68 The Strongest

Walking inside the street of Trost District. Levi and the others' currently and trying their best to walk in a manner that's not suspicious.

"Try not to walk in clusters. We'll stand out." Levi said that, walking in front of Eren and the others, "Eren and Historia, just walk normally."

In the back of the group were two people walking. They were Jean, disguised as Eren, and Armin, disguised as Historia.

Marco couldn't help but peek at Jean from time to time and seeing his depressed face. He thought of yesterday's event.

… .

"Huh! I'm gonna be disguising as Eren? No way in hell!" Jean said that as he protested in front of Levi.

"Jean! I know that you don't like it, but you have to do this… And I will not take "No" as an answer," Levi said that and stared straight in the eye of Jean. 

Jean looked away and then saw that everyone was staring at him. He then looked at Armin and said, "Armin, are you ok disguising as Historia?"

"I do it!" Armin said that as he looked at Jean and said, "This is only temporary, so you only need to do it once." 

Hearing that, Jean looked at Eren, and saw Eren looking at him with weird eyes and thought, 'No way!'

He then glanced at Levi who's still staring at him and was too scared so he looked away and sent a helping glance at Marco.

'Marco help me!' 

Marco heard his plea but shook his head, meaning, 'You gotta do it.'

Jean clenched his fist and then glanced at Eren and said, "Just this time… I'll do it."

Everyone was relieved and gave Jean a pat on the back.

… .

'Jean accepted it… He got thanks from Mikasa and so he was elated, but looking at him now...,' Marco couldn't bear it anymore and just looked ahead… 

'Jean… Do your best.'

… .

Connie in the middle looked around and said, "Why is the royal family's flag hanging everywhere?" Connie was the kind of kid who didn't, or even have the time bothering to remember about events and stuff like that and so asked.

In front of him was Sasha who then answered Connie.

"Oh! Today must be the anniversary of the King's coronation." Sasha said that and then looked back at Connie as she explained.

"Once a year, they hand out a haul of rations."

"Oh…"

As they walked forward, they noticed a lot of people gathered in front of them... Then they heard a shout coming from the stage, explaining what's happening.

"We'll begin handing out rations!"

One of the guys in Military Police uniform said that and began explaining.

"King Fritz has heard of Trost District's hardships and will donate the Royal Family reserves!"

"There's enough for everyone! Line up orderly!"

Everyone was happy about this news and so thank the Royal Family.

"Long live King Fritz!"

"Thank goodness!"

…

..

Seeing this, Sasha commented, "What a King! He sure is generous!"

Looking at this and hearing Sasha's comment, Levi said, "He's got more than he knows what to do with. People are weak, especially when baited with food."

As Levi and the others walked. Levi stopped and said suddenly as he looked back.

"Watch out! Behind us!"

And ducked down. Jean and Armin were snatched away as the carriage began driving far away.

"Armi- I mean, Christa and Eren! They got snatched away again!"

… .

On top of the building. Two people are standing there. One of them then said, "Vincent… Jean and Armin were snatched."

"Hmm, I know."

Vincent said that as he looked away from the "Telescope" he had on his hands. He then looked at Annie and said, "Go towards Eren and Historia. If they got kidnapped, don't save them."

"... ok."

Annie said that as she then descended from the building and began walking towards where Eren and Historian's carriage are.

Looking down, Vincent couldn't help but said, "What a Hell you've been through…"

Vincent said that and then descended as he then began running quietly where Jean and Armin got kidnapped. 

… .

Looking at the top of the Building Warehouse, where Jean and Armin got kidnapped, Vincent began observing them using this Telescope of his and thought, 'What a convenient tool!'

Vincent then saw Mikasa conversing with Levi. He then saw Levi stand up and began walking ahead. "Probably going towards where Eren and Historia was…"

Saying that Vincent then looked away and then wondered how he could help them without violating the rules he set.

Pondering for a moment and seeing that there's no solution, Vincent just shook his head and thought, 'Don't die…'

… .

Up ahead, Annie saw a Carriage and thought that as Eren and Historian's carriage, based on following some Survey Corps members he saw. Even though they were hiding, Annie could see it from far ahead using the "Telescope" Vincent gave to her. 

Annie then began counting and saw that there are 2 Survey Corps members hiding or rather, Guarding the carriage. 

Then Annie saw Levi appear. Levi then hid with one of the Survey Corps members she saw earlier.

She then looked towards the carriage and saw that it got blocked by numerous people.

She then saw someone suddenly appear behind Levi, and with a gunshot that could be heard from where she was at. One of the Survey Corps members was killed.

Levi then hid between the thick concrete, as Annie thought, 'He's cornered.'

Saying that, Annie saw numerous people use the ODM gear Vincent explained to him once and thought. 

'They use ODM gear to kill Humans and not Titans…'

… .

"Huh? There's someone more powerful than you?!" Annie exclaimed as she looked at Vincent incredulously. 

"Yeah"

"You're not kidding right?" Annie asked for confirmation one more time since Vincent is the strongest person he saw that could even rival the best of Marley's fighters equipped with 100 years of refining Martial Arts passed down by Marley's people.

"I'm not."

"Just how…" 

… .

At first, Annie was skeptical at that time, but then now. Looking at one of the people, she saw a guy with a dangerous feeling, rivaling even Vincent, and mumbled. 

'So that's the guy Vincent had said he met that uses this strange ODM gear and says it's more powerful than him.'

"Kenny the Ripper…"

Annie thought for a moment as she saw the guy's face and mumbled, "I think I meet this guy before..."

She then remembered one time when he sneaks towards the Trost City. She followed a guy that made her escape towards the sewers.