NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 20: Chapter 18 Negotiations
-----
Northern Forest Grove,
-----
Down below, a suffocating tension engulfed the atmosphere. While up above, Miche Zacharius crouched low in the dense underbrush, barely breathing. The scent of blood lingered in the air, carried by the afternoon wind. From his vantage point, the number of Titans at the base of the trees was gradually increasing.
But his focus remained on the lone figure standing on one side with a momentum that didn't lose out to the 35th Expedition soldiers on the other.
'So that's what our Target looks like, huh'. The sight of Seiji standing on the Tree branch below made the man's brows furrow.
Truth be told, he was not what he expected. The reports of what happened in The Garrison listed him as young, but … Hearing and seeing were two different things.
It was year 849, and Miche was already 40. The oldest in the Survey corps, both in age and service time.
It was hard to believe that a boy who he was capable of fathering was able to defeat the more than a hundred plus Garrison soldiers.
Unfortunately, ….
Miche's eyes drifted to the figure hung over Seiji's shoulder.
'Even Levi was no match ...'.
It was a day he never thought he'd see. Honestly, he wished he didn't.
Miche had seen many enemies before. But this man? There was something wrong about him. Despite being inferior to Levi, Miche had something no one else in the world did. A keen sense of smell, probably even keener than a Dog's. He prided himself on his ability to sense threats from afar, detecting them through scent carried by the wind.
There laid the problem. During the short time he had been sent to observe, he hadn't sensed anything. Not until it was too late.
The frown on his face deepened as he watched the Target. No surprise, it bothered Miche how someone could get so close without him noticing.
Just like everyone, he only realized his presence after The crippled deserter had a knife to the back of the head.
'Just … What exactly is he?'
Then, it happened.
Seiji moved.
It was subtle—his wrist flicked, and a kunai once again appeared in his grasp.
Instantly, a cry of alarm rang out from the soldiers watching below.
"Commander Erwin, be careful!"
"… Stand down."
"But Sir ...."
"No one attacks. That's an order."
Miche didn't move. His grip on his swords tightening. Watching Seiji intensely for the moment he took action.
Down below, ....
Erwin paused. Then continued.
"I am the 13th Commander of The Survey Corps, Erwin Smith and I assure you that we aren't hostile. My intent was not to attack but to seek you out."
"…." a long silence followed. Until …
"I am Seiji Uchiha ..." Seiji uttered, his tone bland. "... And I know who you are." Those were his last words before he threw out the Kunai.
At that moment, Miche reacted. Launching forward without hesitation, ODM cables firing. The trees blurred past as he descended like a hawk, blade gleaming. His instincts told him that this was his best shot. The moment Seiji committed to an attack, he had an opening—
But then he saw it.
Seiji's hand made the slightest curve.
What the—
The kunai veered—completely off-course from the expected trajectory and at a speed, he couldn't imagine was possible for a thrown projectile.
Instead, it came straight for him.
'H-How could ..'.
Miche's eyes widened.
Too late.
The kunai embedded itself deep into his left shoulder.
Pain exploded through him. His balance wavered, his momentum thrown off. He barely managed to fire another cable, swinging wildly to catch himself before falling into the Titan horde below.
The spectacle instantly caught everyone's attention.
"Miche!"
Erwin's sharp voice cut through the commotion as the commander rushed forward.
Miche grit his teeth, staggering as he landed on a thick branch. His subordinates grappling toward him, eyes wide with concern.
"Captain Miche!"
"Sir, are you okay?"
"…Damnit! ..."
He yanked the kunai from his shoulder with a sharp breath. Blood trickled down his arm, but that wasn't what disturbed him.
"… That's Impossible. He wasn't even looking in my direction."
His voice was low, almost disbelieving.
The soldiers around him exchanged uneasy glances.
On the branch, Seiji raised an eyebrow. "Miche right? No offense, but trust me when I say that you have No idea what's possible ..." "... But there's little to disbelieve here, as that Kunai was meant for you in the first place."
"...."
