Chapter 97: The Nine Titans (Part 1)

"If everything goes smoothly, I should be able to acquire the blood of four Titans and the royal blood. After that, I'll head to Marley and collect the blood of all Nine Titans," Daniel Davis (沈飞) mused as he sat on the branch of a giant tree in the forest. This tree was part of the Survey Corps' rest area. Given the constant threat of Titans, the Corps found that resting in giant trees provided the best safety. Off in the distance, Erwin was gathering some of the Corps members, likely to share the crucial information he had obtained from Daniel.

Despite how difficult it was to accept, Erwin and his team seemed to have come to terms with the new revelations. What they planned to do next was beyond Daniel's concern.

"The Queen who herds cattle... Speaking of which, the queen has it pretty rough. Just because she has royal blood, and then there's Armin becoming the Colossal Titan... sigh," Daniel thought about the fates of various people in this world and sighed as he bit into his ration biscuit.

To maximize their ability to gather intelligence on Titans, the Survey Corps subsisted on compressed rations that were high in energy but low in flavor. This was a strategic decision to lighten their logistical load, as ODM gas canisters and blades were crucial for fighting Titans. Thus, they couldn't afford to be picky about their food during expeditions.

After gathering information from Daniel, the Survey Corps began their return journey. This expedition was deemed a great success, as they obtained significant intelligence. However, the mood among the Corps members was somber. Erwin and Levi showed no signs of joy, and only Hange still had a smile on her face.

The harsh reality was far more brutal than they had imagined. As they headed back, Hange constantly pestered Daniel with questions about the outside world, using this opportunity to learn more about the ODM gear. 

In a way, the ODM gear could be considered a form of this world's black technology. With further development, it might even evolve into rocket-propelled devices. The speed at which the Survey Corps moved through the air was propelled by gas, which wasn't particularly useful to Daniel, but with some modifications, it could become a viable product. Not to mention, Daniel was also planning to develop a game based on this technology.

Hange's curiosity about Marley was insatiable, though Daniel could only answer some of her questions. He had never been to Marley and knew only so much. However, he did tell her about airships, which could soon become a reality within the walls.

The Nine Titans weren't just powerful in battle; they could also be incredibly useful in everyday life. For instance, Titan hardening could be used for building bridges and roads quickly, and even for constructing underground spaces.

The vast underground city beneath the capital and the massive space under the royal chapel were both built using Titan powers. The hardened material created by Titans could also be a valuable resource, though this world had yet to develop the means to utilize it effectively. For now, even Annie's hardening ability remained unbreakable.

As they traveled back, Daniel felt the pace was slow but chose to stay with the group for convenience. Without a mirror space, following the Survey Corps was easier than traveling alone. However, as they approached the second wall, they encountered increasing numbers of Titans, prompting Erwin to sense that something was amiss.

"Why are there so many Titans? Something might have happened. Levi, take your squad and hurry back," Erwin ordered. The presence of so many Titans, combined with the intelligence they had gathered from Daniel, suggested that another Titan attack might be underway.

After Wall Maria was breached, the Survey Corps conducted extensive investigations into the Colossal and Armored Titans. While they hadn't uncovered much about other Titans, the distinctiveness of these two Titans always lingered in Erwin's mind, though without solid leads, his suspicions remained buried.

"Understood. Levi Squad, move out!" Levi acknowledged, and he and his squad increased their speed. Hange, seeing this, quickly followed.

"So, it's that time already," Daniel guessed what was happening from the Survey Corps' reactions. This was likely the second attack by the Colossal Titan, coinciding with the time when Eren and his cohort were graduating from the Cadet Corps. It was also the time when Eren's Titan powers would be revealed.

Due to the organized movements of the Titans, Erwin led the remaining Corps members to circumvent the main group of Titans. With Levi Squad gone, their combat strength was significantly reduced, making direct confrontation unwise.

After maneuvering through areas with fewer Titans, Erwin left most of the Corps behind and took a small team towards the gate. Daniel seized the chance to follow them.

As they moved, Daniel had learned how to use the ODM gear out of curiosity. His body was exceptionally strong now, but with limited practice time, he could only use the gear for movement and not for combat against Titans.

On the way, Daniel separated from Erwin's team. Since Erwin and his group were heading to fight the Titans at the gate and Daniel couldn't use the ODM gear for combat, he climbed the wall instead. Wearing the Survey Corps cloak, he didn't have to worry about being attacked by those inside the walls.

"These soldiers are incredibly fit," Daniel noted as he observed the others using the ODM gear with agility. Despite the gear's weight, they maneuvered it skillfully. Even in the Marvel universe, their abilities would be on par with special forces.

"The number of Titans is substantial, but the gate has been sealed," Daniel observed. The breach by the Colossal Titan was at the gate of the outermost part of Wall Rose's citadel, not the main wall. Standing atop the 50-meter wall, he could see a large stone sphere near the breached gate in the distance.

