Chapter 405 - 405: Fleet

The deep blue sea and the azure sky reflected one another beautifully. If someone witnessed these two breathtaking shades of blue together, even the worst mood would naturally relax.

"Coo coo coo—"

Strangely enough, the azure sky was filled with an unusually large number of seagulls. Normally, seeing a few seagulls overhead wasn't strange at all, but hundreds or even thousands like this was quite rare.

But once the gaze shifted beneath the seagulls, it stopped seeming unusual.

Upon the deep blue sea, an unprecedented gigantic fleet was cleaving through the waves.

Viewed from several hundred meters in the air, hundreds of warships and ferries could be seen forming an endlessly long naval formation.

Seagulls usually didn't gather in groups, but when encountering a massive fleet, they certainly didn't mind tagging along for a few free meals. After all, in the eyes of seagulls, those two-legged stupid monkeys on land loved waving food around at them.

At the very front of the fleet, atop a slender destroyer, cold and menacing artillery barrels pointed straight ahead. Powered by the latest Iceburst Stone energy, the destroyer's sailing speed had reached the fastest level in history.

On the ship's side, the brand-new Free Flying Goose flag fluttered fiercely in the wind. At the bow, Yago narrowed his eyes, allowing the salty sea breeze to brush across his face.

This time, the entire New Army of Paradis Island had mobilized. More than fifty thousand soldiers brimmed with fighting spirit. The three major corps had also dispatched many elite troops. Over fifty giant ferries supported by Hizuru and the other Eastern region nations transported the army, while the still-developing Paradis Island navy was deployed in full force as well. Twenty-three destroyers escorted the fleet from both flanks and the front.

Aside from Paradis Island's forces, the Eastern region nations had also gone all in under Hizuru's leadership. They emptied out their national reserves, piecing together a fleet of twenty-five warships and assembling another army of over fifty thousand soldiers to join Paradis Island on this expedition. The Eastern region nations had always possessed weak military strength, so being able to send a force of this scale was already their absolute limit.

The fleets bearing the flags of the Eastern region nations merged together with Paradis Island's fleet upon the sea, becoming the colossal armada that now had enough power to make the world tremble.

As the sea breeze swept across the ocean, countless flags fluttered in the wind.

Free Flying Goose. Wings of Freedom. Guardian Rose. Law-Enforcement Unicorn...

Azumabito Kiyomi's calculations had been exceptionally precise. Hizuru had become the leader of the Eastern region nations through its near-monopoly over the Iceburst Stone trade, but Hizuru wasn't satisfied with just that. The fall of the Eldian Empire they once followed had also dragged Hizuru into decline, and the title of defeated nation had burdened them ever since.

But now, Hizuru saw hope for resurgence.

That's right—Paradis Island.

Not only because of Paradis Island's unique Iceburst Stone resources, but also because of Paradis Island's terrifying war potential.

What? Paradis Island's military had only developed thanks to Hizuru's support?

Yes, that was indeed true.

But what Hizuru valued wasn't Paradis Island's army itself.

What they truly valued were the towering walls stretching endlessly across the land... and the world-destroying Rumbling hidden within those walls.

As long as the Rumbling existed, Paradis Island already stood in an undefeatable position. Although the Eastern region nations' armies might not amount to much, couldn't they at least follow Paradis Island—the guaranteed victor—and enjoy an easy winning war?

One had to understand that the war erupting now could truly be called a world war. Becoming one of the victors in a world war was a temptation the Eastern region nations simply couldn't refuse.

Even if the price might be becoming a subordinate of a powerful nation.

But being a subordinate was nothing. Hizuru had once served as a subordinate of the Eldian Empire for a thousand years anyway.

So this time, the Eastern region nations had directly pushed all their chips onto the table.

"Yago, are you really serious this time? Over fifty thousand soldiers. Add your one hundred thousand Eldian Revival Army troops, and that's an army of one hundred fifty thousand people. Can you really handle commanding a war of this scale?"

A figure appeared beside Yago. Wearing the Wings of Freedom uniform, Eren sighed emotionally, his green eyes filled with extremely complicated feelings.

Yago smiled after hearing that.

"If I said I was joking, would it still be in time?"

"The soldiers are already fired up. This war is the most critical battle for the revival of us Eldians. Back at the harbor, the slogan 'Restore the glory of Eldia' was being shouted loud enough to shake the heavens. If we go back now, the civilians would probably drown me in spit."

Hearing Yago's half-joking words, Eren helplessly shook his head.

"You really are something."

At that moment, Yago suddenly straightened up and raised an arm. A seagull immediately swooped down from above and landed on his forearm, pecking at the bread in Yago's hand.

"Hey, Eren. Sometimes I think you resemble these seagulls."

Yago tilted his head as he spoke.

Eren: "Huh? What do you mean? What do I have to do with seagulls?"

Yago grinned.

"Back in the Training Corps and the Survey Corps, weren't you always shouting about exterminating all Titans and pursuing freedom every single day? These seagulls fly around freely all day long. Isn't that exactly the kind of freedom you like? What, don't like seagulls? Pigeons work too."

Eren: "You... what are you even talking about? Seagulls, pigeons..."

"They're both birds. Same thing. Didn't you used to ask me what freedom was?"

At that moment, after finishing the bread, the seagull let out two coos before spreading its wings and flying away from Yago's arm.

Yago dusted the crumbs from his hands. Seeing Eren standing there blankly, he asked:

"What? You want bread too? Too bad, it's all gone. The seagulls ate everything. None left for you."

Even Eren got amused by Yago's teasing. After exchanging a few more words, he prepared to leave. But just as Eren turned around, Yago shouted toward his back:

"Oi! Eren, stop rambling about freedom all the time and hurry up already! Mikasa's waiting for you! Don't end up rolling around on the ground crying like a girl later on. I've got everything covered!"

Eren stopped in his tracks.

The corners of his mouth twitched slightly, and his face even reddened a little, as though some deeply embarrassing secret had just been exposed.

"Seriously, Yago... always stealing the spotlight."

Eren muttered before leaving the bow.

Yago watched Eren leave with a grin, then pulled out another piece of bread from his pocket.

He had tricked Eren earlier.

Good bread was obviously more fun to feed to seagulls. Feeding Eren wouldn't even get a coo in return.

After tearing the bread into small pieces, more cooing seagulls immediately descended from the sky.

A faint fragrance drifted past his nose.

Without even turning around, Yago already knew who had arrived.

Sure enough, the next second, someone wrapped their arms around his waist, a soft body leaning gently against his back.

However, before Yago could enjoy the moment any longer with a smile, a sharp pain drilled into the flesh at his waist.

At the same time, a cold voice sounded beside his ear.

"Yago! You're really a busy man, aren't you? Trying to see you once is harder than climbing to heaven. You didn't even go home before setting out for war. Do you know how upset Lucia-san was? And Carla-san too. Because of you, Eren and the others didn't go back either. Tell me, don't you deserve a beating?"

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