The implications were obvious. Miche who thought he was hidden had long been exposed.
A heavy silence fell over them. Seiji, unfazed, merely turned his gaze toward Erwin.
His voice was smooth, level—neither hostile nor welcoming. "Two attacks? I feel your apologies aren't very sincere."
Erwin's face remained expressionless. Unknown to others, a cold bead of sweat traced down his spine, but he held his stance firm.
"… This is all just a misunderst …" he paused, his words hanging on his throat.
He wasn't alone. As under their gazes, Seiji lifted Levi's unconscious body from his shoulder. Then, he held it over the edge for the Titan horde below to see.
Erwin's pupils shrank to the extreme.
"Captain Levi!"
The Special Operations Squad had their expressions change drastically.
The atmosphere reached a suffocating level.
"… In that case, I'll just kill you all. Starting with …"
"Hold on! This is really just a misunderstanding."
The Survey Corps Commander yelled hurriedly. Panic breaking through his calm facade for the first time. Things were getting out of hand.
He had predicted many things happening on this expedition. His best soldier getting eaten by Titans wasn't one of them.
"Just stop, and we can talk this out …"
"So you say. Unfortunately, I don't take too kindly to people after my life. I feel I've experienced just about enough of that Today …." he said, slowly releasing his grip.
Sweat dripped down multiple foreheads. Erwin gritted his teeth, barely holding back the order to attack.
However, that expressionless face, just like Levi's didn't seem to be bluffing one bit.
"Seiji, stop! ..." a loud voice broke the tension in the forest. Every turned their gazes, to see the Scout soldier who yelled at the top of her lungs.
Feeling everyone's gaze on her, Ilse didn't back down.
"…Please, we aren't enemies. Just … Just hear what Commander Erwin has to say …"
"…." There was no response. Not immediately at least. Seconds later …
"… Very well then. Let's assume that was a mistake."
Seiji shifted his grip slightly on Levi's unconscious body. His expression was unreadable. "You want to talk? Go ahead."
The forest was still, save for the distant roars of Titans. Erwin and Seiji stood across from each other. Around them, the Survey Corps soldiers remained on edge, hands gripping their weapons, but none dared to make a move.
Erwin quickly regained his composure. Nevertheless, his mind raced. He had initiated this encounter, but from the very beginning, control had slipped from his grasp.
Levi incapacitated.
Miche wounded.
Seiji standing untouched.
The soldiers of the Survey Corps—some of humanity's best—held their breath, uncertain whether they were negotiating or standing at the edge of a massacre.
Seiji tilted his head slightly, his Sharingan gleaming under the forest canopy. "Well?"
Erwin exhaled. "First, I want to apologize for the attack. Miche thought you meant to attack me. It was a mistake—one I take full responsibility for."
Seiji's expression remained unreadable. "You're the one in charge. Of course, it's your responsibility. What do I want to know is… why are you here?"
Erwin didn't hesitate. "Because we believe you hold answers."
In an instant, his dialogue began. Throughout the night, Erwin hadn't slept. Constantly simulating the right words to say in different scenarios when this moment came.
"The ability you displayed in Trost defies everything we understand about warfare, about human capability. And now, here you are, standing among Titans without fear. You must understand—we can't ignore someone like you."
Seiji gave a small, humorless chuckle. "So, you're afraid."
"Concerned," Erwin corrected. "For both our survival and yours."
Seiji's gaze flickered over the assembled soldiers before settling back on Erwin. "You think I need your help to survive?"
Erwin didn't answer immediately. He had studied enough men to recognize the dangerous glint in Seiji's eye. A man who believed he had nothing to fear was either a fool or something far worse.
But he also wasn't lying when he said their fates could be intertwined.
"I believe our interests may align," Erwin finally said. "If you're willing to listen."
Seiji hummed in response, as if considering his words. Then, without warning, he flicked his fingers—and a kunai whistled through the air.
A Survey Corps soldier barely had time to flinch before the blade embedded itself in the tree beside his head.
The man paled, gripping his weapon tighter.
