Brozeph: I'm grateful for the words, thanks a bunch. But I'm always looking out for any criticism, as the first few chapters I admit were a bit messy and a fair bit poorly plotted out on my part.

Asahi-Seizonsha: I'm sorry you think that way, perhaps you would like to elaborate a bit more on what you dislike?

Violence. ... "Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than any other factor, and the contrary opinion [that violence never settles anything] is wishful thinking at its worst. Breeds that forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and their freedoms."

-Robert E. Heinlein

"We worked…so hard. We did…so much….." I heard Connie's voice speak out, his voice strained and low." Was it all…..for nothing?"

I stared at the bright fire that was slowly starting to burn brighter as it engulfed the bodies. It was a weird sight. It was a catastrophe for the garrison and the cadets. But it wasn't my catastrophe. I glanced to my right and saw other cadets with downcast looks, and pained expressions.

I could see Jean stretching his palm out,and was staring at it in an almost mindless manner. But I couldn't really...sympathize much.

Because I felt like the happiest man alive. I am happy…..to be alive. What almost felt like survivor's guilt, just didn't happen. It felt more like a weird, euphoric feeling of triumph.

I survived…..I survived that whole damn ordeal. And The feeling was kept buried, but only as of current.

I didn't feel like jumping around and shit. And it wasn't an exhilaration, nor some masochistic pleasure. I knew exactly what it was.

"Better you than me, Eldians." I muttered nonchalantly, while I still stared at the pile of burning corpses in front of me. I stood still and had my hands at the ready to my waist, akin to the pose of a bodyguard.

I then touched my forehead, and I could feel the bandages on it with a little wetness of the blood. I felt myself letting out an exasperated sigh. I was previously in some sort of shellshock, and I missed the events of Eren turning into a titan. I also missed the plugging of the hole. Goddamn it.

Well, I guess it's not too important to me. Everything looks like it's going along the straight line. There's not much sense and benefit changing something that's completely out of my control.

I almost reconsidered joining the scouts. Almost. But I remembered that the survey corps were the ones that overthrew the monarchy and reclaimed Wall Maria. Although most of them didn't care to notice or just weren't aware, it also gave them a considerable amount of political influence over Paradis.

A political influence I'm willing to exploit at full capacity, but only when the time comes. I'll have to survive till then. And I think already have a little "party" for when it arrives too. Just have to make them live until then. I don't think It'll be that hard either.

Although they're not really old enough to vote or have much influence over most, but they're still old enough to enlist as a cadet here, and probably die. That casualty rate is no bluff.

Is every damn idea built on the back of its extremists?

I….don't really know. But gradually, I'm beginning to believe it. The church, Reiss….what kind of other spark do they have aside from being memory wiping freaks of nature that I'm not able to comprehend? They have cold killers, and radicals aplenty. I just have angry and vengeful people. But are they willing people? I don't know.

100 years….a hundred years of mass ideas are at my disposal. A hundred years of history I've learnt. Is something restricting me? Constraining me?

They have extremists and killers. Is it nigh time I….had or maybe make some of them? I know the processes, I know the steps. What's stopping me? What's that wall in my mind?

I….I need to make some steps.

I turned around and started to walk away. My eyes glanced momentarily to Jean to my left, who held a thousand-yard like look in his eyes, with the light of the fire reflecting off his face and body. I only narrowed my eyes for instant before continuing my walk past him.

Crowds of mourning survey corps entered my field of vision, scattered all around in their little groups. Some were huddling near the warmth of the fire fueled by their comrades. The uncomfortable smell of burning flesh was rampant in the air.

I walked on briskly and picked up the pace, passing through and periodically sparing a glance over to some familiar faces as I walked through the crowds. I kept my head down as I walked. I didn't really feel like I belonged here in this place of mourning.

