Her petite figure naturally stirred a sense of protectiveness in those around her. Golden hair shone like sunlight, framing a delicate face. Her clear blue eyes and pale skin made her seem almost angelic.
Christa Lenz.
Her real name—Historia Reiss, the illegitimate daughter of Rod Reiss. Royal blood flowed in her veins. One day, she would become the queen within the Walls.
Lock found himself momentarily taken aback as he stared at the timid girl before him.
Why is she here?
It wasn't just her presence that surprised him. It was that Ymir and Petra had brought her back. The coincidence was too striking to ignore.
"What! Christa is still a child, Captain. Maybe show some kindness?"
Ymir's teasing voice snapped Lock out of his thoughts.
Lock's face remained composed. "She's…?"
"A survivor from the Volunteer Army," Petra explained angrily. "I don't know what the conscription office was thinking—sending a child this young to the battlefield? That's just a death sentence!"
Ymir scowled beside her. "I'd love to find out which idiot signed off on recruiting Christa into the Volunteers."
"And then what?" Lock asked quietly. "What would you do once you knew?"
The initial surprise passed quickly. Historia was still just a young girl who had been abandoned by Rod Reiss. At present, her royal blood and striking appearance were her only "value." But Lock's focus lay elsewhere. He already had his sights set on Dina Fritz as a political target. Historia wasn't needed—yet. But she could be a future candidate… provided she proved loyal.
Petra and Ymir both paused at Lock's words. Petra looked down with a grim expression, but Ymir met his gaze boldly.
"We might not be able to do anything," she said confidently, "but you can, Captain Lock."
Petra gave a small laugh. "You're still cold on the outside, warm on the inside."
Lock placed a hand on Ymir's shoulder. "I can't protect everyone. But one or two? That's possible. Let her stay with you two from now on. And make sure she receives proper instruction."
"Mm~" Petra nodded with a soft smile.
Ymir turned her head quickly, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. She clearly didn't want Lock to notice her reaction.
Meanwhile, Historia stared curiously at Lock. He wasn't much older than she was, yet his presence carried a weight she couldn't ignore.
He's Captain Lock… He looks so young, but he's incredible.
The moment passed quickly. Rest time was over, and Lock led his forces westward once again.
The appearance of Historia was only a small detour, barely stirring Lock's attention. His focus now was on rendezvousing with Erwin and completing the retaking of Wall Maria.
Their march was steady. Along the way, they encountered only scattered Titans, easily dealt with by experienced soldiers. Their main work was collecting the fallen Volunteers' bodies for cremation, preventing plague outbreaks.
After five days of relentless progress, Lock's unit finally reached the perimeter of Erwin's camp.
This was the final destination of their expedition. Once this operation was completed, the Wall would enter its recovery phase, and humanity could begin restoring normalcy.
The devastating Titan breach and the social upheavals that followed had forced even the most stubborn factions within the Walls to recognize the importance of the Survey Corps. With public support growing, future operations would be far easier.
"Captain, I'm not late, am I?"
Lock entered the command tent with a light smile. Erwin and the assembled officers turned toward him.
"You came at just the right time," Erwin replied. "We've conducted a detailed survey of the city. Unlike Shiganshina, the number of Titans here isn't overwhelming. If we pool our forces, we can wipe them out completely."
Lock immediately understood what Erwin implied.
"No objections from me. Have you secured the stone to seal the breach?"
"It's already in the camp," Erwin said. "The transport team is ready and waiting for your arrival."
Victory was close. Excitement buzzed in the air, though none of them allowed it to cloud their judgment. The previous engagements had taught them the price of underestimation.
"You've just arrived. Rest tonight," Erwin suggested. "We'll launch the operation at noon tomorrow."
Lock accepted without hesitation. That night, the command team finalized tactical plans and refined their strategy well into the late hours.
When the meeting finally broke, officers returned to their units to relay orders. Only Lock, Erwin, and Levi remained in the tent.
"Did the march go smoothly?" Erwin asked, smiling faintly.
"Mostly," Lock replied. "We didn't encounter many Titans. A few might have slipped through, but nothing significant. We can clean them up later. The Volunteers, though… they took heavy losses."
Erwin's expression darkened.
"The royal government underestimated both the Titans and the Volunteers' capabilities. The western theater was nearly annihilated. Less than ten percent survived."
Behind him, Levi stood with his usual impassive expression. But a faint glimmer of steel flashed in his eyes—proof enough that he cared more than he let on.
Lock took a deep breath and looked at Erwin meaningfully.
"This expedition is nearing its end. If nothing goes wrong, Wall Maria will soon be retaken. Commander… have you thought about the Corps' future direction?"
Erwin leaned back slightly, thoughtful.
"Future direction…"
Levi glanced at Lock. "Sounds like you already have something in mind."
"It's not my style to keep taking hits without striking back," Lock said evenly. "Sometimes, we have to take the initiative."
"Do you have a plan?" Erwin asked.
Lock shook his head.
"Not yet. We know who our enemy is, but we know too little about the world beyond the Walls. And as we are now, we're not strong enough to confront it."
His gaze shifted between Erwin and Levi, his expression growing serious.
"I don't believe they'll leave us in peace forever. The world beyond these Walls is vast. Don't you want to see it with your own eyes?"
"Of course I do," Erwin murmured. His eyes flickered with quiet passion before settling into their usual steel. "But… some things can't be rushed."
"I know," Lock replied. "But opportunities don't create themselves. Sometimes, they need a push."
Erwin repeated the word softly. A faint smile curved his lips.
"I believe in your judgment, Lock."
---
A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
Support: patreon.com/Narrator_San