New Chapter.
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Trost
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The sound of galloping hooves echoed through the quiet streets of Trost as Erwin Smith, Dot Pixis, Hange Zoë, Hannes, Gustav, and Anka Rheinberger rode toward the site of the unfolding mystery.
Leaving the hospital, they rode towards the slums near the far end of the walls.
Not long after, they arrived. Ahead, a dimly lit warehouse stood ominous under the dark sky. Garrison soldiers were already gathered, forming a loose perimeter around the area.
Immediately, the soldiers on guard gave way. The riding horses came to a halt not far from the warehouse building.
"Commander Pixis, Commander Erwin …" a Garrison soldier, Brandt appeared at the scene and saluted. "… Thank goodness you are here."
"Hmmm?…" Pixis, rubbing his chin, let out a low hum. "… Quite the mess we have here, Erwin …"
The blond man didn't respond. Dismounting from his horse, the first thing Erwin noticed in the distance were Four Corpses covered with white clothes, up to their chests.
Three males, one female. Three of them looked young, and wore the standard uniform of the Military with a rose crest on their emblems. The Military Police. The last, a middle-aged balding man with short height and a slightly bloated figure.
Interestingly, what caught Erwin's attention wasn't their dead bodies, but the objects sticking out of them. Of the Four, Three had blades embedded into their heads.
"These are … MP's …" Earlier, a soldier reported to them at the hospital that a stationed group of Military Police had been attacked.
No surprise, Even Erwin had not expected this revelation.
The Military Police getting attacked was a rare occurrence, and the implications even rarer.
MPs were always stationed in the Interior. If one was seen in Trost, it meant they were on an assignment either by a noble or under orders of the Royal Government.
In the current scenario, neither possibility spelled anything good.
The group walked forward as Erwin's gaze turned elsewhere. At the entrance of the building, leaning against the wall was Levi.
"Erwin."
Levi stood upright at their arrival. The Survey Corps Captain's clothes were covered in dust, from the earlier fight.
Erwin nodded in response, before asking "What happened here? …"
"Hmph!" Levi didn't answer immediately. Instead, he simply stepped aside and gestured toward the warehouse door, where a flickering lantern cast eerie shadows against the blood-streaked walls.
"See for yourself …" The man pushed the door open. The moment he did, the stench hit them.
Coppery blood, Musk, and sweat.
The lantern's glow illuminated the carnage within. Dozens of bodies littered the floor, their lifeless forms contorted in unnatural positions. The corpses weren't uniform—some bore the insignia of the Military Police, while others seemed to be ordinary civilians.
A heavy silence followed as the group took in the massacre.
Hange inhaled sharply, adjusting her glasses. "… by The Walls …"
Gustav and Anka stiffened, taking a step back.
Hannes, however, went pale. His stomach twisting at the sheer brutality before him. He swallowed hard, forcing himself to remain still, but the bile rising in his throat made it difficult.
"That's… a lot of bodies." Pixis added, his carefree demeanor gone.
"Indeed."
Erwin remained impassive, his calculating mind already working through the implications of what he was seeing. "Someone's had quite the busy night."
The corpses were slaughtered in different ways. Like those outside, some had weapons inserted into their skulls, throats slit, necks snapped or hearts stabbed.
"… Mind you, one of the Corpses outside came out through that window …"
Levi, seemingly unaffected, walked forward, his boots barely making a sound as he stepped over the corpses.
Hannes, barely holding in his nausea, muttered, "Who… who the hell could have done all this?"
Everyone's gazes moved to Levi after a moment of silence.
Levi didn't answer. Instead, he turned and began walking further into the warehouse, his lantern leading the way.
Near the far end of the warehouse, a wooden cart stood abandoned, its attached cage empty.
Hange knelt beside it, running her fingers over the iron bars. "Looks like a transport cage," she muttered. "But for what…?"
"You'll find out in a minute"
A sharp creak echoed through the air as Levi pushed aside a large crate, revealing a passage leading underground.
The air that drifted from below was stale and suffocating.
Levi gestured toward the passage. "Everything's down there."
Erwin and the others exchanged glances. Then, without hesitation, they descended into the depths.
The underground passage was dimly lit, the air thick with dampness and an underlying stench of filth. The faint echoes of their boots against the stone floor were the only sounds as Erwin, Hange, and Pixis advanced deeper into the tunnels. Behind them, a few officers followed, tension heavy in their silence.
At the entrance stood a Garrison soldier, his posture stiff as he saluted.
"Commander Pixis, Commander Erwin."
Pixis returned a nod, his usual casual demeanor absent. They continued forward.
The corridor opened into a wider chamber, and The moment they stepped inside, the scene before them made even the most hardened among them tense.
Cages.
Inside them, women and children. Huddled together, their eyes hollow, bodies trembling. Some curled in on themselves, knees drawn to their chests, others clutched at one another in desperate silence.
