Mission Objectives

 is the 4th and final chapter of the 18th volume and the 74th chapter overall of the Attack on Titan manga, written and illustrated by Hajime Isayama.

Overview
Eren succeeds in sealing the hole in Wall Maria with his Titan powers, but it seems everything was too easy. Levi reminds him that their enemies can breach the Wall again at any time, so until they find and kill them, the mission is not over. Armin finds traces of three people drinking tea nearby not long ago, and Erwin leaves him in charge of the Survey Corps to direct their search mission. Under Armin's orders, the Survey Corps search all over the district until Armin eventually leads them to search inside the Walls, thinking that it may be their most plausible hideout. Armin's hunch is correct and they find Reiner, who quickly kills the soldier who located the hollow spot within the wall where he hid. Levi attacks and cuts Reiner's nape and chest, but fails to kill him and the latter transforms into the Armored Titan; though still laying on the ground and appearing to be fazed by his injuries. The Beast Titan then appears leading an army of Titans, and launches a rock at the inner gate of Shiganshina, blocking the only entrance and trapping the Survey Corps inside the district without their horses. Planning to kill or be killed, Erwin and the corps ready themselves for an all out battle, as the Armored Titan rises and the Beast Titan and his army approach.

Summary
Eren jumps towards the hole and successfully closes it with his hardened titan form. Eren returns to his human form, his 3DMG is still in his possession but his cloak is gone. Mikasa gives her cloak to Eren so he can hide himself.

Eren: Thank you

Hanji: How are you feeling?

Eren: I am fine. I can continue with the plan.

Hanji: Let’s move toward the inner gate [Eren closes the outer gate of Shiganshina, inner gate is where Erwin & Armin are]

Eren: Is the hole really closed?

Mikasa: You’re the one who did it.

Eren: This fast?

Mikasa: Believe in your own strength.

Eren: …

Eren: The hole that was made on that day… [flashback picture]

Levi: Not yet.

Eren: !

Levi: As long as they [Reiner & Bertholdt] are still in good shape, no matter how many times it is closed, it will be destroyed again. Got it?

Levi: Until Reiner or Bertholdt or all of the enemies are killed, the mission to reclaim wall Maria is not over.

Eren: Of course. I understand!

Squad leader: There is no attack. Are the enemy not able to respond to our attack?

The Squad Leader tells Erwin that there is no attack happening. Armin returns from his recon mission and reports to Erwin that he found three cups nearby (meaning that there were three people there). Erwin asks whether the cups were already cold, and Armin says yes.

[Right side]

Armin: I have surveyed the area [where Bert’s and Reiner’s remain is]. There are camping equipment scattered around the ground.

Armin: It seems that they are drinking things similar to tea.

Armin: (smells good, what did they drink?)

Armin: The drinking cups are already cold. And inside the cups there is trace of some black color liquid has been poured inside. At least there are 3 of cups, so that means at least there are 3 people have been on top of the wall.

[Left side]

Squad leader: 3 person?!

Erwin: So the iron cups are already cold?

Armin: Yes.

Erwin: That is strange…

Armin: Huh?

Squad leader: The cups?!

Erwin: We reached here in full speed by utilising horses and 3DMG. From this point, to realise by sound or view that we’re approaching, at least the only have 2 minutes [to escape]. There is no way that these cups could become cold within 2 minutes just right after they are used.

Erwin finds it strange that the cups are already cold because it only took them two minutes by horse to enter the town even while speeding towards the gate. However, it should’ve taken the cups at least five minutes to get cold. Therefore he thinks that they might have known that the SC is coming even before they entered Shiganshina.

[Right side]

Erwin: The enemy at least had around more than 5 minutes to know that we’re coming. Not sure what kind of method they are using, but one thing for sure is that they have enough time to get ready when are approaching.

Armin: In other word, aside from those 3 who were on top of the wall, there was another person who did the patrol…no, they must have been in a large group.

Erwin: Now we need to find where the enemy is.

Erwin: Arlert, You have saved us from difficult situation many times with that brain of yours. This is the right time that we need your strength once again.

[Left side]

Erwin: I am assigning enough numbers of soldier to find out whether there are enemy hiding at this inner gate area.

Soldier: There is no abnormality around the area.

Erwin: From now on we must follow Armin Arlert’s instruction. Let’s continue the search.

Armin: ..!!

Soldiers: Roger that!!!

Soldiers: We have checked thoroughly the wall area!!! Now, give us your instruction, Arlert!

Armin: … split into two groups to check the surrounding buildings of the inner gate at the inner and outer district. If you find anything fire a sound signal…

Erwin entrusts Armin to lead the search party to find those three because he thinks that Armin’s ideas have saved the SC many times. Erwin then tells the search party to listen to Armin’s instructions, which makes Armin feel nervous. The Squad Leader asks Erwin if they need to continue the plan and Erwin said yes, they must continue.

[Right side]

Armin: Your cooperation, please…

Soldiers: Roger that!!

Squad leader: Are you placing a huge bet again?

Erwin: No, I decide on this based on his achievement.

Erwin: He is one of our important weapons.

Squad leader: Eren & co. are returning. What shall we do? Shall we halt the mission until we find the enemy.

Erwin: Continue.

Erwin says that the enemy must’ve thought that the SC wouldn’t stay long in this area because their chances of winning a battle are lower here (it’s enemy territory). However they are not the only ones with a secret plan [Erwin looks at the new arm-protective 3DMG addition].Armin finds it strange that the enemy didn’t aim for Eren when he was trying to close the hole, and he came to conclusion that they must have planned for Eren to exhaust his energy on his hardened form. Armin starts to think that if the SC were to fail this time, there will be no next time. The enemy seems to bide their time and wait for the best opening, and if they are going to face each other in battle, the SC is has a disadvantage. Then, Armin realizes that the enemy are always attacking the SC using unexpected methods. Armin calls all the search party members back and requests that they check the wall. The search party protests that they have already checked the wall, but Armin tells them to check it again thoroughly – especially inside the wall (in the spots where humans can hide inside).The search party once again starts to protest Armin’s orders, but Erwin stops the argument by sending smoke signals to halt the plan. Erwin reprimands them and tells them that good soldiers must always follow their leaders at all times. He asks all of the search party members to follow their leader’s (Armin’s) orders because they came here to win.

[They resume the search.]

Connie: What are they doing? I think it’s alright for us to stop here.

Jean: Yeah, if that’s the case then there’s no point in this retrieval mission.

Eren: What is Armin planning this time?

One of Squad Leaders finds a cave (a crack on the wall that forms a hole). Reiner suddenly appears from the hole and kills the Squad Leader.

[Levi immediately lunges for Reiner’s nape and tries to kill him.]

[But he was unable to completely cut him through, even though he tried to stab Reiner in the heart.]

Armin: Captain! Levi: Shit!!! Levi: Is this the true power of a titan?! Levi: Just one more step… Levi: I wasn’t able to kill him.

[Reiner transforms into the Armored Titan.]

Erwin: Everyone check your surroundings and try to find and capture the other enemies.

[Ape titan appears with other titans.]

[Ape Titan throws a giant rock against the gate.]”

Man: Did it miss? Erwin: No, he has good control. He tried to close the hole so that the soldiers wouldn’t be able to ride through. First it aimed for the horses and then surrounded us. They won’t leave any chance for us to retreat.

Erwin: This is what both we and the enemy wanted. Let’s settle this here and now, between mankind and the titans. Erwin: Who will survive and who will die.