After the last snow melted away, the violent gangs of the exterior started rampaging once again. The only thing that was previously stopping them, was the common fear of an incoming titan attack. Once everyone learnt that it wasn't going to happen so fast, all of the repressed evil let loose, and chaos ensued.

Granaries were raided, people had been terrorized and smaller towns were desperately yearning for help from the MP's. But this time, the crackdown on banditry was harder than ever. Newly reorganized military police was way more vicious against any kind of evildoing or corruption. The gangs were already on the decline, but the coldest part of night is always right before morning. They were treating this spring as their last stand, and they wouldn't just give up without a fight.

Because of the banditry, Kenny didn't have much time to search for the intruders. That in itself was a risk, however if the entire society collapsed before its judgment, none of it would make sense. The only thing that was still keeping the general population in line was this year's great harvest. It turned out to be a good gamble by Frieda. The production of wheat had nearly doubled, thanks to her powers and famine stopped being a real threat. All the effort that she and the military police had put out, was finally paying off and now, it was only a matter of time before the crisis was resolved.

"You're really getting on everyone's arses" Frieda heard as she was looking over some reports, sitting inside her office in the king's palace.

Nowadays, she was trying to rule more openly. Officially she was still just a noble employed by the royal court, but the young woman was gradually spending more and more of her time here.

When she looked up, she saw that Kenny was standing in front of her desk.

"Great to finally have you here" Frieda exclaimed as she stretched in her chair "how are things going?"

"Regarding the criminal problem, it's alright" the man started "we've pushed them out of most major villages. Now that they no longer have the people's support, we can finally take down the big guys."

"I was aware of that" the woman responded, looking into one of the papers "tell me something about the other problem."

"Yeah" Kenny spoke nervously "about that…"

Frieda looked up and stared deep into the man's eyes. It wasn't a warm exchange or anything of sort. The rogue knew that she could be very decisive when she really wanted to. Her authoritarian way of ruling was a huge proof of that.

"After finding that one girl, who was standing out too much for her own good, we still have no clue on where the other guys are…"

"Are you sure you're doing your job correctly?" She asked him coldly.

With the way she was speaking to him, she could freeze the entire sea over. She wasn't sure where all that was coming from. Before her fight in the chapel, she had not been like this. Maybe it was due to her realization about not having free will, or maybe it was due to her great loss. Nevertheless, she has decided that this was the best way to rule.

Fear was always the best motivator.

"Without any clues, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack" the man responded, while averting her gaze.

It wasn't looking good. So far, Ymir had not remembered any memories regarding the identities of the intruders. The enemy group was still on the run, and Frieda did not like this one bit.

Enemy. When exactly did she start referring to them like this?

"The only way we can get them, is if they make a move" Kenny stated.

"Their move would be destroying wall Rose" the woman said, looking out the window "we cannot let this happen before we get to them…"

"Uhm…" the rogue expressed nervously "not that long ago, you were sayin' that we were all supposed to die…"

"Yes" she admitted.

"Isn't this what you wanted?" He asked with confusion "for them to destroy another wall?"

Frieda was deep in thought. Was she really straying away from the ideology of peace? If so, then why? Why would she want to just throw away all that the previous kings had done to protect the world?

'Previous kings…'

"We can be the ones who make the first move…" the woman said.

"Huh?" Kenny exclaimed as he looked at her in surprise "how?"

"They want to get me" she explained "but just as we have no clue on their whereabouts, they got no clue on mine."

"Ugh, I still don't get what you mean" Kenny said with even greater confusion.

"I will step out of the shadows."

The rogue widened his eyes. The thought was crazy, in regard to the royal safety, but there was a method to this madness.

"It goes like this" she elaborated "once the crisis is gone, the real king steps out. She explains that it was her doing that saved humanity from the civil war. The people accept this, because the army sticks with her."

Frieda looked into Kenny's eyes.

"The intruders will be obligated to join the military police in hopes of getting closer to me. From there, you will only have several suspects. This is the perfect plan."

It was fool proof. The walls would stay intact as long as she needed, and she could easily get the identities of the intruders. However, there was one major flaw in that plan…

"It leaves you right in the open…" Kenny concluded.

She had been prepared for that. It wasn't the best for her safety, but she could take care of herself. After all, she possessed infinite power.

"That's what you are for, remember?" She retorted "make preparations. We need to inform the military ahead of time."

"The scouts?"

That formation was always causing troubles. The vanguard of the society who disregarded rules and the government was the main hub for all kinds of psychos and lunatics.

"For starters, only the military police" she said "get to work…"

As the old Ackerman departed, Frieda once again thought about her change of character. Was she always like this? She could be the dearest older sister that anyone could ask for, yet the hostile environment of the world's top, would make her tougher than the strongest steel.

'I wonder how Eren is doing…'

More than she would like to admit, Frieda found herself thinking about the young boy. Despite what his father had done, she had grown to like him.

'It would be nice to welcome him into the family somehow' she thought with sympathy 'Historia is always all over him…'

Suddenly Frieda wondered about her own life. She knew that she didn't have that much time left, but it would still be a long time before she needed to pass her powers down to someone, preferably her sister.

'I hope that at least she will get to be happy' she thought as a small tear dropped to the ground.