The Cart Titan ran through the restricted zone.
Pieck was searching for her father, accompanied by six soldiers from the Special Forces Unit equipped with ODM Gear.
Erwin had assigned her this mission to help her recover her father; in exchange, she would lead Erwin and the others to the Warrior Training Grounds.
Once Commander Theo arrived in Marley, he would immediately report to Calvi, who had been eagerly awaiting his return.
Both this operation and the mission to recapture the Founding Titan five years ago had been directed by Theo together with Calvi, the highest-ranking officer in the Warrior Unit.
Zeke, clinging to Pieck's back, had also made a request to Erwin: he wanted to take his grandparents with him.
At that moment, he was with his mother, and in front of her, he told Erwin that he wanted to bring his grandparents to Paradis Island so they could live with his mother.
His mother was overjoyed and embraced Zeke.
She told him that this was her final mission; her superiors had informed her that after her return, she and Zeke would never have to leave Paradis Island again and could live safely without being involved in war.
"Zeke, let's start a new life with Grandpa and Grandma in our new home."
Gale had personally made them that promise.
Zeke's face darkened as he remembered his mother's smile.
"I'm sorry, Mom, I can't just go back like this..."
As the Cart Titan leaped across a rooftop, Zeke released his grip on its hair and jumped.
He fell five or six meters, his landing cushioned by an awning.
Pieck and the Special Forces Unit stopped and looked at Zeke.
"Pieck, when you get back, please tell Mom I'm sorry, that I won't be coming home for dinner!" Zeke shouted to the people above him like a megaphone.
After shouting, he dusted himself off, stood up, and ran into an alley.
Pieck did not understand what Zeke meant by "apologize to Mom." Hadn't his parents been exiled years ago because of his report?
According to Pieck's information, Zeke's mother had either been killed by the old Survey Corps or recruited by the Founding Titan as a Titan worker on Paradis Island.
Pieck was unaware of Dina Fritz, her royal bloodline, and the fact that she had inherited the Female Titan.
Pieck only realized one thing: Zeke had not truly submitted to Paradis; he had fled and did not want to return with her.
At that moment, she did not care. She did not have a deep bond with Zeke; her priority was finding her father.
Wherever Zeke had gone was none of her concern.
"Ignore him, let's continue the mission!" Pieck said through the Cart Titan's mouth. "Follow me!"
She looked away and continued leading the Special Forces soldiers toward the hospital.
The hospital was located within the restricted zone. There were two of Marley's finest hospitals: one near City Hall and another in the restricted zone.
The City Hall hospital was for the upper class.
The restricted zone hospital was for Eldians.
The Eldians enjoyed the same medical care as the upper class, not because the Marleyans were particularly benevolent, but simply because many Eldians were frequently injured or became ill in battle.
The Marleyans treated Eldians as if they were their property. On the battlefield, Eldian soldiers were always at the front lines. They built the hospital simply to ensure they always had enough Eldian soldiers available.
This hospital, in addition to providing free childbirth services to Eldian women and treating Eldian soldiers returning from the battlefield, was extremely expensive.
Marleyan officers and soldiers also came there for treatment; it was a privilege reserved for "Warriors." Anyone who became an Honorary Marleyan could have their family members treated there for free. Pieck's father was there.
Soon, she saw the place.
The hospital was also in chaos. It was far from the harbor, and they could not see the Colossal Titan, likely believing that a massive earthquake had occurred.
Many people had fled to the hospital square. Before reaching the hospital, Pieck had crawled out from behind the Cart Titan's neck and returned to her human form.
Just as Erwin had predicted, only a few hours had passed since Pieck arrived in Marley, and the government had not had time to relocate her father.
The people in the hospital were probably still completely unaware of the situation outside.
Pieck breathed a sigh of relief. She left the mobile unit outside to watch over the transport equipment while she ran into the hospital alone.
She was still dressed as a "soldier," wearing the armband of an Honorary Marleyan.
Some people recognized her; since returning to Marley, she had spent a great deal of time at the hospital caring for her father, and the doctors, nurses, and security guards remembered her face.
Because she was very sociable, she had built good relationships with the hospital staff to ensure her father would not be mistreated while she was away.
"It's been a long time, Pieck! Do you know what happened?" someone along the way greeted her.
Pieck changed her expression, smiled, and said,
"There's no need to worry. It was an earthquake. I was sent here to assess the situation in advance. Rescue teams will arrive soon."
"Thank you very much, dear Pieck."
Pieck smiled and quickly found the doctor in charge of her father before heading to his room.
Before long, she sighed in relief. Her father, lying in the hospital bed, smiled and said,
"You've come back, Pieck."
"Yes, Dad, let me help you. There may be aftershocks later."
Pieck helped her father sit up.
