Outside a manor in the royal capital—
"This should be it," Lock whispered.
He looked at the manor more than a hundred meters ahead. A cloaked figure carrying a torch slipped through the gate and disappeared into the castle. Lock turned to Ymir and Petra, who were following closely.
"Follow me. This is the place."
"Got it," Petra and Ymir answered in unison.
Petra hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Lock, if we're caught sneaking out of base in the middle of the night… what do we do? Captain Levi will definitely get suspicious."
"He already knows," Lock replied calmly.
"What?!" Petra's eyes widened. Ymir's expression shifted in surprise too.
"This entire operation has the captain's tacit approval," Lock added. "So don't worry. There won't be any problems."
Without further explanation, Lock stepped forward toward the manor gates. Petra and Ymir exchanged a quick glance, then followed. Both were uneasy — why would Erwin allow Lock to take such a bold risk?
This mission was dangerous. If discovered,d by the royal government, it would be considered treason — punishable by imprisonment for life, or execution.
Lock was aware of their doubts. But the truth couldn't be explained now. The plan hadn't even fully begun. Petra trusted him openly, but trust needed to be tested through action.
As for Ymir, she had no choice. To survive, she needed to cooperate.
Of course, the people with him now wouldn't be enough to realize the massive plan forming in his mind. To succeed, he would need the strength of the Survey Corps, the most elite of the four military branches. Luckily, Erwin's stance had already revealed enough.
Everything up to this point had been Lock testing Erwin's resolve — and Erwin had passed.
Their goals aligned, even if unspoken.
The three entered the castle and found the figure with the torch waiting for them.
"Captain Kenny, we meet again," Lock greeted first, his tone steady.
Kenny Ackerman froze briefly, then took off his disguise. His eyes scanned Lock, Petra, and Ymir — finally lingering on the two women.
"The two of them…," Kenny muttered.
"They're the ones you wanted to see," Lock replied with a slight smile.
"I hope you're not lying," Kenny said coldly. A sharp killing intent emanated from him. "This isn't the place to talk. Follow me."
Without waiting for Lock's response, he turned and walked toward the castle hall.
"Lock… are we really working with that guy?" Petra whispered nervously.
The name "Kenny the Ripper" was infamous inside the Walls, especially among the Corps. His reputation was brutal. The number of victims whose throats he'd slit was well into the hundreds.
To Petra, a man like Kenny was dangerously unpredictable.
"Turning an enemy into an ally means one less enemy — and this enemy is powerful," Lock replied. He took both of their hands. "Enough talk. Stay close. If things go wrong, the three of us can escape."
"I'm good at speed," Ymir added dryly.
Petra glared at her but sighed. "I really can't deal with you two. Fine. Let's go together."
She held Lock's left hand firmly, and Ymir did the same. It was their unspoken way of steadying their nerves.
Following Kenny Ackerman, the three reached the manor's living room. Kenny pulled back a carpet, lifted a wooden board, and revealed a staircase leading below.
"Basements really are standard for secrets," Lock muttered under his breath.
"You're lucky, kid. Surrounded by women while I'm still single," Kenny teased, smirking.
Petra and Ymir froze for a moment, their faces flushing slightly, but they didn't let go of Lock's hands.
Lock shook his head, ignoring Kenny's jab. "Enough. Let's finish this quickly. We have to return to base."
"You don't have to rush back," Kenny chuckled. "Plenty of empty rooms here."
Lock's expression hardened. He said nothing, just stared him down.
Kenny clicked his tongue. "Boring. If you've got the guts, follow me."
He descended the stairs first. Lock followed, Petra and Ymir close behind.
He wasn't worried about a trap. With his own combat ability, Ymir's Titan power, and Petra's skill with the ODM gear, they could escape or even fight their way out if needed.
The staircase wound deep underground. After several minutes, they saw light ahead.
Before them stretched a vast underground space. Though there were no torches lit, the walls glittered with strange, luminous crystals, bathing everything in a bright, almost daylight-like glow.
"Welcome to my underground world," Kenny said, spreading his arms. His eyes burned with excitement as he looked at Ymir and Petra.
He craved power. He always had. Violence had been his language all his life. After witnessing the power of the Founding Titan through Uri Reiss, he had yearned for strength beyond human limits—but he'd found no way to obtain it.
Until now. Lock had made his fantasies tangible.
How could Kenny not be thrilled?
Lock glanced around with thinly veiled disdain.
"So this is your world, Kenny… A kingdom with only you in it."
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