Chapter 11 Genjutsu

Alright. New week, new chapter. New updates from now on.

Hope you guys enjoy the rewrite.

This Chapter is quite long.

Anyway, Let the Powerstones for the week begin.

....

The world inside the Walls was darker than one would expect. Most people saw Wall Sina as some sort of Paradise. In many aspects, it was.

In many aspects, it was also hell. The Military Police Brigade could be considered a rotten Government Organization.

Its officers being lazy, arrogant, oppressive, and did things only for their own benefit. Using the power their ranks bestowed on them against the common people.

Nevertheless, all that was merely child's play compared to the True corruption. Bred not by the Military Police but by The Nobility class of Wall Sina.

Filthy scum who were involved in all sorts of corrupt practices.

Humans Trafficking, Smuggling, Bribery, Torture, Exploitation, Killing … The list was extensive. Normal people In Wall Sina had to tread carefully around them to avoid getting on the bad side of one of them.

In the case that it happened, it was an immediate penalty sentence. No investigation, no witnesses, no evidence required of any kind. Many people had offended them only to disappear the following day, using the military police to achieve their aims.

As Lady Misfortune would have it, one such noble decided to place them up to such a task.

Humans Trafficking, Slave Trading. Even Gregor had his eyes bulge when he saw the details of the mission handed over from his superior.

On official records, they were here to transport the goods bought by a noble from Trost to Ehrmich. Nothing was wrong with this when put this way. It carried no falsehood.

However, that would change when anyone knew the true nature of the Goods they were transporting.

Humans.

That's right. The current ruckus going on in Trost about missing persons was their doing. Partially, to be more precise.

The Job could be explained as so. They, the Military Police were sent to Trost to guard a warehouse filled with goods ready to be transported. The goods, however, were human merchandise.

Women and children with good value who could be sold on the underground black market for a high price.

It was a five-day Job. On the Fifth day, they would leave Trost with the Merchandise and head towards a dropoff location on the way to Wall Sina.

There, a secondary handler team would be waiting to take the merchandise off their heads. Following which, they would be paid handsomely for their troubles and sent on their way.

Easy right? Wrong!

Trafficking was against The Grand Charter of Humanity (The Constitution in Countries)

Many still did it, but that was in secret.

Once discovered publicly, such a crime could only end with Life imprisonment or a straight-up death sentence. Not even Nobles could get away scot-free once caught. It was that serious.

Gregory walked on The streets of Trost, running his hand through his thinning hairline. The Moment he received this task, he had almost lost his mind. 

The MPs were corrupt, which was undeniable, but the vast majority still had limits. Very few would willingly take on such a dangerous Task, especially outside The Interior.

If they were caught, it would mean the end of them, but the Nobles involved would simply erase all evidence and deny outright.

Now worst of all, Gregor couldn't refuse. Why? Because the issue of the Task was from the Council.

The governing body under King Fritz that ruled over the world within the walls.

In his discussion with Ren, he wasn't kidding. If he had refused, chances are that they would be dead the next day. Never underestimate the nobles. As a man who had seen the dark side, Gregor knew that a separate Task Force existed outside the Military Police.

The First Interior Squad, a group of handpicked soldiers who directly served the Council at The Capital Mitras.

Those were the real guards of The King. Created to be The Sword of The Council to deal with those who stepped out of line. Even them.

The reality was suffocating.

The only silver lining in this was that they weren't the ones doing the kidnapping. No, the slave Traders were responsible for that.

Every day at different times, they would leave and return with "Products" from the Reeves Company that owned this warehouse while secretly bringing in women and children that had been kidnapped earlier.

The Reason why the Garrison hadn't found out when they investigated the place? The prisoners weren't kept in the warehouse itself but beneath it, hidden behind a false wall and a crate that led to an underground chamber.

And so, Gregor had done his job, knowing full well the kind of monsters he was helping.

Even so …

He needed space, if only for a few breaths.