Outside, several Garrison soldiers stood at the doors, carrying different tools, trying to pry the locks open.
The space itself was filthy, reeking of unwashed bodies, sweat, and blood. In the far corner, rusted cages stood empty, their doors flung open. Chains littered the floor, some still stained red. Anka covered her mouth. Hannes took an uneasy step forward.
"… by The Walls …" Everyone looked around in shock, not understanding what they were seeing.
"These … These people …"
"Why are they here? …" Hannes at the back of the group spoke out.
Gustav looked around, the confusion slowly fading off his face as realization set in. Not just him.
The others all carried similar expressions. Probably only Hannes still didn't understand why.
Erwin's expression didn't change at all. Merely a flash of surprise.
"… Levi."
He turned his gaze to his most trusted soldier, arms crossed and expression unreadable.
He had already seen this. He already knew.
"… Explain," Erwin said quietly.
Levi exhaled sharply through his nose. "Tch." He glanced around the room, eyes lingering on the survivors before flicking back to Erwin.
"… A few days ago, a group of soldiers From the Interior arrived in Trost. Apparently, on a task to guard and transport the goods of a nobleman. Not long after, people started disappearing in the city …"
He turned his gaze back to the survivors.
"Here's the answer to the mystery. They weren't guarding goods." His voice was flat, controlled. "The Military Police stationed here were covering a smuggling ring. Trafficking people."
"However, they were killed before they could finish the Job."
Silence.
Hange's lips parted, but no words came out. Her fingers dug into her arms. This wasn't just a crime—it was an organized operation.
Pixis rubbed his chin. "Hmmm… human trafficking, right under our noses." His usual carefree tone was absent, replaced by something colder.
Hannes had his expression change drastically. He had heard of the missing person's case the city in the past few days, now it all made sense.
Everyone else here were top officials. Quickly putting together the pieces the moment they saw the civilians and the cages.
For the first time, Erwin's face darkened.
'Even though I knew the Interior was corrupt, but … This is a whole new level.'
"I see." Erwin nodded then turned around. "Captain Hannes. Thank you for your assistance so far. You are dismissed."
Hannes was stunned for a moment.
"… Um, yes sir. I am glad I could be of service." The man replied with a salute before turning around and going back up the way he came.
After spending years in the Military, Hannes was no fool. Military Police caught trafficking alongside Slave Traders was not something a small unit captain could or should get involved with.
Quickly understanding that he had no place here any longer, Hannes turned and left without hesitation.
It was already getting late. Now, he had other important places to be.
"I didn't let anyone else down here …" Levi said, eyeing the departing Hannes.
"But you do know this can't be hidden, right? …."
Levi uttered, tone flat, yet the disgust in his eyes couldn't be hidden.
"Once word spreads, riots will begin. The citizens will protest at this, and we might have a civil war on our hands."
In response, Erwin finally spoke.
"I know. From the looks of it, we can't silence the victims. This will get out. However, we are from the Survey Corps, and this matter doesn't concern us."
'Huh?' Hange was surprised. However …
"Erwin is right …" another voice cut in before she could speak. Everyone turned to Pixis who was looking at the civilians in cages, his once amiable elderly features now as hard as stone.
"While all soldiers fight for humanity, … It is the job of The Garrison to protect The People within Wall Rose. It is already a shame to us that such a thing happened under our watch. I thank Captain Levi for alerting us, but The Garrison will take over from here."
A cold gleam flashed through his eyes.
"I will make sure whoever is responsible for this, Military official or Noble, is caught and executed by the Laws of the Humanity Charter."
"…" The scene was silent at Pixis's sonorous declaration.
'No, Commander Pixis is ...'. For Gustav and Anka, It had been a long time since they had seen the Dot Pixis like this.
Usually, he had the character of an old grandfather who loved to drink. Now, he was exhibiting the aura of an official.
'It seems the old man is really angry this time'. Levi thought apathetically.
"I see. In that case, you're in luck." The Captain gestured as he spoke at a corner of the room.
Everyone's gazes moved in that direction.
A young girl could be seen at the other side of the room. Seated on the hard floor, knees drawn to her chest, arms wrapped around her legs. Short dark hair, and a vacant stare.
Two Garrison soldiers stood near her, watching over her cautiously.
Ren.
"… A survivor?" Erwin asked, noticing the Rose emblem on her uniform which signified the mark of The Military Police.
Levi's gaze flickered toward her. His expression remained unreadable.
"She's the only one left," he confirmed. "I was going to interrogate her myself, but now I feel I should leave that to you."
Pixis nodded. "Thank you."
Those were his last words before walking away.
"Erwin, are we really not getting involved?" Levi asked without turning his head.
"No. It is not in our Jurisdiction. The ones dealing with this will be The Garrison, Military Police and The Royal Government. This is their problem."
