Attack on Titan Episode 41: Trust

Hitch and Marlo, members of the Military Police, search a forest near Stohess District for rogue Scout Regiment members. They find Armin collecting water and point their rifles at him, but Levi and Mikasa ambush them and take them captive.

In Trost District, reporters Roy and Peaure interview Commander Nile Dawk about the supposed murder of a civilian by the Scout Regiment. Nile states the evidence points to this conclusion but isn't certain. Peaure realizes this implies Interior Police involvement, prompting Roy to take his notebook and apologize to Nile, promising not to report on the Interior Police or their new ODM gear. Nile thanks him, noting the new ODM gear's buckshot ammunition is useless against Titans but effective against people, and worries it might be used against the Military Police since it was kept secret from them.

Elsewhere in Trost, Hange rescues Flegel Reeves from Interior Police pursuit. Hange deduces Flegel is being pursued because he knows the truth about his father's death. Flegel is reluctant to speak out, fearing death for opposing the Royal Government. Hange tries to convince him to consider his own best interest and takes him along.

Back in the forest, Levi has Hitch and Marlo stripped of their gear as part of a plan to infiltrate the Military Police Regiment to find Eren. Levi states they will have to be "rid of them" but doesn't specify how. Believing she will be killed, Hitch blames the Scout Regiment for the lives lost in Stohess District, including her roommate, Annie Leonhart, who she says was killed by a Titan. Levi corrects her, revealing Annie was the Female Titan, which shocks Hitch and Marlo. Levi, bothered by the public's lack of knowledge, says he will release the two MPs once they are out of the area.

Marlo asks Levi to let him help, offering to do whatever it takes to correct injustice. Levi declines, unsure if Marlo is ready to oppose the government, and tells Sasha to tie them up. Jean asks to do it instead, and Levi agrees.

Jean leads Hitch and Marlo away, telling them the plan has changed. He draws a knife, claiming he will kill them because it's too dangerous to let them go free. As they protest, Jean lunges, trips, and drops the knife. Marlo grabs it and tells Hitch to run. Jean then jabs a stick under Marlo's chin and pretends to have a gun, asking why anyone would join them given their situation. Marlo asks Jean why he is fighting, confesses he feels he joined the wrong regiment, and says he will trust the Scouts as long as they keep fighting, throwing the knife away.

Jean is relieved, but Hitch then strikes him with a branch to save Marlo. Marlo stops Hitch, explaining Jean was testing them. He asks Jean why he trusted them, and Jean replies that Marlo reminds him of someone. Satisfied, Jean tells them Levi should now be willing to work with them.

Hitch and Marlo lead Squad Levi to a less-manned checkpoint, which the squad charges using horses and a wagon. Levi tells Hitch and Marlo to return to their posts before their crew gets suspicious and thanks them. The squad breaks through, and Levi captures a member of the Interior Police.

Later that day in Trost, Flegel is chased into a dead end by Roger and other Interior Police. Roger mocks Flegel for running into a "dump." Flegel, panicked, asks why they killed his father, wanting to know before he dies. Roger, unimpressed, tells Flegel that Dimo Reeves betrayed them by siding with the Scouts, admitting Flegel's father was forced to participate in a kidnapping and would have been killed for knowing too much if he had refused.

To Roger's surprise, Flegel's fear vanishes as he speaks of his father's lesson about following his merchant's instincts, which led him to people capable of avenging him. Hange and Moblit then attack and subdue the Interior Police. Hange asks if everyone heard, and Roger sees that the damaged buildings are heavily populated. He claims the witnesses don't matter because the government will decide the truth.

Flegel silences Roger by sitting on his head, declaring himself the new boss of the Reeves Company, which will protect the city. The witnesses applaud, and Hange congratulates him. Reporters Roy and Peaure are among the onlookers.

That night, Levi interrogates the captured Interior MP about Eren and Christa's location. The man is uncooperative, even after Levi beats him, stating that if they don't surrender, every captured Scout, starting with Erwin Smith, will be hanged. Undeterred, Levi puts the man's arm in a painful lock. The soldier then admits he doesn't know, saying a person named Kenny Ackermann is too cautious. Both Levi and Mikasa note the surname. Before Levi can continue, Sasha announces someone is coming. Everyone prepares to fight, and the MP states it's no use, the Scouts are finished.

The previous evening, before Hitch and Marlo's capture, Nile visits Erwin in his cell, informing him he has an audience with the King, where Erwin will be sentenced and the Scouts dismantled. Erwin asks Nile about his family's well-being and where they live. Nile confirms they are well but he hasn't been home recently, and they live in the eastern part of Wall Rose. Erwin reveals he entrusted something to Commander Dot Pyxis, stating that when the time comes, he will only watch, and it will be up to Nile and "them" to decide.

The following morning, Deltoff, Gerald, Aurille, and Roderich meet. Gerald reports that Erwin must not have learned any secrets from Pastor Nick. He believes Historia's claims about her name will amount to nothing. An aide informs them Erwin has been brought for his audience, and the group departs for the throne room. Aurille declares that once Erwin is executed, the Walls' secrets will remain safe and peace will be protected. In the throne room, Aurille asks Erwin if he has any last words.