"If Annie and the others had acted together now, the outcome would be entirely different. Have they developed feelings from living together for so long?" Daniel pondered. If the Armored, Female, and Colossal Titans had attacked together, they could have easily taken Eren. Yet, they didn't.

For those engaged in such conflicts, personal connections could be a significant obstacle. A politician might make swift, ruthless decisions, but Annie and her comrades weren't politicians. Similarly, Daniel didn't want to intervene in the war in the Titan world because he didn't want to massacre civilians.

Civilians always suffer the most in war. "When the country prospers, the people suffer; when the country falls, the people suffer," as the saying goes.

If he were a politician, the choice would be simple—side with whoever offered the most benefits. But Daniel wasn't one to slaughter innocents, even if it was to save others.

As the gate was sealed and the Titans inside the citadel were being eradicated by the Garrison and Levi Squad, Daniel noted the strategic importance of the area. The citadel was used for the training of the Cadet Corps and housed not only numerous cadets but also many Garrison members.

Among the three military branches within the walls, the Garrison had the largest numbers, stationed at various points along the three walls. While they weren't keen on fighting Titans and lacked the strength to join the Military Police, they were proficient in using the ODM gear. Individually, they might not be able to take down a Titan, but collectively, they stood a chance.

Moreover, the Garrison wasn't devoid of skilled fighters. The troops directly under Commander Pixis were particularly strong. In fact, they could be considered even stronger than the Military Police. Although the Military Police consisted of the top ten graduates from the Cadet Corps, they often ended up living comfortably in the capital with little combat experience and a propensity for corruption. Over time, their fighting skills inevitably declined.

When the Military Police eventually joined the fight, they talked big about killing Titans but froze in fear when faced with the actual monsters, leading to their annihilation.

"You're back quickly this time," Commander Pixis of the Garrison said, looking at Erwin as he approached. After taking a sip of his drink, he spoke.

"I've discovered the truth about the Titans," Erwin responded bluntly after a moment of silence.

"What?" Pixis's hand trembled, and he dropped his flask. He nearly toppled over the edge of Wall Rose. Standing on the edge of the wall, a fall could easily be fatal.

Luckily, Erwin, with his quick reflexes, grabbed Pixis by the collar and pulled him back. While not the strongest in the Survey Corps, Erwin was still among the top five in terms of strength.

"What's going on?" Pixis asked, stepping back several paces to steady himself.

"We met someone outside who revealed the true history of our people," Erwin began to recount everything he had learned from Daniel.

Among the three military branches, the Survey Corps had the fewest members. Despite their strength, they relied on supplies controlled by the capital, making any direct confrontation with the royal family and the Military Police impossible. The Garrison, however, was different, especially under Commander Pixis. That's why Erwin spoke so candidly.

"Is this information reliable?" Pixis asked after a long silence.

"It needs to be verified, but there's one thing we can confirm right away," Erwin didn't specify, but Pixis understood. They were referring to the fact that Titans were humans, with Eren being a prime example.

"According to what you've said about the Nine Titans, he shouldn't be helping us," Pixis noted. Given Daniel's information, Eren should be an enemy, but he had helped seal the breach, which was puzzling.

"This needs to be investigated further. One possibility is that Eren represents the Attack Titan, one of the Nine Titans. According to the information provided, it's a Titan that strives for

 freedom," Erwin speculated.

"Let's look into it. This is a significant matter, so don't act rashly," Pixis advised, staring into Erwin's eyes.

The royal family held immense sway within the walls, especially in the third wall's city, which they controlled completely. Any actions against them had to be carefully considered.

"I understand. Right now, I just want to see what's inside these walls," Erwin said, looking calmly down at the wall's surface.

Erwin wasn't the first to be curious about the walls' contents, but the presence of the Wall Cult had always stymied attempts to investigate, with those who tried being executed.

There was once a miner who wanted to know what lay beyond the walls. Unable to leave by conventional means, he decided to dig a tunnel. He and his friends all disappeared without a trace.

Daniel made a critical mistake upon entering the world of Titans, something so obvious that even he overlooked it—the height of the Titans within the walls. The walls were said to be 50 meters tall above ground, but what about below ground? Daniel had ignored this aspect, suggesting that the Titans within the walls were far taller than the 50-meter height often mentioned. Even the Colossal Titan couldn't match them.

With the gate sealed and the Titans in the citadel eradicated, the Garrison and Cadet Corps began cleaning up the aftermath. Despite their victory, there was no joy in the air due to the heavy losses. Almost everyone had lost someone—a friend, a lover.

"This isn't what you described," Erwin said as he entered Daniel's room within the citadel. It was a decent room arranged by Erwin for Daniel. 

"I already told you, what I know are public facts. The specifics are national secrets. How could I possibly know everything in such detail?" Daniel responded, somewhat irritated. He hadn't anticipated that his revelations would lead to Eren and his comrades being questioned.

"If you want more detailed information, you'll have to send someone to Marley," he suggested.

Seeing no more useful information could be gained from Daniel, Erwin left.

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