"Wait a minute."
Lock turned, surprised to find Levi standing behind him, his expression as cool as ever.
"Is there something you need?" Lock asked.
"Join the Survey Corps," Levi said bluntly, his sharp eyes fixed on him.
Lock didn't hesitate. "Alright."
"…Hn."
Levi gave a curt reply, turned on his heel, and walked away. Lock couldn't help the twitch at the corner of his mouth. Did he really have to act that cool?
Unseen by him, Levi wore a faintly awkward look as he walked off. He hadn't expected Lock to agree so easily. How was he supposed to respond to that? In the end, he simply decided to leave the matter to Erwin. His goal had been to establish contact—mission accomplished.
Lock watched him go, then shook his head and caught up with the other recruits. The next step would be questioning.
He wasn't worried. His family background was decent, and he had no criminal record. As expected, after nearly half an hour of routine questions and paperwork, he stepped back outside.
Waiting for him were the two other recruits who had passed the rope test.
"Hello, good to meet you. I'm Ellis, and this is Livington. We're both from Shiganshina. We'll need someone to look out for us once training starts," Ellis said with a friendly smile.
"Lock," he replied, shaking his hand.
Seeing how approachable he was, the two relaxed immediately. Since they were no longer competitors, the atmosphere between them was easy.
They spoke for a while and learned a little about each other. Ellis was twenty, Livington nineteen. Childhood friends who had enlisted together, both planned to aim for the Military Police in hopes of moving their families to the safer interior.
Lock had no issue with their goals. Everyone had their own reasons, and it wasn't his place to argue. After declining their invitation to dinner, he left to celebrate with Eren and the others waiting at the base gate.
Watching his back disappear down the road, Livington frowned. "Why are we even trying to befriend that kid?"
Ellis gave him a look. "He's young, but his talent is obvious. Even the deputy commander of the Survey Corps paid attention to him. Didn't you see their men approach him?"
"And what does that have to do with us?" Livington asked, still confused.
Ellis sighed. "Better to make friends than enemies. If he rises in the future, it won't hurt us. Besides, we're the only three from Shiganshina joining this year. We need to stick together so no one pushes us around."
"…I see," Livington muttered, though his tone made it doubtful he fully understood.
Meanwhile, Lock had already reunited with Eren, Armin, and Mikasa.
Eren and Armin showered him with admiration, their eyes wide with pride. Against older, stronger competitors, Lock had placed first with ease. To them, he was practically untouchable—an idol.
Even Mikasa studied him differently. She remembered him as only a little stronger than the rest, far behind her own abilities. But now… she wasn't sure she could defeat him. The realization left her with a faint sting of frustration.
Before, she had always been the strongest, the one who drew Eren's astonished looks. Now those looks were drifting toward Lock. The thought soured her mood.
Unlike the children, Carla and Aunt Martha were subdued, still wishing Lock would stay away from the dangers of the Survey Corps. But they knew their words would no longer change his path.
Grisha and Hannes, on the other hand, encouraged him. They reminded him not to become arrogant, to get along with others during training, and to avoid making unnecessary enemies. The Training Corps drew recruits from all districts, many of them well-connected children of the elite. Navigating those relationships would be just as important as raw strength.
Lock listened calmly, nodding to their advice. His composure reassured them more than words could.
Their eyes drifted to Eren—still reckless, still fiery. Carla and Grisha exchanged a glance and silently vowed to keep a closer watch on him.
Eren just scowled, not understanding why everyone was suddenly looking at him.