Strange Monkey Boy:Continuum

by DaveNguyenTheRewriter

Continuity Of Trusty McGoodguy's Strange Monkey Boy.I've asked for Trusty's permission and he accepted.But note that ,although I'm the one who write this continuity ,Trusty still has all the credit ,so give him a "Thank you" ìf you like the story,if not it's my fault. Continue the journey of Gohan in Titanverse.

36. Chapter 47: Governed Buffer Zone

Chapter 47: Governed Buffer Zone.

One year was all it took for the citizens of Paradis to resettle to the outer Wall after the reclamation of Wall Maria and its outpost districts. The people had also built settlement outside of the Wall, many of those even stretched to the coasts, the edges of the island. Two years were all it took for the Hegemon-King to complete his civic and administrative reform. The populace had been adapting to the lifestyle that shared some resemblances to Gohan's old world, they had grown more tolerance to one another, but for them to reach the mannerism and behaviour of the people from His world, they had a long way to go. After three years, the Military, now with the official name of 'His Overlordship's Defence Force', had finished its restructuring and rearmament. The Survey Corps had been dissolved, and reorganized into the 1St Shock Army, it had been merged with the Garrison Regiment to form the Ground Force; the Military Police had been renamed into the Interior Ministry with General Nile Dowk as its Minister, and became a separate force from Defence Force. Two new branch had been formed, one was the Aviator Arms, in charge of the Paradis Island's aviation and air defence; the other, the Fighter Initiative, a great counter balance to Marley's Warrior Unit. And in Four Years, the island's infrastructure had developed immensely, along with many technological advancement. The railroad system had been finished building, with many routes stretched from the coastal towns to Wall Shina. Anti-aircraft batteries had been placed atop the Walls, from Maria to Shina, they would be ready for any upcoming air raid from the mainland. And a fleet of aircrafts had been produced, with aviators finished their training.

Historia Reiss, gander outside the window of her train as it steady descended down the tunnel to get under Wall Sina before it slowly ascended to district above. The people were still walking, some were riding and carriages carried on their routes as the people on the street had long got accustomed with the sight of trains moving beside them, with the track crackling and the engine deafening their ears. She wondered if any of those people missed the old lives they once had, though the facial expression their had indicate either indifferent or content.

The people's lives had been greatly improved since ever Gohan had taken over. Unemployment rate, children mortality rate, poverty and starvation had dropped at an unprecedented rate. Many hospitals, schools and jobs had been available to more people, as the welfare policy were significantly overseen and funded by the Winters Family- the current Royal Family, or rather the Hegemonical Family. Gohan, his 'mother' and his cabinet had made sure the people that suffer from the lack of medical, education and poverty would be kept at the minimum.

Historia sighed when she thought about the people of the old regimes. Roderich, Deltoff and Aurille were still serving their sentences, the three of them still showed discontent with the new Monarch. Gerald had been paroled two years earlier for good behavior and for his later cooperation to the Hegemonial Government. The council member had been given an apartment upon his release, and was assigned as a foreman for the Marleen Company. The Interior Police Unit, or what left of it, had been quickly pardoned after the retake of Maria, the had been given the choice of returning to their civilian life or to start anew in the newly established Minister of the Interior. The girl smiled when she thought of herself and her father. Her father Rod Reiss had been relatively content with his life as a Duke, the former monarch had started a vineyard business, an honest job that kept him from the memory of his old seat, and sometime distracted him from the thought of his lost family. The retired King had founded an orphanage as Historia convinced him, helping the nurture of the unfortunate youths whose parents had lost their lives. Historia herself had reenlisted, this time in a non-combatant role, a Medical Corp Lieutenant of the Ground Force. She had been serving in Wall Rose's Western Combat Sanitorium for two years, saving the lives of numerous soldiers and civilians. This way, she could contribute to the Island's development and war effort without having the King's violating his promise of keeping her away from the battles.

