that this was just the beginning.
"The truth changes everything," he said. "And before anything else, I need to talk to you three—before I make my next move."