The moment Lock and Erwin stepped through the great doors of the council chamber, the murmuring stopped. Every gaze in the vast hall turned toward them—some sharp, some curious, others coldly indifferent.
At the far end of the room sat the so-called king of the Walls, slouched upon his gilded throne. The man's vacant eyes shifted toward Lock, his expression as lifeless as his crown. Lock could feel the weight of dozens of stares pressing on him, but his own face remained unreadable.
So this is the heart of the Walls, he thought. The place that decides the lives of everyone beyond these polished floors.
Erwin's voice came quietly at his side.
"Lock," he murmured, "remember these faces. Nearly every person here holds power inside the Walls."
Lock nodded slightly. "Understood."
He followed Erwin down the carpeted aisle between two long rows of ministers, military commanders, and advisers. Some faces were familiar from his memories of the Survey Corps' reports—Commander Dot Pixis of the Garrison Regiment, the cunning Military Police Chief Nile Dok, and the stoic Premier Darius Zackly. Others were strangers, nobles, and bureaucrats whose only battle was for comfort and influence.
Yet among all those eyes, one pair caught his attention. Premier Zackly's gaze was steady and… strangely approving. Lock couldn't tell whether it was interest, recognition, or something more calculated. Either way, he made a note to keep that in mind.
When the two reached the front, they knelt briefly before the throne.
"Your Majesty," Erwin began, his tone formal but firm, "this expedition succeeded in retaking all territories of Wall Maria, save for the Shiganshina District. Once the remaining Titans roaming the outer lands are eliminated, civilians can begin relocation beyond Wall Rose."
The king's dull expression didn't change. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then one of the ministers beside him—a rotund man in jeweled robes—cleared his throat and spoke with oily enthusiasm.
"Excellent work, Commander Erwin. The Survey Corps has done well this time. In recognition of your achievements, the government will increase its investment in your corps' operations."
Before Erwin could respond, another voice cut through the air.
"That may not be wise," said Nile Dok, his tone calm but edged with condescension. "The current strength of the Survey Corps is more than sufficient. Resources must be prioritized for reconstruction and the defense of the Walls."
He turned his head slightly, his eyes flicking to Erwin. "Surely, Commander, you understand the importance of stability. The Garrison and the Military Police must be properly supplied before we allocate more to your expeditions."
Erwin met his gaze evenly. "I will obey whatever His Majesty decrees."
That unexpected submission made Nile blink in surprise. But he quickly recovered, turning back to the gathered officials with a thin smile.
"In that case," he said smoothly, "let us approve the budget increase for the Garrison and Military Police. Reconstruction will require manpower, security, and… proper oversight."
The others nodded in quick agreement.
"Yes, the people's homes come first."
"The Survey Corps can wait. Their work outside the Walls is all but complete."
"Once order is restored, we can reward them properly."
Lock stood silently behind Erwin, his eyes sweeping across the room. One by one, he memorized the faces of those who spoke—those who smiled as they stripped away what little the Survey Corps had earned through blood.
When Dot Pixis finally spoke, his tone was deceptively mild.
"I must agree with Chief Nile," he said. "The Garrison has borne heavy responsibility during this crisis. Reinforcing our defenses should take precedence over any further expeditions."
Lock's lips tightened faintly. Old fox, he thought. He's not wrong—but he's not neutral, either.
Pixis had always walked a careful line. Neither loyal to the monarchy nor allied with the Survey Corps, he followed whatever path best protected humanity within the Walls. To Lock, it was clear Nile had already struck a bargain—sacrifice a portion of the spoils to secure Pixis's support. A temporary alliance built on convenience.
But convenience was fragile. Sooner or later, it would break.
Lock glanced toward Erwin. Though the commander's face remained composed, his clenched fists betrayed the storm beneath the surface. Half the Survey Corps' elite had died in the expedition to reclaim Wall Maria. From a force of over a thousand soldiers, barely five hundred remained. Many were wounded beyond recovery.
They had sacrificed everything. And now these men in velvet robes spoke of "proper oversight" and "resource allocation" as though the dead were nothing more than numbers on a ledger.
Erwin's voice finally broke through the growing tension.
"Don't you wish to know the casualties of the Survey Corps and the Volunteer units in this operation?" he asked quietly, but the tone carried across the chamber like thunder.
The chatter faltered. Several ministers exchanged uneasy glances, while others looked away entirely.
Lock could feel it—the edge of Erwin's patience, the thin line holding his composure in place.
The so-called king still said nothing. His eyes, half-lidded and empty, stared at nothing in particular. It was as if the fate of the Walls, the sacrifices made beyond them, meant nothing at all.
Lock's chest tightened. He doesn't care. None of them do.
Once, he might have hoped that the monarchy hid some secret wisdom, some greater plan. Now he saw only complacency, rot, and the greed of men who had never faced the Titans' jaws.
Across from him, Erwin's last flicker of faith seemed to die.
So, his expression seemed to say, this is the truth of the world within the Walls.
He exhaled slowly, the decision already made in his heart. There is no rebuilding this place. Only tearing it down.
But the ministers, oblivious to the storm brewing before them, continued their farce.
"These losses are regrettable," said one, smiling thinly, "but acceptable, given the success of retaking Wall Maria."
"Indeed. Commander Erwin, your efforts are appreciated. But the treasury is strained. Compensation must wait until the people have been resettled."
"The overall situation takes priority. I'm sure you understand."
Lock's hands curled into fists behind his back. The air in the chamber felt heavy, suffocating. He could hear his heartbeat in his ears.
They talk of the 'overall situation' while hiding behind their walls of gold.
He looked at the row of ministers again, their powdered faces and jeweled fingers glinting in the torchlight. Every smile was an insult to the comrades who had bled and died outside the Walls.
Erwin's shoulders shifted slightly—just enough for Lock to notice. He was holding himself back. Barely.
If it weren't for the need to protect the Corps' fragile standing, Lock knew Erwin would have already unleashed the truth—the real truth—about the monarchy's lies.
Instead, the commander simply nodded once, a gesture of icy restraint.
"Understood," he said flatly. "The Survey Corps will continue to serve humanity, as always."
His words echoed through the hall, empty of emotion. For a long moment, no one spoke. Then the king raised a hand, as if stirred from a dream.
"The meeting is concluded," he murmured.
The ministers bowed. Papers rustled. Chairs scraped. The tension dissolved into meaningless chatter as the court scattered like birds.
Lock followed Erwin out of the hall in silence. The heavy doors shut behind them, cutting off the noise.
For a time, neither spoke. The corridor stretched ahead, lined with marble pillars and tall stained-glass windows. Dust floated in the sunlight like falling ash.
Finally, Lock broke the silence.
"They'll never change," he said quietly. "Even after all this. They'll keep pretending the Titans are the only enemy."
Erwin didn't answer at once. His eyes were distant, thoughtful, filled with the same grim resolve Lock had seen on countless battlefields.
"You're right," he said at last. "The greatest threat to humanity has never been the Titans. It's the people who choose ignorance over truth."
He paused, then looked at Lock, his expression sharpening.
"That's why we keep moving forward. Until we tear down every wall that hides the truth—even the ones built by men."
Lock met his gaze and nodded slowly. The corruption of the capital had left a bitter taste in his mouth, but also a renewed determination.
Whatever it took, he would stand beside Erwin.
Not for the monarchy. Not even for glory.
But for the freedom that lay beyond deception and fear.
The two men walked down the silent corridor, their footsteps echoing against the cold stone. Behind them, the council chamber remained filled with false smiles and hollow promises—unaware that the foundation of their kingdom was already beginning to crack.
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