After Eren successfully transformed and sealed the gate, it took the Garrison Regiment and the finally returned Survey Corps a full day to wipe out the remaining Titans in the Trost District.
The Battle for Trost had finally come to an end.
As the smoke cleared, people truly began to grasp the cruelty of war.
[Dead and Missing: 207, Wounded: 897]
The next day, all Trainees joined the efforts to collect corpses and prevent the spread of plague.
"Huh? Jean, are you serious?"
Connie and Jean whispered as they cautiously moved a corpse together.
"You're saying even Lock was taken away by the Military Police Brigade? Why?"
Recalling the expression Lock had while cursing Kitz, Jean replied with a frown, "How should I know?"
At that moment, another matter weighed heavily on his mind—Marco had been missing since the day of the gate sealing. He had asked everyone in the 104th, but no one had seen him.
After Jean reported it to the Garrison Regiment, they simply recorded Marco as missing with practiced efficiency, taking no further action.
You'd better be okay, Marco. We still have to join the Military Police Brigade together.
Jean said in a low voice, "Let's go, Connie. To the next street."
...Annie looked at Mina's mangled corpse on the ground, her gaze trembling slightly as she whispered repeatedly, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
Reiner walked over to comfort her, "Apologizing won't help. Hurry up and prepare the bodies."
Annie kept her head down and didn't reply, her mind flashing back to Marco's face, twisted in despair and crying out.
"Why! Annie! Why!"
She murmured again, "I'm sorry..."
In the plaza, towering flames burned the unidentifiable fragments of corpses from morning until evening... Royal Capital, underground cells.
Erwin looked at the boy waking up in the cell, suppressing the slight tremor in his heart, and said in his calmest tone, "Do you have any questions?"
Beside him, Levi leaned against the wall, also staring at the boy with an unfriendly expression.
Eren looked around and slowly spoke his first words: "Excuse me, where is this?"
Feeling the shape of the key in his hand, Erwin knew he was one step closer to his dream... The conversation ended quickly, and Erwin realized he still had much to do.
He left the corridor of the dungeon where Eren was held and led Levi toward the stairs.
As he passed another corridor, he stopped.
Levi followed his gaze to the cell at the end of that corridor, where there was a boy roughly the same age as Eren.
He was doing a plank on the cell floor.
His body was straight, like a longsword placed at an angle.
Seeing Erwin watching as well, Levi said, "I heard that terrifying fellow kidnapped his superior right under the noses of dozens of Soldiers, then used his fists to turn that bastard Commander's face into mincemeat."
"Bastard Commander?" Erwin smiled slightly. "Levi, have you been reading the stories in the newspapers too?"
"Yeah."
Levi nodded in admission, a mocking expression on his face. "Every newspaper in the capital is giving away free copies featuring this guy's exploits."
"I suppose someone wants even the dogs in the capital to believe this guy is a hero who saved humanity, while the Commander he brutally killed was a coward and a deserter who caused countless deaths."
Erwin turned his head. "It seems you already believe it."
Levi didn't deny it. "Whether it's true or not, we'll find out at the tribunal in a few days."
Erwin said, "That day will certainly be interesting."
...The next morning, Erwin accepted Pixis's invitation to walk along the wall together.
Unsure of Pixis's motives, Erwin spoke cautiously, "Commander, as the Commander of the Garrison Regiment, for you to meet privately with me, the Commander of the Survey Corps... is it not somewhat inappropriate?"
Pixis walked ahead. "You really are as rigid as the rumors say. Just treat this as a chance encounter while out for a stroll."
He said seriously, "Are you aware that the Military Police Brigade has also requested to take custody of Eren Yeager?"
Erwin nodded. "Yes, a notice arrived yesterday."
Pixis continued, "The final decision lies with Darius Zackly. That man only cares about interests and advantages; you can start from that angle."
Erwin understood Pixis's stance. "I see. I have already prepared a relevant proposal."
Without turning back, Pixis asked in a low voice, "Do you have a chance of winning?"
Erwin answered honestly, "No. I can only take it one step at a time."
As he walked, Pixis turned his gaze toward the Trost District. "One step at a time, eh?"
Erwin said, "We in the Survey Corps are used to deciding the outcome only after we've taken the field."
Pixis laughed, realizing the young man behind him wasn't so rigid after all. He turned and brought up another matter.
"What do you think of that child from the Leon Family?"
Erwin asked curiously, "Does the Commander have some considerations regarding him?"
"It's not about my personal opinion of him."
Pixis's gaze pierced through the Trost District, looking toward the far south. "Since Wall Maria was breached five years ago, the military within the walls has begun to expand indefinitely, and the hardliners in the upper echelons are rising."
"Their loyalty to the Royal Government is declining, and they are full of hostility toward the noble factions within the walls."
Pixis recalled the look in that child's eyes. "That child has been tempered into that state through three years as a Trainee and this recent battle."
"He is a noble, yet he is also the youngest, most fanatical, and most exceptionally proactive Soldier."
"Those hardliners in the upper ranks who have read the detailed battle reports all like this child very much."
"But..."
Pixis narrowed his eyes. "That child's eyes tell me he is very dangerous."
Erwin voiced the implication in Pixis's words: "Are you afraid of a rebellion within the military?"
Pixis stopped and asked in a low voice, "Don't you feel that the King's influence has been declining very rapidly these past few years? Darius Zackly is nearly riding over the heads of the Council."
...At the gates of the Royal Capital, two goddess statues in long robes with single wings on their backs stood atop stone pillars on either side.
The goddess on the left held a scale, while the one on the right held a sword.
Nile Dok, the Divisional Commander of the Military Police Brigade, stood beneath the scale and the sword, awaiting the Commander-in-Chief's arrival.
Just then, a familiar carriage slowly approached.
Nile's spirits lifted, and he roared with a solemn face, "Form up!"
The carriage came to a halt at the entrance, and a Military Police Officer stepped forward to open the door.
Darius Zackly stepped out of the carriage.
Nile said solemnly, "Salute His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief!"
The Soldiers moved in perfect unison, each face filled with fanaticism as they saluted their Commander-in-Chief.
"Mm."
Zackly loosened his collar and sighed, "The capital is as hot as ever."
...The Military Police Officer sent to summon the prisoner arrived at Lock's cell. "Lock Leon, it's time to go."
Lock, who was sitting by the bed, stood up, was handcuffed, and walked out of the cell.
While walking through the corridor toward the tribunal chamber, Lock ran head-on into Hange and Miche, who were on their way to the underground cells to visit Eren.
Hange recognized this fan of Moblit's.
She clenched her fists in front of her chest in encouragement. "Mr. Lock! Do your best!"
Lock also responded with a smile, "I will, Section Commander Hange!"
The two parties passed each other.
Hange suddenly stopped and asked Miche, "Eh? Did he just call me Section Commander?"
Miche teased, "It shows that the young people today all intend for you to take over Erwin's position."
Hange had a breakdown. "Spare me, being a Commander is so exhausting."
...A Soldier pulled open the door, and Lock stepped into the tribunal chamber.
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