Lock locked the door and flipped the sign hanging on it.
The other side of the sign read: "Owner away on business."
He walked toward the carriage parked on the street, then suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Lock smiled and greeted the person standing by the carriage, "Yo! Annie, out on patrol so early?"
Annie was in uniform with a rifle on her back, her face bearing the same cold expression.
She stared at Lock and asked, "Where are you going?"
Lock pulled a letter from his breast pocket, let Annie see the postmark representing the Central Military Police Corps, and whispered, "I have to go report to them; they've already urged me twice."
Annie said with a hint of mockery, "It seems you're about to become one of those big shots, too."
Lock laughed, "I was always a big shot; you just never took me seriously."
The carriage driver reminded him at this moment, "Young Master Leon, it's getting late."
Lock put on his hat with one hand and walked up to Annie to comfort her, "We'll see each other again soon this month, don't worry."
After saying that, he didn't wait for Annie's reaction and climbed straight into the carriage.
"Let's go."
"Hyah!" The carriage slowly drove away.
Annie stood in place silently for a while before returning to the patrol team...
After the carriage drove out of the Stohess District gates, it turned directly north.
Inside the carriage, Lock was reading today's newspaper for the latest news from the Royal Capital.
He opened the breakfast paper bag the driver had prepared for him and found it was actually donuts.
Lock said somewhat irritably, "I asked you to buy breakfast, why did you buy this stuff?"
Hearing Lock's displeased tone, the driver outside said fearfully, "I saw that you often buy sweets, Young Master, so I thought you'd like this."
"Don't buy it next time. I don't like sweet things."
"Yes, I'll remember." The driver breathed a sigh of relief...
After traveling for nearly four hours, the carriage finally reached its destination.
Lock got out and told the driver to drive the carriage back alone.
Carrying his suitcase, he walked into the territory of a local noble.
This noble's family name was Reiss.
Walking along the flat dirt road, Lock looked at the vast farms on both sides; the air seemed to be filled with the fragrance of grass and soil.
Passing through the farm and walking through a stretch of woods, a winding path led to a secluded spot.
Soon, a simple-looking church appeared before him.
Several figures stood in front of the church.
Besides a squad of Central Military Police Corps Soldiers, there were Kenny and a few of his subordinates. Lock only recognized the blonde woman with a ponytail as the adjutant of the Anti-Personnel Vertical Maneuvering Squad.
Standing in the middle was a short, slightly plump middle-aged man.
Lock recognized him at a glance as Rod Reiss, the current true king within the walls.
He walked up to the man, took off his hat, bowed, and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I represent the Leon Family in offering you my highest respects."
Forget the hand-kissing; it was gross, and Rod didn't seem to have that intention anyway.
Rod looked at Lock and remarked with emotion, "Ash has a good son. You look a bit more like your mother."
Lock replied with a smile, "My father says the same."
The two chatted warmly for a while about Lock's father's health and the family's recent situation.
Kenny, standing to the side, looked impatient but didn't lash out.
Then he heard Rod say, "You've met my daughter in the Training Corps, haven't you? She should be called Krista Lenz."
"Yes." Lock said with a look of reminiscence, "Her Highness the Princess has always been the goddess of our Training Corps; she's willing to lend a hand to anyone in trouble."
"However..."
Lock suddenly said seriously, "But I can see that it's actually a disguise. She carries a fear of her own identity and would rather become. martyr."
"That's why she chose to join the Survey Corps."
Hearing Lock's words, Rod sighed, his eyes full of sadness. "It's all my fault for making her endure all this alone at such a young age."
Rod placed a hand on Lock's shoulder, his voice full of sincerity. "Leon-kun, can you help this incompetent father bring her back safely? I can promise you anything."
Lock bowed again and replied firmly, "I will do my utmost to share Your Majesty's burdens."
"Good, those words are enough. Talk to Kenny about the rest."
After saying that, Rod left under the escort of the Central Military Police Corps.
"Alright, our great romantic is gone. It looks like he's agreed to your terms."
Kenny stood with his hands in his pockets, looking at Lock with a mocking curl of his lip. "It seems you're about to become the youngest Member of Parliament in history, Your Excellency."
Lock didn't argue. He gave a light chuckle. "That's all contingent on us being able to bring those two back from the Survey Corps."
Kenny was noncommittal. He turned to the female adjutant and said, "I have to head to the Royal Capital. This kid is under your charge for now."
Traute was clearly dissatisfied with Kenny's act of dumping his responsibilities, but she said helplessly, "Understood, Captain."
Before leaving, Kenny suddenly glanced at Lock and added, "Don't worry about this brat's status. Train him hard."
The female adjutant walked up to Lock and said calmly, "My name is Traute Caven. You can call me Vice-Captain."
Lock instinctively gave a military salute. "Yes, Vice-Captain!"
Seeing Lock's action, Traute shook her head and said, "We don't do that here. Put your hand down and don't use it again."
"Just answer 'Yes,' and that's it."
She turned to walk back, reminding him, "Follow me. I'll take you to where we train."
"Yes!"
Lock looked at the church getting closer ahead. Although he already knew where he was going, he was still a little excited.
Because that was a hidden wonder of the island, second only to the Forest of Giant Trees.
Lock followed Traute into the church and watched her open a trapdoor leading underground. He followed her down into the darkness without a word.
Passing through a door, Lock finally arrived in a massive underground space.
The entire space was composed of a glowing crystal. Countless crystal pillars, nearly twenty meters high, rose from the ground, arranged neatly like a skeleton supporting the dome.
The cold light emitted by the crystals illuminated the entire underground space like daylight, resembling a palace where gods lived in myths and legends.
In the palace at this time, more than twenty Soldiers wearing Omni-directional Mobility Gear were undergoing aerial target practice.
Traute handed Lock a pair of head-mounted goggles. "Remember to wear these here; they'll protect your eyes."
Lock took them and put them on, then pointed at the Soldiers in the air and asked with a smile, "What about my equipment?"
Traute stared at Lock and said calmly, "No rush. This system is completely different from the gear in the Training Corps. You need to forget your previous habits first."
Lock nodded in agreement. "I understand. I used to practice killing Titans, but here, it's about dealing with the Survey Corps..."
Traute shook her head and interrupted, "Not just the Survey Corps..."
"Anyone who stands in Captain Ackerman's way is a target we need to eliminate."
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