His Father had crossed an unseeable line. After so many countless years of caring for these creatures, his Father had wiped them all out without hesitation. Without care and without regret. He was forced to watch as the living organisms he had come to know seize to exist. He was done. After walking the Earth for all time, he was done with his Father's ineptitude and apathy. He would do everything in his power to end his Father once and for all. He would end him. Once and for all.

Dawn of Pax Arc

~ Chapter 11: Developments ~

August 1st, 845

Harry Potter loved his life. The day after his twelfth birthday, Harry found himself in a position in which he was actually happy. With the use of the new prosthetic leg given to him by Pieck and Annie, Harry could do all of the things he had done before. He could jog. Sprint. Jump. But most importantly. He was free. The loss of his legs forced him to use his crutch to move, limiting his movements greatly. But now, it was almost as if he had never lost his leg. Sure, he couldn't feel the leg when he touched it. He couldn't feel the carpet beneath his feet while he walked barefoot in his home. And he couldn't tense his leg muscles like he could in his right leg. But sometimes one had to make sacrifices for their own good. And Harry was more than happy to sacrifice the feeling as long as he was free in his movements.

Workouts were much easier now. Before, he was forced to use a pad to support what was left of his left thigh as he did pushups. And doing his morning runs had been all but dropped when he was forced to use crutches. But with the presence of his prosthetic leg, Harry could do pushups correctly and could run for miles. He asked what the leg was made of given its level of endurance, and Pieck replied that it was made out of spare tungsten and stainless steel melted down and sculpted in the shop outside of Annie's home. They used special types of wood to construct the foot, adding a thin layer of fabric to avoid scratching. Harry alleviated that problem with a few simple charms that made the foot and leg indestructible and impervious to degradation and rust.

The reclamation of his mobility also resulted in somewhat of a frenzy for the news media. Some were considering it the 'return' of the great Harry Potter, who would be back in top shape by the time he was sent out to the eastern border. And he was in top shape. His scores out on the training ground were back to what they had been before he had lost the use of his leg. Sure, they weren't perfect given he wasn't exactly in his original state. They were not as good as Annie or Reiner's, but the scores were still good.

But Harry didn't want to think about that at the moment. Instead, he wanted to focus on his current situation. He was standing in a small courtyard within the Liberio Internment Zone, waiting patiently for his friends. He took a moment to examine the small mirror leaning against one of the merchant stalls. His hair had grown long in the six months since the battle for the Fortress, now falling down past his ears. His eyes had grown brighter too. But what caught his eye was the scar located at the center of his forehead. Shaped like a lightning bolt, the scar had been received during the Battle for the Fortress and stayed with him since that day. It hadn't faded like most scars and was content to take up space on his face. No one brought it up to him. No doubt out of respect.

But that didn't stop the new Magical Biology Research Society - a subsidiary of the Titan Biology Research Society - from researching the cause of the scar. According to his comrades, he hadn't had the scar prior to the outburst he'd had during the battle. Instead, the scar appeared afterward while he was going unconscious. Harry himself wasn't entirely sure what to make of it, but he decided to not focus on it for too long. After all, he had learned from his leg that focusing too much on deficiencies resulted in poor mental health. And as stated before, Harry was loving life.

"You spend more time in front of a mirror than my mother," Harry spun to his left, locking eyes with Marcel. The boy was wearing his signature grin, which seemed to compliment him much more compared to Porco, whose grin always seemed born from anger and malice. Harry took notice of Marcel's casual attire. A dark grey buttoned-up shirt, black jeans, grey sneakers, and his red armband fitted perfectly against his left arm. The boy stepped forward, his eyes traveling around the courtyard questioningly. "What are we doing here?"

"We're waiting on Annie and Pieck," supplied Harry.

"You're girlfriends?" Marcel asked, his grin widening as he prepared to laugh. Harry merely smiled, shaking his head at the ridiculousness of that thought. He couldn't picture himself in a relationship. It seemed too exhausting. Too time-consuming. Besides, he would never be able to date both of them, forcing him to choose. Harry couldn't choose between the two of them. "What for, anyway? Why no Reiner and Bertholdt?"