"We've arrived in Orvud Station, this is where the tracks ended. Please check your belongings before disembark!" Announced the conductor in her car as the train stopped.

Historia reached for her briefcase, the passengers who shared the same car with her rushed to their luggage compartment above them. The conductor open car's door, so Historia joined the line of the passengers to exit the train.

As she stepped outside, Historia had noticed some the Interior Ministry officers had already patrolling the station. They stood guard near the platforms, the ticket office, the station schedule boards. Two of the police officers had noticed the Ground Force's uniform Historia was wearing as she walked with the lines of the passenger along the platform, and they approached her.

"Lieutenant!" One of the officers address her by her rank.

"Junior Lieutenant, Sergeant!" She greeted them back.

"Can I see your papers, please!" The Junior Lieutenant spoke as he reached out his hand.

"Yeah, sure!" Historia rummaged inside her jacket and handed out her military identification paper.

The Junior Lieutenant of the IM scanned the paperwork in his hand, turning page by page.

"Ma'am, this one said you're stationed in West of Wall Rose. Do you have duty here or a leave?" Asked The IM Police Officer.

"I do, let me open my case." Historia put down her briefcase, she opened it, search through her civilian clothings and took out her wedding invitation and her military leave paper. "I'm here for a wedding!"

The officer took the two pieces of paper to his hands, the man scanned both of them for thoroughly before he asked any question.

"How many days are you on leave?" The Junior Lieutenant asked.

"A week!"

The officer made no comment on her answer, nor did he asked any further question instead he held up her military ID and searched through the pages.

"Kyle!" The officer ordered the Sergeant.

"Ma'am, are you armed?" Asked the Sergeant.

"I am, I have a concealed pistol!"

" Is this firearm your service weapon or by your purchase?" The Sergeant continued.

"It's service."

" Ma'am, you're not allowed to carry your service weapon off-duty. Please, hand it over. Holstered." Ordered the Sergeant.

Historia Reiss sighed before she unstrapped her gun belt and handed the Sergeant her holstered weapon, but the Junior Lieutenant halted them both.

"No, Sergeant Kyle! We're not authorized to confiscate service weapons from the Denfence Force's personnel. Just take note of her name and the Captain will report to her Commanding Officer!" His officer corrected him before he turned to the Medic. "Who is…"

"Colonel Ehrich Anderson, Director of the Wall Rose's Western Combat Sanitorium." Answered the Medical Corps Lieutenant as the senior policeman checked the information both her ID and leave permit.

"It's seemed that everything is in order." The officer returned her all of her three paperworks. "Sorry for any inconvenient. You're free to go. Do please give the Second Mother of State our best regards and our congratulation."

"The Second Mother of State? That's the bride of her wedding?" The Sergeant jolted in surprise. He swiftly switched his gaze onto Historia. "Who are you?"

"Not your concern!" The senior police officer glared at the Sergeant. "Ma'am, I advise you to keep those papers on your hands until you reach the destination. We're tasked to check everyone out of the ordinary for their papers, and that include everyone wearing uniform."

"I've been getting to the Inner Wall before, how did the security became so strict?" puzzled the Medic.

"For the same reason you're here!" The Jr Lt pointed at her wedding invitation. "And of course, today is Memorial Day. The King himself would be at Monument of the Fallen for ceremony."

"Didn't know it's the day!" Historia replied.

"One wouldn't bother to look at the calendar with that amount of work." The Interior Ministry Jr Lt nodded. "We didn't know about it till we were assigned. I advise you not to go the Monument, it'll be terribly crowded. Pickpockets might be there!"

Historia nodded and thanked the police officers for their help, she put all three of her paperworks: the Military ID, the Leave Permit and her wedding invitation in her jacket's inside pocket. The former Royal walked out of the Orvud Station. She spotted a few carriages that were stationary, thought they were all horsed parked on the pavement by the station's entrances. She approached one of this coach by the door and greeted the coachman. Despite being forewarned by the Two IM Officers, she asked the Coachman for the cruise to the Capital Miltras, where the Monument of the Fallen. And the driver agreed to take the Lieutenant there for a sum of 10 Talents, which was within her budget.