I then found myself walking to the very back of the crowd, back to the training camp. I craned neck around as I walked. Most of my body felt sore from some accumulated fatigue. My eyes felt like it burning, probably from the dust that swarmed into my eyes a few days ago.

I felt my head shaking, but I quickly clutched it with my right hand. I felt a little dazed. I'm sure I can just…..sleep it off . Yeah…sleep it off.

"Well, we could say that it went extremely well, huh Erwin?", An enthusiastic, energetic voice coated with curiosity which belonged to one Hange Zoe, asked to the blonde commander next to her as they walked together out of the courthouse, and whilst descending down the large white stairs near its entrance.

Crowds of people walked around them in haste. Most ready to return their daily lives after a hefty court case of a boy turned titan. Some hastier than others, as they seem like they were in a quiet sense of frustration as they pushed through the crowds.

"Just barely it seems." Erwin replied, his tone not revealing any sort of discontentment or any other emotion is he kept walked along with the overly enthusiastic woman next to him.

Then he held his chin, a thoughtful look forming on his stoic face "But, it was a success no less. I imagine the MPs would not be very competent in knowing where to start with the boy." He explained bluntly , still keeping up the pace with Hange.

"Yeah, I bet I could do wayyyyy better than they could on him, if I just had-"

"Denied." Erwin immediately interjected, not even turning to face her, "It wouldn't be the best of plans to experiment on the boy as a first impression."

"Ehhhh?!" Hange whined, faking a look of surprise and bemusement " Come on, commander, just a little peek! I'm sure it won't hurt, seeing how fast he coul-"

"Denied, Hange." He finished." If you're keen on it, you may go and ask for permission from Yeager personally."

"Well, I guess I could do that too." She replied, her curiosity still unwavering with a smile still etched on her face.

As they walked down the large stairs, they spotted two people, who were waiting for them at the end of the stairs. A short statured man with an undercut-like haircut wearing the usual survey corps uniform, his expression seeming like it was eternally indifferent and expressionless since birth. Levi Ackerman.

The other one, a blonde man with a dark moustache and beard wearing the same uniform. His expression was one more of calmness as he looked over to Erwin and Hange descending down towards them.

Hange waved her arm over to the two at the bottom of the stairs in greetings as they walked down downwards to them.

"So what now, Erwin? Can't be just waiting around with that boy under our care now, can we?" Levi asked,his tone still indifferent as he came into speaking range with the commander in question.

"We unfortunately can't it seems." He agreed as he gave a nod to the famed Titan slayer in front of him." We will be introducing ourselves to him. He'll no doubt be a useful asset for humanity, and ultimately for the reclamation of Wall Maria."

"Whatever you say, Erwin." Levi admitted, and then he gestured forwards into the crowded streets of the district. "Lead the way."

"By the way, Erwin," Mike spoke in before they could start their walk, "There's a letter for you," He stated as he swiftly took out a sealed letter from one of his jacket's pockets." It smelled….pretty strange."

"Oh? Of what sort?" Erwin questioned as he took the letter from the other blonde man's hands.

"Medicine." He commented, his tone sparking a fair bit of curiosity.

"Maybe it's one of your fans?" Hange proclaimed, whilst she also spared a look beside him,"Or is it just one of those "strongly worded" letters of complaint from the top brass again?"

"Oi, let's get going already." Levi advised, his expression slowly morphing into one of annoyance, " We're burning too much time here."

"Alright, Alright." Hange pouted, "No need to be in a rush there, Levi." She then started to follow behind the dark-haired man along with Mike, who only gave a grunt and a nod in agreement as he also quickly followed behind.

Whilst the other three conversed, Erwin had already examined the letter. His eyes narrowed as he could not spot the sender of the letter written on any side of the wax sealed letter. So he simply opened the letter and looked inside.

He was greeted with a letter with not much words written on it. A small sized paper, just a few tears from being just a strip of paper. It seemed a bit uncommon. His eyes briefly scanned over the contents of the letter and he felt himself unconsciously widening eyes at what he read,

Do you really want to know why your father was murdered?