"Because we're not hanging out today," Harry replied, his face shifting into a serious expression. "We're going to be talking about a few important things involving the recent battle and your role in it,"

Marcel's eyes widened in shock at the change in topic, sliding his foot back in a sign that he was clearly uncomfortable. But he did not move. He didn't run from the seriousness. He instead planted himself and frowned. "What do the four of us have to talk about in terms of the battle? And what did I do? Why do Pieck and Annie have to be there and not Reiner and Bertholdt?"

Harry sighed. His face softened and his posture relaxed as he answered. "Marcel...I can't explain it here. But you need to trust me. You're my friend, and I trust you. I would die for you,"

Nodding, Marcel replied instantly. "And I would die for you," Harry smiled. He hoped that turned out to be true in the end. After all, Harry was about to expose his deepest and darkest secret to Marcel, who could respond in two ways. He would agree with them. Or he wouldn't. Harry didn't want to think about what he would have to do if Marcel disagreed. But if he agreed, then they would have another participant in their little scheme against Marley. Not only that, another person going to Paradis would be in on the plan. This could change the outcome of their future. And it all depended on Marcel's reaction to them revealing their plans for the future of Marley, Eldia, and the world.

Greetings Ambassador Azumabito,

This letter is in regard to a business agreement between myself and the nation of Hizuru as a whole. While I cannot go into specifics, I believe this agreement could be beneficial to the both of us. Attached is a time and location at which the meeting will be held. Feel free to bring military support to the meeting if you feel the need to, though know this invitation is not being sent with ill intent. I believe a very profitable future awaits Hizuru as well as the Azumabito family.

Sincerely, Harry Potter

Harry, Marcel, Annie, and Pieck stepped into an isolated room in the sub-basement of a nearby family shelter, a spot Harry had hand-picked. The room was covered in spells and charms designed for anti-eavesdropping, allowing them to have a conversation without being overheard. Harry motioned towards the three chairs sitting around the central table, allowing his three friends to take their seats before he took to leaning against the table itself. He addressed everyone at once. "I've already told Marcel why we're here. But the details still need to be discussed,"

"You're kinda freaking me out with how serious you're being Harry. Is this about what you said before the battle? Cause I didn't say anything. Porco did, but I refused," Marcel explained.

"This is a lot bigger than that," said Annie.

"This has to do with our plans for the future. Specifically the peaceful future I hinted at when we returned to Liberio," Harry explained. Taking a deep breath, he decided not to beat around the bush. "It all began at Fort Tatakai. Annie and I talked a lot out in the forest. Mostly about trivial things. But eventually, we broadened our talks to include politics and government. Mostly how much we despised the propaganda being put out about Eldians and the future power and might of Marley as a nation. We spoke of the truth. Marley's corruption. The real truth about the hoax known as Helos. The Tybur family's role in the downfall of Eldia and Marley. And how we could make things better,"

"You're...Restorationists?"

Marcel's face was darkened in an expression that reeked of pure panic. His hands were clenched and sweat was beginning to build on his brow. His forehead was clamming and his eyes were narrowed. Harry shook his head. "No. No. We don't support Eldia. Sure, our plans restore Eldia and weaken Marley, but not for the purpose of restoring Eldia as the superior race. No. Our plans would restore Eldia, weaken Marley to a certain point, and unite both nations so that we can focus on a brighter future. A future less focused on in-fighting and instead more focused on how to make life better for everyone,"

"We're Expansionists," Pieck supplied.

"Expansionists...the stars," Marcel whispered, remembering Harry's journals. "You're seriously trying to reach the stars?"

"That's the end goal," Harry replied. "But we've already started, Marcel. I've made my way up the ranks. Pieck made contacts in the government that empathize with our goals. Annie laid out the groundwork for the Paradis mission. And I've contacted ambassadors of Hizuru with plans to bridge the gap between the two nations. I've also sent similar letters to both the Mid-Eastern Alliance and the Tybur family with the same goal in mind. We're already taking steps to ensure this plan comes to fruition,"

Appearing to have visibly calmed down, Marcel began shaking his head. "So you're not Restorationists. But what can I do to help you? I don't know anyone in the government. I don't think I could be useful,"

"We're bringing you in as a confidante. Someone we can trust. Pieck and I are staying here while you, Annie, Reiner, and Bertholdt go off to Paradis. With you in the fold, Annie can achieve more during her time on Paradis than if she was alone. Besides, we're going to need as much help as possible when we make our move," said Harry.

