"Levi, is what you said true—that Zeke Yeager was given anesthesia?" asked Zachary, his deep voice echoing across the courtroom.
Levi nodded slightly. "That's right."
"How much was administered?"
"You'll have to ask the ones who gave the injection." Levi's eyes slid toward the nearby Military Police Brigade.
All eyes turned. The lead officer stiffened, snapped to attention, and saluted crisply. "Report to the Commander-in-Chief! I am Davion Taylor, Captain of the First Squad of the Central Military Police Brigade Regiment. The anesthetic we administered to Zeke Yeager was at ninety percent potency—strong enough to completely paralyze his body and prevent any possibility of transformation. However, his mind remains conscious, so he can still respond to questions."
Davion finished his report, then cast a smug glance toward Levi.
"See that, recruit? That's how you address the Commander-in-Chief properly. Take notes."
Levi stared at him blankly, his face unreadable except for the faintest glimmer of irritation. He clearly had no intention of "learning."
"Now that the anesthesia has taken effect," said Zachary, "the gag may be removed."
"President!" Davion blurted out, startled. "What if… what if he's hiding some kind of transforming agent in his mouth?"
Levi spoke before Zachary could respond. "Impossible. His molars were removed by Mike Zachary, Captain of the Third Squad. There's nothing left to hide."
Davion's mouth twitched. "…"
"It seems," said Zachary, the King's Left Minister, with a faint smile, "the Survey Corps has studied this man's anatomy rather thoroughly. Still, perhaps it's best to err on the side of caution."
Zachary frowned. "We cannot conduct a fair trial if the accused cannot even speak."
But Zachary's voice was calm and deliberate. "With all due respect, the Survey Corps has already completed a full investigation, haven't they? I see no reason to waste His Majesty's time repeating what they already know."
Zachary's brows knitted tighter. "You don't wish to hear the accused defend himself?"
"There is no need," said the Left Minister. "We trust the Survey Corps' report."
Zachary's tone was polite, but something beneath his words felt off—too smooth, too deliberate.
Zachary turned toward the throne, as if seeking confirmation.
The King, his chin resting lightly on one hand, wore a mysterious smile.
"The minister's words," he said slowly, "reflect my will."
Zachary hesitated, then sighed. "…Very well."
Across the courtroom, several quiet gazes converged on the Left Minister—Zeke's, sharp even through the haze of paralysis, and Erwin's, calm but calculating.
"Since His Majesty has granted permission," said Keith Shadis, "we shall begin with the Survey Corps' report. Erwin, state your findings."
"Yes, sir."
Erwin stepped forward, his posture straight, his voice clear and steady.
From the witness stand, Hange leaned toward Eren with a whisper. "Hehe, the commander's sending out our best talker. This'll be good."
Eren didn't respond, though he silently agreed.
Erwin was indeed the most eloquent among them.
"I am Erwin Smith, Captain of the First Squad of the Survey Corps," he began, his voice carrying across the hall. "I will now present our findings to His Majesty the King, Commander Zachary, and all assembled."
After saluting, he unrolled a set of notes and began to speak with precision.
"On the morning of March 10th, 845, two abnormal Titans appeared in the Shiganshina District. The first, measuring sixty meters in height and lacking skin, is known as the Colossal Titan. It struck down the outer gate of Shiganshina with a single kick."
In the audience, Bertholdt swallowed hard, his eyes trembling despite his effort to appear calm.
"The second," Erwin continued, "stood fifteen meters tall, with armor-like muscles that rendered artillery and bullets ineffective. We have classified it as the Armored Titan."
Annie's expression didn't change, but her shoulders tensed imperceptibly.
Erwin pressed on. "When the Armored Titan began its assault on the inner gate, another Titan appeared—the Beast Titan, controlled by Zeke Yeager." He gestured toward the restrained figure at the center of the hall. "Before reinforcements from the Survey Corps could arrive, Zeke Yeager, in his Titan form, engaged both the Armored and Colossal Titans in combat. He successfully neutralized them and prevented the fall of Wall Maria. Without his intervention, humanity would have suffered catastrophic losses—tens, even hundreds of times greater than those already endured in Shiganshina."
The courtroom erupted.
"What?! Titans fighting each other?!"
"So the Titans are… enemies among themselves?"
"Those named Titans—are they all humans too?!"
"If Wall Maria had fallen, we'd all be dead!"
"I heard people in Shiganshina were eaten in their sleep!"
"Better them than us! As long as Wall Sina stands, we're safe!"
"Still, what if he turns into a Titan here?!"
"Relax, they said he's sedated!"
"Praise the Military Police Brigade for that!"
As chatter filled the room, one soldier from the Military Police Brigade sneered. "Still as smooth-tongued as ever, Commander Erwin."
The man saluted the King. "Your Majesty, Commander-in-Chief, I am Nile Dok, Commander of the Military Police Brigade. I have additional testimony regarding Zeke Yeager. I request your permission to speak."
The King merely stroked his beard, his eyes half-lidded, expression unreadable.
Zachary gestured. "Proceed."
Nile Dok stepped forward, his tone confident. "According to reliable accounts, after transforming into a Titan, Zeke Yeager lost control twice. The first time, he nearly devoured his own younger brother. The second—he did devour his biological father."
The room exploded.
"What?!"
"He ate his own father?!"
"Monster!"
"If he could eat his family, what will he do to us?!"
"Kill him before he kills us!"
The crowd's panic swelled like a tide.
"Silence!" Zachary's voice thundered, silencing the hall.
He turned sharply toward Erwin. "Is what Commander Nile Dok says true?"
Erwin straightened his posture. "…Yes. It is true."
A ripple of shock spread again, quieter this time.
"Then why," Zachary pressed, "did you conceal it?"
"I did not intend to conceal anything, Commander." Erwin held up his thick dossier. "The details were simply among the later sections of my report. There is still much information left to present."
Nile Dok snorted derisively. "How convenient."
Ignoring him, Zachary fixed Erwin with a sharp gaze. "Then tell us—what exactly happened?"
And once again, all eyes turned to Zeke Yeager, gagged, bound, and silent…
his calm, golden eyes glinting faintly through the haze of anesthesia—
as if he were the only one in the room who already knew how this trial would end.