Chapter Text
Upon the wooden stage stood a man, arms outstretched as he declared a proclamation of war. The crowd, clearly allured by his charisma, raised their fists in the air, cheering. It was only half a second until their screams turned into those of horror.
The stage fell apart as if it were made by toothpicks. The giant, as if it were placed directly behind, exploded through the deck and sent splinters flying every which way. The blonde man fell into its gaping jaws. The creature swallowed, then turned to stare down at the horrified civilians of the plaza.
Its emerald-green eyes peeking behind the long strands of hair were saturated with the fury of a thousand soldiers...
The soft clinking of wine glasses thrusted Levi into awareness.
What the hell was that?
Levi brought a hand to his head, the last pangs of a headache gradually fading.
He blinked, staring down at the dainty meal set before him. On the plate sat neatly arranged but small portions of foods such as lobster and other varieties of seafood, while the rectangular table exhibited a variety of tasty items. Between each platter sat glass jars containing spices labeled as imports from far away countries, each grain worth far more than an average citizen’s honest paycheck.
Petra shifted beside him, taking up a silver fork with slim fingers. It would take an experienced eye to detect the near imperceptible trembling of her digits. Tiny movements that betrayed her confident façade.
She wore a deep red evening gown that perfectly complimented both her shape and copper hair. Levi donned an ordinary evening suit, and while simple, displayed minute details that suggested a sense of luxuriousness Levi didn’t in fact have.
Of course, their evening wear was nothing compared to the luxuriousness of the Tybur’s clothing. The family seemed to seize every opportunity to flaunt their exorbitant wealth. Their clothing lacked untidy wrinkles and creases; the fine fabric having been pressed to retain the quality. The curtains, rugs, and paintings decorating the spacious dining room were nothing but lavish. The pillars that supported the curved roof were carved with intricate designs, the handiwork of a skilled craftsman clearly at play.
The grand dining table, made of lacquered rosewood, was roughly three meters in length. The entire room was longer than it was wide, and three elegant windows took up the outer wall. Massive velvet curtains covered them, nicely complementing the paintings adorning either side.
The entire room must have cost more money than Levi’s seen in his entire life.
The food prepared that night was becoming exceedingly expensive. War over the past fear years impacted the markets, limiting the availability of many meats and imports from other countries.
He felt as if he were suffocating. The scents of perfume permeating the air, meshed with the aroma of the mouth-watering foods set before Levi, forced his stomach into doing flips. He’d love to be anywhere but here, sitting at a dining table with Eldians pretending to be Marleyan. The scum of the Earth.
The Tyburs were a world-renowned family that possessed copious amounts of both fame and fortune. Before the war, the Tybur company carved out their deep pockets manufacturing and selling new technologies, as well as appliances, watches, and most other valuable items that could sell for a pretty penny. It was only midway through the war that they decided to side with Marley.
In their newfound alliance, they spent the next decade of war manufacturing weapons. Bombs, ships, and other harbingers of destruction that would kill thousands of innocent civilians. Despite being Eldian, Marley accepted them into their country. They bought their way into the enemy’s land purely off of the blood of their people.
Despite their abhorrent acts and war crimes of enormous proportions, they thrived within enemy land. And Levi had the unfortunate luck of dining with them.
Erwin had to pull several strings to get both him and Petra into the dinner party the family hosted. Of course, Levi rejected the task at first but eventually had to comply because, well, it was an order. Additionally, the pair were the only available spies in the area. The man only pulled out his ‘it’s an order from a superior’ card when Levi rejected the first sob story.
Their setup called for false identities and a presumed relationship. He wanted to gag at the whole fiancé ploy, but he didn’t have a say in the matter. He was sure Erwin found exquisite delight in his suffering, and having to play the part was downright humiliating. Of course, Petra had trouble concealing her giddiness from the arrangement before they arrived.
Levi discretely rolled his eyes in response to Willy’s endless prattling about joint shareholders and manufacturing rates. Of course, Petra listened to the man with fake interest, occasionally nodding or commenting when necessary.
The blonde man sitting at the head of the table, Willy of course, emitted both an eloquent and warm aura that was beginning to grate on Levi’s nerves. His optimism was nearly as blinding as his hair. The man was clearly well put together, as expected for someone who’d often speak at a podium for long stretches of time to pitch an idea to Marleyan shareholders.