Seiji ignored him. "I'll listen. But understand something, Erwin Smith…"
His eyes locked onto the commander's.
"I am not your subordinate. You don't get to order me around. The next time one of your men so much as lifts a blade against me, I won't stop at a warning."
The weight behind his words settled over them like a storm cloud.
Erwin met his gaze steadily. "Understood."
Miche, still pressing a hand against his wounded shoulder, shifted uneasily. It was rare—almost unheard of—for Erwin to concede ground so openly.
But this wasn't an ordinary enemy.
This was something else entirely.
And for the first time in years, Miche wondered if they had just invited something far worse than the Titans into their world.
Seiji's gaze flickered toward Levi, still unconscious in his grasp. He shifted his hold slightly, then, with an almost lazy motion, tossed the captain toward Erwin.
"Catch."
Erwin moved instantly. He surged forward, catching Levi before he could hit the tree branch, his grip firm but careful. The Special Operations Squad rushed closer, concern flashing across their faces.
"Captain!"
Petra was the first to kneel beside Levi, quickly checking his pulse. Relief washed over her features. "He's alive."
Oluo exhaled. "Tch… Bastard threw him like a sack of grain."
Seiji ignored the comment. His gaze remained locked onto Erwin. "Now that I've shown some goodwill, I expect the same from you."
Erwin adjusted Levi in his arms before glancing at Miche, who was still favoring his wounded shoulder. He gave a subtle nod. "Stand down."
Miche hesitated, but ultimately sheathed his blades. The soldiers followed suit, though their grips remained tense.
Satisfied, Seiji crossed his arms. "Good. Now, talk."
Erwin straightened, his sharp mind already piecing together the best way to approach this.
"You asked why we sought you out," he began. "It's simple. Humanity is at war with the Titans, and we are losing."
"…." Seiji didn't respond. Seeing this, Erwin continued.
"I have been informed by my subordinates of what you sought In Trost. Information, on the Armored and Colossal Titans …."
The man paused. "… Would it be convenient to ask Why?…"
"No inconvenience really. I'm here to kill them …." The young Uchiha shrugged.
"…." The statement stunned everyone. Kill the Armored and Colossal Titan?
"Is . Is he serious? …"
"From the looks of it. Yes …."
"… Does this mean we have an ally? …"
"Kill the Titans? Can he though?"
'What big talk'. Miche thought inwardly.
'Great, another gruff with a dead face. This one looks and feels even more stuck up than The Captain'. Oluo thought with a deadpan look.
"I see."
Erwin's words brought a cease to the murmurs.
Noting the details, he shifted his approach. "You were looking in the wrong place. The information you seek wasn't in the Garrison, as it is not in their Jurisdiction. If you want knowledge about Titans, that falls under our handling."
"… The Scout Regiment deals with all Titan affairs, as well as all kept records of the Armored and Colossal Titan sightings during the fall of Wall Maria. Hundreds of Thousands of people have died as a result. We, The Survey Corps, exists to seek knowledge to stop more people from dying."
"You possess abilities beyond anything we've ever seen. You also do not come from the walls and if you are not an enemy, then you may hold the key to our survival. In this case, we have a common goal "
Seiji's expression remained unreadable. "You're implying you can help me?"
"I believe you've already thought the same." Erwin's eyes glinted. "Which is why you saved Scout Langnar."
Ilse Langnar stiffened.
Her breath hitched.
Is… is that?
Oh, I see…
So that's why…
Ilse, standing among the soldiers, stiffened but held her ground. She had suspected that the commander might bring her up, but hearing it confirmed still sent her heart pounding.
Seiji's expression remained unreadable.
"You didn't have to intervene, but you did. And if you didn't care at all, you wouldn't have risked yourself for a stranger."
A long silence followed.
Then—
"Risk?"
The word rolled off Seiji's tongue, not with anger, but something close to amusement.
Erwin realized his mistake instantly.
Seiji hadn't seen his actions as a risk at all.
For him, saving Ilse had been as effortless as breathing.