As the stagecoach moved on the asphalt as she put her mind elsewhere. Matter in fact, the stagecoach made her think of Gohan's futuristic homeworld filled with technological advancement beyond her world's comprehension. She never knew what it liked of a car in his world, both the flying ones and the ones that stayed on the grounds. She knew that the automobiles would be much comfier than the coach she was sitting on, less bumby ride for any passenger. However, there was a reason that automobile had yet to be produced in Paradis, at least not commonly, was that the island lack the technologies necessary to produce the engines require for such vehicle, and the equipment needed to both extract and refine the fuel needed for the engines to work. Bulma Winters had been saying to the public that she was working on the engines, including the innovation for the engine that might worked by the Iceburst Crystal, but considered the Lady of Castle Jutnar's many more important projects that needed her attention, the public had little hope. Historia chuckled at how the population's opinions change on Bulma after the Battle of Shiganshina, they had used to hate her, now along with her son- the King, Paradis needed Bulma Winters more than ever.

The carriage went pass an agitprop poster on its way to Miltras, a poster of Gohan. Historia peeked her head out the window for a clearer look at it. It's still the typical 'Angel of Trost' drawing of the King, with the inscription on the poster: 'His Overlordship King Gohan has been the greatest fighter for our nation. We should leave the future of our people's path forward in his more than capable hands.' And there were several civilians appreciating the poster already, they gather around, complimenting it.

This was part of the Hegemonial Government's propaganda programs. Though they were over-the-top many of the time, but none of them was baseless. Many of the population could prove the stories behind the propaganda to be true, though some agreed the agiprop were taken out of proportion. These people some were firsthand witness of the King's capabilities, they were surviving civilians and soldiers in Trost and the King activities in the Survey Corps, the soldiers also had family that were civilians, that could heard the stories from their surviving loved ones. It's no doubt that the population of the Paradis Island had developed a Cult of Personality for the Monkey Boy.

This Cult of Personality had extended so much, that it had become literally in some accounts. The Church of the Wall, after the coup was thought to be disbanded, but the truth was more complicated than that.

"The stars have aligned today, brothers and sisters. The day our King returns to his full power can only be counted with the fingers we have." Spoke a Sayanist Cultist once Historia's carriage crossed the same platform he was standing on. The mass around him applaud to his every word. "Soon he would eradicated all the vile beasts that are praying on our people. He would blast through their mountains and the proud continent those beasts called the Mainland would be incinerated to ash less they yield to his wisdom… Our days of cowering on the island would be no more, praise and pray to him brothers and sisters." The Sayanist wore a white headband, resembling Gohan's. "And we shall join him as fellow Saiyans."

Words of the King's true origin, though denied by Gohan and his cabinet in every turn, had been spreaded to public. Many of these 'rumors' were ignored by the majority, but it had affected the religious few. The Church of the Walls had lost many of its believers after the truth of the outside world had been revealed, and had undergone a great Schism after the Saiyan rumors were spread. Many of the follower of the Church, who left it after the retake of Maria, upon hearing of the 'Saiyan Theory' had establish a new faith called 'Saiyanism', followed each letter of the rumor as the tenet for their new founded faith. Of course like the Propaganda of the New Government, their teachings were taken greatly out of proportion, and even worse, more hate oriented like the sermon Historia just watch. The fewer, more adamant members of the Wallists, who had yet to abandoned their faith, took the King's supposed 'true origin' to their advantage and morph their Order to the Church of the Fourth Wall- with the Fourth Wall in question to be King Gohan himself. Their story was more original, and a rich one: The Gods, Maria, Rose and Sina decided to hide the truth from the mass until the Forth Wall, a manifestation of their Divinity in human form would be sent from outer space to save them when they feel that the people were in need of salvation, when they feel that the people were ready for the harsh truth than could never hide from.