In all definition, Willy Tybur was perfect.
But to Levi, the blonde was the spawn of the devil himself.
He could imagine himself taking one of the fancy dinner knives set before him and slitting the man’s throat himself. Watching that overconfident smile slip from his mouth as he collapsed over the table, blood staining the perfectly ironed cloth.
Willy was responsible for the deaths of so many. It was downright disturbing how he’d turned against his own people and labeled them savages.
Levi’s hand reflexively twitched towards the dinner knife laying vertically by the ceramic plate. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s killed and definitely wouldn’t be his last.
Petra shot the raven-haired man a look and clamped her hand over his wrist, giving him a cautionary glance. Of course, Levi wouldn’t do it. But the urge was too great.
“So, Lyra…” Willy began, clearing his throat.
Lyra and Helias… those were their fake identities. They were crappy ones too, but it wasn’t like Levi could object.
Willy flashed them a smile. Levi internally gagged.
“I’d love to be invited to your wedding. When did you say it was?”
Petra stiffened, nearly choking on the wine glass she’d touched to her tinted lips. The redhead nudged Levi with her elbow, implying that he takes the reigns of the conversation.
Levi inhaled sharply, straightening in his seat when he felt multiple pairs of eyes stare expectantly at him.
Calm. Cool. Collected. You’re just as snobby as every single person here.
He cleared his throat. “It’s… undecided.” Levi pressed his lips together, unsaid tension woven between him and Petra. “We’re still deciding on a date. Isn’t that right… Lyra?”
Petra nodded curtly, setting her glass on the table. “We’re taking our time.”
“Of course,” Willy chuckled, leaning back into his seat. “My wife and I…” he lifted his glass, swirling the crimson liquid within it in a languid manner. “We were young. Perhaps a little too naïve. All we wanted was to get married. We had a rocky relationship, and it was quite frankly a mistake, but we worked out the creases- didn’t we dear?”
The man wrapped an arm behind his wife, rubbing her arm and exchanging warm, loving looks. The gesture elicited a few nods of agreement from the guests sitting at the table. The pair, the stars of the dinner party, were by all means the perfect couple. Of course, Levi couldn’t help but think about both their blood guilt despite how happy and carefree they appear.
A blonde, bespectacled man sitting at the table spoke up. “And I was unfortunately there to watch your piteous attempts at flirting,” he added, scratching at his chin and smoothing down his beard while he was at it.
“Of course, I wouldn’t have made it through without you Zeke!” Willy laughed.
Among the guests were some of Willy’s closest friends. People who Levi could milk information out of. All it took was some coaxing and a few bottles of strong vodka. Then, a bullet to the head to prevent them from mentioning the affair to another soul.
But this man… Zeke… he had a certain aura that pissed Levi off. Badly.
He held a sense of authority akin to Willy. The difference was that Zeke had seen war firsthand. According to the information Levi managed to garner, the blonde was a general formerly stationed at the forefront of the war. Despite being considerably young for one, he was skilled. It was only until recently that his dealings took him back into Marley’s interior. Next to Willy, he was the second most important person in the room. Someone Levi could siphon information out of.
Despite that, the very sight of Zeke’s muted-grey eyes made Levi want to wretch. It was as if he were a demonic apparition concealed in human form. It felt instinctive to recoil from the man’s presence. A primal urge engrained into every living fiber of Levi’s being.
He could only describe it as seething hate. Something that was, impressively, more intense than what he felt towards Marleyans.
“But…” Zeke turned his gaze towards Levi and Petra. “You’re a lovely couple.”
Levi cringed under the man’s icy blue scrutiny.
“I’m glad you two are taking action to further your relationship,” he smiled.
Willy raised an eyebrow. He set the glass of wine down and rested his cheek against the palm of his hand. “Because Helias here proposed and you haven’t,” he pointed out.
So… Zeke’s in a relationship.
The bespectacled man hooked a finger into his collar and pulled lightly. “You know we’re both rather busy… with this war and all, it’s hard to prioritize anything that isn’t my work.”