One of the Confessional booths at the church in this district, tomorrow afternoon.

It would be recommended if you came there alone.

The letter did not reveal any sort of emotion in Erwin's face. And if it did, his face the second after he read the letter did not betray him in the slightest. But his mind felt a little caught in a flurry of thoughts and analytic speculations.

"Whoever sent this letter, chose quite a time." He briefly turn his head to the courthouse as he wondered." And it is impossible, that it could be just a large coincidence just after Trost."

He quickly scanned the handwriting on the letter, and quickly compared it to one of a noble or merchant's formal forms of writing. But there were no similarities, and he was able to pull all of them out of the suspects behind the letter.

The letter was brief and short, and held no form of long formalities that he could spot. But he remembered that the letter told him to meet him at the church in this district.

He knew that he could figure it out better when he actually met the person behind it, tomorrow. He swiftly pocketed the letter and the envelope away, and started to followed suit behind Hange and Levi, who were conversed into something concerning an "experiment."

I walked through the overly large wooden doors with a hurried step. Inside through the doors, I saw groups of people formed in perfect circles huddling together praying and chanting.

The chanting….it was more Gregorian than anything else. I've never been to church much, but I remember the style all too well. I kept my head down and walked through the long finely crafted wooden bench seats as inconspicuously as I could.

It was a large place, which could probably house about more than a thousand people. I guess it's easy to guess where about twenty percent of the tax money's going to.

I quickly rubbed my eyes and straightened myself out. Damn it. Couldn't get that much sleep yesterday. Too many things rushing to brain all at once. I heard there's a narcotic here that gets you energetic and active, but I'm not going to sink there.

I quickly spotted a confessional booth over in the distance, just a few steps away from the large altar. It was the far-right side of this whole place, just hugging the wall.

I quickly made my way towards it and I gotta give it to them, it has lot of flair put into one of those. A sleek and firm dark brown design, with an eye-catching figurehead of a woman stretching her right hand out. It was under the little empty space which divided both sides apart.

There was also a little wooden door on both sides, in which it's probably entered through. I looked around and…Good. The other people in the church were too busy praying to notice someone like me just entering this confessional here.

The door on the left side creaked a bit as I opened it. Inside, I was greeted to a small wooden seat, just enough for one person to be seated on. I turned and quickly closed the door, blocking myself off from any unwanted onlookers.

I took a seat and stared forwards to the intricately latticed opening where I could see the other side of the booth. I couldn't say the same for the one of the other end though, and that's what I intended anyways.

Now….just gotta wait. It's already the afternoon now, and the sun is gleaming the brightest right about now. I cleared my throat and got a little prepared.

Erwin. He's very…sharp. I need to watch myself around him. And I know that If I ever talk to him, It would important I choose my words carefully. I have to watch my words so he doesn't pick up on anything "unnecessary".

But I know that he would do much to find about the truth and the proper evidence of his father's theories. That's why I written him the letter with just a few words. There's no telling what that man can do with just a few clues. Or am I just being paranoid again?

A creaking of the door on the other side quickly knocked me out my thoughts again. So he actually came. Shit. Alright…. need to watch my goddamn words.

Through the latticed opening I could spot Erwin quietly closing the door, and taking a set on the other side. I could see him better. My eyes glanced over to the top. It was pretty dark, and I doubt he could really see me from here.

I unwrapped the bandages on my mouth, just enough so I could not be recognized by my normally muffled voice.

"Commander Smith." I greeted, trying to keep my tone as neutral as possible.

"I came alone, as you said." Erwin replied to me, his voice indifferent, " Now, do you care to explain why, whoever you may be?"

His eyes were narrowed in suspicion and a bit of caution, rightfully so I guess.

