Attack on Titan Episode 69: A Sound Argument

Eren Jaeger, in a prison cell, repeatedly tells himself to fight as Hange Zoë enters and asks what he is fighting. Hange compliments his hair, and Eren demands to know why they are there. Hange states they came to talk and never believed Eren would sacrifice Historia Reiss.

Two years prior, Eren and other members of the Scout Regiment meet Yelena and the Anti-Marleyan Volunteers at the port on Paradis Island to greet their first outside visitor, Kiyomi Azumabito from Hizuru. Kiyomi shows Mikasa Ackermann a crest and asks if she recognizes it. Mikasa, encouraged by Eren, removes a bandage from her wrist to reveal a tattoo of the same crest, explaining it was passed down from her mother, who expected her to pass it on to her own child. Kiyomi clasps Mikasa's shoulders, calling it an admirable deed. She explains that a century ago, a shogun's son came to Paradis and was friendly with Karl Fritz. After a war, Hizuru was defeated, and a child of the shogunate was left behind on the island. Mikasa is the lost descendant of Hizuru's leader.

During a break, the military struggles to understand the concept of a nation but realizes they now have leverage with Hizuru. Dot Pyxis acknowledges that the world is coming to them while they are still new to understanding it, suggesting they listen quietly. Historia is curious about Mikasa's crest and is happy she is not the only one born to bear a heavy burden.

As the meeting resumes, Kiyomi explains that a man named Zeke made this arrangement possible, and Hizuru agreed on the condition they could meet Mikasa. Kiyomi recounts that when she met Zeke, he gifted her an omni-directional mobility gear he had taken from someone else. He explained it needs a special fuel unique to Paradis called Iceburst stone. Zeke suggested that by helping Paradis, Hizuru could build an industry to restore its former glory. Though Zeke could not provide an estimate of Paradis's Iceburst Stone reserves, Kiyomi states such a resource would be worth its weight in jewels. Mikasa wonders if she is being used as a pretext. Hange recalls Yelena saying the talks would go well because the Azumabitos are greedy. Historia asks Kiyomi about her arrangement with Zeke.

Kiyomi then explains Zeke's three points to protect Paradis: a test run of the Rumbling to demonstrate its power, Hizuru's cooperation to strengthen Paradis's military until the Rumbling is no longer necessary, and the passing down of the Founding Titan and a Titan of royal blood. Zeke would pass on his Beast Titan to someone of royal blood, who would then need to bear as many children as possible before their 13-year term ends. This is because, despite advancing weaponry, the Rumbling remains powerful, making inheriting Titans necessary for generations.

Hange questions if it is right to push this problem onto descendants to save Paradis in the present, concluding it is not. However, Historia agrees to inherit the Beast Titan if the Rumbling is tied to their survival. Eren angrily stands up against the plan and the idea of breeding like livestock, stating that if that is the price of living, Zeke can "shove it." He believes the Rumbling is too dangerous to gamble on and they should explore other options.

In the present, Hange tells Eren they felt the same urgency but still do not understand why he went off on his own and endangered the island. Eren tells Hange he ate the War Hammer Titan and explains its powers, concluding no prison can hold him. He states he can leave whenever he wants and they cannot kill him because he has the Founding Titan, nor can they kill Zeke. He grabs Hange through the prison bars, demanding to know what they can do or if they have anything planned. Hange's eyes widen in fear as a light crackles around Eren. Hange pulls free, calls Eren a "perv" and an "idiot," and marches away, lamenting that Erwin Smith made only one mistake: naming them commander.

At a distant farmhouse, a young man comes out to see Historia, who is heavily pregnant and sitting on the porch. He tells her to come inside, saying she needs to take care of her body.

Meanwhile, several Military Police officers have dinner. Roeg says they should have fed Zeke to Historia as soon as he arrived on the island. He gossips about Historia's pregnancy, calling her a "low-bred girl" who is Queen in name only. Nile Dawk tells him to stop, stating the Queen is free to choose her partner. The Military Police confirmed the father is not working for someone, and both he and Historia grew up in the same area. He started helping at her orphanage out of guilt for throwing rocks at her as a child, and Historia approached him first. Roeg dismisses their relationship's origin, considering Historia's pregnancy a problem. He suspects someone, possibly Yelena, told her that if she were pregnant, she would not be turned into a Titan, allowing Zeke to live another day. Drunk and belligerent, Roeg advocates for turning her into a Titan regardless of her pregnancy, but Nile opposes it, arguing her child might die and if anything happened to Historia, the plan would fail. Undeterred, Roeg says such an argument could ruin their country and calls a man named Greiz over for more wine. Greiz goes to the cellar, where he meets Nicolo, who holds up a bottle and asks if it is the one.

A year prior, Jean Kirschtein and Conny Springer complain while building a railroad, blaming Eren for their task. They are waiting on Hizuru, who is mediating between Paradis and the rest of the world, hoping to avoid the Rumbling and save Historia. Hange and Levi Ackermann arrive with news from Hizuru, which is not good. Hange states they cannot rely on Hizuru, as it seems they want to monopolize Paradis Island's resources and will not help them trade with other nations. The rest of the world wants Paradis to be seen as evil, as it unites other countries and brings stability. Eren is angered at the thought this means they will have to rely on the Rumbling and sacrifice Historia. Armin Arlelt is dismayed at being judged without the world knowing their true intentions. Mikasa concludes the people of Paradis are feared because the outside world does not know who they are, and Hange agrees, suggesting they go meet the people outside.

The group rides in a cart behind a steam engine, discussing the plan to infiltrate a place called Marley. Eren wishes they had more time, as he only has five years left, and they will have to decide who inherits his Titan. Mikasa volunteers, but Jean argues it should not be her because they do not know what the Ackermanns are, and it might ruin their relationship with Hizuru. He volunteers himself, claiming to be smarter and wiser than Eren. Conny says they would not want to lose that kind of person in thirteen years and suggests Jean become a regiment leader, offering to inherit Eren's Titan himself. Sasha interrupts, saying they cannot leave the Titan to an idiot, and offers to inherit it, though Conny also calls her an idiot. Eren states he does not want any of them to inherit it, because they are more important to him than anyone else, and he wants them to live long lives.

In the present, Eren's friends discuss Pyxis's detainment of the Anti-Marleyan Volunteers. The Scouts were not informed in advance, as they worked closely with them, and Eren seems to be on board with Zeke's plan. Conny says Eren did not seem like himself, and if he means to side with Zeke over them, they need to be prepared to cut him down if necessary. Mikasa says she will not let him, as Eren cares about them more than anyone. Jean disagrees, stating Eren used to try keeping Mikasa off the front lines, but he made Armin destroy a port and pulled Mikasa and the rest of them into a raid. Mikasa suggests this is because Eren trusts them, and he would not have succeeded without them. Conny interjects that if they had not gone, Sasha would not have died. He asks Mikasa why Eren laughed when Sasha died, and she is unable to respond. Armin says he and Mikasa will talk to Eren to find out what he has in mind. Jean is skeptical, asking what will happen if Eren's goals are the same as Zeke's. Armin replies they have options, especially now that they have their own supply of Titan serum. They could turn someone they trust into a Titan to inherit Eren's Founding Titan.

In a Forest of Giant Trees, some Scouts guarding Zeke share a drink of wine while Levi stares pensively at his charge.