“I understand,” Willy nodded. “But still…” he smiled. “Don’t let her get bored.”
“Oh, I assure you she isn’t.”
Levi tuned out of the conversation when the other guests chuckled, resisting the grimace that pulled at his lips. He’s not going to sit through endless small talk. Otherwise, he would’ve come here for nothing.
He pushed back in his chair and stood, unfortunately taking with him the attention of Willy’s additional guests.
“Please, don’t mind me. I need to excuse myself for a moment.”
“Of course, Helias,” Willy smiled. “I do hope you’ll be back for dessert! Our chefs worked hard on the pastries for tonight.”
Levi forced his lips into a strained smile and parted from the table. Petra gave him a knowing glance as he disappeared into the hallway.
He left the suffocating dining room and inhaled deeply. Of course, Levi wasn’t free from the lavishness of the hall but the decoration here was a little more bearable. The best part was that it was free of prying eyes.
Personally, Levi thought he could be put to good use spying in a government facility. Not dining with the men he hates most in this world, scrounging around for any information that could give Eldia an upper hand in the war.
He stalked through the corridors. It wasn’t the bathroom he was looking for. No, Levi was looking for a study. Something that looked important.
A quick look around and Levi practically flew up the lacquered stairs. He slipped past multiple chambers that held no interest, and he kept passing through entryways until he came across a large wooden door, flora intricately carved into the material.
Now this has to be important.
Fortunately for Levi, the door was unlocked.
He entered with tentative steps. The study was massive. A large oak desk sat against a large, curved window that reached the ceiling. A set of shelves took up a portion of the space, and the wooden desk itself was a U shape around the chair. The bookshelves on either side of the room were loaded to the brim with literature Levi could spend an eternity reading. He entered through the threshold and carefully shut the door behind him, careful not to make a loud noise as the doorknob gently clicked closed. Levi then turned to face the entirety of the room.
The desk itself reflected Willy’s personality like a mirror. Not a single pen nor book was out of place.
Levi brushed a finger over the smooth wooden surface. Not even a speck of dust.
He pushed the chair aside and began to look through the numerous drawers and filing cabinets. Of course, Levi applied great caution and made sure to keep every paper in its original position. He’d occasionally come across a locked drawer and let it be until he was done with his search.
This felt too easy.
Eventually, Levi finally came across a document that looked important. A simple manilla folder containing a handful of printed papers. He set it on the desk and carefully flipped the folder open. Levi began sifting through the papers, careful as to not accidentally bend the edges.
He couldn’t take this. The document’s disappearance would draw too much suspicion.
Levi reached for the camera zipped into a crossbody bag. It was easily concealed under his suit jacket, and the considerably small proportions were perfect if you needed to hide it on your person.
Carefully, he began snapping pictures of the fronts and backs of the documents. Levi occasionally caught a word or two but didn’t bother reading it. A person could come through that door at any moment, and he couldn’t invest his attention in reading.
Although… certain words piqued Levi’s interest.
There were mentions of Zeke Jaeger, along with locations such as large Marleyan cities like Mitras. Levi scrutinized one title in particular.
Project Beast.
What the hell is ‘Project Beast’?
There were soft footfalls against the carpet, echoing into the room from the hallway. Levi stiffened and whipped around, fingers freezing mid-click of the camera. Someone was coming, and he’d forgotten to lock the door.
Levi scrambled to slip the papers into their original position. Quietly, he clicked the drawer closed and dropped on his knees, muttering obscenities as he pressed his side against the lacquered wood. He could tell by the pace that this mystery intruder was a man of average build. Perhaps they were one of the guests at the table... but there was no reason why they’d be here.
He sucked in a breath when the door creaked open.
The man paced across the room and stopped in front of the massive desk. He hummed to himself, leaning forward a bit. A few more inches and he would’ve spotted Levi crouching behind the furniture.
Carefully, Levi tilted his head up to get a better look of this mystery person. He caught a few strands of long, blonde hair that could only be attributed to Willy Tybur himself.
Another person entered the room. Some silence hung in the air before Willy spoke.
“You look like you’re enjoying yourself,” the man said, reaching into a cabinet and popping open a new bottle of wine.
You have enough alcohol to supply a damn army, Levi thought bitterly.
