At night, the sky was particularly bright under the stars.
Unlike the previous outdoor missions, Lock, who was now stationed inland, experienced the rare beauty of the city's nightscape.
Standing at the highest point of the garrison headquarters and looking over the surrounding rooftops, his gaze deepened.
He murmured to himself,
"How many sins are hidden beneath this beautiful scenery? I'm afraid only those involved truly know."
Where there is light, there is also shadow.
Beneath this prosperous capital, hidden underground, lay a very different world — a slum buried under the surface.
"When did you become so sentimental?"
Ymir's voice came from behind a chimney. She stepped forward and sat beside it, her expression calm as she stared at the sparkling city lights.
"Where's Petra?" Lock ignored Ymir's teasing and asked directly.
"She's asleep," Ymir replied, her tone flickering with unease.
Lock turned to her, noticing the hint of worry and nervousness in her eyes.
He said meaningfully,
"Are you still stuck on that hurdle in your heart?"
"Some things aren't easy for everyone to accept right away. I didn't tell Petra about the operation tonight," Ymir admitted, looking uneasy.
Lock smiled slightly.
"Am I so unreasonable? You did act on your own, but honestly, it's better for Petra to stay behind than to drag her into something unprepared… although—" he paused with a small grin, "maybe we're underestimating Petra."
"What?" Ymir blinked, confused.
Before Lock could answer, Petra appeared from the opposite side of the rooftop.
"Lock, I'm ready."
Lock nodded. "Let's go." He gestured for Ymir to come over.
"Really, let me be clear first," Ymir said, scratching her cheek. "I still haven't learned how to use the ODM gear properly. That's why I asked you to take me. Otherwise, I'd definitely go on my own."
"I know. Come here," Lock replied calmly.
"Oh…"
Dropping her shyness, Ymir stepped forward. Lock wrapped one arm around her waist, lifted her, and leapt off the rooftop.
Two figures shot out from behind the garrison, vanishing into the night sky.
At the same time, in the Survey Corps commander's office—
"Is this really okay?" Levi asked, arms folded.
First, Lock had instigated a conflict with the Military Police. Now, Erwin was deliberately turning a blind eye to Lock and his companions leaving in the middle of the night. Levi, who had always believed Lock was under control, suddenly felt otherwise.
Erwin, however, remained calm.
"You should have realized it earlier. Lock isn't like us."
"You mean the way he thinks?" Levi's eyes narrowed.
Erwin nodded.
"Exactly. If you reflect on it, all our plans and operations lately have been based on Lock's speculations and on the unbelievable things Ymir revealed. Think about it carefully and you'll see—"
"It's been Lock making the real decisions all along," Levi finished for him, his expression sharp.
"That's right."
Erwin stood from his chair, walked toward the window, and looked out at the darkened district beyond the base. His voice dropped,
"To be honest, I still can't fully believe Ymir's claims. But when I think about the royal government's policies over the years… and what we've learned about the Titans…"
He turned back, eyes meeting Levi's.
"The truth seems cruel. The king we've been serving isn't as grand as we imagined."
"Tch. Don't say 'we.' I never had any illusions about that so-called king," Levi replied with disdain.
Memories of the underground city surfaced in his mind — a place where no one respected the monarchy. There was no loyalty there, only resentment.
"Even so," Erwin continued, "you never thought about overthrowing him. Neither did I. Despite knowing the government's corruption and the military's failures, I never let that thought grow."
His voice was steady, but his words were daring.
Levi, usually confident in his read of Erwin, looked at him with surprise.
"You… you're saying Lock wants to—?!"
"This is only my guess," Erwin admitted. "But after seeing his attitude toward the Military Police today… I think it's probably correct."
Saying the words out loud seemed to unburden him. Levi, on the other hand, looked troubled.
He recalled Lock's background, his actions, and his presence in the Corps. In hindsight, there had always been signs pointing this way.
"Hey, hey, hey—something like that can't succeed!" Levi said, shocked.
But Erwin was still gazing out the window calmly, as if they were discussing nothing serious.
This only deepened Levi's confusion.
"If that kid really intends to go that far, what's our stance? He can't possibly pull it off alone."
"No," Erwin said, his eyes sharpening.
"He's not alone."
He wasn't afraid of death. What terrified him was dying before seeing his people freed, before seeing his homeland truly prosper.
Erwin had once glimpsed the world beyond the Walls. Even in that brief moment, he'd felt its vastness. From that day forward, his heart no longer belonged to the Walls. He wanted to see the outside world again — not only for himself but for everyone trapped within.
But after becoming Commander, the harsh reality had cooled his passion. His dream seemed unreachable. That was, until Lock and Ymir's revelations reignited it.
For the first time in years, Erwin saw a sliver of hope.
And if that hope required risking everything, even his life, he would not hesitate.
---
A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
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