"The religious, you can't beat them!" Commented Historia as the carriage lost sight of the Cultists.

"I apologize for the hateful boast of my brethren! He had not understand the King's wish like many of us do." Said the driver, causing Historia to squint at the revelation that her driver was also a Saiyanist.

Historia said no more word for the rest of her track, mentally cursed whomever compromised the King's secret. It also raised a question in her mind: The person who spread the rumor must have been told by someone from the Bunker, if they weren't the one from it themselves. Whoever went tattletale on this matter, whoever she or he or they is, why did they decided to leave out the part of the Dragon Balls?

---

Flashback.

Hours after the reclamation of Shiganshina.

Jaeger family's residence in Trost.

Hannes counted the money sent by Lady Winters on the dining table, the same 1000 Talents Carla had won in her bet against the Lady. This money would solved a lot of their problems. It would certain pay off the rents they were due and the debt they'd been owing, with a lot of spare money to not worry so much in the near future.

"Should we deposit them?" Asked Carla.

"I dunno, I never deposit money before and neither did you!" Answer Hannes, he was clueless about the Walls banking systems. The Garrison soldier never had much money to spare to deposit in a bank, that was, even if he had spent most of them in his drinking. That for the olden day of the once drunkard soldier.

"I was thinking about buying a new house. Somewhere further in." Carla suggested as she picked up a stack of strapped bills. She did some math in her head, tried to remember the current cost of rear estate in the inner Walls. "I don't know if a thousand is enough! We might need the interest from the bank so we could afford one."

"You don't want to live in your old house in Shiganshina? I mean this is more than enough to have the house repaired." Hannes made a suggestion, which received with a frown from Carla.

"Too much memories. Memories that are too painful to be reminded of. Titans, the friends there, when my legs still work…" She wiped a tear from her cheek, she wasn't sobbing but some drops of tears had fallen from her eyes. "and Grisha, his belongings are all there. I don't know if the kids could take it, but I can't!"

Hannes gently pat Carla in the shoulder, he understood what she was saying. Her husband was gone, killed by her son, though the boy did it unwittingly. Too many old wounds that had no need to be reopened by going back to Shiganshina, too much memory of her late husband, she had friends also died when the district Walls fell, and she herself had lost the used of her legs in the attack. The woman had gone through so much, and was going through a lot, as her son was off to retake the Wall and had the risk of death. Even if Eren survived the battle, there was still a war with Marley, and there was no guarantee that Bulma could develop any kind of cure for the boy's Curse of Ymir before he succumbs to it.

"We've to have faith. We've to get through this, we don't have better options!" Hannes comfort her the only way he could.

There was a knock on the door as the Garrison Captain and the disabled civilian contemplate on what was happening and would happen. It was already dark, so the two could narrow down who might behind the door

"Is that Eren and Mikasa?" Carla stared at it.

"Mom, are you inside?" Eren confirmed her speculation. Hannes rushed to the door and opened it. It wasn't only Eren and Mikasa waiting outside, but the King, Commander Erwin, Lady Winters, Captain Levi and the Alpha were going with them.

"Can we come in?" Asked the Alpha.

"Yes, of course!" Answered Carla, her face was brighter than her brooding mood a couple seconds ago. "Hannes, can you please prepare some tea?"

"I'll do it!" Offered Mikasa as she walked to the kitchen.

"There's no need for that!" Gohan waved Mikasa off. "Thank you, Mrs Jaeger. If we could, we like to ask you a few questions and we'll be on our way."

The 'we'll be on our way' killed Carla's excitement, she was only met her son and daughter for a few minutes and then she would have to say farewell to them.

"What is it about?" Probed Hannes, the Garrison Captain was confused of what kind of question that the King needed to ask a civilian for.

"Bulma!" Ordered Gohan and Bulma took out a white orb from the satchel, she shook it and placed it on the table. Three red black stars floated on the orb's surface.