“Well,” the second voice said with a chuckle. Zeke. “I’d argue you’re having a grander time. If I didn’t know better, you were taking the opportunity to boast about your company.”
“You know me too well, Zeke.”
Willy poured out the wine into a thin glass, holding it out to Zeke for him to take. The bespectacled man took it with careful hands, pinching the stem with his thumb and index finger. He sniffed the beverage, then sipped languidly as his friend turned back to the table.
“I don’t see why you interrupted dinner with… business,” Willy said with a bit of disdain.
The shuffling of clothes and another long sip.
“It’ll only take a moment,” Zeke assured.
“Do you… think we can truly win the war with this?” He sounded somewhat skeptical.
“I’m confident. We’ll come out victorious, even if it means razing Paradis to the ground.”
Levi shifted closer towards the desk, craning his neck slightly.
Being this far in the war, it was clear neither country had an ace up their sleeve. That is, unless they’ve been working on a special weapon in secret. With the copious number of spies stationed in Marley, Eldia has known for years they don’t have a trump card.
But now… Levi’s not so sure about that presumed claim.
The two rivals have been going back and forth for years with no progress. Sometimes, the fighting was fatal. Other times, specifically during the Winter season, is when the tension would cool. You couldn’t call it a traditional war since the fighting had been on and off for an extended period, but it was nevertheless exhausting resources. The northeastern parts of Marley were particularly bad. If anything, it was scattered clumps of fighting.
Fatalities in the war were at an all-time high, for both civilians and soldiers. Of course, that was during a wide stretch of time. Personally, Levi viewed the war as ridiculous. The countries were constantly at each other’s throats even before the fiasco. For some reason or another, they constantly clashed. There was never a period where tension between the two countries was slack.
Before becoming a spy in Marley, Levi lived on Paradis. The war tended to affect the poorer parts of town, and he was unfortunately part of that group. He did have to admit he was better off than most others. While considerably malnourished, Levi was a teenager capable of holding a job. There were those willing to help him, and he’d forever be in their debt.
Levi didn’t like being in someone else’s debt.
But for them, he’d make an exception.
Levi still abhorred living among Marleyans and posing as an average citizen, but this was a job he couldn’t refuse. To strike back at the Marleyans who made your life miserable... why wouldn’t you take the offer?
He heard the shuffling of papers above him and tensed.
It wouldn’t be long until someone acknowledged his long absence from the table. He’d need to feign stomach issues if Willy and Zeke stayed for any longer...
Zeke set his glass on the furniture with a soft clink. He examined a collection of papers Willy procured from the desktop.
“The funds are accounted for... have you gotten word from our mysterious donor?”
The Tybur nodded. “The terms were met, and he wishes to remain anonymous... which I could understand.”
“That’s fine. I imagine they have connections that would find this kind of transaction objectionable.”
A few more minutes passed as Zeke silently read over the papers. Willy poured himself a drink as he waited for his friend to finish scanning over the documents.
Finally, Zeke spoke. “We’re all good. I’ll take these with me for reference. I leave town soon, and I’ll see to it that these are delivered.”
It seemed that they were discussing a cause of some sort, one that required vast amounts of money. From the sound of it, Willy had a crucial hand in their operation, which was to be expected.
This was a war plan. Maybe this ‘Project Beast’ plan has something to do with it.
Some more small talk ensued before the pair finally exited the room. Levi let out a relieved breath, as he’d been frozen there for much too long.
Ensuring that the room was truly empty, he rose from under the desk and looked around. Zeke took a briefcase containing those papers they’d looked over, so Levi didn’t have a chance to take pictures of them. He was running out of film, anyway. As much as Erwin preferred physical evidence, Levi hoped he’d take a verbal report of what just transpired.
Levi spared a moment to glance outside the curved window. The dinner party was lasting well into the night, and he couldn’t find himself to stomach the delicacies set out. The thought of dessert made his stomach gurgle...
He didn’t have much of a sweet tooth really. Anything sweet that wasn’t an occasional bag of candy was unaffordable for the lower-class like him. A rare treat that aristocrats spent entire evenings getting fat on. It was simply impossible for someone like Levi to indulge in the finer things in life.
