Jaegerists: I Am Free

                                    

                                          
Jean picks up Nicolo and slams him against the wall. "What do you mean Zeke's spinal fluid is in the wine?"
"I don't have proof… But… the survey ships have been packed with this wine from the very start. It was more alcohol than any short-term surveying ship would ever need. And...just as I started to settle here as the chef, I was told to serve it to corps members, starting with high-ranking officers."
"Who told you?"
"...Yelena. As far as I know, she was acting alone. I don't know about the other volunteers."
Behind Jean, Hange looks up to Onyankopon. He shakes her head. "I-I've never heard of this before either."
"But it doesn't make sense," Conny exclaims as he helps Hange in trying to save the Marleyan boy. "Eldians freeze up the moment they drink Zeke's spinal fluid, right? That's what happened in Ragako."
"That's just what Zeke said," Hange responds. "It's not like anyone saw it happening. There's no way we can confirm. But… The effect of that believable lie...is immense. If we believe that there's a telltale sign of being dosed with Zeke's spinal fluid… No one would ever think they've been poisoned by it if that sign never comes."
"No...but that's just your theory, right?"
Nicolo nods to Jean's question. "Yes...there's no proof. But...any Marleyan soldier knows how Zeke's spinal fluid has been used until now. About ten years ago, Marley took down an enemy nation's capital in one night. It was possible because hundreds of titans appeared in town that evening. All they had to do was sneak in a few hundred Eldians who had been administered Zeke's spinal fluid. Then, a single scream was all he needed to destroy the place. Even if that wasn't his plan, why else would I need to get higher-ups in the corps to drink that suspicious wine? Nothing else would make sense to me."
"When you took that wine out of our hands earlier… Was that...to protect us?"
"Well, who knows why I did that. The plan was to survey this island of devils...and save the world. If they find out about this, I won't have much longer to live… But… Mister Braus, I'm not capable of being...a man like you yet. Still, if I can atone in some small way with this… What was wrong with me? I nearly killed a child…"
"Nicolo… Hange, what'll become of Ben?"
Hange turns to Mr. Braus. "For now, we'll act assuming Nicolo's right. Everyone, take off your jackets and wash your hands. Under no circumstances should you touch your face or mouth. Onyankopon, tell Joshua and the others the same."
"Understood."
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Meanwhile
"...The Armor, from my cousin, Reiner..."
What? Did she...just call her Reiner her cousin? Did she just say that? Am I really sitting across the table from Reiner's little cousin? Did I just defend and protect Reiner's cousin from death a few minutes ago? Clearing my throat, I stand up and walk over to the wine shelf, careful to remember the new information about them.
"Why did you...protect me?"
"No reason in particular," Mikasa answers. I wonder who she's speaking for, herself or the both of us.