The group returned to Stohess District. Klaus and his men had also completed their task, allowing no one to enter the city. In fact, some noble private troops from Wall Rose had attempted to force their way in, but faced with the defenders' firm stance—and lacking the courage to truly start a war—they eventually withdrew.
This reflected the general attitude of most regional nobles. As long as their core interests weren't touched, they dared not openly oppose the military. This was the so-called "weakness of the minor noble class."
After the coup succeeded, new newspapers were printed and distributed immediately. The public rejoiced at seeing corrupt officials brought to justice, while local nobles breathed a sigh of relief upon realizing that the victorious military had no intention of touching their interests. They quickly quieted down.
The angriest, most furious group was naturally the nobles within the capital—especially those closely associated with the royal family and high ministers. They made the most noise, but the military responded immediately with suppression, division, and co-optation. At the same time, families led by the Spencer household openly sided with the military, and through joint action, the troublesome nobles were subdued with ease.
Three days later, the implicated ministers were officially declared guilty. Several were executed, all their assets confiscated and transferred to the national treasury. After the executions, part of those assets was distributed to the public as relief, earning widespread support.
During this period, Lillian also swiftly legalized the identities of Klaus's group of over one hundred men. After a private discussion with Zachary, he successfully gained his support and was appointed commander of the newly established Central Guard Corps, while simultaneously serving as deputy commander of the Stohess Military Police.
The old fox's terms were simple—he wanted Lillian's intelligence. It was something he had long been curious about. Lillian told him everything, including how the Coordinate's power could be used.
In truth, even if Lillian hadn't said anything, the key ministers who were imprisoned had already spilled the truth. They had no idea that Rod was already under Lillian's control, still fantasizing that Rod would one day inherit the power and brainwash everyone.
Thus, the military finally learned of the Founding Titan's power and the method of using the Coordinate.
Lillian had revealed this information voluntarily. He had no choice—he was deeply anxious.
He didn't know when he might be dragged into another world, so he had to hand over this trump card in advance. That way, he could still guide people's thinking while he was here. Otherwise, if he disappeared without saying anything and a crisis occurred later, Historia—knowing how to use it—might speak up on her own.
And that could put her in danger.
So over the past few days, Lillian had been busy dealing with these matters. He personally led operations to crush six or seven noble factions that resisted stubbornly, and also had Kenny secretly gathering intelligence within the military.
The role of the Central Military Police was essentially collecting military and political intelligence, and handling the royal family's "dirty work." As such, they possessed vast amounts of critical information. Although the Central Military Police had been dissolved, the newly formed Central Guard Corps was effectively the same organization—the only difference was that its loyalty had shifted from the royal family to Lillian.
That was precisely why Lillian had insisted from the very beginning that this organization be placed under his control. Zachary and Erwin both understood its importance and were initially unwilling to hand it over. However, after several days of maneuvering, Lillian ultimately succeeded in winning Zachary's support.
After all, they had known each other for a long time—and Zachary was, frankly speaking, afraid of death. Although Lillian had never threatened him, Zachary couldn't help worrying that if Lillian failed to get what he wanted, he might lose control.
At present, there was no effective way for the military to restrain him. The Scout Regiment was powerful, but even they couldn't guarantee complete suppression. With Eren, Levi's elite squad, and the dual Titan combination of Annie and Ymir, the Scouts might have the advantage—but Kenny's people were also on Lillian's side, and Lillian himself was essentially a walking weapon.
That tipped the balance.
Even the bold and ambitious Erwin would never dare take such a gamble. In the original course of events, he took risks repeatedly because there was no retreat—without risking everything, humanity would perish. But now, Lillian showed no intention of exterminating humanity. At worst, he was domineering—but his actions hadn't harmed mankind.
Under such circumstances, provoking a war with him would be madness.
Thus, for the time being, they could only let Lillian have his way.
---
Five days later.
In Stohess District, Erwin, Hange, Zachary, and the trio from the 104th Training Corps—Eren and the others—were waiting at the entrance of an underground passage. Soon after, Lillian, dressed in a long military coat, arrived. After greeting them, he led everyone inside.
Along the way, no one spoke. Everyone except Zachary already knew of this place. After all, they had once planned to lure Lillian here and arrest him—only to completely misjudge his identity and have their plan exposed.
"This used to be a gathering place for criminals," Lillian said as he walked ahead.