For one last time, Levi skimmed over the desk. He and Petra weren’t supposed to stay for long. He smoothed down his suit fabric, scowling at the occasional wrinkle. For good measure, Levi wiped away the sweat gathering at his nape before once again stepping through the entrance of the study. He peeked over the doorframe, scanning for a new person in the hallway before judging it safe to leave. This time, Willy locked the door. So, Levi made sure to lock the brass doorknob before stepping away.
For the second time that evening Levi walked briskly down the hallway, minding his footfalls on the soft carpet. As he got closer to the dining room, he heard the faint sounds of laughter drift through the air. Levi stifled a sigh as he entered, senses battered with the scent of something sweet.
Sure enough, dessert was laid out. Levi couldn’t help but notice the massive pecan pie sitting at the center of the table, aroma permeating the air. The maids were busy setting out porcelain plates. Willy and Zeke were back in their seats, the briefcase under the bespectacled man’s chair.
Rather than sitting down beside Petra, Levi approached her side and leaned towards the redhead a bit. She tilted her head up and raised an eyebrow.
“Anything?”
Levi nodded, pressing a fist against his jacket and over where the camera sat. “We should go now,” he whispered.
Petra pressed her lips together, taking another look around the large room. The dinner party was coming to a close anyway, and neither of them were very keen on remaining in Marleyan company. “Alright,” she said, patting Levi’s forearm. She stood from her seat, setting the cutlery back on the table. Levi took the opportunity to make his way to the entrance of the dining room and stand at the threshold. The redhead walked to the head of the table, excusing herself to Willy and apologizing for their sudden departure with curt mannerisms. The man seemed to take the information nicely and offered a farewell. He called a maid over to pack Petra a few small, cardboard boxes containing some of the dessert they were missing.
When that was done, Petra went to rejoin Levi. She slipped a hand into the bend of his arm as they walked out, escorted by the butler who first greeted them coming in.
The expanse of the Tybur Residence was massive, so it was out of the view of the street. Large gardens decorated the multiple acres of land. Petra and Levi hadn’t taken a taxi, instead opting to drive one of Erwin’s nicer cars.
For the sake of being a gentleman, he opened Petra’s door and rounded the car to sit at the driver’s side. They both settled in their seats, light from the many lamps hanging from the property spilling through the windshield.
Petra leaned back, letting Levi reach over and take a notepad and pen from the glovebox. She watched curiously as he scribbled onto the paper. “What are you writing?”
“I’m trying to recall a conversation I heard...” he answered, brow creased in thought.
“Hm...” she dipped her head, opening the flaps of the box on her lap and sniffing at the contents. “I saw Zeke and Willy get up after you left. Do you know what was up with them?
Levi nodded, leaning back in his seat and reading over the paper to make sure he hadn’t forgotten something important. “I went upstairs to see if I could find a study. I did, but they entered a few minutes after me. I caught them discussing a plan of some sort. I assumed it had something to do with something called ‘Project Beast,’ although I have no idea what it means.” He handed her the notepad.
The girl hummed, taking the notepad and skimming over the hastily written words. “If there’s someone who’s involved with military plans, it has to be the Tyburs.” She reached up and played with a dangling earring between her fingers. “But clearly, there’s more pieces to the puzzle... you wrote that they mentioned an anonymous donor contributing to the cause. Whatever that would be.”
“Since that’s the case, we can assume this is a private operation. Otherwise, the government would be funding this.” Levi turned the key in the ignition. The car immediately hummed alive.
“And you have evidence other than this?” the redhead inquired.
“I do,” he affirmed. Levi procured the small camera out from inside his jacket and set it between the two for Petra to inspect. “Several documents, front and back, that I managed to get my hands on.”
She took up the device and examined it in her hands. You couldn’t see the photos yet, but it still held valuable information. “Erwin is going to have a field day looking through these. No wonder you’re his best,” she chuckled.
Levi let out a ‘tch.’ “We were the only people available for this job.”
“Someone’s in need for a vacation, then. I heard the mountains are lovely this time of year.”
“I can’t think about relaxation until my duty is done.”
Petra let out a sigh. “You work. A lot.”