The alley was tight, lined with the backs of abandoned market stalls and wooden crates piled high, casting deep, shifting shadows. He exhaled slowly. This job… This fucking job.

'Get it together Gregory. Just one more day and you'll …'.

His thought process was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps.

"Excuse me …"

'Huh?'

The man turned around to look. Not far, a teenage boy approached. "You're part of The Military Police. I would like to speak with you."

His steps stopped a few meters away. Face calm, voice bland. Gregory was stunned for a moment before taking a good look at the boy.

There was nothing out of the ordinary. At least, nothing he could see.

The only exception being what he assumed was a sheathed blade being carried on his waist.

Normally, civilians weren't supposed to carry weapons. Firearms were restricted and even blacksmiths couldn't forge any bladed weapons beyond kitchen knives.

They were some exceptions. Like bartenders who were allowed to keep guns for self-defense. Now, what was a brat doing with a sword out in the open?

Gregory took a good look at his kid again. Fair skin, dark hair, dark eyes. His clothing didn't really look wealthy and expensive, but it wasn't standard material. Not like the worn out clothes many wore. Perhaps from a well-off family, possibly a spoiled one.

Nevertheless …

"… Hmph! Beat it kid …" Gregor snorted with irritation. "I'm not in the mood."

This was the Truth.

If this were to happen in The Interior, he would have definitely pursued the matter. However, this was Trost. And with the Nature of his work, The man was in no mood to bother himself with such trivial issues.

He didn't know what to make of this new arrival, Nor did he care. Let the peasants play. As long as it didn't concern him.

Seiji raised an eyebrow.

"I'm sorry," His black irises turned red in an instant. "… But I wasn't asking."

Hearing his words, Gregor immediately grew irritant."Why you little …"

Turning his head, the first thing that came into view was a pair of glowing, scarlet eyes, rapidly enlarging. Until, everything went black.

Through the lens of his Sharingan, a mental projection of Seiji's consciousness descended into Gregor's mind, diving past the fragile barriers of resistance.

In an instant, he appeared in a dark, dimly lit warehouse. The whole landscape was gray in color, as if all bright colors had been drained out.

The memory space of each individual was different. With some being …. Brighter than others. The first thing that came into sight was Gregor in uniform, sitting at a table near a Lantern.

'Is this his current prevalent memory?.' In the process of using his Sharingan back at The Garrison, Seiji found out that the first memory he fell into was always the one that was most prevalent in The Target's mind.

Like the Sharingan reflecting the inner desires.

In simpler terms, he would be transported into a memory relating to whatever they were thinking at the moment of Genjutsu use.

He held no doubt about this theory. As in the test process of the first Garrison soldier's mind, he awakened in a room with The soldier in question in the midst of passionate activities with the opposite sex in bed.

Despite being in the Archive room, It was clear enough that his mind was elsewhere from that memory alone.

The same was happening right now.

Creak!

The sound of a creaking door drew his attention.

"Captain, they're here." The warehouse doors were pushed open, and a Military Police soldier called out.

"Oh? Alright then …" Under Seiji's gaze, Gregor indifferently stood from his seat and walked towards the door.

Outside, a large covered cart was at the warehouse entrance.

Alongside the Military Police officers, a group of men, dressed in dark, worn out clothing, stood in a half-circle, their faces hardened by criminal routine.

"Is this it? …"

Gregor asked once stepping outside.

None of them responded. Simply moving towards the Cart. Then, the tarp was gently pushed aside.

Inside, several people, bound on their hands and feet, with their mouths covered with clothing.

'Huh? …'. Seiji had his eyes widen. What the hell was he seeing?

Inside the Cart were numerous tied up women and children. Their faces streaked with dirt and fear. Seeing the soldiers standing there, many had their eyes light up with hope as they started struggling.

However. "I see. Take them in ..."

Looking at the people inside, Gregor nodded without a change in expression before ordering.

The Captives froze, not believing what they just heard. Under their confused gazes, The Military Police officers pushed the warehouse door open.