"This artifact was found in your husband's cellar." Explained Erwin as the military walked and settled inside the house. "Do you husband ever told you what it is?"

"Yes, he did. I recognize this. It's his paperweight, he used it to hold his paperworks in place. He brought it with him from time to time." Answered Carla.

"A bit too round to be a paperweight, don't you think?" Captain Levi stepped in. He looked dissatisfied of her answer. "With the shape like that it would roll over!"

"He crafted a holder for it, a small, wooden trivet that held it in place." Carla drew the shape of the tripod with her index fingers.

"Must have missed the legs in the cellar!" Yamcha commented.

"I'm sorry, but is this what my husband was hiding in the basement all along?" Carla leaned forward as she asked.

"Why did Grisha want Eren to find a paperweight?" Puzzle Hannes as he looked at the white artifact. And Carla had figured it out before he had.

"Is this… a Dragon Ball?" Hannes was startled by Carla's assumption. "This whole time? Grisha's been hiding a wish granting Dragon Ball in both plain sight and his basement? And this is his clue?"

"No, Mrs Jaeger, it was something else. He's been holding out two pieces of document that reveal us about his true origins. The content of which, Eren and Mikasa will tell you later." Gohan elaborated, didn't mind about what he told her should be kept from civilians' knowledge. "We have reasons to believe that Dr Jaeger did not aware of the dragon balls' significances, or their existence in your world. We need to narrow down to the people who might know, even a fraction of it, so do you know where he got this?"

"He didn't find it, if that what you mean. It's a wedding gift. From one of my patrons in my day as a waitress: Keith Shadis!"

"Our drill instructor?" Eren, Mikasa and Gohan could not hide their surprise when they heard from whom the Doctor got the Dragon Ball from.

"Do you know how Keith got it from?" Questioned Bulma, it would took her longer to find the information of where they got Ball from than expected.

"I don't know! He left the ceremony early, we only knew it's his by the name on the wrapping!" Carla answered.

The King said no reply, he only motioned the Lady, the Alpha and his officers to a corner. They were discussing something neither Hannes or Carla could hear. Some of them glanced at them before returning to the discussion. After a brief minute, the group dispersed, only the King remain in the house as the high ranking member left the house.

"Mrs Jaeger, thank you for your time!" Gohan glanced at the pile of money and gestured at Mikasa and Eren. "You stay and help her with this. You can stay here for the night, you're expected at the Survey Corps' HQ by tomorrow noon. So make your time here worthwhile."

Before the King departed, Carla noticed something off about the King. There was something on his left shoulder, hiding beneath the Survey Corps jacket he coated on him like a cape. And she realized there was nothing beneath it.

"Gohan, your arm!" Cried Carla, she pointed at the Monkey Boy' left shoulder. Then she glared at Hannes for not seeing it before she did.

"The fuck happened there?" Hannes exclaimed as he unveiled the jacket hiding the King's missing left arm.

"We've won. That's all what matter. My left arm is a small price to pay for victory. Pale in comparison to the Scouts who've lost their lives today to retake Wall Maria!" Carla face wrinkled as the boy king spoke, what he said didn't make her feel any better. "If there's nothing else. I'll be on my way to Keith Shadis. Do have good day. Do not grief for my arm. I'm no lefty, it won't be missed. Brighten up, we have won!"

---

Present Time.

Whomever put in charge of the construction of the Monument of the Fallen had not disappointed their superior. The statue, the main part of the Monument was huge, made of smooth, gleaming marble. The black marble statue depicted a soldier with an old Military emblem on his shoulder patch. The soldier wielded two swords and two propellers of the 3DM fastened on his waist. But the right message was on the statue's base, with the writing on the black pedestral:

"This monument was built in honor of the ones who had laid down their lives for our people's,

Those that fought so we don't have to,

Peace to the Fallen."

The Interior Ministry Jr Lieutenant spoke no lies, the Monument was terribly crowded. Historia had to stood and watch the festivity from afar, though she could still made clear of the inscription on the pedestal.