"Move?"

"The coup d'etat," said Annie.

Marcel visibly froze once again.

"Don't think ill of us, Marcel. We don't plan to overthrow Marley ourselves. Everyone knows the Tybur family are the true rulers of Marley, though they choose to run things from the background. In my letter, I asked them to come out of the woodwork and help me achieve the real peace that Karl Fritz wanted so many years ago,"

"How do you know all of this? What does Fritz have to do with this?"

Harry sighed. "I'm not entirely sure how I know what I do. But what I do know is this. Helos never existed. The story of a great Marleyan slaying the Devil of All Earth is a lie. One created by Karl Fritz and the Tybur family over a century ago. It's all because Fritz was ashamed of Eldia's past misdeeds and its treatment of Marleyans. So he decided to overthrow Eldia and restore Marley as Eldia's penance. He sided with the Tyburs and they constructed the story of Helos. Fritz then gathered most of the Eldians and moved to Paradis, constructing three walls using Colossal Titans. He then gave out an empty threat. One saying that if Marley or any other nation tried to go for revenge, the titans making up the walls would be released to trample the world. But it was a lie. Fritz only wanted peace, and he knew that Marley would eventually try to eliminate all of Eldia. He just wanted to protect his people for as long as possible,"

"So...everything about the Marleyans being superior? That's all a lie? They're only in power because of Fritz and Eldia?"

"Correct. The only thing that separates us is the fact that Subjects of Ymir can turn into Titans. And given that the transformation only occurs when injected with titan spinal fluid, an Eldian is just as normal as any other human on any other day," Harry explained. "The point is, humanity's all the same. We're all human. We're all sentient beings capable of enhanced thought. But the key difference between some of us is our ability to see reason. To see the benefits of working together as a single unit,"

Marcel let his head fall into his hands, which ran through his hair as he tried to think. "This is a lot to take in,"

"I know. But this is the only way we can guarantee the peace Karl Fritz wanted. And think about it. Once I get the Founding Titan's power, I can end the Power of the Titans. I can make every Eldian on the planet "normal" again," Harry explained. Marcel's eyes widened once more, his head raising from his hands. He understood. If the Power of the Titans was removed, then not only would Eldians no longer be able to turn into Pure Titans but the Nine Titans would be abolished. No more Intelligent Titans meant any future conflicts would not have the added benefits of Titan powers. But not only that, it meant long lives for the Warriors who all currently held one of the seven Nine Titans.

This seemed to be what Marcel needed to hear. Leaning forward, a determined expression overtook the boy's face. "What do I need to do?"

General Potter,

Your letter reached me last night. I will send for someone to collect you within the week so that we can talk. We have much to discuss.

Willy Tybur

Greetings General Potter,

When I received your letter, I was hesitant to open something sent by the man responsible for the fall of our great nation. However, the contents of said letter left me conflicted. I am willing to meet with you at the specified time and location, though I must say the timing is questionable. And yes, I will have my personal guard come along. You can never be too careful.

Sincerely, Ambassador Kiyomi Azumabito

August 4th, 845

A burning tree. A blue and white worm-like creature with the head of a man Harry didn't recognize. Green eyes. Brown hair. Cold. Wet. Water. The feeling of power and powerlessness. The feelings of oppression and freedom. The overwhelming anger and joy. A single moment lasting for thousands of years. The Tree of Life. The Source. The key to all living things. It coursed through him and he coursed through it. And at the center of it all was a single creature. A single entity. A blue-white worm capable of giving him the power of - "Harry!"

The boy in question snapped out of his long slumber, sitting up in an instant. But his alertness faded as he felt the pool of sweat he was lying in. The contents of his dream confused him, though Harry found himself more annoyed with the sweat than anything. He slid out of bed, collecting his bedsheets before dropping them into his laundry bin. Harry pulled off his nightwear and stepped into the shower, turning the water on with the turn of a knob. While rinsing out his hair, Harry let his mind wander to the dream he had just had.

