A Sound Argument

Over dinner, Military Police leadership picks apart the state of the island. The Volunteers sit under arrest, and the drunk officer Roeg complains that Historia should already have devoured Zeke; only her pregnancy by a farmhand at her orphanage forced the postponement. He suspects Yelena engineered the timing and wonders what her people intend. Nile defends the queen's freedom to pick her own partner while a Marleyan servant, on Niccolo's recommendation, fetches more wine for the table.

Elsewhere the remnants of the 104th weigh what their friend has become. Connie argues the man in custody is no longer Eren at all and that they should be ready to cut him down; Mikasa answers with a memory from the previous year. In 853, laying railroad track in the heat, the group learned from Hange that Hizuru's diplomacy had come to nothing, since the world preferred keeping Paradis as its common enemy and Hizuru its monopoly. On the ride home, talk turned to who would inherit Eren's Titans as his term wound down. His friends volunteered one by one, and Eren turned every offer aside, telling them they were too important to him and should live long lives. In the present the memory moves no one. Jean notes that Eren dragged them onto the front lines at Liberio, Connie recalls him laughing at the news of Sasha's death, and Armin concludes that they must uncover Eren's true motives and prove he is on their side; failing that, someone else will have to eat him.

By a stream far from the prison, Falco snatches away Gabi's armband and wrestles her out of attacking a local girl who innocently invites the runaways home for a meal. In Liberio, Magath briefs the Warriors: only Zeke's limbs were found with the Beast Titan's corpse, meaning he staged his death and defected. A newly formed global military alliance intends to scour Paradis from the map within six months, and Marley should wait rather than repeat its lone-handed failure. Reiner slams the table and demands an immediate surprise assault, precisely because patience is what Zeke will be counting on.

The Military Police reveal that Historia's pregnancy has delayed the plan for her to inherit Zeke's Titan, and Roeg accuses Yelena of arranging it.

Connie declares the group must be prepared to kill Eren; Armin resolves to prove Eren's loyalty but accepts he may have to be devoured.

A flashback to 853 shows Hizuru's failed diplomacy and Eren refusing to pass his power to any of his friends.

Gabi and Falco are taken in by a farm girl, defusing Gabi's impulse to attack her.

Magath discloses Zeke's betrayal and the global alliance's six-month timetable against Paradis; Reiner argues for attacking at once.

Chapter 108 fills the second slot of volume 27, published August 9, 2018 in Japan with the English simulpub a day before. Hajime Isayama's material here was adapted across the anime episodes A Sound Argument and Deceiver.

The chapter delivers the first concrete details of the worldwide coalition arrayed against Paradis Island, and the train-track flashback offers one of the last portraits of the 104th at ease together before the schism over Eren's course hardens into open conflict.