The car began to pull out of the driveway. Levi cursed internally about having to drive through the winding roads that lead up to the property. “We’re in a war, Petra,” the man sighed. “I can’t afford to waste a second. Not when there’s people dying. I work because there’s lives on the line.”
The redhead pressed her lips together. She clasped her hands over her lap and crossed a leg over the other. She glanced out of the window, dark foliage flying by in a blur as the car accelerated. “Then… what are your plans after?” She ventured.
He stiffened. Levi… he hadn’t ever humored that thought. To him, war was a constant. It’s always been present in his life, like a shadow you can’t get out of. He never considered living a peaceful existence. Every day was difficult in the city slums he grew up in thanks to the effects of the war. He never had the chance to think about making an earnest living. No, people like Levi lived off the table scraps of the privileged men. There was no future for people like him.
For a very brief time, Levi had actually considered a tea shop. Of course, he was too poor to afford supplies or a building, but he was young and wanted to dream.
Then Erwin scouted him out and those paltry ambitions were laid to rest in Paradis. Abandoned when Levi came across the sea. A calm, quaint life was never in store for him anyway. If you wanted to be poetic, you could say it wasn’t written in the stars.
Petra watched him with an expectant gaze. The man sighed, tightening his grip on the steering wheel. “I don’t know,” he answered simply. “That’s too far in the future to be concerned about.”
“I guess that’s reasonable,” the girl shrugged. “You didn’t ask, but I think… I’d like to marry.”
That made sense. She never struck Levi as the type to be, well… independent. Petra was pretty enough to easily coerce a person into being her partner. She had the charm, and admittedly, the wits. If Petra had never taken up the job as a spy, which Levi has no idea how she stumbled upon it in the first place, she could be married by now. Perhaps to a rich Eldian man who’d spoil her at every given opportunity. Admittedly, it was a bit of a shame. It was dangerous work.
Levi didn’t know much about his companion, such as why she took up the job or what her life was like in Paradis. She was a very social woman, but that didn’t seem like a topic she was very keen on explaining. To Levi, she looked to be from a privileged family. That, or from people who had a better economic standing than him. Petra was admirable, but this didn’t seem like the proper job for her.
She tapped her acrylic nails on the plush seat underneath her. “I’m tired of letting people die, really… we’ve all lost so many this meaningless war.” She smiled sadly. “We’ll see peace. At least, I hope you do.”
The raven-haired man remained silent; eyes focused on the road before him.
“We won’t see peace until the Marleyan empire is put down.” Levi spoke of the nation as if it were a rabid animal. Because that’s what they were, right? A virus. A pest that, even with an impossibly long war, wouldn’t curl up and die.
They were a disease.
In terms of technology, Eldia’s significantly farther along. If anything, it’s the most technologically advanced nation. If they weren’t so small, they could’ve dominated a considerably large portion of the map already.
There’s no definitive reason as to why this is the case. The most historians can come up with was that there was a tragedy hundreds of years ago. One that wiped out over two thirds of the world. Either it was a virus or apocalypse is up to debate. Anyway, apparently it was only Paradis Island and a few outlying nations that survived and, in turn, thrived without rivals.
Petra stiffened a bit at his statement, but she didn’t say anything to oppose Levi’s comment. Deep down, she knew he was right.
The rest of the drive was silent. Petra had decided to turn on the radio at some point, although the news only ever discussed the direction of the war. Of course, it was always the same.
A few raindrops dotted the windshield. The bleak stars were blotted out by the shifting storm clouds, seemingly ready to burst and unleash a torrent on the earth.
At least the white noise would help Levi sleep tonight.
Because the Tybur Manor was far from Erwin’s residence, they spent some time on the road. Petra’s eyes had slipped closed, and she leaned against the door. She likely drifted off. He didn’t blame her.
The relative peacefulness of the night offered Levi much to think about. Namely, what he’d discovered during the dinner party. It was based mostly on speculation, and he hadn’t had enough time to properly go over the documents.
Levi sighed to himself, knuckles turning white with the force he had exerted on the steering wheel. He’d helped foil military plans many times before. This shouldn’t be much different. As much as Levi tried to break his thoughts away from the topic, his mind still lingered on whatever ‘Project Beast’ could be. It had to be whatever Willy and Zeke were talking about, right?
