"So, how long are you going to follow me?" Annie asked coldly.
"Hmm… until you reach a safe place," Eren replied casually, glancing around.
"Tch."
'If he keeps following me, how am I supposed to do my job? Why is he even here in the first place? Wait… why am I even letting them bother me? I'm older and stronger than him.' Annie frowned as she looked at him.
"Eren, if we keep following her, when will—" Armin whispered in Eren's ear.
"Don't worry," Eren reassured him.
----
Underground City – Rebels' Hideout
"Today, we stand here for the future of humanity!" a man on stage declared passionately. Below him, dozens of people roared in agreement.
"For humanity!"
"We all know how twisted and corrupt the nobles are! They feast and drink in luxury while we starve, begging for scraps!" His tone was filled with hatred, fueling the crowd's rage.
"Kill the nobles!" they shouted in unison.
"Six months ago, the government ordered the reclamation of Wall Maria. Not hundreds, but thousands of our brothers and sisters died! But remember, they weren't killed by Titans… They were killed by the government—by those filthy nobles!"
The protests grew louder.
'Pathetic,' Kenny thought as he observed the scene from the shadows. 'They actually believe they can overthrow the government? Well, it's not entirely their fault. After all, without real power, everyone has to bow.'
He remembered the time when he, too, thought he was the strongest… until he met Uri, the true ruler of the walls.
'Now then, let's get to work.'
He quickly counted the people in the room.
'Thirty-six in total.'
Bang!
The man on stage collapsed, blood dripping from his head.
----
Half an Hour Ago
"Alright, now you can leave," Annie said, stopping in her tracks.
"Eh?! W-What… here?" Armin looked around nervously. He saw several women flirting with men, some leading them into nearby buildings. From within, he could hear strange noises.
"Yes, any problem?" Annie asked sharply.
"Ah… N-No!"
Eren, on the other hand, looked around with interest. Annie frowned when she noticed his curiosity.
"Well, this is where I work," she said flatly. "Though… you're welcome to stay, that is, if you have the money to afford me."
Eren, who had been scanning the surroundings, turned to Annie with a smirk. "Oh? How much?"
Annie was stunned for a moment, but seeing the teasing glint in his eyes, she understood he wasn't taking her words seriously.
'Hehe… so you want to play, huh? Fine by me.'
"100 Zenny for an hour," she replied coldly.
"Oh! Here." Eren pulled out two 50-Zenny notes without hesitation.
"E-Eren, what are you—?!" Armin stared at him in shock.
Annie frowned but took the money anyway. Then, wrapping one arm around Eren's, she flashed a sweet smile.
"Oooh~ Then let's go. I'll give you a night you'll never forget," she said seductively, leading him toward the brothel.
Eren, who had been playing along, was suddenly stunned. He looked at Annie, who was still smiling, and for some reason… it felt off.
"S-Stop, Annie! Are you seriously—"
"Huh? What's wrong?" Annie's smile faded, her usual cold expression returning.
"I-I…" Eren struggled to find the right words.
"You think I was joking?" Annie said, her tone icy. "Wake up. Not everyone is as carefree and playful as you. This is how I survive."
Eren was silent.
Armin looked between them, his expression filled with concern. He couldn't imagine how much this hurt Eren… but what could he do? This was reality—especially for refugee girls who had lost everything.
"Oh? This is interesting."
A middle-aged drunkard stumbled toward them, leering at Annie. His breath reeked of alcohol.
"Haha! Today's my lucky day," he slurred, throwing an arm around Annie's shoulders.
"Well, sir, let's go inside then," Annie said, her face void of emotion.
'Disgusting old man,' she thought in disgust. She wanted to break his arm, but she restrained herself. If she exposed her strength, her cover would be blown. She could have beaten Eren and Armin to stop them from following her, but she couldn't afford to.
"You could have told me, Annie," Eren said quietly.
Annie snapped out of her thoughts. She looked at Eren, his expression wounded. Her heart wavered for a moment, but remembering her mission, she steeled herself.
"If you want, I can—"
"I have to work. Please… just go away," Annie cut him off, turning and walking into the brothel with the drunk man.
Eren watched her disappear inside.
He wanted to believe it was a lie… but he wasn't delusional.
'So, there are things I can't change… even if I loop back.'
Eren felt a mix of anger, sadness, and betrayal.
Why did he feel so angry? So betrayed? Was it because he thought of her as his future wife?
No.
It was because she was his friend.
He never invited Mikasa or Armin whenever he met Annie—not because he forgot, but because… some part of him stopped him from doing so.
'Why was that? Was it because I never met her as Eren Yeager… but as Nova?'
Annie Leonhart didn't know Eren Yeager.
And because of that, Eren wasn't obligated to do anything.
He suddenly felt… free.
Not as Eren, but as that lost, confused, 16-year-old boy named Nova—a boy who was scared and directionless.
'Maybe I was drawn to her because she was lost too… But it's okay. I can finally leave my old self behind. My family doesn't need Nova. Nova was pathetic… a coward.'
Eren's eyes hardened with newfound determination.
"Eren, are you okay?" Armin asked with concern.
"It's fine, Armin. Let's go. We have work to do," Eren said firmly, turning to leave.
Armin shot one last glance at the brothel, a deep frown on his face. Something felt off… but he shook his head and sighed before following Eren.
----
"Alright baby I can't wait" The man looked at Annie as they walked inside there were other present came for same reason as the man.
"You old man is really disgusting" The man before he could register her words felt sharp pain from his arms.
"AHHHHH" The man shouted scaring the other present he looked at his arms dislocated, his clouded mind became sober from pain.
"Really, do you look at your self OLD MAN I am your daughter's age" Annie looked at him with a disgusted face as she said.
Annie then looked around everyone staring at her with scared face. She quickly escaped from here after conforming Eren was not following her.
Even tho she was also curious to why he was here but then she thought he was also refugee so it's normal to come here to make money.
'Was I too harsh no it's better this way it will only hurt him being with me.' Annie felt scared thinking what will he think if he knew she was cause of his suffuring and hell.
'He will hate me'
----
Underground City – Rebels' Hideout
What had once been filled with passionate protests and revolutionary spirit was now silent.
Bodies littered the ground.
"Well, that's my job done," Kenny muttered, wiping the last trace of blood from his hands.
He tipped his hat down and walked away.
To be continued...
------
Finally fought my laziness so do give me your powerstone...