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XXXIV. Enigma

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If those two letters that were exchanged by Section Commander Hange Zoe and Assistant Moblit Berner fall on the wrong hands by any chance, it would be quite normal, since it sometimes happens, depending on the people who delivers them.

What is definitely not normal here is the content of those letters.

You see, any person would think that what's written there is utterly rubbish, and not worth anyone's time. They'd send the letters back to the post office, wishing to never see those peculiar things again.

If only they knew,...

A day before Hange sent her response to Moblit's rather repetitive demand for suggestions, she and Levi were having a very private conversation inside Elvis Shunerman's mansion.

It all started approximately fifteen minutes after (F/N) and Ivanna left Levi alone in the living room.

Levi, with head still slightly throbbing with pain, was lying on the sofa, massaging his temples and fervently wishing for his torment to end. Honestly, that sudden and unexpected vision he just had about (F/N) and that raven - haired girl worsened his condition quite rapidly, and all he needed right then was peace of mind.

Which was never granted, thanks to the scientist who suddenly barged into the room, flailing her long arms about and screeching Elvis' name.

Levi clicked his tongue, cursed at the wind, and covered his face with a cushion, quite unaware that it was the one that (F/N) accidentally sat on thirty minutes earlier.

"Elvis!" Hange exclaimed with that shrill and irritating voice of hers.

"What do you want, four - eyes?" Levi said beneath the warm cushion, his voice muffled and very low.

"I got a letter from Moblit."

Levi slightly lifted the cushion and gave Hange a glance.

"Why are you wearing your glasses? I thought we're supposedly in disguise at all times."

"Well, you're not wearing your wig right now." Hange answered, looking at the disregarded wig not far from where the tea tray sat.

Levi covered his face once more. "Go away, Hange."

"No. You have to read this first. It's very important that you read this."

Levi finally threw the cushion away, hastily sat up straight, and stared angrily at the woman with his bloodshot eyes.

"Eww, Elvis, what's wrong with you?" Hange uttered, smiling and worrying at the same time.

"Everything! Now, where's the damn letter?"

"Here." Hange said, handing the letter to Levi. He just took it and raised an eyebrow.

"This has to be worth my time, four - eyes. Or else, I'm throwing you out of this house." he threatened.

Hange just shrugged her shoulders and sat on the other end of the sofa. Levi impatiently opened the letter and read. A few moments later, his expression changed from annoyance, to curiosity, to utter confusion.

"He wrote this sentence twice." he pointed out the said sentence at the end of the letter.

"Naturally." Hange answered. "It's Moblit's way of requesting immediate response."

"Really? What's so urgent about this?"

"Take a look at this,..." Hange handed Levi a folded piece of newspaper that she took from her sling bag. It was dated on the twenty - seventh day of June, which was two days ago. Levi unfolded the newspaper and began reading the article.

"Massive Massacre Frightens People"

By Aintnoqueens

June 27, year 850, Tuesday

The good citizens of the Walls were, once again, frightened, as another shocking incident occurred within the once peaceful place. Just this morning, a large number of prisoners were found dead inside the local jail. The Military Police is beyond baffled as to what caused the death of these men. Investigations are still going on inside the building, and until the mystery is solved, unauthorized persons or people who are not members of this establishment are not allowed within the prison perimeter.

Levi stared at the short article a bit longer before speaking.

"You don't mean to say,...?" he muttered.

"Exactly."

"Are you implying that some guard dog of a nobleman went wild and started killing scumbags?"

"Not literally. Quite close, actually. Have you figured out who the Shepherd is?" Hange said, pointing at Moblit's letter that was left on top of the table by Levi.

Levi gave Hange an expression so unreadable that it actually made the woman confirm that the man has finally taken her seriously.

"That couldn't be,..." Levi started and suddenly became wide - eyed. "It's Erwin Smith, isn't it?"

"Exactly!"

"So, his sheep?"

"The Scouting Legion!"

"And this guard dog who started killing sheep?"

"I don't know. Yet."

Hange took out her notebook from her bag and opened it, showing its contents to her companion.

"These are the names of the people who died inside that prison."

"How the hell did you obtain that amount of information?" Levi said, staring at some names that were written in the grimy pages of the notebook.

"Don't ask. Anyway, these names, do they ring a bell or not?"

"Of course not!" Levi barked at her face, so annoyed after being asked such an obvious question.

"Exactly! Almost nobody knew them. Except, maybe, Kristoph Sutherland. I hope you haven't forgotten that name just yet."

"Sutherland? You mean that piece of shit who almost killed (F/N)?"

"Yes."

Once again, Levi's eyes widened. Does that mean?

"Levi, these are the remaining members of Sutherland's cult! The cult of royal fanatics that was dedicated into wiping out the entire Ackerman clan! Why did they suddenly die? And all at the same time?"

"Unless they were murdered by someone."

"The guard dog! Just recently, I've heard of a massive massacre in an inn not far from where the Headquarters is. All occupants were shot to death for an unknown reason. And don't forget Sutherland's passing just last month. Don't you find it suspicious? What if these deaths are all connected?"

"It's fishy enough. Of course, they're all connected. The question is; what exactly is the reason of this nobleman for allowing his guard dog to go on a murdering rampage?"

"What is the last thing you've heard Sutherland mumbling proudly about?"

Levi had no idea that his eyelids could allow his orbs to widen even more.

"About getting rid of the Ackermans."

"Which is a known fact by these prisoners before biting the dust. Levi, the sheep that Moblit has written about, they're not just Soldiers of the Legion. It's Erwin's personal squad."

"The same squad who went with him to investigate the cult."

"And the same squad who saved you and (F/N) from getting killed that day in the Trost marketplace! Levi, just like Erwin and us and those prisoners, they KNEW the secret of the cult! They are MOST DEFINITELY NEXT on the hit list!"

Levi was no longer able of speech after what he just heard from Hange.

"And, do you know who else knows the secret aside from us, Erwin and his squad, and the prisoners?"

Levi did not need to mention who. He just knew who it is.

"Shit." he simply uttered.

Hange threw her notebook on the table and covered her eyes.

"Now, I know why Erwin brought her here, and in Nile Dawk's house of all places." Hange muttered stress-fully.

"He's trying to protect her." Levi said, still not able to believe everything that was discussed. But, killer - related kidnapping or not, he still despised him after what he did to (F/N). "That bastard. Why didn't he just tell us in the first place? We're all screwed, anyway."

"I don't know. Maybe he has another motive? You know the man. He's always planning ahead of us."

"You said he's been evading the migration grant for years now. Why do you think he accepted it now of all times?"

"The migration grant gives you the right to be a noble." Hange answered, then finally realized something. "The Winter Season! There will be a Winter Season Ball coming up in December where all the nobles would be gathered! Do you think that - ?"

Levi just nodded. He understood perfectly.

All the nobles would be gathered there.

Including the one who set the guard dog loose.

"Hange, think of a clever way to disable (F/N) within a week from now." Levi ordered. "She must not attend that Ball,..."

At all cost,...

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~ @levi4mikasa , @nerdyphantomlady , @unhappysap , @shewolfofficial , @super-peace-fangirl , @fangurl-ontgeside , @yepps , and @emilyackerman78 . 💜

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