Then the tarp was closed. The Cart rode into the building, right past Seiji who was similarly confused at what he was seeing.

'What the? ...' Looking at the closing door, his eyebrows narrowed.

The door closed. The Tarp was completely removed. It was a cage.

'If this is what I think it is, then that means ...'

"Thomas, Scott, help unload the Merchandise and take them down below. ..."

Gregor gave orders.

He turned his head and locked onto his squad. Eight military police officers. Five men, Three women.

Observing all their expressions, he locked onto Ren who looked visibly shaken.

"Lina, you watch over them downstairs. Kol, Saria, Ren, you're on guard duty outside."

"Hey Captain, why does Lina get to have this one? Shouldn't we give our New rookie a go, let her see the ropes?"

Seiji's attention was drawn to the last female. The youngest of the group. Gregor in the memory frowned.

"No. Get to work now …"

Watching the Interactions, Seiji's face darkened. He came to find the Location of The True Monarchy, but instead stumbled upon something else entirely.

The next moment, his Sharingan glowed red, illuminating the entire space. The memory lurched forward.

The scenes flashed quickly.

The unloading of the prisoners, the movement of a crate to reveal a secret passage, In an instant, Seiji appeared somewhere else. It was still in the Warehouse, but now below it.

Rows of cages lined the underground chamber. Women and children huddled inside, many with bruises. Some were silent, their expressions blank—resigned.

Even an idiot would understand what was happening at this point.

The Military Police who were supposed to be guarding goods until they were ready for transport were Trafficking humans.

Understanding this, his expression returned to normal, an unnatural gleam in his eyes.

The scene shifted.

A lavish office in Wall Sina. Heavy velvet curtains, a polished mahogany desk, fine wine poured into a crystalline glass.

And behind the desk sat a fat man with a bald head and a full beard, dressed in noble attire.

His fingers steepled together in thought.

"This operation must go smoothly," he said, voice calm, measured. Detached. "The Reeves Company has already been compensated. Your squad will ensure the transition to the handlers is flawless."

"And if something goes wrong?" Gregor's voice asked. The noble gave a small, thin smile.

"Let us hope it never gets to that, Captain Gregor …"

----

"I see …"back in reality, Seiji muttered with narrowed eyebrows. Just enough to reach Gregor's ears.

Currently, the Man stood frozen in place, Unable to move a muscle.

"The Military Police are the ones responsible for the Missing Person's in Trost."

In The Garrison, Seiji had gone through the Files. The reports on disappearing people certainly reached him. However, he hadn't cared then.

After all, this was a matter that didn't concern him. Not to mention, he had no plans to stay In the City, even if he did, The investigation of such matters was not in his list of priorities.

Now, he had stumbled on a Truth he didn't intend to. Seiji felt a flicker of something within himself. Familiarity. Disgust. Recognition.

Though those feelings lasted for barely a second. Just from his memories of The AoT anime, Seiji wasn't surprised after thinking about if for a few more seconds.

It had always been stated that The MPs were the most corrupt Force in the Military. Performing all sorts of Evil as lackeys for the nobles, who served as the spearhead.

If he remembered right, Mikasa Ackerman had experienced a similar situation. The Traffickers wanting to kidnap her and her mother and sell them to nobles in The Interior as slaves.

In hindsight,

A Noble, running a slave trading ring was nothing surprising. As a Chunin who had carried out assassination and infiltration tasks, Seiji had seen worse in The Ninja world.

The underground black Market in the Shinobi Villages was a prime example. Hence, Seiji's wasn't at all shocked at what he had discovered.

Nevertheless, as a Transmigrator with a past life, it was inevitable that he would feel disgusted with such an act.

His past life memories weren't even necessary. As prideful Ninja, any random Uchiha would frown on such acts of preying on the helplessness of the weak. Especially when the oppressors were scum with no actual power to begin with.

'Still …'. He thought, refocusing on his primary goal. 'That's not what I'm here for'.