"But I've already cleaned it out. Only two entrances remain—the rest have been sealed. These two are guarded by soldiers day and night. No unauthorized personnel will ever enter again."
As he spoke, they reached the deepest part of the passage. Unlike above ground, this place was as bright as day.
The reason was obvious—the luminous stones embedded in the walls, taken from the underground chamber beneath the Reiss family chapel. These things were outright black-technology. Mounted on walls, they were like nuclear chandeliers; put into flashlights, nuclear torches. As for how they actually worked, no one knew—certainly not with the current level of technology inside the walls.
Because there were so many of these stones, they had also been distributed among civilians, saving fuel costs. And what they illuminated here was—
A fifteen-meter-class Titan, bound tightly by multiple iron chains.
It lay sprawled on the ground, its head, neck, and limbs completely restrained, unable to move at all. And likely because it had no access to sunlight, this Pure Titan had no energy—it looked almost dead.
As they stared at it, Zachary let out a low chuckle.
"So this is Rod Reiss. Who would've thought the true king would end up like this?"
"…"
Yes. Over the past few days, Lillian had injected him with the serum, turned him into a Titan, then restrained and imprisoned him here in the underground passage.
"Eren," Lillian said, "you can go touch him. That might help you remember something."
"…"
Eren glanced at Erwin when he heard that, and Erwin nodded slightly in response.
The Titan was completely immobilized at the moment, so there was no danger to worry about. Even so, Mikasa still walked over together with Eren, watching as he placed his hand on the Titan's lower leg.
The instant their skin made contact, Eren felt his mind violently shudder!
A figure suddenly surfaced in his memories—a beautiful woman standing before a mirror, combing her hair. In that instant, it felt as though their gazes met, and that brief connection triggered a tidal wave of memories.
Fragments of a forgotten past surged forth. From the woman's perspective, Eren saw his father—the man who had always been gentle and well-mannered—now completely unhinged, despair written across his face. Then, without hesitation, he bit into his own hand.
The next moment, he transformed into a Titan.
At the same time, Eren saw "himself" transform as well, fighting his father—and losing.
He saw his father kill several children, rampaging for a time before finally leaving.
More memories surfaced.
This time, it was from Eren's own perspective. He saw his father take out a syringe and shout at him:
"You must avenge your mother!"
After that, his consciousness abruptly vanished.
When he came back to himself, his father's body was still there—but his head was gone.
The son… had eaten his father.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH—!!!"
Eren tore his hand away from the Titan's leg and staggered backward, barely keeping his balance. He clutched his head and screamed in agony, tears pouring uncontrollably down his face.
"Eren!" Mikasa rushed to him in panic when she saw his condition.
"What's wrong?! Look at me, Eren—what's happening to you?!"
"I… I…" Eren gasped for breath, his eyes bloodshot as he looked at her.
"I ate my dad… I ate my father."
"Eren, you mean… Grisha… the doctor?" Mikasa's eyes widened in shock.
Meanwhile, Zachary and Erwin didn't look particularly surprised.
The royal ministers, desperate to avoid torture, had already revealed how Titan powers were inherited. That meant Eren must have eaten someone to obtain his power. The question was—who?
Combining this with what Eren had said before—about his father insisting he go to the basement, claiming all the answers were there—Erwin had already pieced it together.
Grisha Yeager had known the truth.
Perhaps, like Lillian, he had also come from Marley.
If that was the case, everything made sense.
The only problem was that the process itself was unbearably cruel.
"Eren…"
Lillian watched Eren collapse in sobs, his emotions deeply conflicted.
To be honest, he was afraid of him.
Not of the Rumbling—but of brainwashing.
If Eren could trigger the Rumbling simply by touching a Titan of royal blood, then why wouldn't the mind-altering ability activate as well? If Eren ever gained control of that power, then Lillian—being an Eldian himself—would also be subject to it.
That was absolutely unacceptable.
Even if the probability was extremely low, as long as it wasn't zero, Lillian couldn't feel at ease.
That was precisely why he had secured Rod under his own control immediately. Without Lillian's permission, Eren would never be able to come into contact with a royal-blood Titan—and thus would be unable to activate those powers.
But still…
There was another hidden danger.
Lillian thought of Grisha's former wife—Eren's "previous mother"—who was still wandering outside the walls. She, too, was a Titan of royal blood.
Which meant that if Eren happened to encounter her by chance…and then happened to learn who she really was…
Everything could change.