Tessi Province—this is the coastal province closest to the Marleyan capital. It can be said to be the most important transportation hub in all of Marley.
Thanks to its unique geographic location, Tessi Province is unexpectedly prosperous. Here, you can see all kinds of people and things—people from different countries, with different customs, converging in one place.
Although Marley is at war with the Mid-East Alliance, the conflict seems not to have affected the bustle and clamor of Tessi Province. It's just that among the travelers coming and going, there are fewer Middle Easterners with big beards.
Inside the train station, Yago and Annie got off the train. Because of Annie's special status, Yago decided to settle her here first while he infiltrated the Marleyan capital alone.
The only people who knew his true identity were Zeke, Reiner, and Pieck, and at this moment their Warrior unit was stationed on the front lines of the Marley–Middle East war. So Yago wasn't worried about his identity being exposed. Annie was different. As the holder of the Female Titan's power, who knew how many high-ranking Marleyan officials might recognize her? Caution was absolutely necessary.
Of course, Annie didn't yet know Yago's plan. She was also a little nervous about the upcoming trip to the Marleyan capital—after all, it had been nearly four years since she last saw her father.
Leaving the station, the first thing that came into view was a wide array of stalls and pedestrians. There were vendors selling snacks, toys, clothes, lollipops—countless kinds—dazzling Annie's and Yago's eyes with all the colorful displays.
When they reached a cart selling ice cream, Annie stopped and tilted her head up to look at Yago.
The ice cream vendor was very perceptive. With a beaming smile, he introduced his goods: "Miss, why not try Tessi Province's most famous chocolate hazelnut ice cream? This is the season when hazelnuts are at their sweetest and most fragrant. Have your boyfriend buy one for you."
Yago lowered his head and met Annie's clear blue eyes. Well then—this girl really had no resistance to sweets.
So Yago said to the vendor, "Please, two chocolate hazelnut ice creams."
Vendor: "Got it. Just a moment. One large chocolate hazelnut ice cream is eight Marleyan coins."
Yago scratched his head. Eight Marleyan coins? In his memory, when he was a child in the Marleyan capital, creamy desserts cost less than two Marleyan coins. Had prices risen this fast in just a few years?
The two ice creams were soon ready, and the vendor smiled as he handed one to Annie.
Yago then took a gold coin out of his pouch and handed it to the vendor. Instantly, the vendor froze, staring blankly at the gold coin in his hand.
The internationally accepted Lute gold coin was recognized by most countries. Ever since its special minting method was lost, its value had multiplied several times over. But for ordinary people, it was the kind of coin they might never see even once in their lifetime.
The ice cream vendor had traveled quite a bit in his youth and had seen his share of the world. He had naturally seen Lute gold coins before, and he had seen rich people too—but someone rich enough to use a Lute gold coin to buy ice cream? This was his first time.
Most of the time, such coins were used by wealthy merchants for transactions, and when they needed to be converted, they would go to a bank. Who would actually use one to buy things?
The vendor said with a mix of laughter and tears, "Young man, are you messing with us? This coin is worth a hundred thousand Marleyan coins. Where am I supposed to get change for that?"
Yago was also stunned. How much? A hundred thousand? He had to admit—Azumabito Kiyomi really was generous.
Yago hadn't expected the coin to be worth this much. Even Annie beside him opened her mouth in surprise.
Fortunately, Azumabito Kiyomi seemed to have anticipated this situation. Inside the pouch holding the gold coins were some small-denomination Marleyan banknotes, as well as a note introducing them to a bank in Marley run by the Hizuru nation.
After paying for the ice cream, and apologizing to the vendor, they left.
With ice cream in one hand and the Lute gold coin in the other, Yago truly hadn't realized the value of this thing.
In a moment of inattention, Yago tripped over a stone on the ground. The gold coin slipped from his hand and fell to the ground, spinning as it rolled away. Yago quickly handed the ice cream to Annie and chased after it.
The coin finally rolled to the feet of a pair of somewhat worn black cloth shoes. Yago stopped and watched as the child bent down and picked up the coin.
A brown vest, a bright red little cap, and dark brown skin—this was the attire of an Indian. The Indian nation had long been colonized and ruled by Marley, so Indians in Marley held a status only slightly better than Eldians.
When Yago saw the child's face clearly, he froze in place. The boy who had died tragically in the Rumbling, from older Eren's memories—the boy in front of whom older Eren had once broken down in tears when he unleashed the Rumbling.
"Ramzi?" Yago called out the boy's name.
The boy named Ramzi heard Yago call his name. He pinched the coin, looked at it, and then ran toward Yago.
Watching Ramzi run toward him, Yago realized that this child had not yet embarked on the path of stealing wallets, nor had he lost a hand because of theft.
But the reason Ramzi would later steal was also to give his family a better life—at least so they wouldn't have to live in cramped, shabby tents anymore.
While Yago was thinking, Ramzi had already come up to him. Holding up the gold coin, his eyes clear and bright, he said,
"Uncle, is this yours?"
"Uncle??" Yago's eyes went wide. He pointed at himself in disbelief. What was going on? I'm just a seventeen-year-old—how did I suddenly become an uncle?
At this moment, Annie came over with the ice cream as well.
"Yago, did you find the coin? Huh, who's this kid?"
"Hello," Ramzi said, but his eyes were fixed on the ice cream in Annie's hand.
"Kid. I'm not an uncle," Yago squatted down and rubbed Ramzi's head.
"But my grandpa told me to be polite. He said when I see people like you, Uncle, I should call them uncle," Ramzi said honestly, though two black lines appeared on Yago's face.
Annie was amused by this, while the dejected Yago looked at Ramzi in front of him and suddenly seemed to think of something.
...
After some time.
Ramzi happily held the ice cream that had originally belonged to Yago, with Yago and Annie walking behind him.
However, Annie's expression looked quite bad—her face full of resistance—while Yago kept explaining things to her at her side.
"It's really dangerous. What if you get exposed, Annie? Only I can go. Marleyans don't recognize me at all. Don't worry, I'll definitely bring Mr. Leonhart out safely."
Annie stopped walking, then suddenly hugged Yago. Before Yago could react, he heard Annie say in a low voice,
"Yago, I can agree to you—but you also have to promise me one thing."
Yago smiled and said, "Sure. Forget one thing—even a hundred is fine."
Annie lifted her head, and the two looked at each other.
"Don't go looking for Doctor Ebson."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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