Since he joined temporarily, Lock was still wearing the Central Military Police Corps uniform and using Annie Leonhart's Omni-Directional Mobility Gear.
His Unicorn emblem was particularly eye-catching among a group of wings of freedom.
Everyone couldn't help but steal a few glances, wondering what was happening in the Survey Corps and what this big shot from the Military Police Corps was doing here so late at night.
"Mr. Moblit Berner, long time no see. Do you still remember me?"
Lock greeted Moblit warmly.
Moblit had no time to reminisce with Lock.
"Hurry up and get ready. Can you ride a horse?"
Lock smiled.
"Of course!"
At that moment, Levi Ackerman and Pastor Nick finished observing the refugees and walked into the field together.
Hange Zoe looked at Nick's expression and stepped forward.
"Has your mind changed? You should know there's no more time, right?"
"Are you going to speak or not? Give us a straight answer, will you?"
Nick glanced again at Lock's Central Military Police Corps uniform behind Hange and lowered his eyes.
"I cannot say, and the other cultists won't either."
Hange turned away in frustration.
"Well, thanks for that. Thanks for telling us such useful information."
Nick continued,
"Because this matter is too significant, I cannot decide. Our Wall Cult is merely a tiny existence following that Noble Will."
Lock turned to look at him, feeling some admiration in his heart.
Hange asked in confusion,
"Whose will? God's?"
Nick closed his eyes.
"I cannot say, but I can tell you the name of the person we were ordered to monitor."
"That person joined the Survey Corps this year, and her name is..."
"Historia Reiss."
The door was opened, and a young female Soldier with a red ponytail walked in, looking travel-worn.
"Excuse me, I am Sasha Blouse, a Soldier from the 104th Survey Corps!"
"Eh, Lock?"
Lock pulled the dazed Sasha aside and took a piece of dried meat from his coat to give to her.
"Meat!"
Sasha's eyes lit up as she took it.
"Shh, don't let them find out."
Lock smoothly took the investigation report she was supposed to give to Hange.
When everyone was ready to set off to rescue Historia, Lock handed the report to Hange and managed to get another boiled potato for Sasha.
Hange asked everyone,
"What does that 104th Survey Corps Soldier, Historia, look like?"
Eren Yeager said,
"The shortest one."
Armin Arlert said,
"She has blonde hair, and, uh, she's very cute."
Lock said,
"Heart-shaped face, big eyes, small lips."
Mikasa Ackerman finally added,
"She's often with Ymir."
"Ymir?"
This name reminded Hange of some notes she had seen years ago, but she thought it was probably just a coincidence and didn't take it to heart.
She opened the report in her hand, glanced at it, and suddenly said,
"Don't rush to leave yet. There's a new situation."
Everyone followed Hange to the meeting room.
Hange held up the report and said to everyone,
"It's nothing, just the results of the investigation I requested regarding Annie Leonhart have finally arrived."
"Annie's?"
Armin looked at Lock, who was standing aside with a calm expression.
Hange continued,
"Supposedly due to administrative chaos, it was only sorted out now. From the investigation results, there should be two more Soldiers from your 104th Class who come from the same place as her."
"Those two are Reiner Braun and Bertholdt Hoover."
Everyone's expression changed.
"Because of the chaos five years ago, records like household registration were recorded very sloppily."
"However, during the last expedition outside the walls, these two were misled by an incorrect operation plan, so they were told Eren was on the right wing."
Armin was stunned.
"The Female Titan also came from the right wing."
Sasha asked,
"Eh? What does that mean?"
Armin explained,
"In other words, it's possible the two of them leaked the information to Annie."
Eren habitually retorted,
"What are you talking about, Armin?"
Hange interrupted,
"I know, Eren. This alone certainly doesn't prove anything."
"To be safe, I want to know the relationship between these three during their time as Trainees."
The trio, plus Sash, all looked at Lock.
Lock spread his hands.
"Why are you all looking at me? You guys go first, I'll add more at the end."
Armin then spoke up,
"I only know that Reiner and Bertholdt are from the same hometown, but they aren't very close to Annie."
Eren also said,
"Me too. I've basically never seen those two talk to Annie—except for Lock, of course. She didn't talk much to others either."
Sasha rubbed her chin, reminiscing,
"At mealtimes, I only ever saw Annie sitting and eating with Lock."
"If Lock wasn't there, she would just eat alone in silence."
"Oh, right! I heard Annie often brought sweets given by Lock back to the dormitory to share with everyone."
Mikasa said hesitantly,
"I don't remember."
Everyone looked at Lock again.
Hange said,
"Lock, you were always with Annie back then. Did you find anything?"
Lock, with an it's finally my turn expression, said,
"I'm not sure about Reiner, but that guy Bertholdt has always had a secret crush on Annie."
There was silence in the room...
Sasha and Eren's mouths hung open...
Armin gasped...
Mikasa also looked shocked...
Sasha couldn't help but ask,
"Lock, how did you find out?"
Lock said,
"Bertholdt's eyes are too honest. He steals glances at Annie whenever he gets the chance. It was hard not to notice."
Eren looked at Hange stubbornly.
"But I still don't believe it."
"Setting aside... Bertholdt, Reiner was like a big brother to us back then, and he's not smart enough to fool so many people."
Armin agreed,
"I think so too."
"Reiner once fought the Female Titan side-by-side with me. He was almost crushed by the Titan..."
Armin suddenly stopped.
He remembered something and said with a realization,
"Although Reiner escaped, Annie suddenly changed direction and headed toward Eren."
He became more suspicious as he spoke,
"Even though I speculated Eren should be in the center-rear, at that distance, Annie shouldn't have been able to hear it."
Hange asked,
"Did Reiner pay much attention to where Eren was?"
Armin said,
"Yes! The reason I mentioned Eren's location wthatuse Reiner asked about it."
"And at that time, the Female Titan was staring at her palm..."
"It's very likely Reiner carved some information on it."
Silence fell over the room again...
Everyone knew this mission was about to become very complicated...
Hange finally ordered,
"Listen up, everyone."
"Even if we find Reiner and Bertholdt, you must absolutely not let them realize we've started to suspect them!"
"Of course, not a word about Annie Leonhart can be revealed."
"Whether they are Annie's accomplices or not, we must devise a plan to lure them underground for detention."
"Everyone, understood?!"
"Understood!"
Lock rode his horse, following the troops as they charged into the night.
He looked up at the night sky, and the name Zeke Yeager appeared in his mind.
So that Beast Titan was named Zeke.
War Chief, son of surprise, Eren's half-brother...
Annie's memories supplemented the others' image for Lock.
He wondered if eating him would affect the subsequent plot.
Lock thought to himself...
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