"Are they curious about my age? Or just sizing me up? Or is there something else…"
Lock's thoughts flickered, but he didn't dwell on them. Annie was restrained and unable to transform into a Titan. She posed no immediate threat. The pressing question was how to deal with her.
Unlike Ymir and Petra, who remained hidden, Annie's identity as the Female Titan was known to the entire Survey Corps.
With royal government spies certainly present, word would reach the capital quickly.
She couldn't be allowed to stay.
"Captain," Lock asked, "can we really not keep her?"
Erwin shook his head. "It's extremely difficult. It won't be long before the government sends someone to take her into custody. But with her stubbornness, I doubt we'll get anything out of her. More likely, the King will have her executed."
Erwin fell silent. Behind him, Levi's expression turned sharp, a glint of disdain flashing in his eyes.
Lock understood perfectly.
The King within the Walls—who cared nothing for the people and only for his own comfort—couldn't tolerate someone like Annie. Even the Survey Corps, one of the Four Major Branches, received little support. A warrior like her, representing a direct threat to his rule, would be eliminated immediately.
"Who will they send?" Lock wondered aloud, glancing at Levi.
Levi met his eyes, his own expression darkening as if the same unpleasant thought had struck him.
The three didn't linger in the detention room. After observing Annie for a short while, they stepped out.
"I'm leaving this to you," Erwin said firmly, patting the shoulder of the soldier stationed at the door.
"Yes, Commander!" the soldier replied, saluting sharply. He immediately ordered the guards to tighten security around the room.
Lock watched for a moment, then nodded to Petra and Ymir, who had been waiting outside, and the three left together.
Erwin and Levi returned to the commander's office to handle post-operation logistics. The recent battle had been costly, and many issues awaited resolution.
Lock, in contrast, suddenly found himself with more free time.
"Lock, you saw her… the Female Titan?" Petra asked casually as they walked.
Lock nodded. "Yeah. She's bound tightly. She won't be escaping anytime soon."
Noticing the conflicted look on Petra's face, Lock raised an eyebrow. He understood.
Those who inherit Titan powers also inherit the memories of their predecessors. Their personalities, habits, and even decision-making could be shaped by those lingering echoes.
In the original history, Armin had become hesitant and conflicted after inheriting Bertholdt's Colossal Titan — losing much of his earlier decisiveness and missing key opportunities because of the weight of Bertholdt's thoughts.
Now Petra carried the Colossal Titan's power. Would she experience the same?
If Lock noticed any troubling signs, he would crush them before they took root.
"It's good she can't escape," Petra murmured. "The price we paid to catch them this time was too high."
"I just don't know how they'll deal with her…" Ymir said, uneasy.
Her reaction wasn't surprising. How Annie was treated by the government would foreshadow how Ymir herself might be treated if her secret were exposed. She couldn't help but worry.
Lock gave a small smile. "Don't worry. You're both part of my squad. I'll make sure you're safe — as long as you follow my orders."
Both Petra and Ymir nodded. Whatever they were thinking privately, they kept to themselves.
That night passed without further discussion.
The next morning, Lock was assigned to lead operations outside the Walls. Pure Titans were still roaming near the breach created by the Armored Titan, and the repair work on the outer gate was still underway. No Titan could be allowed to approach.
Meanwhile, civilians and merchants who had fled from Stohess were beginning to return. News had spread quickly that the Titans inside the city had been wiped out.
The once-quiet streets bustled with activity again.
The panic when the Titans first broke through, the despair of fleeing, and the hardship of sheltering behind Wall Rose—all of it now transformed into gratitude and reverence for the Survey Corps.
Once dismissed as reckless and unnecessary, the Corps had shown its true worth.
Facing a horde of Titans, they had driven them back with sheer human strength and killed them. What once seemed impossible had unfolded before the people's eyes. Humanity could fight back. Humanity could slay Titans.
Since the fall of Wall Maria, the Corps' standing among the populace had steadily risen. No longer were they cursed as fools on suicide missions. Now, they were heroes.
It was a welcome change.
That day, Lock and his squad cleared out every pure Titan near the construction zone before returning to base. Even for someone as tireless as Lock, the constant fighting was wearing him down.
He had just sat down when Gunther entered quickly.
"Captain," Gunther said, "a group of mainland religious believers has arrived at the construction site."
Lock's eyes narrowed slightly. "A religious sect?"
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