A flicker of something unreadable passed through Seiji's eyes before he let out a quiet exhale. "Maybe I just don't like senseless deaths," he muttered, almost as if he were talking to himself.
Erwin latched onto the statement.
"Then we share a goal." Erwin pressed forward. "You must have had similar thoughts. If I'm not wrong."
Seiji exhaled. "I did consider it."
Erwin waited.
"But upon bringing her to your walls, and seeing your Garrison soldiers almost leaves her for dead, I was once again reminded of how ugly human nature can be."
Seiji's gaze turned cold. "And now, I see these deserters—" his eyes flicked toward them, "—who lacked the courage to fight alongside their comrades but were courageous enough to attempt to kill me in order to hide it."
The deserters tensed under the weight of his words. The Survey Corps soldiers shot them dark looks, and the Garrison members averted their eyes.
Seiji continued. "You speak of unity, but humans are selfish. They will abandon each other when convenient." His gaze returned to Erwin. "That makes you unreliable."
"Besides. After looking at your files, I realized that your knowledge on The Titans are less than I initially speculated. If one Military Branch is like this, I doubt your survey corps could know more"
"Which makes you more of a burden than a help in my opinion. Your persuasiveness is lacking, adding the actions of your military, I find it difficult to come up with a reason why I would need your help."
"...."
Once again, silence fell. The expedition members all rattling their brains as they listened.
Not Erwin, though. The man didn't flinch. Instead, he nodded slightly. "You're right."
A murmur of shock rippled through the soldiers.
Erwin exhaled. "You're correct that we know too little about the Titans. That our flaws are evident. We are only human, but that is precisely why we need each other. Plus, there is something we can provide you with."
"… Oh, and what might that be?"
"You want to find the Colossal Titan." Erwin's voice was firm. "It disappeared after breaking the Wall. No one knows when it will return. And unless you plan to live in the forest forever, you will need a way to move freely within the walls. To be where you need to be when it appears again. We can offer you that."
A pause. The. …
"Go on."
Hearing those words, a small smirk almost made its way to Erwin's face. Finally, things were getting back on Track.
"A formal identity. An actual abode. Food. Shelter. Access to all the information we do have." Erwin's voice dropped. "In exchange… for your cooperation. Living in the wilds as the counter option."
Seiji's gaze rested on him with a brand-new intensity. And for a moment, Erwin felt something heavy settle over him, as if those red eyes were peeling him apart, layer by layer.
Then, just as quickly, it was gone.
Time elapsed. No one said a word.
"Alright then. I've heard enough."
He said as he stretched his arms out. With a cloud of smoke, several Kunai appeared in his hands.
Everyone's eyes widened.
"Seriously?…."
"He's still going to attack us?"
"… What the hell! …"
"Dammit!"
The Survey Corps commander's face fell. Not understanding how the negotiations fell.
"Ready For Battle." Nevertheless, he couldn't spare the time to think about it. Now, he had to …
His actions were interrupted as Seiji suddenly fired his Kunai. However, none of them were aimed towards the expedition team.
Instead, the Kunai all flew downwards. Aiming towards several Titans below before accurately piercing them in the nape.
The expedition group froze. What the hell was he doing?
Seiji on the other hand, paid them no heed.
'…. That's sixty-seven in total. All seven new additions the shadow clone missed'. He thought to himself as he placed his hands together to form a hand seal.
At the same time, every Titan down below all had an area around their napes suddenly glow. These were all Kunai marked Explosive Tags that had been placed at some point.
Then …
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
Explosions ripped through the battlefield.
Smoke and fire engulfed the Titans, their heads exploding before they got the chance to release roars of agony. Following which, they collapsed—one after another.
The soldiers were frozen, staring at the destruction.
"… What… what just…?"
"How…?"
Seiji turned back to Erwin, the crimson glow of his Sharingan gleaming in the dim light.
"I apologize," he said smoothly. "You were saying?"
....
Thanks for your support guys. More Powerstones please. If you want to read ahead, consider supporting me on my Patreon.
Patreon.com/Future805