Chapter 13: Captain Katsura's Extraordinary Plan

Nightfall began to settle over Wall Rose as Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and Katsura stood in front of the empty house Katsura had dubbed his "future home." The warehouse where they had rested earlier now felt far behind, as if they were heading toward something safer—even though the path they were taking was full of uncertainty.

Eren looked at the building, and despite his doubts, there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "If this really becomes our home... we might be able to take better care of Mom here."

However, Armin, always cautious and calculating, couldn't shake off the one big question that had been nagging him since they left the docks. He stared at Katsura, who stood confidently with the large sack on his back.

"Katsura," Armin spoke quietly, but sharply, "how do you actually plan to buy this house? What's the process?"

Katsura turned with a wide, satisfied smile. "Ah, Armin... You doubt Captain Katsura's abilities? Of course, I've planned everything carefully! You see, I snuck in before news of Wall Maria's fall reached Wall Rose. Before the other refugees arrived, I kindly spoke with the previous owner of this house."

Armin frowned slightly, sensing something off in Katsura's explanation. "Kindly spoke with...?"

Katsura nodded with full confidence. "Yes, yes! I, in a most honorable way, convinced the owner that they should leave this place as quickly as possible. And I, as a freedom fighter, offered to... take over the house to ensure nothing went to waste."

Mikasa, standing silently beside Eren, began to sense something odd in the story. With a calm but suspicious expression, she looked at Katsura. "What do you mean by 'offered'?"

Still caught up in his own theatrics, Katsura continued without hesitation. "Of course, I kindly suggested they 'leave as soon as possible.' I told them that great danger was coming, and it would be better if they left... along with their belongings."

Mikasa, who had been wary of Katsura's actions from the start, exchanged a glance with Armin. They both knew there was more to this than just a "friendly conversation." However, they chose not to accuse Katsura directly, knowing the situation was complicated and Carla needed a safe place.

Eren, on the other hand, seemed more willing to believe. "So, you really saved us, Katsura? You managed to find this place before everything fell apart?"

Katsura puffed out his chest proudly. "Of course, Eren! I, Captain Katsura, am not just a freedom fighter but also a brilliant strategist! I know when to act and when to seize opportunities! And this is our golden opportunity!"

Mikasa sighed, still skeptical. "And we're going to move into this house... in secret?"

Katsura nodded. "Exactly! We need to be careful. I don't want us to get caught up in the chaos of the refugees. Because if we look like ordinary refugees, we could end up in something much worse."

Armin looked at Katsura thoughtfully. "You're talking about the refugees being sent back?"

Katsura's expression turned more serious as he looked at Armin. "You're smarter than I thought, Armin. Yes, I've heard rumors that there's a plan to send the refugees back to the front lines. They'll be used as bait against the Titans. I'm not going to let us get caught in that plan. That's another reason why I acted quickly. We have to make sure we don't look like part of the refugee wave."

Eren clenched his fists, his anger flaring up again. "They're going to use refugees as bait?! That's insane! They're just ordinary people!"

Armin nodded, recalling stories his grandfather had told him, stories that warned of worst-case scenarios for refugees. "My grandfather mentioned that the food supply within Wall Rose wouldn't be enough to support everyone. The military would likely look for a way out... even if that meant sacrificing the refugees."

Mikasa, who had been quietly listening, now felt more convinced that moving to Katsura's house, even though it stemmed from a plan that wasn't entirely ethical, might be their only option for survival.

Katsura grinned, sensing that he had won them over. "That's why you need me. Captain Katsura is not only a freedom fighter, but also an expert at surviving in tough times. Let's move tonight, before anyone else realizes this house is empty."

Eren, still furious about the information regarding the refugees, finally agreed. "Alright. As long as this keeps Mom safe, we'll move."

And so, they decided to follow Katsura's plan. That night, in secret, they left the warehouse that had been their temporary shelter. They moved swiftly through the narrow alleys of Wall Rose, making sure not to draw attention.

When they arrived in front of the empty house Katsura had chosen, a quiet stillness surrounded the place. No one knew they had moved there, and to them, it was the beginning of a new life behind Wall Rose—a secret refuge amidst the great threat looming from outside.

Yet, behind Katsura's triumphant smile, Mikasa and Armin still harbored doubts. They knew the treasure Katsura carried might not have been obtained through entirely "honest" means. But for now, they were forced to accept the reality that Katsura's plan, as strange as it was, might be their only way to survive in a world constantly overshadowed by fear and the menace of the Titans.

End of Chapter 13