In the Genjutsu, the scenes changed.

Next, he appeared in a hallway with carefully placed royal banners that draped over the walls.

"Welcome To Mitras rookies …"

A voice caught his attention. Turning around, what came into sight was a group of individuals coming down the hallway.

A high-ranking officer stood at the front, his uniform crisp, posture firm. His voice was calm, authoritative.

"This Is where you will spend the next few months of your Internship. To decide whether you can work in the Capital as a member of The First Interior Squad, or whether you will return to join The normal Police Force …."

Seiji watched from the side, his gaze quickly locking onto a brown haired boy in the group of new recruits.

'I guess that's him a decade before now at very least'.

"… In the First Interior Squad, there is only one rule. Our job is to carry out the orders of The Nobles in the Council. The Leaders of Humanity, To Protect The Peace within The Walls …"

'No'.

This wasn't it.

Watching as they moved further away, Seiji shook his head. The next moment, his Sharingan glowed red, illuminating the entire space.

The scene changed.

The next one was in a Barracks.

"Security around the Noble estate remains tight, but as always, we handle our assignments with discretion,"

No.

His Sharingan spun yet again… 

The scene changed to another memory.

"…. Only vetted personnel are assigned to operations near the noble families …"

'I'm really not good at this, am I?'

Seiji focused, changing the scene yet again.

In the process of reading More Memories, Seiji realized that it was still too shallow.

He had expected the Military Police to know more about The Noble structures of Wall Sina.

Including the Reiss Family. Now going through the mind of one, he realized his hopes were a bit too unrealistic.

Did the Military Police know what he was searching for?

Perhaps they did. However, searching through Memories wasn't easy. The farther back, the harder it was. Not to mention the location of The Reiss Regional Lands wasn't a common point of discussion. As the True ruler of The Walls, Rod Reiss would definitely keep a low profile.

Meaning little would be known about him, even by people of The Military Police. Not every MP was stationed in Mitras, or anywhere near it.

That position was mostly reserved for The First Interior Squad who directly served the Council while the Main Military Police Force were stationed in the Districts in Wall Sina several kilometers away from The Capital.

From the looks of it, this ... Gregor had the chance but failed. Seiji wasn't interested in finding out how.

It wasn't a complete waste, though. At least he knew more now about Wall Sina and the inner Nobility class. It seemed this man had done a great deal of work for them throughout his career.

This time, the scene changed to a vast open field. From the looks of it, It was a Farmland.

And not far away was a farm. Before Seiji could question what possible importance this memory had, the door of the house was kicked open. Following which, several people were being dragged out by Military Police Officers.

"Get out you Peasants! ...".

It was a family of three. A man, woman and a young girl. Three MPs pulled them out, dragging them across the earth roughly before tossing them to the floor.

Not surprisingly, Gregor, whose memories he was inhabiting, was one of them. His face was younger, and his actions more restrained unlike the others. Still, he was here.

The next scene involved the first Two Police Officers beating the shit out of the man while the mother and daughter screamed and begged for mercy.

"Tell me, you have anything to say now?..."

One said, stepping on the man's head.

".... Please .... L-let .. My family .. Go."

"Oh, your family, huh?" Listening to the man's weak voice, The MP shrugged with disdain.

"I wish I could. After all, I don't like wasting my time doing this either when I could be enjoying a nice game of cards. But rules are rules …". He said, mustering up his gun.

"… You saw something you weren't supposed to see. Now, Lord Arnold wants you gone. I can only count you unlucky. As for what happens to your family? …"

The MP uttered, cocking the gun. "That's also not for us to decide. I can only say they will probably wish they died with you today …"

"No! Please, don't!"

"Daddy! Daddy!"

Seiji listened to the screams as he watched the mother and daughter expressionlessly. Their faces filled with snot and tears. 

The sound of a Gunshot resounded in the air. Seiji let out a breath. His Sharingan flaring as he disappeared from this memory scene.

The next scene wasn't much better. Information on The Location of The Reiss was still absent.

