In Meridian, the people watching as a large number of wagons were making their way to the Palace.
"That's a whole lot of wagons. What's all that about?"
"You mean you haven't heard yet? Pretty much all the military higher-ups are meeting inside the castle. They're finally disbanding the Scout Regiment." He then pointed towards a bunch of MPs that were building some gallows. "See, they're building those gallows to hang the commander from. He's probably getting his final judgement as we speak."
Stoick was facing the council, and despite knowing that his case would fall on deaf ears, he had to try.
"When facing your enemy, you can't just garden with the shield," he said. "You need a spear to dispatch the threat. If you disband the Scout Regiment, it will be akin to humanity tossing its spear aside. Suppose in this very instant Wall Rose was breached, once again have of humanity would be forced to flee this time to Wall Sina.
But the earlier evacuation left us with only a few more days worth of supplies at best, and when they run out, locals and refugees will be forced to fight for survival. Wall Rose and Wall Sina, all humanity would split, and a civil war will quickly erupt. Even if the Walls are not breached again, Wall Rose is suffering from a perpetual shortage of food. It may not be Titans that reach Wall Sina; it's entirely possible that the residents of Wall Rose will do it first."
The MPs and Garrison that had gathered started to look at one another, showing that the two were somewhat concerned with the state of their future.
"Wall Maria must be reclaimed; if humanity is to have any hope for the future, then that is the way," said Stoick.
"And you think that such an undertaking would require the Scouts?" said the fat noble.
"Our duty as Scouts has ever been to charge forward at the enemy," said Stoick. "Cowering and wait behind these Walls will solve nothing. My granduncle created the Scout Regiment for this very reason because he knew that we could not hide behind Walls and wait for the enemy to come. That is my belief unless you have some sort of secret plan by which we might overcome this ordeal?"
"Commander, it seems you have misunderstood what this is," said the fat noble. "The reason we brought you here is not to discuss our future within the Walls, nor is it on the account of something as simple as a murder. Clause Six of the Charter of Humanity, 'One must never prioritise their own gain over humanity survival.' You have broken the most sacred of laws."
"Indeed," the noble military uniform nodded. "You have refused to hand over Ragnar Keatson time and time again, and through this selfishness action, you violated our charter."
"But Ragnar is vital for the reclamation of Wall Maria," said Stoick stubbornly.
"That is not for the Scouts to determine!"
"Ragnar Keatson is a Titan whose abilities are far from understood," said the merchant noble. "To shelter him within our Walls is to put all humanity at risk. And the very idea of allowing a single commander to have control over him is absurd."
"As shown by you maliciously schemed against the state," said the fat noble. "Not only did you feign his abduction in order to conceal his whereabouts, but you also slew Gorm Gulson when he learned too much. We have tolerated your families antics, but now you have drawn the line. This amounts to blatant treason."
"It's not a stretch to describe you as a threat to humanity," said the priest.
Stoick narrowed his eyes; he knew that his plea would fall on deaf ears.
The noble military uniform then turned his eyes to Alvin. "Commander Alvin, the Garrison and Scouts Regimens frequently risk their lives side-by-side on the front lines. How are we to know that you're not working together now?"
"I am deeply disturbed to hear that you think we would align ourselves with the Scout Regiment," said Alvin looking insulted. "There is nothing more senseless than humans killing each other. In this cramped bit of world that has been left to us, it would take but a single spark to engulf all. Just the battle to retake Trost began; I said as much to the men I lead and then sent hundreds to their deaths. If the Scout Regiment is that fatal spark, then it should be smothered at once."
Spitelout was rather surprised to hear this; he had always pictured both Stoick and Alvin teaming up.
"Think about it," Alvin continued. "What if the Titans did manage to break through the Wall only to find next to no one inside it. The poor monsters might have to go hungry."
The noble military uniform chuckled but quickly caught himself. "Very well then, let's begin deliberations."
The fat noble and rose to his feet and faced King Fritz, who hadn't said anything during the entire conversation.
"Your Majesty, with your permission," said the fat noble and Fritz just remained silent.
The council then began talking amongst themselves, though everyone knew what the outcome would be.
Spitelout looked down at Stoick, concerned. 'Stoick, is this how you want it to end?'
The council had finally finished with the verdict and sat back down, except for the fat noble return to the King and bowed. He then turned around and faced Stoick with his hands behind his back.