A burning tree. A human-headed worm creature. Water. Conflicting feelings of power. The Tree of Life. The Source. What did it all mean? Was this worm connected to something? Who was the man connected to it? And what did water have to do with it? Was it the sweat leaking into the contents of the dream? Was the Source of All Living Matter connected? After all, he had heard the voice tell him it was the key to all living things. And if the legends were true, then the Source of All Living Matter was what gave Ymir her true power. Could it also give him newfound abilities? Harry wasn't sure how to answer any of it. But he found himself curious of whether or not the Source was still out there, or if it attached to Ymir and followed her into the afterlife.

Shaking his head, Harry stepped out of the shower. After drying off, he made his way to his wardrobe, where his clothes were all organized by color and use. He pulled on a white button-up shirt, black pants, black suspenders, as well as his new black dress shoes. After pulling on his red armband, Harry stepped out of his room and made his way down the hall. He passed his sister Willow's room before descending the steps leading to the foyer. It was later in the morning, meaning his parents had already left for work, leaving the house relatively quiet. Aliyah Wu, the housemaid, was cleaning the dishes from breakfast, which he had apparently missed. Benjamin Golth, the errand man, was busy tidying Harry's father's desk.

Without acknowledging them, Harry stepped outside onto the front porch, grinning as the smell of fresh air hit his nostrils. The sun was out and the people in town seemed content with the day ahead of them. Harry, too, was content with the day ahead of him. It would be a very productive day for everyone involved in his plans. As he made his way down the street, Harry thought of Marcel. After the idea of the power of the Nine Titans being abolished was planted in his head, the boy had been willing to do anything to help in their plans. The "Expansionists", as Annie referred. It was a fitting name, Harry had to admit. But the addition of Marcel meant many things.

Firstly, Annie would have a confidante she could rely on during the Paradis mission due to begin in only six days. Harry was worried that if she was the only one there knowledgeable of their plans, that she would be overwhelmed by playing for both sides. With Marcel there, they could share the workload. Secondly, Marcel was a selfless and determined individual, meaning he would do whatever it took to ensure the mission was carried out. Marcel wouldn't stop until the Paradis mission was complete and the Coordinate was received. That, and he would ensure that Annie could carry out her portion of the plan.

Harry was proud of their little group. A wizard, the Female Titan, Cart Titan, and Jaw Titan. It only saddened him that when the coup d'etat took place, Zeke, Reiner, and Bertholdt would have to choose a side. If they chose to fight, Harry would be given no other choice but to take their power. If he could use the Founding Titan's power to remove the Power of the Titans, he would use it to remove their titan powers. But he feared the worst. That he would have to kill them if they opposed their plans.

Zeke especially looked to be a big threat. He was the oldest of them all. The wisest. And he was willing to do whatever it took to remain in the propaganda-driven world Marley had created. He and Reiner both would oppose their plans for world peace merely on the principle that Eldians didn't 'deserve' peace. And Bertholdt would jump at the opportunity to side with Reiner, something he'd been doing since they were children. So it would end in a civil war between the Nine Titans. That much Harry was aware of. The War Hammer, Female, Cart, and Jaw Titans against the Beast, Armored, and Colossal Titans. It would be a close war, with the three opposing titans being arguably stronger than the others.

Picking up his step, it wasn't until he made his way out of the Internment Zone walls that Harry began to notice something off with his surroundings. Everything was glowing brighter than normal. That, and he was seeing splashes of color in places where they shouldn't be. He was seeing shades of brown over people. Green light over trees. Grey blotches over buildings. He wasn't entirely sure what he was seeing. Was he still dreaming? No. Harry could tell when he was asleep and when he was awake, and he was certainly awake.

Peering down at his watch, Harry read the time. 8:54 am. He still had time before his meeting. Taking a seat on a park bench in the nearby park, Harry took a few moments to fully examine his surroundings. As he focused, the splashes of light began to grow into more defined shapes, fitting into the things they were covering. Different shades of blue sat in the shapes of those walking by. The buildings all adorned shades of grey. The trees were all either different shades of green or purple. What was this? Some kind of illusion?

