Faced with the soldiers' unified salute, Zachary had no choice but to hand over the royal family genealogy.
Erwin took one look and raised the document high.
"The name 'Karl'—it's newly added!"
To prove his point, he passed the genealogy around for all to see.
It would have been better if no one had looked.
The moment they did, the problems were obvious everywhere:
The ink was fresh.
The listed parents were younger than "Karl" himself.
The dates of birth and death were impossible—who could be born on February 29th of a non–leap year?
The royal family's lie was blatant.
Shock swept through the courtroom. No one had ever imagined the royal records themselves could be falsified.
If not for an upright soldier like Erwin daring to stand up, this deception might have endured forever.
"Your Majesty," Erwin demanded, holding the genealogy aloft, "will you explain why this new name was added? Who is Karl? And what exactly is the Titanization experiment?"
The King's face was expressionless.
"That is a royal secret and cannot be disclosed to outsiders."
But then—he darted a glance aside. A flicker of pain crossed his features.
Erwin caught the movement. He turned in that direction—
Rod Reiss was gone.
The man whose strange behavior had darkened the trial's tone had vanished without a trace.
Erwin had ordered guards to keep him under watch, yet Rod had slipped away without a sound.
Without him, the King seemed lost, unable to keep control.
"That's enough for today!" he declared abruptly. "I am tired! Court adjourned! The trial will resume tomorrow!"
"Resume tomorrow?" Erwin frowned. The sudden adjournment was just as arbitrary as the earlier sentence—both came without reason or process.
Still, one thing was clear: the royal court's hostility toward Zeke was unmistakable. Erwin could not allow him to fall back into their hands.
He stepped forward.
"Today's trial is a public one. How can we adjourn without a conclusion? We must decide Zeke's fate now! His testimony has revealed too much truth to ignore—but his life must be accounted for. I propose that Zeke Yeager be placed under the command of the Survey Corps, to use his power beyond the Walls and atone for his crimes by destroying the Pure Titans for the sake of humanity!"
He knew the danger of what he was suggesting.
To drag the royal family into open investigation would ignite political conflict—perhaps even a coup. And a coup, in front of all humanity, would tear the nation apart.
No—he needed to end this now, decisively, and pull Zeke out of the royal struggle.
But the Left Minister snapped, "Who are you? You're just a district captain, and you dare to demand a verdict before the King and President?!"
Erwin froze for a moment. He couldn't deny it—his title carried little weight. Yet if he didn't stand up, who would?
He turned his eyes toward Keith. Your turn, his look said plainly. Help me out, old man.
Keith smirked, rose slowly, and said, "Erwin is my designated successor. From this moment forward, he speaks as the Head of the Survey Corps. His words carry my full authority."
"...What?" Erwin nearly choked. He hadn't expected that.
The old captain rolled his eyes—Don't look so surprised.
Darius Zachary folded his hands, his voice calm. "Keith, do you confirm that Erwin Smith is your appointed successor as Commander of the Survey Corps?"
"Yes," Keith said firmly.
"Very well."
Zachary cast a glance toward the King, who slumped on his throne, silent—face heavy with frustration, fear, and anger.
Then Darius Zachary announced to the assembly, his tone formal and steady:
"Though Zeke Yeager has committed murder, his abilities are of greater value to humanity alive than dead. Therefore, I sentence Zeke Yeager to serve under the command of the Survey Corps as a condemned soldier. He will atone for his crimes by eliminating the Titans beyond the Walls. Should he resist or act against humanity, the Survey Corps is authorized to execute him immediately."
He swept his eyes across the hall.
"Does anyone object to this ruling?"
The civilians—there merely to witness the spectacle—shook their heads. It made no difference to them so long as peace returned.
The ministers, still entangled in the Karl controversy, dared not speak.
Darius Zachary turned to the Garrison Corps.
Pixis raised his hands in mock surrender and grinned.
"Don't look at us. Let the Survey Corps handle the Titans—we'll stay right here where it's safe."
Then, half under his breath, he chuckled, "Unless it's a female Titan… then maybe I'd volunteer to subdue her personally."
In the distance, Annie shivered inexplicably.
Sacre's gaze moved to the Military Police Brigade.
Nile muttered, "Erwin's stealing the spotlight again…"
He waved his hands. "Don't look at me—I'm not qualified to contest this. The King's intention is obvious, and the First Regiment's elites are already surrounding Zeke. If I tried to claim custody, they'd just execute him on the spot."
With no objections left, Darius Zachary nodded solemnly.
"Then it is settled. The custody and command of Zeke Yeager are hereby granted to the Survey Corps."
Erwin, inwardly relieved: Finally. Custody of Zeke secured.
(A man truly born to lead the flow of history.)