Location of the Counterattack

The Place of The Counterattack  is the 54th chapter of Shingeki no Kyojin manga written and illustrated by Hajime Isayama.

Overview
Historia as a child sits with an unknown woman, who taught her how to read. Then the woman leaves. Current time, Historia wakes up, unable to remember her dream but knows it was important. She and Eren talk, and Eren says he prefers her now to her when she was trying to be all perfect Krista. The Reebs Company men go to make sure their captured Eren and Krista are the real ones, but are ambushed by Levi and some others. Levi takes the president of the company to sit on the wall, they talk, and Levi convinces him to help, and says he'll give them Eren and Krista under three conditions.

Summary
The chapter opens as a woman looks over  a young Historia in the shadow of a hay bale as Historia reads a book. She compliments Historia, impressed by her skill, but Historia quickly responds with a smile, saying that it's all thanks to her "big sister", the woman in question. Laughing, the woman playfully teases Historia to be more lady-like as a line of snot drips down Historia's nose. Confused, Historia asks what it means to be "lady-like". The woman points to an illustration of a girl offering an apple to a hooded, malicious figure and suggests that to be lady-like is to be like the character in the book: kind, gentle, and always thinking about those around her. She urges Historia to have the love of everyone around her to be able to work together with others, as the world is "full of nothing but pain and hardship." Historia turns and says she wants to "be like you, sis." The woman clutches and hugs Historia to her chest as they both laugh. Then just as quickly, the woman knocks her forehead against Historia's, tells her to forget all about her, dons her hat, and leaves. Historia looks after to her, confused - she has already forgotten the woman's identity.

In the present, Historia wakes up with a jolt, her arm reaching out on the table, startling Eren awake as well. She comments that she felt like she had a very important dream, but can't remember it. Rubbing his eyes, Eren mentions that often happens to him. Shocked that it's almost sunset, Eren wonders aloud if their opponent is truly the Reebs Corporation.

Sliding into the chair opposite Historia, Armin looks away and apologizes for failing to harden, forcing the Survey Corps into the current strategy. Historia asks why he's apologizing to her; confused, Eren mentions Historia's wish to help Ymir as soon as possible. Historia suggests her feelings have changed, that "help" isn't the correct word. She acknowledges that Ymir's choices were her own, and that all Historia has left now is her family she knows nothing about - leaving her wondering if she's even able to handle such responsibility.

Eren asks her what she wants to do. After a brief pause, Historia tells him that she envies him, always knowing exactly what he wants to do, much like their comrades in the Survey Corps. Now that Ymir is gone, Historia no longer knows who she is (figuratively) or what she wants, referring to her past life as Krista Lenz. Eren flippantly replies that he had no clue when taking action; looking around at the state of their world, if he did nothing those he cared about would be eaten and lost. In that sense, there's nothing else to do besides act. Bluntly, Eren suggests Historia should worry about Armin taking her place, rather than her own woes. She apologizes, describing Krista in terms similar to how the older woman described a "lady" and noting Krista would have been concerned immediately. Historia Reiss, however, wasn't loved, didn't wish to be born into her life, and is empty - like a character in a book, Krista and girls like her are nothing but fiction. The real Historia is empty and has lost hope.

Eren looks Historia in her eyes and waves away that comment; he had always disliked Krista, seeing her as phony - but Historia is normal, a "stupidly honest, regular person."

At the warehouse, one of the Reebs men confirms they have captured Eren and Krista, but when pressed admits he hasn't checked for disguises. As the three men enter the warehouse, they note the guard is missing. In a flash, Levi and Mikasa subdue the three men and Armin and Jean tie them up. Mikasa shouts to the roof for confirmation that all targets have been captured, and Connie affirms. In that moment, however, the leader of the three men begins to pull out a pistol. In a flash, an arrow pierces it and the threat is subdued. Levi asks the man who drew the pistol if he was the boss; he stammers that he is the chauffeur, and that he doesn't know anything. Mikasa takes a look at him and remembers his face: this is the President of the Reebs Corporation. Levi grabs the President, and orders the Survey Corps to leave his men behind in the warehouse. While adjusting a hostage's gag, Armin is harassed, but Jean urges him to ignore it and move on.

Levi has brought the President to the top of the former front gate of Trost - *his* town, as the President identifies it, "dangerous and scary, but profitable." Levi notes it is the site of Humanity's first victor over the Titans, but also proof of its helplessness. They used a Titan's power to plug a hole opened by another Titan, and regular humans simply can't compete. Of course, he notes, countless soldiers sacrificed their lives to make that possible, a series of miracles to keep the town alive. One of those miracles is Eren, Levi notes. The President chuckles, sitting with his legs over the wall as he smokes a cigar.

Levi sits next to him and asks about the details of his negotiations with the Brigade. The President remarks his Corporation was simply following orders; however, with the failure of the night raid and the abduction, the Government will seize their property and throw their families onto the streets. Dryly, he predicts that he and his men will die in some "freak accident" to ensure their silence. He stands, laughing - the Brigade, in his eyes, is nothing but fools, unable to even comprehend how the Survey Corps could stand against them. Levi agrees, then turns - is the President really going to let those same fools kill him?

The President snarls; they're fools with authority, while the Survey Corps is packed with fools who are eaten by Titans. Levi notes it's no different than fighting a Titan; if you're going to die either way, might as well go down with your fists up. Levi states the town has survived this far thanks to Reebs; without it, the town would die. Reebs glares; countless more will die if the Brigade doesn't get their way. Precisely, remarks Levi - that's why he will hand Eren and "Krista" over to Reebs.

The Survey Corp is shocked; however, Levi offers three conditions. First (1), Reebs must join the Survey Corps against the Brigade and the Government. Second (2), Reebs will place all its trust in the Survey Corps. And third, (3), the Survey Corps will get first pick of any luxury items obtained by Reebs. Impressed by Levi's savvy and fortitude, Reebs agrees to his terms and they shake hands.

In the night, Reebs leads a caravan on a road carved into a cliff. Two Brigade officers ask if he's positive the two Shifters are in the wilderness; Reebs shouts back that he's keeping Eren in a cave. Suddenly, the Brigade officers' carriage wheel slips off the path. Screaming, they plunge into the raging waters below. Another Briage man wheels his horse around to request a search. Across the river, Reebs looks to see the Survey Corp has recovered the bodies.

Flashing back by a couple hours, Eren gazes at his key with Mikasa while the other members of the Survey Corps gather around a small candle-lit table. In another room, Hange and Levi prepare their torture equipment for the Briigade office Sanes. And in a room in the capital, five men are gathered. One wears the uniform of the Brigade, one wears a priest's robe - and in the middle, on a throne, his crown by a bottle of alcohol on a nearby table, sits the King.

By the light of a candle, Erwin reveals his plan - with their power, the Survey Corp will overthrow the government, and take authority over everyone left behind the Wall.