"As you've seen from the letter, I expect you understand that I know a bit more about you, commander." I explained to him. I better get to the point. I don't want this to drag on as long as it's supposed to." And as for your father's theories and suspicions, you can choose to believe me or not, but they are proven to be correct."

"Is that all?" I heard Erwin questioned, his voice seeming a bit more stern.

"No, there is more to it. More than your father ever had the luck of not knowing." I proclaimed to him as I shift my posture around a bit." And I'll give you the first piece of it all, as part of a deal."

"And what is this first piece?" He asked me, his arms folded and his face turned directly to me. He had his eyes trained on me.

It would've made me a little nervous, if not for the fact that he could not really see me.

"The current royal family, it's a lie. The true ruling family, the one that wiped your minds are all pulling the strings under the curtains. The last name- Reiss-that's your first clue right there." I hinted to him. That's all I'll give for now.

I could spot Erwin holding his chin in thought, his eyes and expression going more speculative. I could easily guess that he was mulling over the information he had just received. I could give him one more little piece.

"And there's something else too. Christa. She's a cadet graduate." I stated," And she's not quite who she seems to be, nor does she even really know, as of current." I then continued, "I'm sure you'll definitely be crossing paths with her. Watch out."

"You sound quite defiant against the royal family. "Erwin remarked, his voice still indifferent. "I suspect that if you are willing to go against the ruling body of the walls, there is still something beyond it that dares you to?"

"You're…very sharp commander." I stammered a bit before I composed myself again." But that's for another piece. Although you may or may not have figured out the outline of it, you'll still need the exact specifics to try anything crazy."

"And as for all things, you'll have to earn it." I revealed. I then continued on, " Now, for my end of the deal."

"Of course…"Erwin responded, his eyes seeming as if he hadn't blinked once.

"It would be great, if you could provide names."I requested." Names of the people who you might think are a little "corrupt" in your department."

I felt that it was kind of risky to ask that question. Would he give information on people he possibly worked with? Would he think that I'm making him rat out on his own branch? But, he wants truth right? Would he….?

There was no reply. An comfortable silence came immediately. I felt more anxious, as time went on without a single reply. I felt my fingers on my right hand shifting in a bit of anticipation. Come on...

I slipped my hand into the black coat I currently wore, and down to the left holster with my right hand. I heard a little movement, and Erwin's face had been obscured from my sight, to the point that there's only a silhouette left staring down at me.

Shit. Did I go a little too far with that?

I slowly took out my revolver, getting more anxious as I did. I stretched my revolver armed hand forwards, and leaned it against a little space near the lattices.

"That…can be arranged." I heard Erwin's voice answer, just before I had cocked the hammer. I let out a silent sigh of relief and slowly put the firearm back in the holster.

"Anything else?" Erwin questioned again.

"Some…supplies would be nice." I requested." Supplies from your munitions stores, dropped off at certain locations. That's all."

"That can also be arranged."

"Well, that's a deal then there, commander. Sorry for the lack of handshakes." I commented as I straightened myself out.

"I suppose from what you are requesting, I'll hear more of you often?" Erwin question, his voice now holding curiosity.

"I'm sure you understand that something needs to change, Commander." I explained. "And if not me, someone else definitely will."

I then slipped a rolled up piece of paper through the little triangular holes, containing all the ingredients I needed to make some "items."

"We'll meet again, commander. Same place." I stated. I then heard the creaking of a door before it closed. I stood up and opened the door slowly, and peeked outside a bit to see Erwin quickly leaving out the large wooden doors where I also came in.

I closed the door again and took a seat again. I rubbed my eyes again and sighed. Well, looks like it worked out well. But damn it, he's really sharp.

Plans, plans, and more plans. That's all there is to do. Every minute I stay still, is precious time wasted on figuring out how to go through all of this damn shit.

Here's another chapter , after quite a while. Very sorry about that.

And I found a little theme that fits the overall tone I'm going for in this fic. Paths of Glory OST- The Patrol

Until next time.