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, a thin thread appeared. A thread so thin that he almost didn't see it. But it was there. A shade of dark blue. Getting to his feet, Harry followed the thread, moving through the park. he eventually reached the source. Harry let his gaze follow it to a nearby stall, where one Reiner Braun was located. It was connected to Reiner's dark purple shade, which was surrounded by a yellow aura. Harry frowned as another thread appeared. But this new thread was thicker than the first. The shade was different, now a golden hue. He followed it, ignoring Reiner for now as he continued to move through the streets of both Liberio and the Internment Zone.

Eventually, he found the source. Pieck Finger. She was sitting casually on a bench on the side of the street, speaking with a young boy who looked to be only four years old. Her brother, Emil. But Harry let his focus settle on Pieck and her shade. Instead of a blueish-purple color like Reiner's, Pieck's shade took on the color of a plum, also sharing the same yellow aura. Frowning, Harry moved away from Pieck, unsure of what to do about the strange things he was seeing. He checked the time once more. 10:02 am. He's spent over an hour traversing through Liberio. Deciding to finish with his experimentation, Harry stepped into an alleyway that sat away from prying eyes. With the turn of his heel, Harry disappeared in a flash of black light.

Marley

Harry Potter appeared with a crack somewhere in Marley, where he would meet with Willy Tybur and his royal guard. He was on the western border, where the wealthiest families lived. His eyes were filled with different shades of green, purple, orange, and pink, his vision growing too colorful for him to focus on the task at hand. His eyes glazed over as he waved his hand, summoning the old round-rimmed glasses he kept on his nightstand to him. Sliding the glasses over his eyes, Harry's expression deepened in a frown. The colors were gone. Pulling the glasses off, the colors returned. Interesting. Perhaps it was the material in which the glasses were made that made it difficult to see the colors through them.

Not one to complain, Harry returned the glasses to their position over his eyes before stepping out onto the Tybur property. There, he was met with a new sight. A mansion magnitudes larger than Harry's own home, stretching for over eight thousand square feet. The mansion stood behind a large statue of Adil Tybur, the man who had conspired with Karl Fritz in overthrowing Eldia over a century before. The statue was made of pure gold, with the man's long hair and empowering stance being highlighted by the gold.

But Harry wasn't here to admire the Tybur manor or the golden statue in front of it. So he made his way around the statue, moving up to the front steps of the home. He made it up the steps easily before being stopped by the royal guard waiting for him by the front door. A man with a more distinguished uniform than the others stepped forward. He looked like a lieutenant for the makeshift army the Tybur family possessed. "General Potter. Lord Tybur is waiting for you within his study. Follow me," And so he did, following the lieutenant through the front door and into the foyer. Harry didn't have a chance to examine the foyer before he was led through a door to the left.

Here, Harry was met with a very curious scene. There were children in the study. A young girl with bright blonde hair looked to be around three years old. And there were two twin boys lying in matching carriers being held by two women that appeared on the older side. Willy Tybur himself stood in the center of the room, talking quietly with a woman Harry didn't recognize from the family registry. The lieutenant addressed the room. "Lord Tybur. General Potter is here to speak with you,"

Willy spun on his heel, with the woman he had been talking to slinking back into the corner of the room. With a bright smile, Willy stepped up to Harry, holding out his hand. "General Potter. Welcome," The two exchanged a firm handshake. Willy gripped Harry's elbow as his smile expanded. The two let go, and Willy wrapped an arm around Harry's shoulders. He guided Harry out of the room, and onto the balcony looking over the western gardens. "You're here to discuss the Paradis mission, correct?"

"Incorrect," Harry said. "I'm here to talk about Karl Fritz," Willy turned to Harry with a frown, his shoulders tensing as the two stared at each other. Harry, who was the least shocked of the two, continued. "I know all about Karl Fritz and his work with Adil Tybur. I know all about the hoax of Helos, the fabrication of the Devil of All Earth, and I know all about the nonthreat that is Paradis Island. And I understand your role in the matter. What I want to know is why you continue to sit back and allow Marley to do whatever it wants with the people of Eldia,"

"How do you know all of this?" asked Willy.

"I've done my research. I'll ask again. Why do you continue to sit back and allow Marley to do whatever it wants with the people of Eldia?"

