"Because I lied to you."
Historia stared blankly at Lock, finally realizing what she had done.
She had cooperated with this man to drug her companions' food, leading to Eren's capture as well.
She asked with a trembling voice, "What about Mikasa and the others? What did you do to them?"
"Don't worry, they're fine."
Lock's smile now made Historia's entire body turn cold.
She backed up against the carriage wall, forcing herself to calm down.
Historia looked up through the gap in the carriage window and saw that it was already dawn. She asked Lock, "Where are you taking Eren and me?"
Lock replied honestly, "To see your father."
"So you joined the Survey Corps... for this."
Historia said excitedly, "Lock, why didn't you tell the Captain and the others? Why did you have to do this?"
Lock's tone was flat. "Your father is the true king within the walls. I am following the King's orders to bring you and Eren back."
Lock knew Eren was also awake and listening to their conversation.
But he didn't care and continued speaking to the stunned Historia, "His Majesty had no choice but to send you away back then. He has been worried about you every moment since."
"First, he sent a priest from the Wall Cult to oversee and protect you during your two years in the Reclamation Area."
"After learning that you had joined the Training Corps, my father sent me there to protect you."
At this, Lock smiled. "I was in my rebellious phase then and didn't want to be your babysitter. It just so happened that Ymir was inseparable from you..."
Historia's eyes dimmed.
"After learning that Wall Rose might be breached, I thought Ymir might not be able to protect you anymore, so I joined the Survey Corps."
"You know the rest..."
After a moment of silence, Historia asked, "But what does this have to do with Eren? You only needed to bring me back."
Looking into Historia's jewel-like eyes, Lock asked in return, "Why do you think the Reiss Family can be the kings in the shadows?"
"The Soldiers, the people, and most of the nobles only recognize that fake king on the surface. Why is the Reiss Family so at ease?"
Lock said word by word, "Because the Reiss Family possesses the power of the Titans!"
"Titans?" Historia felt her worldview being shattered.
"Yes, Titans. And that power was stolen by Eren's father five years ago and passed on to Eren."
"Eren is here because your father needs to take that power back."
Historia looked at Eren beside her and murmured, "How will he take it back?"
Lock stood up, and the carriage happened to come to a halt.
He pushed open the door, and the long-absent sunlight blurred Lock's silhouette.
Historia couldn't see Lock's face clearly; she could only hear him say, "Come down. Your father will tell you the rest."
Lock took Historia's hand and led her out of the carriage.
After getting off, Historia realized the carriage was surrounded by dozens of Soldiers wearing strange equipment, most of whom were looking at her.
"Do you still remember this place?" Lock's voice drew Historia's attention.
She looked around; it was a farm.
This was where she had stayed as a child.
It held memories of her life with her mother.
Thinking of that woman, her dying words seemed to ring in her ears again: "If only I had never given birth to you!"
"Yo, Krista Lenz, remember me?"
The killer of her mother from her memories walked up to her.
Kenny looked down at her and said coldly, "I'm the one who was there when you were given that name."
Historia took a step back in fright.
"You're scaring her, Captain." Lock stepped between them.
"Oh?" Just as Kenny was about to mock this White Knight, he heard Lock ask, "Captain, did you finish off Captain Levi?"
"Huh? Thanks to you, that midget got away." Kenny's expression was sour.
Lock asked again, "And the other one?"
"Also got away. Satisfied?" Kenny was quite blunt.
Lock nodded, expressing his satisfaction. He said with a smile, "By the way, that girl has the same surname as you, Captain—Ackerman. Maybe she's a relative of yours."
"Hah?"
Kenny frowned. No wonder that woman was so strong; was she also of the same clan?
And it looked like she had already undergone an Awakening... Kenny asked, "Where is her hometown?"
Lock replied, "The mountainous area near Shiganshina. I heard it's very remote."
That's right, it's the branch that fled back then. This kid probably isn't lying to me.
I didn't expect that branch's Bloodline to still have descendants alive.
How nice... On the surface, Kenny said angrily, "Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"
"Who would have thought the sedative wouldn't work on those two? But it's also thanks to the Captain arriving in time."
Lock offered a word of flattery, then said, "I have to take her to see His Majesty now. Captain, we'll be on equal footing from now on."
"Kid, you're better off hoping your dying old man lives another two years than expecting that fellow Rod to throw you a big bone." Kenny's sharp tongue was as biting as ever.
The Captain probably only learned the foul language from him.
Lock acted as if he hadn't heard...
Kenny watched as Lock led Rod's illegitimate daughter toward the house on the farm.
Kenny pointed at the carriage and turned to his subordinates. "A few of you follow Todd and transport the person to the Chapel."
"The rest of you, once you've rested enough, get ready to move out!"
Traut stepped forward. "Captain, what else do we need to do?"
Kenny's lips curled in a sneer. "Unless every last member of the Survey Corps is dealt with, those idiots in the Council won't be able to sleep."
"If that kid hadn't protected them once out of old sentiment, we could have wiped them out last night."
Traut looked toward the departing carriage and hesitated. "Captain, I'll go keep an eye on the Vessel."
"No need. That fellow Rod is busy distributing rice to the poor; he probably won't be back until tonight."
Kenny's eyes turned serious. "That midget and the young girl aren't easy to deal with. The guys from the Central Military Police Corps probably won't be able to catch them."
"Report, Captain!"
A Soldier arrived with news. "Message from the Central Military Police Corps: the Survey Corps base is empty. Not a soul is there."
"They react fast," Traut remarked.
Even though Kenny had promised not to capture them personally last night, he had privately sent Military Police officers to block all the surrounding main roads.
But he hadn't expected them to escape anyway.
"That midget hasn't grown an inch in height over the years, but he's certainly grown a brain," Kenny mocked.
Traut asked, "What do we do, Captain?"
"The interior of the walls is only so big. Where could they possibly run?"
"Just sling some mud at them, and those foolish citizens will naturally help us find these rats."
Kenny looked at the rising sun in the sky, his face full of confidence.
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