"Now then, in the King's name, I will announce your final judgement," he said. "Commander Stoick Haddock, you have been found guilty of violating Clause Six of the Charter of Humanity. Your sentence is death. Your execution will be carried out at once. Take him."
The MPs then began to reach down to Stoick, and Spitelout was bewildered that he wasn't saying anything.
'Stoick, is this what you wanted? What about your dream? Your families goal?' said Spitelout, and then suddenly, he saw a small smile on Stoick's face.
A split second later, the door's barge open and Alfhild entered with a frantic look on her face.
"Wall Rose has fallen! The gates have been breached!" she yelled, saluting.
Everyone's eyes widened in horror.
"It was just like Wall Maria, the Armoured and Colossal Titans appeared out of thin air and broke through both gates in the Nexus District," she reported. "Currently, countless refugees are plotted this way from the East."
"Secure and evacuation route!" Alvin ordered. "Order all available Garrison troops to make to the Eastern front and offend the people! We must get those evacuated into Wall Sina! Hurry and go; saving the people is our highest priority!"
"Sir!" said the Garrison troops saluting.
"No, wait!" said the fat noble and everyone's eyes turned to him. "I want every last gate to Wall Sina closed off. Not a single refugee will be allowed inside this Wall!"
"B-but all those people?" said Spitelout, stunned. "Everyone in Wall Rose will die; your commanding us to stand by while happened humanity gets devoured?"
"Like Stoick said, if we let them in, then we'll end up in a civil war!" the fat noble pointed out. "The rule of law must be protected above all; the government mustn't fail!"
"We can't be sure; that's only a possibility there's no guarantee that will—"
"It's enough that the possibility exists! Our authority is and must always be absolute! Now follow your orders!"
Alvin looked at Alfhild, and she nodded before running off.
The council immediately began to gather to discuss the situation.
"Damnit," said the noble military uniform. "To think of the Wall would end up getting breached after a time like this."
"Although there is a silver lining here," said the fat noble. "We've already secured the power; before too long, the vessel will take it, and then our problems will end."
"Very well, this is far from ideal, but there's no point in losing composure here," said the priest. "We still have one Wall, and Lord Johann should be back soon."
"Agreed, we're still safe now," the merchant noble nodded.
"We have our orders; let's get those gates closed," said an MP.
"Hold on," said Spitelout.
"The refugees are coming now!"
Spitelout was heavily conflicted; on the one hand, he had served an oath to the King, but on the other, there was a concern for his family. He then remembered Stoick's words and began to wonder whether this is what he meant.
"What's taking so long!" the fat noble yelled when he noticed that no one seemed to be moving. "Go and do your duty! Ignoring my orders is an act of treason!"
Spitelout knew what he had to do. "Then I guess I'm a traitor."
"Say what?"
"But sir?" said an MP.
"I can't; I am a citizen of Wall Rose," said Spitelout. "I refuse to shut the gates on those people!"
The fat noble looked at him furiously. "You dare to—"
"I stand with him," said a voice.
Everyone immediately turned around, and to their surprise, they saw Premier Zachary standing at the door with several armed men, all of them pointing rifles at them.
"P-Premier Zachary?" the fat noble stared.
"Did you find the way they acted surprising, or was it expected?" Alvin asked.
"Surprising?" said Zachary adjusting his glasses. "Not a bit."
"Premier Zachary?" said the noble military uniform confused. "What's the meaning of this?"
"That report you all just heard was fabricated; there's no cause for alarm," said Zachary. "As of this moment, there have been no reports of any Titan attack."
"Bastard! This was all a farce?" said the fat noble furiously.
"It wasn't his plan; it was my," said Alvin as he stepped forward.
"Alvin?"
"It would appear that most of the Interior Police are off rounding up Scouts somewhere, which worked out nicely for me," said Alvin.
"What are you saying?"
"When you asked me, I declared you and earnest that the Garrison Regiment is not aligned with the Survey Corps, but I forgot to mention something else. We're not aligned with your assembly either."
Fat noble just stared at him.
"That's right," Alvin continued. "Although I agree with Stoick on several points, I was still willing to put my trust in your Government. So long as you could prove yourself to be the better choice for humanity because you have knowledge that we don't about both the Titans and the Walls. Had you shown that you actually gave a damn about protecting the people you govern, I would have stood by and watched as you take Stoick to the gallows. In fact, depending on the choice you made, all of us were prepared to forfeit our lives.