Willy's eyes darkened as he grabbed hold of the rails of the balcony. "Eldia was in a position of power that seemed unbreakable. Marleyans everywhere were being persecuted. Killed. Raped. Enslaved. And Eldians around the world were indifferent to their suffering. There were a few sympathizers, but none were as pressed on the matter as my great-great-grandfather and Karl Fritz. They felt sorry for the people of Marley. They felt guilt for the sins of Eldia that began two thousand years ago during Ymir's reign. So they banded together and created the two fabrications you mentioned. The great Marleyan hero, Helos. And the Devil of All Earth. Karl Fritz took the rest of Eldia and moved to Paradis. He then wiped their memories of the outside world and made a vow to renounce war. That's why the Rumbling has never occurred,"

Harry's eyes widened. Memories wiped. That explained why the Eldians of Paradis Island didn't come out of their walls. They didn't know there was anything outside of the Walls. And because Marley kept pumping Pure Titans onto the island, they were surrounded. Harry mimicked Willy, grabbing the railing as he too looked off into the garden. "The Rumbling?"

"There are tens of millions of Colossal Titans that make up the Walls of Paradis. If released from the Walls, these Titans could crush the entire world beneath their feet. A wave of destruction. That was the threat Karl Fritz offered the world. But his vow renouncing war prohibits any descendant with the power of the Founder from using it. No Founding Titan in the royal family can use their power to initiate the Rumbling. Nor can they do anything that can antagonize Marley and the rest of the world. But there is another method," Willy explained. "If someone who is not of the royal family inherits the Founder, and comes in contact with someone of royal blood, they can bypass the vow and use the power to initiate the Rumbling. This is the real reason why Marley wants the Founder. They want to ensure that no one who isn't in the Fritz line inherits the Founding Titan,"

"That's why they want me to have it," Harry realized. "I don't have royal blood, meaning I won't be a threat if I inherit the Founder. I won't use it without their express permission. I'd only be able to use it if I came in contact...with Zeke," While it wasn't well known, Harry had pieced together just how Zeke was able to mimic the power of the Founding Titan. How he could create and control Pure Titans using his spinal fluid. It was because Zeke had royal blood. After all, his mother - another unknown fact - Dina Fritz, was the last continental descendant of Karl Fritz. Zeke had royal blood within him, and he would most likely be used to provide the other half of the Founder's power to Harry.

"Zeke Jaeger?"

"Yes. His mother was Dina Fritz. The last descendant of Karl Fritz. She and her husband Grisha Jaeger were captured after Zeke outed them as Restorationists. She's no doubt stumbling around as a Pure Titan on Paradis alongside her husband,"

Willy hummed. "So it seems you will get the Founding Titan's power, though I don't much see the need for it. After all, you already possess a power far greater," Harry frowned. What did he - Willy waved away his own thought. "No matter. You ask why I stand by. The truth is, I don't know. For a long time, I've questioned myself. I know of the mistreatment within the internment zones. And I know all about the flip in social dynamics between Eldians and Marleyans. But...I can't bring myself to restore it to how it was. Not after the effort Adil and Fritz went through to free Marley,"

"An eye for an eye and the world goes blind," said Harry. "Your great-great-grandfather and Karl Fritz didn't free Marley. They bolstered it. Raised it and crushed Eldia under their own Eldian boots. They only reversed the dynamic. Eldia over Marley. Marley over Eldia. I'm not asking you to restore it to Eldia over Marley. I'm asking you to make it Marley with Eldia. Eldia with Marley. I want to unite them. Unite all of them. Eldia, Marley, Hizuru, the Mid-Eastern Alliance. All of it. I'm tired of the fighting. I've been doing it since before I was even born,"

Willy eyed Harry carefully. He smiled. "You are an enigma, aren't you? I bet you've already deduced who holds the War Hammer Titan. Correct?"

Harry nodded, removing his glasses to wipe them against his shirt. He looked back into the study, where the rest of the family was still located. Different shades of blue sat over the figures, though the twins had bright white shades. All except for the woman in the corner. The woman Willy had been talking to before. She had a blue shade, just like the rest of her family. But hers had the same yellow aura present around Reiner and Pieck's own shades. Harry motioned to the woman, who was busy watching over the young girl running around the room. Willy chuckled. "Lara. My sister. She inherited the power two years ago from my father. She has eleven years left. How did you figure it out?"

