Ignorance

"Do you know what I hate most in this world? Anyone who isn't free. That, or cattle. Just looking at them made me so angry."

- Eren expresses his anger towards "slaves"

Ignorance (無知) is the 2nd chapter of the 28th volume and the 112th chapter overall of the Attack on Titan manga, written and illustrated by Hajime Isayama.

Overview
Nicolo is grilled for information concerning the wine. From this, Hange Zoë realizes that Zeke Yeager has lied about his spinal fluid paralyzing its victims. As Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlert reassure Gabi Braun that they do not want to kill her, Eren Yeager walks into the room. Meanwhile, the other Yeagerists enter the restaurant, led there by another Marleyan worker. They restrain those present and revealing that they refuse to negotiate with Dot Pixis. They demand that Hange leads them to Zeke.

While Gabi sits nervously, Eren, Mikasa, and Armin sit down to talk. Armin questions Eren over attacking Liberio. Eren declares that he chose to do so of his own free will, though Mikasa disagrees, believing that he is being manipulated. Angered, he begins chastising the two for lacking freedom: Armin for being manipulated by Bertolt Hoover's memories, and Mikasa for her Ackerman heritage. He explains that the Ackermans were designed to protect Eldia's Kings, and as a result, the family instinctively protects one they recognize as their host. Speaking in disgust, Eren tells Mikasa that he has always hated her. Armin and Eren begin a fist fight, though the former is quickly beaten. Elsewhere, Levi Ackerman is informed about Darius Zackly's death, and tells the courier to let Pixis know of his plan to have Zeke eaten. As Levi is lost in his thoughts, Zeke darts off and lets out a scream. Levi's comrades fall from the surrounding trees, transformed into Titans.

Summary
Jean slams Nicolo against the wall and demands to know what he meant by Zeke's spinal fluid being in the wine. Nicolo mentions that, while having no proof, the amount of wine shipped by the survey ships was more than what a short-term surveying voyage would require. He goes on to reveal that Yelena ordered him to serve the wine to members of the Corps, starting with the high-ranking officers. To his knowledge, Yelena was acting alone although he did not know about the other volunteers. Onyankopon reassures Hange that he was oblivious of this. Connie objects and mentions that Eldians freeze up the moment they consume Zeke's spinal fluid just as what had happened in Ragako but Hange bitterly mentions it was what Zeke had told them and due to no one else being present, there is no way to confirm the validity of this claim. Hange says that if they were to believe that such a telltale sign of being dosed with Zeke's spinal fluid exists, no one would suspect of being poisoned by it unless the sign came about.

Nicolo affirms Jean's claim that he had no proof for it, but he says that it was common knowledge to any Marleyan soldier in what manner Zeke's spinal fluid had been used in the past. Nicolo recalls how about ten years ago, Marley took down an enemy nation's capital in one night by sending several hundred Eldians into the capital after administrating Zeke's spinal fluid to them and all it took was one scream from Zeke for the Eldians to transform into Titans and utterly destroy the place. When Jean asks why Nicolo stopped them from drinking the wine, he responds that he is not sure why he did that. He reveals that the original plan was to survey the island of devils and save the world. He becomes distraught on seeing Mr. Blouse and regrets trying to kill Gabi. Mr. Blouse expresses his concern over Ben but Hange states that they will act assuming Nicolo is right and orders everyone present to remove their jackets and to not touch their faces or mouths, telling Onyankopon to inform Mikasa and the others of this.

Mikasa and Armin sit with Gabi, who asks why they protected her after she killed Sasha and escaped; she asks Falco to not be harmed and for them to kill her. Armin muses that her ideology reminds him of Eren, who unexpectedly appears in the doorway. He silently raises his right hand, showing his palm has been sliced open and bleeding.

As the others clean Falco, Onyankopon calls out for Hange to come to him; it is revealed that the Yeagerists have taken Onyankopon at gunpoint and Floch demands they reveal Zeke's location. Hange asks if they heard the proposal from Commander Pixis, but Floch reveals they refused it and will not negotiate with the Military on Eren's command. When Hange tries to negotiate and reveals the wine bottles have been infused with Zeke's spinal fluid, Floch merely scoffs at it; one of the Yeagerists, Grior, mentions they have no proof and move to restrain them all. Jean says it is part of the enemies plan, but Floch lets slip that the MP's will just look even more stupid: stunned, Hange asks if he knew about this all along. Floch merely tells them to be quiet, forming an evil smile and informs Eren they are leaving.

Inside, Eren tells Armin and Mikasa that he wants to talk in a quiet setting and that Eldia's conflicts can be solved without violence; he does however request that they have their hands on the table at all times. Armin asks Eren why he wanted to attack Marley on his own and if Zeke and Yelena have convinced him to join their cause. Eren merely replies that he is free and did it of his own free will. Mikasa claims that he is being controlled and recalls how he saved her from the kidnappers who killed her parents. Ignoring this, Eren reveals that he spoke with Zeke while in Marley and asks Armin if he is still visiting Annie; he mentions that if memories play a role in forming who a person is, that means part of Bertolt's memories have become part of Armin too and calls him a soft, useless traitor. When Mikasa interjects, Eren reveals that the Ackerman family can manifest the power of the Titans at times of great stress and will instinctively act to protect anyone who is recognized as Eldia's king; he theorizes that is why Mikasa has been so dependent on Eren for so many years. Finally, he mentions that Ackermans find themselves fighting their true self at times, which can manifest as severe headaches. Armin sees Mikasa is too shocked to react and tells Eren to stop; ignoring him, Eren reminds them that he hates only two things in the world: anyone not content with truly being free and obedient cattle. Calling her both, he vehemently tells Mikasa that he has hated her since he was a kid. As Mikasa starts to cry, Armin lunges over to attack Eren, only to be stopped by Mikasa and slammed against the table: both are horrified by this and Eren merely repeats that it is due to Mikasa's lineage. Armin punches Eren in the face and is sent into a shelf. After Eren beats him and mentions he would never last in a fight, he orders all of them to be taken and travels with them to Shiganshina District.

In the Titan forest, Levi meets with several members of the Survey Corps up in the trees and learns about both the death of Zackly and of Pixis's plan. He internally fights himself for having saved Eren so many times and his many friends and comrades have been killed over nothing. He tells the two Survey Corpsmen they will capture a Yeagerist and transfer Zeke's power to them until Historia is ready. Levi orders them to go inform Pixis and descends from the tree. Barely looking up, Zeke asks if there is any wine left at the camp. Levi replies there is not, prompting Zeke to bemusedly state Levi comes up with the worst punishments. Levi walks away and grimly steels himself to kill Zeke, confident that he will not get away with the numerous Corpsmen in the trees. Composing himself, Levi internally tells Erwin that he will finally be able to fulfill the vow he made all those years ago when he notices Zeke running into the forest. Suddenly, Zeke lets out a piercing scream; horrified, Levi can only look as the numerous Survey Corps soldiers above him begin to fall out of the trees and transform into Titans.

Navigation
Chapitre 112