All Marley had to offer in the past decade was empty threats of domination. Aside from that, they did manage to land hundreds of bombs and air raids on Paradis soil. It’s ultimately the reason the death toll constantly kept rising.
Despite that, Levi couldn’t help but think there was some truth behind this project. ‘Razing Paradis to the ground,’ as how Zeke had said. It elicited concerned thoughts from Levi. A wartime operation not funded by the government and instead by independent donors surely spelled trouble.
Marley targeted civilians more than anything. It was a detestable practice. They were planning on destroying Paradis as a whole- and in turn all of the Eldian nation.
There weren’t many people Levi particularly cared about on the island. Still, there were a select few individuals. Because of his mission and the importance of confidentiality, he hadn’t talked to those people in a long time. There were phone calls here and there on a private line… but that was it. Levi convinced himself that only isolation could guarantee their safety. After all, he was doing this for them.
He was tired. Of the war and this job. Some days, he wondered if what he was doing made an impact in the grand scheme of things. Just how long would it take for this bloody war to end?
As a young man, he’d sometimes catch glimpses of bloody soldiers being wheeled to the hospital. Their cries of anguish often haunted Levi at night, and the faces of those unfortunate souls often materialized as shadows in his room. He often felt that he was in those dead men’s debt. They laid down their lives to make sure Paradis wouldn’t fall... He considered his work in Marley as his way of giving back. Not only to the soldiers, but also the civilians who perished over the course of the conflict. As Petra said, everyone’s been affected by the war.
Finally, Erwin’s home was in view.
It was a lovely residence. The grass was neatly trimmed, and the bushes bordering the home were well taken care of. Of course, it was nothing compared to the grandeur of the Tybur mansion, but Levi preferred it this way. The house was spacious, fortunately void of any overwhelming decor or other unnecessary items designed to flaunt wealth towards an onlooker.
Levi had taken occupancy there for the past few years. He had is own room and was allowed access to the entire property. It was a place of privacy. Erwin occasionally brought guests, people who needed a safe space to go to evade the scrutinizing eye of Marley’s law. The home was an expertly disguised meeting point for ally spies stationed in the area.
The car entered the driveway, and he pulled the key from the ignition switch, cutting off the rumbling of the engine. Levi took the camera and tucked it into his pocket. He exited and rounded the car, opening the door for Petra and gently shaking her awake. “We’re here.” The girl blinked slowly at him, then rubbed at her sore neck as she stepped out.
“Urgh.... ow, my neck hurts,” Petra grumbled as she pulled her earrings out. They looked rather uncomfortable.
Together, the two made it up the steps and entered the home. Petra patted Levi’s shoulder before leaving the dessert packages on the kitchen counter and disappearing up the staircase.
He watched the color of her dress disappear around the bend and huffed to himself. Erwin should be awake since it wasn’t too late... knowing him, he’d be pacing around in his room awaiting their return. Poor Marie.
The lamps were on, casting shadows over the floor as Levi moved towards the living room. He shed his jacket and set it over the sofa headrest, finally free of the stuffy weight. Levi stiffened when he heard a cough and looked across the room, where the blonde man sat reclined on the sofa. He had one leg crossed over the other, a newspaper sitting folded on his lap.
Both men stared at each other, waiting for the other to speak.
Finally, Erwin shifted in his seat and cleared his throat. “I take it the dinner party went well. Although you two did come back rather early...”
Levi huffed, loosening the bowtie around his neck and depositing it by the abandoned jacket. “It was humiliating,” he grumbled.
The blonde man chuckled lightly and rose from his seat, newspaper still in hand. “Come now, it couldn’t have been so bad. The congratulations you must’ve received should’ve inflated your ego.”
Maybe Petra’s, but definitely not Levi’s. Playing fiancé was tiring.
“Where’s Marie?” Levi asked, changing the topic. He pivoted and walked to the kitchen, hearing Erwin’s heavy footsteps behind him.
“Sleeping. She insisted on waiting for you two, but you know her. Falls asleep the second the sun goes down.”
How Erwin managed to marry in such precarious times was truly a mystery to Levi.
