Two days later, Cape City Port, Marley.
Soldiers in the watchtower observed an armored warship approaching the harbor, outside its designated route.
It was wartime, and the port garrison was on high alert.
A soldier used a megaphone to report to those below, "Report! An unidentified armored warship has been sighted approaching the harbor!"
"An armored warship? What kind of flag is it flying? Can you identify it?"
The soldier adjusted his binoculars. As the armored warship drew closer, someone raised a flag and waved it.
"It's the Marleyan Navy flag! The color is yellow, indicating the highest rank! It's an armored warship from our navy!"
"A yellow flag... We should prepare to greet the captain in command!"
The moment the armored warship docked, the gangway was lowered, and Pieck and Zeke followed the group ashore.
The two put on Eldian armbands, appearing to be warriors loyal to Marley.
Marley had been waiting for their return, hoping they would bring back the powers of the warriors who had previously departed for Marley.
However, this group did not bring good news.
Everyone looked at the group's depressed demeanor in confusion, including Captain Theo Magath, who remained silent.
They were ashamed to reveal their terrible experience on the island; they feared the consequences of defeat.
A deathly silence settled over the harbor.
Theo immediately requested an audience with his superiors, as he had important and highly confidential matters to report.
The officer stationed at the port was not of particularly high rank, and since the Paradis Island operation was top secret even within Marley, secrets could not be openly disclosed.
The government maintained strict secrecy regarding troop movements to prevent hostile nations from exploiting any vulnerabilities.
This group did not outrank him; he had no authority to issue orders to them and could only escort them to his superior.
Theo ordered Pieck and Zeke to remain at the port under the close supervision of the navy.
This suited Pieck perfectly; even if Theo had not made the request, she would have suggested the same thing.
She and Zeke remained at the harbor according to plan, gazing out at the sea while they waited.
...
Near Cape City, a merchant vessel was anchored in sparsely populated waters.
Eren and Dina stood together. He was using the power of the Founding Titan to sense Pieck and Zeke's location.
He had once used this power to seal Pieck and Zeke's Titan abilities, and among the countless threads of the Paths, he had memorized the two lines that connected to them.
Through those two lines alone, he could determine Pieck and Zeke's location and could seal or release their Titan powers at any time.
To seal the War Hammer Titan's power, he also needed to locate the Eldian threads connected to it, so he had come personally.
Mikasa stood guard behind Eren, observing a colossal object on the deck covered by a tarp. She could barely make out the outline of an airplane.
This ship belonged to Hange's overseas merchant fleet.
Ten days earlier, they had traveled by express ship to the border port of Isphall, where they transferred to this merchant vessel.
Many of the crew had eastern features like hers; Mikasa's face resembled theirs because she also possessed eastern ancestry.
Some of these people came from Isfar, while others came from neighboring countries.
Everyone aboard the ship was a trusted confidant of Paradis Island.
For nearly three years, they had witnessed the civilization and technology of Paradis Island firsthand, and Hange had personally tested their loyalty.
This carefully selected group used their appearances as camouflage while operating throughout the international market, exporting Paradis Island's Iceburst Stone and steel, generating income that allowed the island to acquire high-end products.
Paradis Island's merchant fleet had become quite famous internationally. Its Iceburst Stone and high-quality steel enjoyed widespread demand, and to date, the fleet had established trade relations with merchants from thirteen countries.
The port cities of Isfar served as the primary distribution route, transporting goods from the ports to local merchants in other nations, who then handled secondary sales within their regions.
Two years ago, they rose to great prominence in international trade, not only because of the uniqueness of their products but also because of their powerful escort fleet. Pirates who attempted to raid them were annihilated by their overwhelming superiority.
"I've found them!" Eren, who had been silently searching through the Paths, suddenly opened his eyes. "They've arrived at the harbor. The Marleyan navy is stationed there, in that direction!"
"Approximately how far away?" Hange asked with a serious expression.
"About thirty nautical miles."
Hange, dressed in typical merchant attire, nodded and immediately ordered the sailors to get underway, starting the internal combustion engine.
The merchant vessel headed in that direction, stopping after traveling twenty nautical miles.
"It's time for the elite soldiers."
Hannes emerged from the cabin, and Hange, carrying a full set of ODM gear, helped him put it on.
With his head shaved, Hannes put on a mask and a black suit. His hands and feet were connected by a waterproof elastic membrane, forming a structure similar to a web.
He then put on a waterproof mask connected by a hose directly attached to a metal canister on his back.
It was a specially designed diving suit.
After putting on the suit, Hannes boarded a single-person speedboat.
The sailors on deck used a crane to lower both Hannes and the speedboat into the sea.
Hannes gave an OK signal, started the engine, and quickly sped away from the merchant vessel.
His mask, which functioned as a telescope, allowed him to spot the Marleyan fleet stationed at the harbor in the distance. He stopped the speedboat and plunged into the water.
At the harbor, a soldier in the watchtower spotted a blurry white dot, but it was too far away to identify.
"I've detected something strange!"
"What is it?"
"I don't know, but there's something small in the sea that's approaching."
He reported the anomaly to the people below, but no one paid much attention.
Many people had gathered around the newly arrived battleship. Some were guarding Pieck and Zeke, uncertain whether their warriors could truly have betrayed them as some soldiers claimed.
Everything remained as peaceful as ever.
Cape City Harbor was, after all, the capital port of Marley, and the border conflict had little significant impact there, causing only slight tension because the nation was at war.
But Marley was a nation perpetually at war. For a hundred years, Marley had either been fighting or preparing for war.
War was a common thing to them.
With "warriors" and "Titan weapons" at their disposal, any nation daring enough to declare war would regret it sooner or later.
The soldiers in the watchtower observed for a while before eventually losing interest in the white dot.
The soldier who had reported it earlier felt somewhat bored and yawned.
"Damn it, it's way too hot, and this humidity is killing me. When are they going to send us to war?"
"How desperate are you to die?"
"I just want to make a name for myself in battle and earn more money for my family."
"Hahaha!"
At that moment, he heard a strange sound, and something whistled into the sky before exploding.
"Death is a life that has been lived. Life is a death yet to come."
Boom!
"Aaaahhhh!"
Far in the distance, Pieck was the first to witness a golden flash streaking across the sky.
"Lord Zeke, it's time!" Pieck suddenly shouted, biting her thumb until it bled.
"Rebellion!"
Boom!
A nearby Eldian stared in shock as Pieck transformed without warning.
In a flash of golden lightning, she became the Cart Titan, and the still-confused soldiers scattered in every direction.
"We're under attack!"
"The warriors have betrayed us!"
"I'm coming, Pieck!" Zeke roared as he leaped onto Pieck's back.
The soldiers raised their weapons and aimed at them.
"Fire!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
However, Pieck completely ignored them, using every ounce of strength and the greatest effort of her life to sprint a hundred meters.
In her Cart Titan form, she fled recklessly, charging like a raging bull and smashing through the soldiers' encirclement.
"Argh!" Zeke, being the most exposed, was struck by a bullet that pierced his thigh.
"Hurry! It's coming!" Zeke didn't care about his bleeding leg; he only shouted with a fierce expression.
Pieck knew there was no time to waste and dashed away frantically.
An instant later, there was a three-second period of deafening silence.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
One after another, golden lightning bolts flooded the entire harbor of Marley.
Without a doubt, they were being attacked by the very warriors they themselves had trained.