However, you've made it clear that our suspicions were correct. It's true that we soldiers know next to nothing about the Titans and their powers, but I daresay that despite this fact, humanity is safer in our hands."
"What?" the fat noble roared. "Don't be such a fool! What do you expect to accomplish by threatening us? You'll fail! The people will never obey you! The monarchy has ruled for over a hundred years; you would never gain the support of the nobles!"
"It would appear that you have misunderstood what this is," said Alvin. "You see, this is far more than a mere threat; it's a coup d'état!"
Alfhild then appeared and approached Zachary. "Interior Police have been subdued; the capital is secured, sir."
"Well done," Zachary nodded.
Fat noble just stared in horror.
Zachary then looked to the council. "To be a soldier means sometimes obeying your commander over your king."
"And that's especially true when that king is a pretender," Alvin added. "He will be exposed and replaced!"
"This is real," said the fat noble. "You plan to… Don't think for one second that this coup has a sliver of legitimacy!"
"Given the scenario, you presented, your choice to close Sina's gates broke Clause 6 of the Charter of Humanity," said Stoick. "Furthermore, you installed a puppet king and took the reins of power for yourselves. This crime is known as treason!"
The council just stared in horror, and they knew they were beaten; all their plans had fallen apart in an instant.
"Shit! Wake up!" the fat noble roared, kicking the throne.
Fritz then suddenly sat up. "What? Is it dinnertime?"
"Oh, shut your mouth, you stupid oaf!"
Zachary's men then immediately apprehended the council underscored them out of the throne room. They then released Stoick from his shackles.
"Well, Stoick, looks like you manage to pull it off," said Spitelout and then took note of his expression. "Wait, you don't seem happy."
"I'm thinking," he said and turned his eyes to the empty throne. "Humanity is on a new path, one far more dangerous than the last."
It was late at night, and Eret's squad observed two robe figures approaching them. However, they were MPs. It was, in fact, Valka and Mason.
Once they took them back to the camp, they immediately told them everything that happened at the capital. They have even given them a news article of the entire ordeal.
"And there you have it," said Valka. "The coup was successful; Premier Zachary now has full control of the capital and Government. For the time being, at least the nobles seem to be staying in line."
"Okay, but what about the incident with Gulson?" Hiccup asked.
Valka smiled. "We got a public confession out of one of the Interior Police. Gorm's son Cleaver really pulled through for us."
Roy was still rather reluctant to publish the story, but Cleaver held him up against the Wall.
"Come on, don't you get it yet?" said Cleaver. "The Government doesn't give a shit about saving any of us! You can face the truth now, or you could die wishing that you had."
"We have to do this," said Sigurd. "If Titans attack again, all the things that you're protecting will be gone. There will be no company, our families will die! Let's print the truth before that happens!"
They then began publishing the story, and it began to spread like wildfire.
"The truth is right there," said Valka. "The abuse of power, the bogus charges against the Scouts, and that King Fritz was both a puppet and a fraud. It's clear that we only acted in self-defence; in short, we're no longer criminals."
Everyone looked at one another and began to smile and burst into cheers.
The MP officer, who is currently tied to the tree, just stared at them in shock upon hearing this. "That can't be; they beat us?"
"Looks like Stoick's gamble paid off," said Eret.
"That it did, but it wasn't just Stoick that gambled," said Valka. "Many people had to make a lot of hard choices to make this work."
"Whereas my choices got three of your people killed. I'm sorry."
Valka just remained silent and merely nodded.
"Here's the thing, the Interiors may have lost, but not all of them know it," Eret continued. "They still have Ragnar and Historia too. We need to find them quickly."
"Right," Valka agreed and pulled out some files. "I think I might know where they might be. Let's get there and put an end to this fight."
'Largely due to Stoick's actions, it was declared that the old system of rule would be dismantled. Once the military secured the capital, they made the announcement immediately. The declaration was given to the very gallows that my father was meant to be executed on.'
After Zachary speech, Stoick began to join him in his carriage while Spitelout talked to a few reporters.
"That's right, it's exactly as Premier Zachary explained during his speech," he said. "Please understand our objective here is not to establish military rule. We intend to replace Fritz with a monarch born of the true Royal bloodline. They will be responsible for leading humanity, and that includes us."
"I get what you're saying, but frankly, why should people believe that your king is any more legitimate than the one you depose?"