Levi positioned a teakettle under the sink faucet, dispensing a stream of water into the vessel. He scowled at Erwin’s close proximity but said nothing about it. Levi moved to the stovetop and set the kettle over it, adjusting the knobs for the liquid to steam.
Erwin leaned against the kitchen counter, tapping the shorter man’s shoulder with the newspaper.
“The investigation from last month was officially closed... the police claimed it was premeditated murder by a peer. No one was accused, nor were there witnesses to shed light on the matter.”
Ah... that.
Levi had taken up an extermination job issued by one of the higher-ups. He had to travel to a neighboring town and track down a man suspected of digging too deep into Erwin’s business. Needless to say, they were silenced. Levi had done an excellent job mopping up any evidence alluding to foul play.
Erwin extended an open hand toward the man.
Wordlessly, Levi dug around in his pocket and dropped the camera on Erwin’s waiting palm. “The dinner party still yielded some reward.” He also dropped the notepad from earlier on the counter.
“What did you get?” the man asked.
“I got into Willy Tybur’s personal study. I found some documents mentioning something called ‘Project Beast.’ And...” He tapped his fingers against the counter. “I heard him and Zeke Yeager talking.”
Erwin raised an eyebrow, taking up the notepad and flipping through it. “I’m aware he and Yeager are very close friends... it would make sense for them to be working together.” His brow creased in thought.
Levi pivoted when the kettle began to sharply whistle. He moved it from the heated stovetop and turned the knob back down.
“Obviously, they’re staging something against Paradis...” Erwin continued. “We at least know the target. Zachary should be informed of this. I’ll get the photos you took processed soon.” He watched as Levi reached a hand to the cupboard, producing two ceramic teacups and pouring equal portions of boiling water into them. Wordlessly, Erwin moved to a rack fastened to the kitchen backsplash and selected some mild tea from the collection. “Marley learns how to be more covert with their projects every time we reveal them. Now, we have no idea how long they’ve been working on...”
“...Project Beast,” Levi finished for him, allowing Erwin to steep the tea in the water. Levi tilted his head towards the sound of footsteps against the wooden floor. He could tell from the light footfalls it was Petra. She’d rubbed her face clean of the makeup, and instead of the evening dress, she donned a simple white nightgown.
She crossed her arms over her midsection and stood at the entryway. “When Levi left to investigate, I had managed to get a guest buzzed. Aside from praising Willy, they did mention he recently struck a deal with an Eldian businessman. It was probably a rumor... but maybe that could be our mystery donor.”
“You didn’t tell me that in the car,” Levi frowned.
Erwin turned to her and shook his head. “That’s impossible. Any Eldian worth his salt, a businessman at least, willingly making a deal with a Tybur is impossible.”
Petra sighed. “Maybe. But they wanted to remain anonymous, so perhaps they have other dealings with men that wouldn’t be so fond of the decision.”
Levi took the teacup, sniffing its surface before looking back up. “They’d have to know they’re contributing to the fall of the Eldian nation. If Paradis is wiped away, that would result in the rest of the alliance falling apart.”
Personally, Levi didn’t believe they could force the island onto it’s knees. Despite the constant bombing, his nation still stood strong. The idea of an Eldian betraying them knowing they’re contributing to massacre was revolting. Then again... the Tyburs did shed their humanity first.
The tea tasted sour.
He sighed and poured out the contents of the cup into the sink. “It’s been a long day. I’m going to bed.”
“It’s still a little early,” Petra reasoned. “Are you sure? It’s unlike you.”
That was true. Levi was often the last one to head to bed, usually staying up to drink something hot and have quiet time to think. Tonight wasn’t the night for that, not really.
“Let Levi get his rest, Petra,” Erwin responded, reaching for his own teacup. “I can imagine he’s tired.”
The girl reluctantly looked towards Levi, gaze softening with a hint of concern. “Hm… well, good night, Levi,” she said with a small smile.
Levi grunted in acknowledgement, parting from the pair and immediately climbing up the stairs.
He took a shower and tried to scrub off the invisible Marleyan aura that clung to his skin. Levi felt disgusting after spending an entire evening in their presence.
After he’d gotten refreshed, his head hit the pillow. Like his many other nights, it was a challenge to drift off.
And for some reason... Levi couldn’t discard the image of furious green eyes from his thoughts.