No one in the room had seen Takashi so upset since they met him, Armin could even feel that Takashi wanted to hit him. Very few knew that Takashi had the power of a Susanoo and only they knew what Takashi had to sacrifice, besides that in the details about his file it mentioned that he showed a sociable and understanding attitude with everyone.
"I'm sorry Takashi, I didn't think things would get to this point..." Armin didn't know the way to express his regret.
Takashi sighed wearily, today he had lost a friend he thought would be as strong as Mikasa or Jean, he didn't think Nelson's end would come so quickly.
The commander had decided on a course of action and asked, "I have decided to proceed with the investigation. For now, I need a soldier who looks like Eren, do you have any ideas?"
Everyone looked at Eren and thought about it hesitantly. Armin, who hesitated to speak, said, "I think Jean Kirstein can pretend to be Eren."
Eren was stunned, "What? Armin, how do we look alike, I don't have a horse face!"
Takashi thought seriously and said, "No time for silly games, your back and height are very similar, there won't be much difference if you both wear hoods."
Erwin Smith looked at Takashi and asked, "Is it reliable? Cycle 104 newcomers are no longer trustworthy. The female titan has allies, you know that better than anyone."
"You have my word Commander, Jean was born in the Trost district and her identity history is completely traceable. I knew her mother personally, he is not an enemy."
Commander Erwin nodded, he trusted Takashi fully now, he proved he was a good soldier and is willing to give his all to see humanity win. "I will formulate a detailed battle plan a few days later, Takashi, now the front line battle is under your command, okay?"
Armin, Mikasa and Eren were puzzled. This decision was a bit sudden, but it was actually a well thought out strategy. Commander Erwin needed to leave with the fake Eren, Hange Zoe needed to set the trap, Mike had an undecided task for the moment, Hange and Levi to be on the lookout for another titan to appear.
There is not much manpower that can be mobilized for this battle, because there is no permission from the higher command and not much attention has to be drawn, because any mistake could cost them dearly.
The main force of this battle is the fourth squadron, and Takashi has now officially joined Hange Zoe, and his combat effectiveness is outstanding, becoming unmatched at key moments.
Takashi looked at the commander and the Survey Corps senior commanders, then looked at his uncle who was watching him silently. They had obviously been briefed beforehand. "No problem commander, I will not hesitate to take the heads of my comrades if they are enemies of humanity."
Levi tried to teach his nephew well and said, "Takashi, some soldiers will be under your command at that time, they will put their lives in your hands. Should you know what your responsibility is?"
Takashi nodded seriously. Of course he knows that this is not an easy job, this time he was not acting alone, his every action will have consequences on all the people under his command!
After the meeting, Takashi, Eren, Mikasa and Armin along with the others left.
Armin looked at Takashi and hesitantly spoke, "Well, Takashi, why are you so calm in this situation? You and her should be good friends, aren't you reluctant?"
Takashi stopped and looked at Eren and the other two looking at him, "You know, my friend Nelson died in this operation and Thomas is seriously injured, you must know better than anyone what it feels like to lose a friend, right?"
"Life is a book where different stories are written, we are the enemies of the titans and the titans are our enemies, if you ever hesitate to kill your enemy, at least in this book you will be completely annihilated."
"She showed no mercy and I assure you neither will I. Armin, do you think you are guilty? Annie is a beautiful girl, I think for the time I know her I will give her a fitting end."
Armin lowered his head, his expression complicated, "She didn't kill me after she saw me, but I.... I exposed her... However, when I think of Squadron Leader Ness and all those who are now dead, I hate her so much! I don't understand why she can kill so many people! Obviously, she's not a ruthless type of person."
Eren was also very doubtful, and so far he was unwilling to believe that Annie, who patiently taught him fighting skills, was the female titan who killed many of his comrades.
Only Mikasa is very calm, yes, for a long time she has been annoyed that Annie often mixes with Eren, and the last time Eren was almost snatched by the female titan in front of her, she will show no mercy in cutting Annie.
Takashi looked directly at Armin, "Armin.... If you hadn't said it and on the other hand I realized that you know, I would have eliminated you myself along with the female titan."
After saying that, the coldness in Takashi's words became more evident and he pointed out, "You have done the right thing, just think of Marco, Nelson, Thomas, Mina all of them have died for the intelligent titans."
"Of course we will negotiate with her first, if she is willing to surrender and cooperate with us, we will show mercy. But if she doesn't decide to cooperate, there will be no choice but to use force."