Her father was paralyzed on the left side of his body; years earlier, he had developed a spinal injury on the battlefield.
For a time, Pieck had cared for her father alone, spending all of the family's meager savings, and they had almost been unable to afford food.
Fortunately, she had been selected as a Warrior candidate and received preferential treatment.
After becoming a soldier, her father had been transferred to this hospital for treatment. Although he still could not stand, at least he had people caring for him every day, and the hospital staff could respond quickly to any sudden illness, even a common cold.
Pieck helped her father reach the square and walked toward the hospital entrance.
People came running.
Gabi and several children, including Falco, helped Reiner's mother, Karina, along with the injured, about a dozen people in total, reach the hospital.
"Sister Pieck! What are you doing here?" Gabi shouted in despair. "Something terrible has happened, Sister Pieck! There are intruders at the Warrior Training Grounds!"
"We saw the Colossal Titan explode at the harbor! And the Armored Titan! The Armored Titan killed Instructor Theo!"
"Sister Pieck! Why are you bleeding? Are you hurt too?"
Upon hearing Gabi's cries, the expressions of the people around them changed repeatedly.
The Colossal Titan and the Armored Titan... those were Marleyan Warriors.
And before everyone's eyes, Pieck, who was helping her father leave the hospital, was also a Warrior.
Falco reacted before Gabi.
He immediately covered Gabi's mouth, an embarrassed smile on his face.
"Sister Pieck, Gabi made a mistake. Uh, Sister Pieck, you should go if you have something to do, hahaha, hahaha."
"Oh, Falco, I see." Pieck turned her head, revealing a bright smile. "It's at the Warrior Training Grounds, right? Don't worry, I'll be there immediately."
Falco sighed in relief. At that moment, Gabi forcefully pushed Falco's hand away.
"Pieck! Are you taking your father with you to the battlefield?"
"What are you going to do? You're not going to betray Marley like the Armored Titan and the Colossal Titan, are you?" Gabi stared at Pieck as if she absolutely needed an answer.
The surrounding security guards and soldiers tensed, gripping their weapons tightly, sweat forming on their foreheads.
"Damn it, couldn't you have just let her leave?!"
Every soldier knew it; the information they had received was that Marley's Warriors had rebelled against them.
"Why did you have to provoke her?"
Falco's face showed terror, his expression darkening.
Boom!
At that moment, an explosion nearby startled the people gathered at the hospital.
Immediately afterward, a whistling sound came from above.
The men in black had returned.
Although there were only six of them, Falco clearly remembered the fear they inspired.
They landed behind Pieck and took her father.
Pieck then turned around, her expression fierce.
"Marley and the Mid-East Allied Forces have already begun a war. Today, Marley will lose all of its intelligent Titans. We Eldians who remain in Marley will face nothing but death!"
"If you are smart, you should head to the harbor immediately and board the ships transporting all Eldians to Paradis, beasts of Marley."
"If you refuse and still want to be Marley's dogs, then don't stop me. I don't want to kill anyone!"
Blood dripped from Pieck's hands, bright red blood falling onto the ground.
Gabi froze.
"What are you talking about, Pieck? Have you forgotten? Aren't you a Warrior? Aren't you Marley's glory?"
"Shut up, Gabi!" Pieck stopped pretending. "I only want to protect my father. Don't force me!"
Gabi's worldview collapsed.
In her education, Warriors were supposed to sacrifice their lives for Marley.
"Reiner and Bertholdt are already dead!" Pieck continued her assault. "You'll be dead too if you don't go to the harbor right now and evacuate with the rebellion! If you want to live, take advantage of this chaos and leave Marley. Whether by ship or by car, only by escaping can you survive. Otherwise, the Marleyans will turn all of you into Titan weapons!"
"This is my final warning..."
Pieck warned her acquaintances as she slowly backed away until she disappeared into the alley.
If she could have, she would have desperately wanted to save them and bring them along with her, but she did not have the extra power to protect them. The only thing she could do was protect the people most important to her.
Gabi stared at the place where Pieck had vanished, completely bewildered by what Pieck had said.
Why would Gabi and all the Eldians who remained in Marley during the rebellion die?
They had done nothing wrong, committed no crimes, stolen nothing, and had been atoning for the sins of their ancestors.
Unlike those who committed crimes, how could they possibly be turned into Titan weapons?
Gabi could not understand.
She firmly believed that the great nation of Marley was right and that the people of Paradis Island were all devils.
But besides her, many Eldians heard Pieck's words and gradually left the hospital, returning home to pack their belongings and run toward the harbor.
Gabi tried to persuade those who were leaving, telling them that reinforcements would arrive soon and that wandering around now, especially outside the restricted zone, would be a crime.
She remained firm in her convictions, at least for the time being.