So far, she had not been pickpocketed, she speculated that few thieves would dare to steal from a Defence Force's Lieutenant or anyone who wore uniforms. However, she was constantly disturbed by the authority, twice, after she left her carriage. The first time was when she dismounted her carriage, she had been barraged with questions the moment she paid her coachmen. The second time had been when she arrived at the square where the monument was. She could only thank the Interior Ministry Junior Lieutenant from the station for his advice, the questioning had been much briefer than the station when she had all the three papers within arm's reach.

The mass concentrated there could be more than a thousand, two thousands even. Anyhow, the number of people gathered here was of course, by the Medical Corps Lieutenant's memory, was of course pale in comparison to His Overlordship's coronation day. Many people could celebrate the day at home, so most did. But she remembered what she had been told when the Memorial Day had first held, the same quantity of people of the King coronations, consisted mostly of families and comrades of the Fallen of the Wall, before and after the fall of Maria. Now she looked at the crowd, she could only recognized few of them, she could guest that the crowd were full of loved ones of the fallen soldiers as saw Jean's parent in the distance. Every civilian had cup of unlit candle in their hands, a tradition for the day.

The square was heavily sentried, guards from the IM, the Ground Force, and the Aviator Arm set up checkpoint from both ends of the street leading to the Square to the Monument. Historia took some look at the Aviator Arm's ground guards. The Ground Force and the IM's uniforms shared a lot of similarity to the Military Police, the Survey Corps and the Garrisons' uniform, with only few modification: different color for the branches, clearer insignias to distinguish the service arms and ranks in the soldiers' collars and shoulders respectively. The Aviator Arm, however, look completely different, their uniforms were much more formal in appearance, and the air branch was the only branch in the Paradis Military to use the color blue for their uniforms. Many civilians and military personnel remarked the Aviator Arm had the best looking uniform. They were all in their dress uniform, Historia had seen their combat uniform before, she could say they were all otherworldly.

The whoosh in the air and the crowd's unison gasping cut the young Lieutenant off her train of thought. She looked up and found out what the crowd was gasping about. The King was hovering above the monument, flight had been the ability the King and the Fighter Initiative had long mastered, and became their main mean of travel. It's a new normal for the island folks to see the King or the Fighters to fly on the nation's air. However, the King did know how to make an entrance.

Gohan Winters, slowly descended on the ground near the Monument's pedestal, he was wearing a white formal suit, his gold band crown and a glass of candle in his hand. Only a handful noticed on the King's left arm, the hand was fully made of metal, it was mechanical, protruding from the King's left cuff, the populace had been informed that the King had lost his left arm in the battle of Shiganshina, and a couple years after, the newspaper had made a headline of the King's new machine, prosthetic arm. The King's tail had long regrown, and no longer did it been wrapped around his waist like his Survey Corps days, but confidently left it dangling from his back. The King had grown a boxed beard on his chin, but he had his mustache shaved. Gohan's facial hair constituted for the Monkey King vibe his agiprop crew trying to implement in their campaign.

Historia could notice a senior IM officer nudged one of his subordinate with his elbow, and the said MI policeman walked to the King and handed him a lighter. The King lighted his candle and placed it near the Monument. The King was then approached by Jean's parent, the mother was crying, the sentries almost halted her and shooed her away but the King stopped them. Jean's father comforted the mother, later the King aid the mourning father in the act and helped the couple to Monument, the King handed them his lighter which they used to light their candles, soon many get in line and took turns to place their now lit candles and paid their respect.

The King saw Historia and excused himself from the crowd as he flew toward her. The King took out another candle cup from his suit jacket as he landed in front of her.

"Historia, Ymir must've sent you the invitation." Said Gohan before he gave her the candle.

"Sent? No, she flew right straight to the hospital and give me it herself! Show off!" Scoffed Historia as she took the candle, playfully. "There's a postal system in the Hegemony!"

