Chapter 103 A Symbol of Hope

The journey back to the city went smoothly, without any accidents. By the afternoon, the Survey Corps had returned to their starting point.

"The Survey Corps is back! Open the gates!"

The soldiers on Wall Rose quickly recognized the Corps' flag fluttering in the distance. Word spread, and the garrison at the gate prepared to let them in.

The sight of the returning Corps piqued the curiosity of those stationed on the wall.

"Didn't they say they were heading for Wall Maria? Why are they back so soon?"

"They must have failed again. Typical, wasting resources with nothing to show for it."

A few snickers followed this remark, though others looked uneasy. "You might want to hold your tongue. If they can't win out there, what hope do we have if the Titans break through these walls?"

Still, murmurs of doubt lingered among the garrison and civilians.

"Why do they always come back like this? Injuries, losses, and no real victories," one soldier muttered under his breath.

Another sighed, shaking his head. "They try, though. No one else dares to go beyond these walls. If not them, then who?"

As the gates closed behind the returning Corps, the mood remained somber. While casualties were lower than usual, the looming dread of Titans and the constant need for results cast a shadow over the city.

It had been three years since the fall of Wall Maria. Since then, humanity's hope had rested heavily on the shoulders of the Survey Corps. They had undertaken fifteen expeditions outside the walls, far more frequent than ever before. Yet, the results were often tragic, with heavy losses overshadowing their efforts.

Amid the whispers of doubt, Ryo's voice rang out from the middle of the formation.

"My fellow citizens, we have not failed! Look closely—what do you see here?"

Ryo rode up to Hange's cart, where a large canvas concealed their prize. With her permission, he pulled it away, revealing the restrained Titan they had captured.

"Ah! A Titan! Run for your lives!" Panic spread instantly.

The sight of the monstrous figure caused some to scatter, while others froze in fear. Many had never seen a Titan up close before, their only impressions formed from horrifying stories.

Ryo quickly raised his hands to calm the crowd. "Do not fear! This Titan has been captured by the Survey Corps. It cannot harm you."

To demonstrate, he leapt onto the Titan's head, its bound form unable to retaliate.

"See? This creature, which you've feared for so long, is powerless now. We've caught it! Giants, as terrifying as they seem, can be defeated—and even captured!"

Gradually, those who had fled began to trickle back, their curiosity overcoming their terror. Ryo's confidence in confronting the Titan head-on emboldened them.

"Titans may seem invincible, but they are not. Yesterday, during our battle, I killed twenty-two Titans—on my own!"

The crowd gasped in disbelief. Ryo's slight frame and youthful appearance didn't match their image of a battle-hardened soldier.

"Yes, I may not look like much," he continued, sensing their skepticism, "but even someone like me can stand against them. We all can! We are not powerless."

He gestured toward the restrained Titan. "This is proof that humanity can fight back. It's proof that we will fight back. The Survey Corps exists for this very reason—to give you hope!"

Ryo's words sparked something in the onlookers. For the first time, they didn't just see the Survey Corps as a band of reckless soldiers charging to their deaths. They saw courage, resilience, and a glimmer of hope.

The fear in their eyes began to fade, replaced by determination. As the crowd murmured among themselves, a few even began to cheer.

Ryo climbed down from the Titan and joined Petra, who gave him an approving smile. "You're quite the speaker, aren't you?"

He scratched the back of his head, grinning sheepishly. "I just said what needed to be said."

As the Survey Corps continued toward their barracks, the mood had shifted. Ryo's words and the sight of the captured Titan had reminded everyone that the fight against the Titans wasn't hopeless. And for the first time in a long while, the people began to believe.