"Please Don't ..." a man who was just thrown into the cellar, hurriedly scrambled to his feet and banged against the Iron bars.

"Let me go. I didn't do any of it. I swear ..."

Seiji turned his gaze. Walking away was Gregor, who had just thrown the man into prison, probably for a crime he knew the man didn't commit.

Throughout the process, he didn't turn or blink. Just walked away expressionlessly under the constant roars.

Scene change.

"Please. We have nowhere to go …"

"Not my problem."

Gregor said as he locked the door to the house.

"You failed to pay your debts. This property has now been confiscated. If you are caught in this house again, you will be killed …"

Later that night.

A Gunshot resounded. In the same house.

Looking at the mother laying on the floor, blood forming a puddle and the two children shaking like leaves in a storm, Gregor took a deep breath.

Outside the window, Seiji watched without a change.

The scene changed again.

And again.

And Again.

Different scenes, different memories, different actions from different ages. With no clear Idea where to look, Seiji could only dial back and forth constantly. Constantly infusing Chakra to keep the Genjutsu going.

This was harder than he thought it would be. Did the simple name, Reiss not ring any bells?

"... I can't believe it. Wall Maria actually ..."

"Yeah. I heard the gates were kicked open by a Giant Titan."

"That means … We lost all the land in Wall Maria?"

"Yep. What a shitty day. For some more than others."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"You didn't hear? Apparently, a group of bandits laid waste to a Chapel North near Orvud district. I heard the Lord of the land and his family were praying inside, but the bandits set it on Fire."

"By the walls … Bandits attacked the nobles? What happened ?"

"What do you think happened? Except for The Lord of the Territory, Rod Reiss. Everyone else died last night."

It was a discussion in a bar, a day after The Fall Of Wall Maria. Seiji looked at Gregor sitting and chatting with his friends, a gleam of light in his eyes.

Now he remembered. In season Three of the anime, when Rod Reiss transformed into a Titan, he crawled all the way from The Reiss Chapel to the nearest human city.

Orvud District.

From the looks of it, this Gregor had been stationed at Ehrmich District in the south for years. Orvud was on the other side of Mitras, down North. Hence, he had never been to the District or the surrounding areas in his entire life. Luckily, he wasn't completely clueless.

"That's enough ..." He said to himself, his Sharingan glowing. In an instant, the colorless world aroused and him shattered like a cracked puzzle piece.

The Genjutsu was lifted.

The scene returned to the alleyway.

"... Ugh ..."

The moment the Memory reading ended, Gregor let out a light groan.

The Fog in his head lifted like the fading remnants of a dream, leaving behind a strange, lingering unease.

"I'm ..." he spoke, then paused as his stomach twisted. For a moment, he remembered a lot of things.

Many things he wasn't proud of. Memories he had buried deep down to never see the light of another day.

The sensation was subtle,

A creeping violation that sat heavy in his gut, like waking up and knowing someone had been in your room while you slept.

He couldn't explain it. Couldn't grasp what had changed. But his instincts screamed at him.

"... What… did you just? …"

Raising his head, the words barely escaped his lips before he stopped, his gaze locking onto the figure ahead.

It was the young boy. Instantly, he knew something was wrong. The last logical thing he remembered was this kid talking to him. Then, nothing. Now he felt weird all over.

The person in question was already walking away, his pace unhurried, casual. As if nothing had happened.

The unease sharpened into something more tangible.

"Hey."

Gregor's voice cut through the air, sharp with tension. No response. Seiji kept walking, his posture completely relaxed.

Gregor clenched his jaw, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. Every part of him was telling him to act.

His fingers tightened around his gun. Pulling it off his shoulder and aiming.

"Stop."

The command came out steadier than he expected. It seemed to work as well.

In the distance, Seiji paused. Slowly, he turned his head, and Gregor felt his breath catch in his throat.

Red.