"If she decides to fight, I don't want any of the three of us to get in the way if they don't want to fight, on the battlefield sometimes you can't tell who the enemy is.".
Takashi walked away, this is no longer this world's war, now this is his personal fight for all the friends he has lost so far.
Eren looked dejected at Armin and patted him on the shoulder, "Armin, maybe it's not that bad, Annie may not be the female titan."
Armin didn't say a word, he wasn't that naive, he knew Eren still didn't want to believe that Annie was a titan.
...
The next day, the commander made a plan and called Takashi to discuss it together.
This time only Erwin, Hange, Levi, Takashi, Mikasa, Eren, Armin and Jean were present. As for Captain Mike and his squadron members, there is another very important task to be executed, it was decided that he should observe if there are accomplices of the female titan among the recruits of cycle 104.
Hange Zoe first asked a question, "There is nothing wrong with the battle plan, and the arrangement is very appropriate, but is it really good not to have Mike's squadron in this operation? We don't have enough manpower."
Erwin is very adamant: "There is no way to do this. If the female titan's partner is an existence as the armored titan, only Mike and his squadron can watch them a little bit at that point."
Captain Levi did not speak. Although most of his squad is still alive, they are all wounded and do not have the combat power at the moment. Petra for the moment joined in with Hange's unit.
Jean Kirstein was surprised when he heard everything. To be honest, he had no idea that so much had happened.
He carefully recalled the memory of the contact with the female titan and discovered that she was, in fact, quite similar to Annie.
This made his hands tense up, Marco's death was definitely related to her!
Erwin said, "This is how it was decided to proceed, Annie Leonhart is at the Sina City branch. We'll stop by there tomorrow when we go to deliver Eren and start the battle directly at that time."
Hange Zoe hesitated, "Once Armin and the others take Annie to the dungeon ruins, many civilians will possibly die in the city."
Erwin said, "Sacrifice is inevitable, we can only keep moving forward. I will bear the full burden."
There was no hesitation in the cold words spoken. Erwin was not a ruthless person originally, but he did not mind eliminating anything that stood in his way, even if there are mountains of corpses stopping him, he will do everything to achieve peace.
Everyone was shocked, feeling the unbreakable will of the regimental commander, Levi looked at Erwin and thought of the indescribable smile Erwin sometimes showed without realizing it, which made him feel terrible. After arriving in the city, Hange Zoe will go to gather all the Survey Corps members who had mingled in the city these past two days and Takashi, Eren, Armin and Mikasa will lure Annie to the ruins of the dungeon where the power of the titans would be limited.
Of course, Takashi didn't think they could trick Annie into falling into the trap, if the negotiation failed, they would have to fight in the city.
Now, other than Eren, no one would doubt that Annie was not the female titan.
As night fell, in the castle, Takashi sat on the brick floor, looking up at the bright moon in the dazed sky, and Armin sat beside him.
"I've thought before that if Eren can become a titan, then the colossal titan and the battleship can have a human identity." Armin's deep voice rang out.
"What I believe is that there are no good guys or bad guys in this world, just people fighting for what they believe is right. " Takashi held his sword in its sheath and said, "I will kill my enemies and my enemies will try to kill me."
Takashi looked up at the stars in the sky, he had visited Thomas these past few days and can only feel pain to see a good friend in such a state. Thomas didn't want to be in the Survey Corps, but he was pushed to that path by Takashi.
Armin was silent, this is all very strange and puzzling. He remembered the conversation he had with Ymir, she finally told him where she came from and the society outside the walls.
If it was all true, the humans inside the walls are living in a simulation. The enemies outside are strong, they have weapons and titans, this was all a sham that was to be slowly uncovered as time progressed.
Takashi wouldn't be surprised if the things underneath the basement of Eren's house are the answer he had just discovered from Ymir. Knowing that, he could use it to converse with Annie.
Takashi was also a little moved, what a strong will, at least now he doesn't have this kind of determination, he knew that every loss would be engraved in his memory.
The plan was finalized and adequate manpower was organized. The Survey Corps sent only fifty soldiers. It's not that they don't want to organize more people. Transferring personnel on a large scale will easily expose them. After all this is not an off-the-wall expedition.
In the last two days, the regimental commander has allowed some Survey Corps soldiers to mix in the Sina district in batches, and they will all be divided into batches to leave tomorrow.
Captain Levi will be watching for another titan to emerge while standing next to Erwin and Jean, who was pretending to be Eren, while Hange Zoe had Takashi, Miaksa, Armin and Eren move in raincoats to hide their three-dimensional maneuvering equipment.