Those who kill and those who are killed, those who save and those who are saved. The world seemed vast yet small, for those bound by karmic ties would inevitably cross paths.
Falk and Gabi followed Kaya to a horse ranch. Kaya warmly invited the two into the house for a meal. However, Gabi’s sole focus was on stealing a horse and escaping the place as quickly as possible.
Having killed a guard earlier, he needed to flee much farther. Falk still believed it was best to lie low for a few days. He reasoned that the ranch might be short-handed and asked if they could stay for a while.
Upon hearing this, Gabi looked disgusted and declared that he couldn't dine with devils.
Seeing Gabi’s state, Falk had to tell him to speak less later and that he would fabricate all the excuses.
Upon entering the room, they were greeted by Mr. Braus and his family. Mr. Braus gently and kindly greeted Falk and Gabi, the two destitute boys.
Falk quickly concocted a lie, stating they were runaway children and hoped to stay at the ranch for a few days, promising to work in return for their shelter.
Mr. Braus, however, replied with a gentle smile, "Children don't need to bow to others." He then warmly welcomed Falk and Gabi to the Braus ranch.
Mr. Braus said they could stay as long as they wished. Falk hadn't expected the family to be so accommodating. Mrs. Lisa kindly served Gabi his meal and gently stroked his head, which immediately displeased Gabi.
Gabi retaliated with a slap, knocking Mrs. Lisa’s arm away. The scene instantly plunged the previously harmonious atmosphere into freezing cold.
It was Mr. Braus who first broke the silence, remarking that the child likely had unpleasant experiences in the past. Hearing this, Falk hastily apologized, saying Gabi was too rude.
Watching Falk devour the devils’ food, Gabi felt only fear and panic. To avoid raising suspicion, Gabi could only force himself to eat, suppressing his inner displeasure.
Meanwhile, Paradis Island was also in chaos. Due to leaked information from Floch and Louisy, the people of Paradis Island were furious about the military corps holding Eren captive.
The public believed that only Mr. Yeager could truly lead the nation to victory. Countless people surrounded the military government’s headquarters, blocking all exits. Commander Hange naturally knew that Floch was undoubtedly involved in these events.
Floch offered no defense. Although it violated military discipline, he had no regrets, for only Eren could truly lead Eldia.
Hange immediately confined Floch and the others to the disciplinary cells. Hange knew that if immediate action wasn't taken, the military corps would eventually collapse from within.
At the same time, Zofia also brought Louisy to a dungeon cell. Louisy looked at Zofia with immense admiration, having witnessed Zofia, in her human form, take down a Titan firsthand.
This event made Louisy realize that without power, one could protect nothing.
Louisy questioned if Miss Zofia had also been saved by Mr. Yeager. Zofia coldly told Louisy to shut up. Hearing this, Louisy remained silent but still offered the military salute with his heart.
At that moment, Zofia's head suddenly ached, and memories of Eren repeatedly surfaced in her mind.
Simultaneously, Falk and Gabi were cleaning horse manure at the ranch. It seemed even the horses were fed up with the disgusting behavior of the “Sniper God” of Marley. One horse bit Gabi’s head, causing him to stumble and fall onto the filthy ground.
A wooden bucket then landed on Gabi’s head. Gabi complained to Falk about their life there, but Falk still believed it was safer to stay.
Just then, Kaya arrived, informing them that it was time for lunch. During the meal, Falk began to chat with Kaya about their lives.
Falk inquired why everyone working there was so young. Kaya replied that they were all orphans who had lost their parents four years ago, and the Queen’s policies provided aid to children with nowhere to go. Hearing this, Gabi’s face contorted into a look of disgust.
He declared, "You deserve it. It's the atonement Eldians must pay for their history."
Kaya questioned him, "How does that relate to us losing our loved ones?" Gabi retorted, "Of course, it does. No matter how kind you pretend to be, you can't escape the mistakes of the past."
Kaya hadn't expected Marley to teach their children this way. Upon hearing the word "Marley," both Falk and Gabi froze. Kaya had realized they were from Marley when she first discovered them.
Falk, seeing this, prepared to lie to smooth things over. However, Gabi snatched a pitchfork and prepared to kill Kaya. Fortunately, Falk stopped the frenzied Gabi in time. The commotion naturally attracted others' attention. Seeing this, Kaya quickly lied to those who noticed, saying everything was fine.
Falk and Gabi questioned why. Kaya replied that if she had wanted to report them, they would have been captured long ago.
Kaya then led them to a village. It was dilapidated, miserable, and desolate. This was Ragako Village, experimented on by Zeke.
Gabi had personally witnessed his mother being crushed to death by a Titan, until she could no longer cry out. Gabi believed his mother must have kept screaming until she lost her voice.
Kaya questioned why their mother was eaten by a Titan. The “Sniper God” of Marley still wanted to condemn Kaya from a moral high ground of thousands of years of history.
However, Kaya's emotions became exceptionally agitated. She loudly demanded of Gabi's mother, "She hadn't harmed anyone, so why was she killed so painfully?"
"There must be a reason, otherwise it’s too strange. Why was Mom eaten alive?"
These words left the "Sniper God" of Marley speechless. Falk, hearing this, guiltily said, "That was a military reconnaissance. It was an experimental attack launched to investigate the strength within the walls, and it unfortunately implicated Kaya's family."
Hearing this, Kaya believed they were simply born into the wrong era. This statement deeply struck the hearts of both Falk and Gabi. Falk asked Kaya how she escaped. Kaya replied that a big sister used her own body to block the Titan, allowing her to escape.
"That big sister said, if you keep walking down this path, you will eventually meet someone who can save you."
"If that sister were alive, she would never abandon someone as helpless as you, just as she did for me back then."
Gabi then stated that Mr. Braus would be going to a restaurant frequented by Marleyans next time, and she would bring them along. Perhaps there, they could find a way back to Marley.
Hearing this, Gabi and Falk questioned why Kaya would help them so much. Kaya replied, "It’s because I want to become like that big sister."
Those who kill and those who are killed, those who save and those who are saved. As their positions unconsciously shift, how will the future unfold?