"Everyone, please remember our slogan—we strive for the revival of Eldia!" Floch declared loudly as he looked at the soldiers standing before him.
The soldiers standing in front of Floch were deeply moved as well.
"Yes!!"
They clenched their fists and placed them against their left chests, fist facing downward in salute. If Yago were here, he would be surprised to discover that this very salute—popular among the Eldian Revival Army under his command—had somehow already spread to Paradis Island.
That's right. The people gathered here were all members of the Eldian Revivalists on Paradis Island. From having nothing a few months ago to now numbering in the thousands, Floch's contribution could not be overstated. At this point, half of the core members of the Revivalists could be said to have been personally persuaded and recruited by Floch.
Moreover, as the influence of the Imperial Faction continued to expand and become increasingly intimidating, even the High Council—despite its absolute authority—had no effective way to stop the Imperial Faction's growth. At a time like this, someone or something was needed to restrain their expansion.
The appearance of the Revivalists naturally gave the leaders of Paradis Island hope.
A hope that someone could curb the continued rise of the Imperial Faction.
Frankly speaking, for the council's upper leadership on Paradis Island, was there even a real choice between supporting the Imperial Faction or the Revivalists?
Establish an Eldian Empire? An empire would certainly have an emperor. The problem was—if an Eldian Empire were truly established, would that emperor be willing to remain a mere figurehead? And would the leaders be willing to return the power they currently held back to an emperor?
The Revivalists were different.
The revival of the Eldian people did not mean the revival of the royal family, nor did it mean their authority would be taken away.
So after weighing the pros and cons, it was hardly surprising that the leadership chose to support the Revivalists.
With the tacit approval and support of the council and the upper leadership, the development of the Revivalists could be described as smooth sailing. Their members even spanned across all three military branches.
In front of everyone, Floch carefully explained the intelligence that Yago had transmitted from outside the island. Of course, this was information approved for release by the leadership—truly confidential details were naturally not shared with ordinary soldiers.
Floch spoke passionately, and as the soldiers below listened, they gradually gained a basic understanding of the world beyond the island.
Unlike the Imperial Faction, which constantly emphasized the oppression and persecution of Eldians by the people of the outside world, the Revivalists spoke more about the advanced technologies of the outside world, the customs of various nations, and other such topics.
Regarding the Eldian compatriots living in Marley, the two factions also held different views.
The Imperial Faction never mentioned the Eldians living inside the internment zones. Instead, they repeatedly stressed declaring war on all nations hostile to Eldia and restoring the glory of the Eldian Empire.
As for the compatriots in the internment zones… perhaps they were subconsciously ignored, or even regarded as enemies.
The Revivalists, however, advocated liberating all oppressed Eldians around the world, uniting every Eldian, and reviving the Eldian nation.
Among the soldiers attending the Revivalist gathering were also many training soldiers. These young teenagers—most only fourteen or fifteen years old—were especially easy to stir with emotional ideals.
Both the Imperial Faction and the Revivalists had many training soldiers among their members.
"Alex, what do you think the senior who founded the Revivalists—Yago Norman—is like?" Luise, still wearing a training soldier's uniform, asked her companion beside her with admiration as she clasped her hands together.
The Alex standing beside Luise was not wearing a uniform. Today was a rare rest day, and he had gone home to visit his mother. By chance, he ran into Luise on the road as she was heading to the gathering, so he ended up coming along with her.
Hearing Luise's question, Alex rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"I think Yago must be someone very mature and steady, with far-sighted vision—calm and wise! Probably like the former Survey Corps commander Erwin?" Alex imagined Yago's image in his mind.
But what he perhaps didn't realize was that the person who had truly influenced his dream of becoming a soldier was actually Yago himself.
When Alex was a child, Titans suddenly broke through the wall. Young Alex and his mother were forced to flee their home in Trost District as refugees.
Yet countless soldiers holding steel blades fought desperately in bloody battles, reclaiming their homeland from the Titans.
Some time later, young Alex returned home with his mother. As soon as he arrived, he bumped head-on into a soldier wearing a uniform.
Although he could no longer remember the man's face, Alex would never forget the Sword of Subjugation emblem that seemed to shine under the sunlight.
At that moment, young Alex had only one thought in his mind.
So cool!
And now, Alex had finally fulfilled his childhood dream. He too wore the uniform bearing the Sword of Subjugation.
As for the future… that senior named Yago Norman seemed to have already pointed the way forward for him.
He would work for the revival of the Eldian people.
...
In a corner far away from the crowd, Hitch looked at Floch speaking passionately on the stage and couldn't help but smile.
Then she turned her head and asked the person beside her,
"Hey, Annie, the Revivalists were started by Yago, you know. Why aren't you joining them?"
Annie, standing beside Hitch, rolled her eyes.
"Just because he started it means I have to join? What kind of logic is that? I'm not interested. If he wants to mess around outside, he can do whatever he likes!"
"Oh ho! What's going on here? Why does everything Annie says sound so sour? Don't tell me you're jealous?" Hitch teased as she wrapped an arm around Annie's shoulders.
A-One, who stood beside them, quietly covered her mouth and laughed.
Seeing Hitch teasing her, Annie shoved her away in embarrassment and annoyance.
But Hitch's words had indeed struck a chord in her heart.
That idiot Yago hadn't sent any personal message for several months now. The only things arriving were various pieces of intelligence about Marley.
Every time Annie eagerly waited for letters delivered through Hizuru, hoping to receive something from Yago…
Yet not a single word in those letters ever mentioned her.
Who wouldn't be angry about that?
In Annie's room, there was a stuffed doll with Yago's name stitched onto it.
And by now, that doll had been stabbed with no fewer than a hundred steel needles.
After joking around for a while, Hitch suddenly held Annie's face with both hands and examined it carefully while clicking her tongue.
Annie looked completely confused.
After a moment, Hitch deliberately sighed.
"With such a beautiful face and you still can't attract Yago… do you think that guy might have found someone new out there?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?!" Annie grabbed Hitch's hands.
"But seriously, Annie… don't you really miss Yago?"
Annie's eyes suddenly dimmed.
But in front of her good friend, she had no interest in lying. She honestly nodded.
"I do… but he…"
Hitch said, "If you miss him, then next time people from Hizuru come, why don't you go with them and find Yago?"
Annie was startled.
"W-What are you talking about, Hitch? Going to Marley? …Going to Marley…"
As she spoke, Annie suddenly fell silent, as if she were genuinely considering the idea.
Hitch panicked.
"Eh?? Wait, A-Annie, I—I was just joking! Don't take it seriously! Just write a letter next time and urge that idiot Yago a bit, okay?"
Annie suddenly looked like she had made up her mind. She lifted her head and said firmly,
"That's right! Hitch, you're right!"
Then Annie immediately ran off.
Hitch turned her head to A-One and asked,
"When Annie said 'right,' she meant writing a letter, right? A-One, you think so too, don't you?"
A-One, the honest child, shook her head.
"I think Annie meant the first thing you said."
"How could that be! I was joking! How could Annie take it seriously?!"