"I'm sure you understand that the people are quite concerned. No one knows who the trust at this point."
Stoick began riding down the street with Zachary contemplated about today's events.
"For the sake of humanity, it might have been better to let the Government stand," said Stoick. "My Alvin was saying, they have far more knowledge than us, and they have kept humanity going at least this far. Even if they would have watched as half the human race perished, it's better than letting us go extinct. Should I have given up? Let them take Ragnar? So out of my life and put my comrades and my family at risk and put my trust in their selfish wisdom? Too late now, instead I endangered us all."
"Your duty is as painful as a burden as ever I see," said Zachary. "Perhaps death would have been easier for you. So tell me, why did you do as you described?"
"I'm not sure," he said.
"Sure you do," said Zachary. "If you want my honest opinion, I've been looking to take those arrogant bastards down for a long time. Those self-assured pigs would be from gilded troughs and pretend that their shit was gold. If you hadn't done it today, I would have given it a shot myself before I kicked the bucket. As for how this coup might end up affecting the fate of humanity, I don't honestly know."
"So, what do you think I did it?" Stoick asked.
"Because your family has always wanted to know the truth, and this was the best way of finding out," said Zachary folding his arms. "Some part of you wishes to discover the truth that your family has been trying to find for the past hundred years."
"Perhaps you're right," said Stoick.
"Though I have to admit I am curious," said Zachary looking at him. "Your family has been trying to discover the truth of the fate of humanity past hundred years, even if it meant our deaths. How big is this secret for you to put so much on the line for?"
"Can't say, I don't even know if it exists or not."
It was late at night, and Eret's squad was now living out; now they have a lot more control over the roads they could move out in the open.
"Valka, you said you might know where they are?" Astrid asked.
"I guess I should explain how," said Valka and pulled out the files that Stoick had given her. "Stoick gave me this Scout report from an investigation on Lord Johann's land. It details an incident that occurred five years ago on the Tradesman estate."
"Five years?" said Hiccup.
"That's right, it was the day that Wall Maria was breached. I'll summarise the most important parts from the beginning. So as far as the regional lord went, Lord Johann was fair and well-respected by the people. He had five children; the most well-known of them was his eldest daughter Helga. She was a down to earth girl who even the peasants adored.
But five years ago, on that night, disaster struck. With the fall of Wall Maria having plunged the world into chaos, bandits raided and set fire to the only chapel around. Unfortunately, for then, the entire Tradesman family had gathered there to pray, and so the entire family was massacred by bandits that night, say one. Only Johann Tradesman managed to escape with his life.
To top it all off, this incident occurred just a few days after Historia's mother was killed by the Interior Police. So we know in the immediate wake of losing his family, Lord Johann sort out Historia, and something tells me that it wasn't out of a newfound internal affection."
"Well, she is of royal blood or do you think that bloodline had any other secrets?" Eret asked, looking at her curiously.
"It's possible, but I'm not sure yet. What really stood out to me, at least, was the fact that large part chapel were destroyed. The chapel was built from stone; it would take a lot of time and effort to destroy it. If it were bandits, they would have taken what they could and make a quick escape. Also, Lord Johann was the only witness; no one confirmed his story. Then Lord Johann rebuilt the chapel with his personal fortune almost immediately. What was his rash?" Before this night is over
Everyone remained silent as none of them liked the prospect.
"Before this night is over, Johann's land will be crawling with our soldiers. Unfortunately, we can't expect him to wait that long. We have to get there as soon as possible before Ragnar ends up in someone stomach."
'A Titan gains intelligence and the power to transform by eating a human being with that power,' said Hiccup. 'If that's actually true, how and when did Ragnar first become a Titan? And who did he had to eat to gain his powers?'
"If you think about it, the story could only make sense if it involved a Titan attack," Valka continued. "It may turn out that I was jumping to conclusions, but it is suspicious enough to merit investigation, and it's the only lead we have."
Ragnar had finally regained consciousness, and he found himself completely chained in some sort of crystal cavern. The only thing he was wearing with his trousers, bandages covered his hands which were being suspended in the air by chains, his legs were clamped to the ground, and there was a gag in his mouth.
'What the hell?' he said. He struggled against his chains, but he was unable to move an inch. There was no way he could transform in this position. He then looked down, and to his surprise, he saw standing there in a white robe was Historia. 'Historia?'