With a clatter, the train carriage doors were flung open, and dazzling sunlight instantly poured into the dim interior. Inside the carriage, it was packed with Eldian soldiers in uniform, some sitting, some standing.
Serena raised her hand to shield her eyes, still not quite used to the sunlight. But before she could do anything, a harsh and jarring shout rang out.
"Get down already! You slow, useless Eldians! The next train is about to arrive—move it and get off, now!"
Outside the carriage, a Marleyan officer, accompanied by over a dozen armed Marleyan soldiers, pointed at Serena and the others, cursing as he ordered them off.
Serena frowned slightly. No matter what, they had just won a war for Marley, hadn't they? Even if Marleyans weren't going to be warm, they shouldn't be this hostile. Still, Serena wasn't surprised.
All the Eldian soldiers inside the carriage turned their gaze toward Serena. The Marleyan officer seemed to realize she was their leader. Although he was momentarily stunned to see that she was a woman, he still pointed at her and shouted,
"You're in charge? Get your people off the train, now!"
Serena stepped down from the carriage, her face cold as she stared at the officer. The Eldian soldiers who followed her off the train also fixed him with unfriendly looks. Being stared at by dozens of fierce eyes, the Marleyan officer's face turned pale.
But Serena only shot him a glare before turning around and leading her people away. It wasn't until they had gone quite a distance that the officer finally reacted, an indescribable sense of humiliation rising within him. He had actually been intimidated by unarmed Eldians—how disgraceful!
That's right. Before returning to the Liberio Internment Zone, all Eldian troops had been completely disarmed. Not a single gun, not a single bullet was left to them. That was Marley's caution toward the Eldians.
After leaving the train station, the Marleyans had already arranged a fixed route for the Eldians' return. Fully armed Marleyan soldiers monitored them the entire way. All Eldian soldiers could do was head back to the Liberio Internment Zone. Thinking about wandering somewhere else? The Marleyan soldiers would simply feed them bullets.
Serena glanced around, and soon her eyes lit up. She quickly walked off to the side. A Marleyan soldier noticed her unusual movement and immediately raised his rifle, shouting,
"Hey! What are you doing? Get back in line! Don't wander off!"
But suddenly, the soldier felt a tap on his shoulder. Startled, he turned around and saw the prominent insignia on the shoulder of the figure behind him.
A Marleyan?
The soldier immediately lowered his gun and saluted. "Sir!"
Yago smiled and patted the soldier's shoulder. "It's nothing. I just need to speak with this Eldian about something. Go guard somewhere else."
"Uh…" The soldier hesitated, but Yago's rank spoke for itself. He could only salute again and leave.
Only after the soldier had gone did Yago turn to Serena and ask,
"How did it go? Everything smooth?"
Serena nodded, then asked somewhat excitedly,
"Everything's arranged. But… isn't this too risky? This is Marley's capital, after all. If we fail…"
"But if we succeed, we'll be able to free all our people, won't we?"
Yago cut off her concerns confidently. "Trust us, Serena. What others couldn't accomplish, that doesn't mean we can't!"
Looking at Yago's confidence, the unease in Serena's heart instantly settled. She nodded firmly.
"Alright. Leave it to me!"
After Serena left, Yago also turned and walked away. Not far off, a military vehicle exclusively assigned to him was quietly waiting—one of the privileges of a high-ranking Marleyan officer. Inside the car sat Annie and A-One, both having altered their appearances.
After getting in, Yago said to the driver, "Russell Manor." This was the home of Loya, whose identity Yago had taken. According to previous letters and intelligence, Loya's only remaining family member was a blind grandmother.
The car started and carried Yago away.
...
At the entrance of the Liberio Internment Zone, the Marleyan guards opened the gates. Outside stood a crowd of returning Eldian soldiers. Inside, countless family members waited anxiously for their return.
As the gates opened, the Eldian soldiers poured into the internment zone, and a wave of excitement instantly erupted.
The Warrior Unit was among the first to return. Zeke opened his arms with a smile and embraced his grandparents.
"Grandpa, Grandma."
Falco and Colt also excitedly hugged their parents.
Porco, who usually wore a sour expression, softened upon seeing his family.
Pieck, having just reverted from her Cart Titan form, walked a bit awkwardly. She smiled and greeted Porco and his family before leaving.
Reiner heard someone calling from behind. Turning around, he saw his mother. Karina Braun had come to welcome her son after his victorious return.
"Welcome back, Reiner."
Beside Mrs. Braun were Gabi's parents, also searching eagerly for their daughter.
"Sis! Sis!"
"Hug me!"
Several little kids surrounded Airi, clutching onto her dress and refusing to let go, their eyes full of longing. They were all her younger siblings. Airi called for her mother to help while pulling out candies she had prepared from her bag and handing them out.
Airi's mother, a somewhat weary-looking woman, watched her children's harmonious reunion, her eyes glistening with tears.
Newt scanned the crowd, but when he failed to find any familiar faces, his expression darkened, and he lowered his head before leaving alone.
As for Bazel, Litt, and Ivanor, they had already left. They had no family here. Especially Litt—seeing the warm reunions around him, his fists clenched tightly.
Ivanor had wanted to go find Airi, but Bazel and Litt dragged her away by force.
Gabi blankly watched as Udo threw himself into his parents' arms. Then suddenly, a voice called from behind her.
"Gabi?!"
She turned around and saw her parents, her aunt, and Reiner.
Gabi's mother immediately pulled her into a hug. "My good child, I've missed you so much."
Her father ruffled her hair. "Gabi, you were amazing. Your cousin Reiner couldn't stop praising your performance on the battlefield."
Their concern finally broke through Gabi's dazed expression, and she smiled for the first time in a long while—but it was quickly shattered.
An anxious couple rushed up to her and asked in a panic,
"Gabi, have you seen Zofia? Why didn't she come back? Did something happen to her?"
Zofia's mother, unable to see her daughter, was already crying.
Gabi froze, instantly thinking of something. After struggling for a long time, she finally said,
"Zofia… Zofia, she… she was injured. She should be in the hospital now. But it's nothing serious. The doctors said she just needs some time to recover."
Watching Zofia's parents leave in a hurry, Gabi fell silent.