The next day, inside the King's Council Hall—
"As Commander of the Survey Corps, you launched a mission to capture Titans inside the Walls without prior authorization. Erwin Smith, do you believe this follows the rules?" one minister demanded.
"I know my actions violated procedure," Erwin answered steadily. "But the situation left me with no other choice. That's no excuse to shirk responsibility. I will personally bear all losses and consequences caused by this operation."
His gaze swept the hall of ministers before fixing on the throne. The king, lounging lazily, said nothing. Erwin continued firmly:
"But the priority now should be dealing with the threat of Intelligent Titans. The Walls we rely on for survival are not effective against such enemies."
The king remained indifferent, eyes half-lidded. The ministers broke into murmurs.
"Intelligent Titans… do those really exist?"
"Claims alone aren't proof. Your words, Commander, aren't enough to make us believe in these so-called Intelligent Titans. And the girl sealed in crystal hardly explains anything."
"Captain Erwin should focus on maintaining stability inside the Walls, rather than chasing fantasies."
"Exactly."
It was obvious—the ministers cared little about Intelligent Titans. They had never seen such creatures, never felt the terror or powerlessness the Survey Corps had endured. So long as their comfortable, self-indulgent lives weren't disturbed, they saw no urgency.
Maintaining order within the Walls and preserving royal authority—that was all that mattered to them.
Erwin's blue eyes hardened. A mix of disappointment and quiet resolve flashed across his face.
This was the moment he gave up on the royal government and its king.
Under such a rule, there would never be true peace within the Walls—nor hope of exploration beyond them. If the old path led nowhere, then he would have to forge a new one, no matter the odds.
Near the doors stood Lock, who had accompanied Erwin. He watched the high officials silently.
He ignored the puppet king seated on the throne; Lock already knew the truth. The man held no real power—everything was decided by the Royal Interior Minister, who stood beside him. The king's role was merely ceremonial.
Lock studied the faces of the ministers—corrupt, complacent, self-serving.
Such a ruling class could only ever collapse.
Then his gaze met Darius Zackly, the Commander-in-Chief. To Lock's surprise, Zackly was also observing him. Their eyes met. Zackly smiled faintly and nodded.
Lock blinked, then quickly gathered himself. Looks like Grisha's been busy recently, he thought. Or… maybe I've just drawn too much attention. I'll need to keep a lower profile next time.
He didn't notice Levi Ackerman, standing nearby, silently watching the exchange. When Levi saw Zackly and Lock acknowledging each other, a flicker of emotion crossed his face—but it vanished just as quickly.
When it came to an unreadable expression, if Levi was second on Paradis Island, no one would dare claim first.
As expected, the council produced no meaningful results.
Despite Erwin's breach of protocol, the punishment was light—mere verbal censure and orders to remain on standby within the Walls. Nothing more.
The ministers feigned disbelief about Intelligent Titans, but deep down, they understood: if chaos ever came, among the four military branches, only the Survey Corps could truly fight. The other three—Military Police, Garrison, and Central Interior Police—would be little more than cannon fodder.
The king's Anti-Personnel Control Squad, led by Kenny Ackerman, answered only to the puppet throne. These ministers couldn't command them even if they tried—and could easily find themselves at odds with them.
There was no replacement for Erwin. Keith Shadis couldn't simply return, and no other officer could inspire the upper echelons' confidence. Though Erwin's situation seemed precarious, he remained irreplaceable.
The Survey Corps had the fewest high-ranking officers of all the branches.
Only a handful carried true weight in the upper leadership's eyes:
Former Commander Keith Shadis
Current Commander Erwin Smith
Humanity's Strongest Soldier, Levi Ackerman
And one exceptionally young but extraordinarily gifted rising figure — Lock
For now, no one else had captured the government's attention.
As the meeting adjourned and the leaders began to file out, Lock sensed the ministers' eyes lingering on him. His expression remained composed, but inwardly, his thoughts sharpened.
He was no longer the overlooked boy he once was.
Just as Lock was about to leave alongside Erwin and Levi, a voice called out.
He stopped, turning toward the Interior Minister, the very man who stood beside the puppet king throughout the meeting. The minister's lips curled into a knowing, almost playful smile.
Lock froze briefly, then thought, Kenny works fast. We only reached an understanding last night, and they're already making their move today.
Outwardly, he showed nothing. He simply asked, calm and measured:
"My lord, what is it you want?"
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