"Not entirely sure," Harry admitted. He decided he would be honest with the man, especially given that they would be working closely together if things worked the way he wanted. "I've been...seeing things. Colors. Shades. They fit into people's shapes. Yours is a dark blue shade. Your children have white shades. Except for the oldest. Hers is bright blue. Lara's is blue, but hers is surrounded by this...aura. A yellow aura I saw in my Warrior friends. Reiner and Pieck. The Armored and Cart Titans,"

"You believe this new gift comes from your magic?" asked Willy.

"I'm not entirely sure. I had a dream last night about a tree. The source of all living matter. But the source had a head. A human head. Then I thought of water. But that might have been the sweat I was lying in during the night," Harry explained.

"The source...tree...head...hmm. I'm not sure. All I know is that some believe Ymir gained her power after finding a tree not far from the Eldian tribe. She entered the tree and fell into a reservoir within. There, she bonded with the Source of all living matter, gaining its power. Perhaps you were seeing something similar,"

Harry sighed. He tried to recall the dream. The tree. The human-head creature. The water. Why would he dream something like that? And why would having a dream about it suddenly grant him the power to see shades over people's shapes? Harry couldn't necessarily pinpoint why. He waved away the thought and turned back to the matter at hand. "My group, we apparently call ourselves 'Expansionists', have a single goal in mind. To unite the world. I told you that. But to do this, we need the Tybur family to take back the reigns of Marley. We need you to take back the power and undo all of the bad things Marley's government is doing regarding Eldians and international relations,"

"You want me to 'take the reigns' after a century of letting Marley handle everything? I don't think that will go over well,"

"I know. Which is why it won't just be you. A full coup d'etat. A complete restructure of the Marleyan government from top to bottom. I've already set up meetings with Hizuru and the Mid-Eastern Alliances for a full restructure of the northern nations. Given that the south-eastern territories are infested with Pure Titans, that just leaves the rest of the southern middle east nations. And once they see the alliances formed here, they'll be more likely to accept peace. The same is true for Paradis Island," Harry explained.

"This all seems like it goes terribly at any moment. What happens if Hizuru and the Mid-Eastern Alliance refuse to join your new country? What happens if someone in Paradis inherits the Founding Titan and initiates the Rumbling? What happens if - "

"I'm not asking you to see the future, sir. I'm asking you to do something. For the past century, the Tybur family has sat around twiddling their thumbs, living peacefully while people are killed and persecuted. I'm asking you to stand up for real peace. The peace Adil and Karl Fritz wanted. For everyone to get along. Will it happen in our lifetime? No. But if we can make the first step here and now, then in another century...who knows, we'll have reached the moon," He motioned to the moon positioned in the sky.

"You're certainly not what I expected, Harry," said Willy. He stood straighter, his darkened expression disappearing as he became more solemn. "I'll help you and your 'Expansionists'. Just give me the word and the Tyburs will come out of the woodwork. And if for some reason a fight ensues, the War Hammer Titan will stand with you,"

Harry smiled. That made four of the Nine Titans. The War Hammer, Female, Cart, and Jaw Titans. That left the Armored, Colossal, and Beast Titans. The Attack and Founding Titans weren't counted in the equation given their affiliation to Eldia. Harry was now sure that with the power of the War Hammer Titan on their side, any fight that broke out could be won by the Expansionists. After all, the coup d'etat would take place while Reiner, Annie, Marcel, and Bertholdt were on Paradis. That left Pieck, Zeke, and Lara. Two vs one. And with Harry's magic, that became three vs one. Zeke was no longer a threat by himself. However, his Pure Titans would prove difficult if he created some ahead of time.

But that wasn't important. What was important was the developments that had transpired. The Tybur family was in alliance with the Expansionists, meaning that the coup d'etat was one step closer to being completed. Harry and Pieck's connections within the Marleyan government would be enough to establish a new system of government. All that was left was for them to wait. Harry's meetings with Hizuru and Mid-Eastern ambassadors would take place, and then the Warriors would set off on their mission to Paradis. With the Armored and Colossal Titans gone, Harry and Pieck could make their move. If Zeke put up a fight, they could take care of him. And when Reiner and Bertholdt returned, they would find themselves in an entirely different and better Marley. They would accept the change if it was done without their knowledge.