The Three branches of The Military were clearly divided, each in charge of different Tasks. The survey corps dealing with Expeditions outside the walls, The Garrison dealing with the land outside The Interior, and the Police Brigade handling the Interior.
In this investigation, the Survey Corps had no reason to intervene. Not to mention, Erwin himself wasn't interested in getting himself involved in this Political farce.
He was, however, interested in something else.
"Levi …" The man called out. "You said you the Military Police were killed before they could finish the Job. Tell me, who was responsible?"
"Huh?" It wasn't Levi who exclaimed, but Hange.
"What do you mean, Erwin? Wasn't Levi the one who killed those scum of the Earth for their crimes?"
"No." The blond man replied. "I would have thought the same. However, Levi's clothes don't have a single speck of blood on them. Neither do the weapons used for the slaughter in The Warehouse. Meaning, they didn't die at his hands"
Hange was stunned for a moment.
"Hold on. Levi, aren't you the one that did the slaughter upstairs?" She asked in Confusion.
Levi didn't respond to Hange. Instead, replying to Erwin.
"Itching for Talent again, Erwin?" Levi wasn't surprised he noticed, and knew exactly why The Survey Corps Commander was asking.
Many years ago, he had been found by Erwin similarly. He and his friends, both skilled in Maneuver Gear, were hired for a Job by a corrupt noble.
It was how they crossed paths with Erwin in the first place. And although his friends died, it was how Levi was inducted into The Fight For Humanity.
"Perhaps."
For this accusation, Erwin didn't deny.
In his view, someone capable of killing a squad of Military Police soldiers was incredibly skilled.
Perhaps not at the level of Levi, but certainly as good as the Special Operations squad under Levi in combat experience and use of Maneuver Gear at minimum.
It would be best if such individuals could be brought under the banner of The Survey Corps.
'Tch … Sure enough'. Levi clicked his tongue.
"Don't bother Erwin."
"Huh?" The man was stunned, looking at his second in command, who didn't change his expression.
"Unlike me, you're not going to get this one …" he said, his expression slightly dark.
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Elsewhere, in the dim glow of a candle-lit infirmary, a pair of eyes fluttered open.
For a moment, Ilse Langnar stared at the ceiling, her breathing shallow.
A nurse gasped. "She's awake—!"
Ilse shot upright with unnatural speed, her body trembling.
For a second, it was as if she had forgotten how to breathe. Then, slowly, her fingers curled into the sheets beneath her.
Two hours had passed since she fell into a Genjutsu.
Now Two hours later, Ilse Langnar woke up.
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Elsewhere In Trost
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The smell of damp wood and cheap soup filled the small, dimly lit room. Inside, a dark-haired female shifted in her cot, wincing as pain flared in her legs—phantom sensations in limbs she could no longer use. The straw mattress beneath her was thin, barely offering relief from the cold floor of the house.
The room was small, barely large enough to fit a bed, a rickety wooden table, and a single chair. The walls were old, the plaster cracked and peeling in places, exposing the aged wooden framework beneath. A single window let in dim light, its shutters slightly askew, allowing a cold draft to slip through.
She turned her head slightly, listening to the voices outside. The Trost district was restless as always. Soldiers marched through the streets, vendors shouted their prices, and the distant cries of hungry children echoed through the alleyways.
The sun has long since set, darkness once again engulfing the city.
It had been three years since Wall Maria fell. Three years since her world crumbled around her.
Her hand gripped the thin blanket covering her legs. Eren. Mikasa. They were out there, wearing military uniforms, carrying swords and rifles, preparing for a war she could no longer fight against. She had begged them not to go. But what could she do? A mother without the strength to stand…
The door creaked open.
"Carla," a familiar voice called.
She turned her head and forced a smile. Hannes stood in the doorway, his expression strained but warm. In his hands, he carried a small basket—probably a few extra rations he had smuggled past the quartermasters. He had been doing this since the beginning, stopping by whenever he could, bringing supplies, checking on her.
It was the only reason she had survived this long.
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End Of Chapter.
Hey guys. And yes, for those of you who chave noticed and who cares, I didn't make any mistakes for the last part. Yes, Carla Jaeger (The Mother's Of Eren Jaeger) is alive.
Does that make this an AU (Alternate Universe)
I guess so. But all Self Insert Stories are Technically AU's as well, aren't they?
No, this is a Canon Divergence AU rather than a Pure Original AU.
What does this mean? It means I didn't simply change it randomly to make Carla Jaeger alive.
I would have preferred to leave this for later but I'm just gonna lay it out now.
The reason she is alive is simply because the MC now exists in this world. For True AoT fans, you should understand the Cause and Effects that lead to such a scenario.
What those are, I will reveal as the story goes along. Just know that she is alive not because I simply wanted her to be but because the MC being in this world without doing much has already triggered the butterfly effect.
I spent the last Two days listing up all the butterfly effects so I don't randomly shoot myself in the foot.
That's all I have to say. Hope you enjoyed the Chapter.