The intelligence between Yago and Paradis Island had always been transmitted with the assistance of Hizuru. This self-proclaimed fallen nation seemed to be hiding strength far beyond what the rumors suggested.
On the contrary, Hizuru possessed enormous influence. How enormous? Within the Marleyan military, there were quite a few spies planted by Hizuru. Yago had secretly observed them before—the ones delivering intelligence for him were all Marleyan officers, and some of them even held fairly high ranks.
Yago had no idea what methods Hizuru used to achieve this, but he had already put away his earlier dismissive attitude. Hizuru was far from simple.
Thinking about it, Azumabito Kiyomi had casually handed Yago an entire bag of precious gold coins without even blinking. It was precisely because of those coins that Yago had successfully bribed Bagge, dispelling Bagge's petty suspicions and even getting Bagge to voluntarily cover for the Third Regiment and let them slack off. Perhaps Hizuru's military strength truly wasn't outstanding, but its immense economic power was far more terrifying.
"Paradis Island established the Eldian Revival Army organization? Commander, are you serious? Is this some kind of mistake?" Yago felt a headache coming on as soon as he read the intelligence.
Commander Erwin briefly explained the current situation on Paradis Island in the report, and also emphasized why the Eldian Revival Army organization had been established under Yago's name.
After reading it, Yago could only smile bitterly and say he had lifted a rock only to drop it on his own foot.
Because Yago discovered that Erwin's reason for founding the Eldian Revival Army organization was to counter another force that had recently risen on Paradis Island—the Imperial Faction.
And this Imperial Faction also had a connection to him. It was precisely because he had saved those Eldian Restorationists in the Marleyan capital that the Imperial Faction had eventually emerged.
So in the end, the root of everything traced back to Yago himself.
Yago's momentary whim on that train had now stirred the winds and clouds of both Marley and Paradis Island.
All he could do was accept it helplessly. But when Yago saw the list of people responsible for the Eldian Revival Army organization on Paradis Island, he was once again shocked.
The name Floch appeared clearly on the intelligence paper in his hand. The moment he saw it, Yago's mind immediately filled with the image of the cold yet decisive Floch from older Eren's memories—the fanatical and proactive member of the Yeagerists.
Why would Commander Erwin choose Floch to lead the Eldian Revival Army organization? Had Floch volunteered for it? But with the Survey Corps still largely intact now, would Floch still become the same fanatic Yeagerist from older Eren's memories?
Yago thought about many possibilities but couldn't reach any conclusion. Even if something really was wrong, Yago—separated by the vast ocean—had no way to interfere with the affairs of Paradis Island now.
For the time being, he could only hope Floch wouldn't turn the Eldian Revival Army on Paradis Island into a second Yeagerist faction. Or perhaps it would be called the Yago faction.
"However, in Eren's memories, the formation of the Yeagerists also had a lot to do with Yelena and those Marleyan Volunteer Army people. I should explain this to Commander Erwin and the others," Yago murmured softly, his mind racing as he tried to deduce the relationship between the Marleyan Volunteer Army and this so-called Imperial Faction.
He struck a match and burned the intelligence. A faint sense of urgency rose in Yago's heart.
Time was extremely precious now, and Yago didn't want to remain stuck in the filthy quagmire of the Marley–Middle East war any longer.
What he needed to do now was quickly lead the Third Regiment and the members of the Revival Army out of the war.
However, the war between Marley and the Middle East had fallen into a stalemate. Judging from the current situation, neither of these massive war machines had yet reached their limits. Only when one side could no longer sustain itself would the war finally determine a victor.
At the moment, Grayle Fortress might be an opportunity.
Both Marley and the Middle Easterners had invested an astronomical amount of troops and supplies there. It could be said that if Marley recaptured Grayle Fortress, then aside from occupying some desert land belonging to Marley, the Middle Easterners would gain nothing from this war.
On the other hand, if the Middle Easterners managed to hold Grayle Fortress, Marley's former status as the world's hegemon would collapse completely. A weakened Marley would inevitably be attacked from all sides.
Marley understood this. The Middle Easterners understood it. The nations of the world understood it as well. So everyone was watching the show.
Although the Middle Easterners were strong, with advanced technology and military strength not inferior to Marley's, Yago knew they still couldn't win.
Because the Marleyans still possessed their final trump card—the Titans.
The power of the Titans had allowed Marley to dominate the world for a century. Even though the power of Titans was gradually falling behind technology, and weapons such as anti-Titan artillery had appeared—true Titan-killing weapons.
Even so, these weapons had not yet become a fatal threat to Titans.
Perhaps in a few decades the power of Titans would become insignificant in the face of technological advancement. But right now, Titan power was still the foundation of Marley's world domination.
In older Eren's memories, Marley had still managed a narrow victory against the Middle East using only the Beast Titan, Jaw Titan, and Cart Titan. Now Marley also had the additional variable of the artificial Titans created by Ebson.
Therefore, the balance of the war still tilted toward Marley.
Yago walked out of the tent, called Serena, and headed straight toward Bagge's military camp.
Let Marley and the Middle East fight as long as they wanted—Yago had no intention of accompanying them any longer.
...
Airi carefully wiped Zofia's still pale little face with a damp towel.
Zofia obediently thanked her.
"Thank you."
Airi rubbed the towel and said with a smile,
"It's nothing. Zofia, you need to take good care of your injuries. In the future, you absolutely mustn't act recklessly. The battlefield is very dangerous."
Back when Airi's family had many children, she had been the eldest in the household. From a young age she helped her mother take care of her younger brothers and sisters. Naturally, the task of tending to the injured Zofia fell to Airi, who had experience with this kind of thing.
"Airi, I… I heard that Marley not only didn't praise Gabi, but also… also…"
Zofia didn't continue, but Airi understood what she meant.
The disappointment in the little girl's eyes didn't escape Airi's notice.
So…
Airi's hand stopped.
She looked at Zofia, then slowly said,
"Zofia, have you ever heard about…"