Willy led Harry back into the study, where Willy beckoned Lara Tybur forward. She came to them immediately. Gently grabbing her by the arm, Willy leaned forward to whisper something into her ear. He led the two of them out of the study and into the foyer, taking them across into the family living area. The doors to the room were closed by the royal guard, leaving the three alone. "Harry, this is my sister, Lara Tybur. Lara. This is Harry Potter. He correctly guessed your possession of the War Hammer," Lara's eyes widened. Willy's smile expanded. "Don't worry. His plans for the future don't count on the use of your powers,"

"Though they might be necessary if things get out of hand," Harry replied.

Lara let her expression settle into one of curiosity. "Explain," And so they did. Harry and Willy shared the Expansionist's goals, along with their plans for a potentially violent coup d'etat. Her professional and well-trained stance began to falter with each word until eventually, she had to take a seat. She was aware of the history of Eldia and Marley, having learned it all when inheriting the War Hammer Titan. But hearing that the Tyburs would come out of hiding to reclaim the throne of Marley was something surprising for her. By the end of their explanation, she was visibly sweating. "I don't want to kill people, brother. I can't. We swore we wouldn't when they left,"

"You won't have to. If things work the way we want them to, the only problems will be Zeke Jaeger and Porco Galliard. Porco is powerless. Zeke can be taken down easily by both myself and Pieck. The only problem that could arise that we would need your powers for would be if Zeke creates an army of Pure Titans to help him. That would be too much for myself or Pieck to handle alone," Harry explained.

"Who else is in this little group of ours? These Expansionists" asked Lara.

"Pieck Finger, the Cart Titan. Annie Leonhart, the Female Titan. Marcel Galliard, the Jaw Titan. You, the War Hammer Titan. Mr. Tybur here. Myself. And roughly two hundred men in the Marleyan government prepared to initiate the coup d'etat at a moment's notice. I also have meetings planned with ambassadors from both Hizuru and the Mid-Eastern Alliance to discuss peace treaties between the three nations,"

"I have many family friends within the southwestern nations you mentioned earlier. Ogweno and Nambia specifically. Their nation would be more than willing to join this alliance you're creating," Willy provided.

Harry nodded. "Anything at all to help boost the Expansionists as a whole is beneficial. Once the Armored and Colossal Titans are off to Paradis Island, we can launch the coup. If we wait long enough, we can even wait for Zeke and Porco to be shipped off to the borders of the Mid-Eastern Alliance. With all of them gone, we can launch the coup d'etat. When they return, they'll be met with an entirely different Marley," Harry's smile disappeared. Perhaps that wasn't the best idea. If they launched the coup while Zeke was gone, any rebellions would see his return as a sign of hope. A sign that they should strike back. And if Zeke returned, he would no doubt side with the rebellions, creating a counter-coup. If they took care of Zeke now, any rebellions hoping for his intervention would be annihilated. He relayed his thoughts to the two Tybur.

Nodding in agreement, Willy spoke. "I agree. Any conflict that arises should be held at the very start of this coup. There are bound to be those that rebel against the actions we'll be taking. That's to be expected. It's cleansing these rebellions and restoring a natural order that is harder. We can handle Zeke Jaeger and his Pure Titans. And with the presence of this Alliance, we should be able to present a peaceful front to any other nations. A true and honest front that hides no ill-will to others,"

"So what is the name of this alliance you've created? We can't exactly go around calling ourselves the 'Expansionists' after the coup d'etat," Lara explained.

Harry was not sure what the name of this alliance should be. The Expansionist Alliance was a bit on the nose. He thought of what he knew about their cause and their mission. When zero names that were not foolish reached his mind, Harry admitted defeat. He was prepared to talk to the others about it when he returned to Liberio. "I'm not sure. I'll speak with the others and we'll write something out. We'll also prepare a document to be signed on the date of the coup d'etat. When it occurs, Marley will be the first to join the alliance. Any other nations will have to have their leaders or ambassadors sign it to make it official,"

Willy agreed. "A sound idea,"