A deep, pulsing crimson bled through the young man's irises, swirling like something alive. The unnatural glow locked onto Gregor, pinning him in place with an invisible weight.

Never before had he seen someone with such red eyes. It was ominous just looking at it.

His grip on the gun tightened.

"… I don't know what the hell you just did, neither do I know how," he growled, forcing steel into his voice, "…but I don't like it."

Seiji didn't answer. Didn't blink.

Gregor swallowed. As an MP, he had relied on his instincts to survive in this dangerous world for so long.

They had never failed him before. And right now, every single one of them was telling him to shoot.

"… I asked you a question. Answer me, or I will put you down where you …"

It happened then. In an instant, the world shifted.

The streets, the buildings, the very air around him bled into a sickening red. His stomach lurched, the ground beneath him vanishing into an endless void. A suffocating pressure settling over him like a second skin.

'What The .'.

Under his shocked gaze, Everything around him faded. Gregor watched with panic as the air around him seemed to twist and warp irregularly.

Time elapsed, barely for a second. Gregor found himself in a whole new environment.

The sky was crimson red, as were the horizons and the floors. No moon, no sun. In the vast crimson, he stood particularly conspicuous, like a black blemish.

'Where … Where am I?'

Panic set in quickly. Clearly not understanding what was happening, his head dashed back and forth in a frenzy.

Though that didn't last long, as a shadow soon enveloped him amidst his mix of emotions.

Gregor froze. His eyes widening as he turned around in haste. The result?

'… My … By the Walls …'.

Thud!

The Gun in his possession subconsciously fell out of his grip. Nevertheless, the man didn't notice.

Tall, large, Naked ….

In The world of nothing but red, enveloped in its shadow was Gregory. E. Mendis, standing before a Titan of astronomical proportions.

'It … it can't be …'. The man muttered to himself in horror. 'How … How can it be so Tall?'

He knew the Colossal Titan was 60 meters tall. He had been on wall Sina and looked at if from the bottom. Yet, this … This was …

It happened then. The massive structure leaned forward as it lowered itself, at a height double the size of Wall Maria, a wide, almost crazy grin plastered on its grotesque features.

Gregor's breath hitched. He had never seen a Titan before, much less gone against one. But now, one was staring down at him with that creepy grin.

In an instant, Gregor ran. Or at least he tried to. Much to his despair, he found he couldn't move a muscle.

'Why … Why can't I …'? The man looked downward, quickly discovering his trembling body. Fear.

During his time in Wall Rose, he had heard a member of The Garrison who had survived The Shiganshina breach. How he froze up in his first real encounter against a Titan.

It happened then.

The Titan seemed tired of observing.

Then, it stretched its hand downwards. Sweeping down in one grabbing motion.

Gregor's eyes widened even more.

"No! No!"

As if by magic, the restraints on his movements vanished as he ran in the other direction as fast as his two legs could carry him.

Too bad, it wasn't fast enough.

Barely covering a few meters when the Titan hand grabbed him. Raising him until he was at eyes length.

'Hehe he hehe'. Could Titans laugh? He didn't know the answer, but he was sure this one did.

Eerie chuckles emerge from its maw as it looked at him before opening wide and pulling him in.

Until now, Gregor still didn't realize what was happening. How he had left Trost and appeared in this place.

However, the realization of what was about to happen set all too well. He was going to die.

Like that, the last straw snapped.

"No, please No! Help! Don't do this … I don't want to die! I beg of you … Just please don't eat meeee! …".

The Titan's mouth bit down.

Bam.

Blood splattered into the air as the man's upper and lower body was bitten into two halves.

Back in the real world, Gregor stood frozen, his gun trembling in his grip. His pupils were blown wide, his breath coming in shallow, uneven bursts. His lips parted in a silent scream, but no sound came out.

Then, like a puppet with its strings cut—

He collapsed.

Upon falling to the Floor, silence once again returned to the alleyway.

Then,

Seiji, who hadn't said a word, silently deactivated his Sharingan. Then resumed his walk without looking back.