"She just wanted to see you very badly! And it's a good opportunity to … welp… show you her new ability." The King calmly spoke to her, that was before he realized something and squinted. "How'd you get here?"

"By train… Your Overlordship, then carriage taxi. You know we don't have any rail to Miltras so it took me a while!" She answered, mentally smacked herself in the head for not using the correct form of addressing the King earlier.

"You could've just wired her, you know? She could've flown you here!" Jested Gohan, crossing his arms.

"No, I prefer to have my feet on some surfaces. Just get myself used to the steam trains, I feel quite anxious if I travel long distance without taking one." Historia jested back. The next words made her blushed. "And I want to surprise her."

"You know she could sense your Ki right?" Chuckled the King when he heard of the idea and saw the girl's blushing. "Come on, join the lines. You can't come here just to watch. Do take your time. I'll fly you to the estate when you're done."

"Wouldn't the Lady Consort be mad at that?" Historia nervously referred to Petra as she joined the line to the Monument to pay her respect. The King was startled by the forewarning, he almost forgot how married women could get jealous when they saw their husbands got close to other women.

"Perhaps you're right! Petra'd be there, if she sees me carrying you, I don't think I can explain it to her in time." The King scratching his head with his mechanical hand, seriously reconsidering his offer. "I could fly back to the Bunker and tell Sasha to fly you there!"

"That's for the best! Anyway, apologies for not being there at your wedding! My father didn't let me." Spoke the Medic as her queue was getting closer to the pedestal. She closed her eyes and recalled how shocked her father had been when he had received the invitation to Petra and King Gohan. She could remembered how her father had said he could had sworn that Gohan would have married her to add legitimacy to his thrones. But that had not been the reason why Rod Reiss had refused to come, the retired monarch had still been recovering from his abdication, he could not stand to show himself nor his family to the public with any ceremonies as big as a Royal Wedding.

"Your father was still bitter about giving up his… his family's throne, I know. No biggies!" The King hovered above her to make way for the onlookers.

"How Petra's doing, by the way? And the kid?" Asked Historia, she was getting closer to the pedestal. Her face and the King's got more seriously as her approached the Monument.

"She's fine! A bit uneasy on how she is no longer be involved in warfare. But motherhood is something that take her mind of it!" Gohan landed near the statue, which already had a thousand of lit candles near its pedestal. "And the boy, wooh, he made the war looks easier!"

Historia took the lighter from the woman in front of her after she had finished. The medic lighted her candle and joined it with the many others that were now filling the place. The light from the great number of candle had already been put near the statue had illuminated the Monument, making the sculpture of the soldier looked like it was being put on a bonfire, and the black color of the artwork had been shifted to oranges just by the candlelight.

"Sidjri!" Gohan motioned to one of the Police Officer, the Policeman in question approached him and saluted. "Leave this here for a week and have some guy clean it up." Gohan motioned at the candles, and the officer nodded.

Then the King turned to Historia. "Stay here and wait. I'll get to Sasha, she'll be here!" Gohan faced the crowd after he finished talking to her. "Folks, I know these past four years have yet to heal the wounds of your loses. There is limit to my powers, as I have no way to bring your loved one back. But your lost loved-ones could still die a second time, when their names are last uttered. Only when the livings forget them, that they have truly died. So let's not allow that happen. Let's keep their memories be past on, and on throughout the generation, that the youths of our nation would never forget the names and the deeds of the people who had given their lives since the time our nation was birthed." Historia glanced at the crowd, some of the civilians' faces were red with their eyes soaked with tears. The King showed the crowd his metallic, mechanical hand. "Let us make sure that their deaths mean something, that their sacrifices were not for naught. Let us make sure that the mistakes that lead to the need of their sacrifices will never be repeated. That a peaceful country is assured after their demises, that their living loved ones, the people that they had died to protect will never suffer the same fate. That's a peaceful live to their families, to know that they died for righteousness, for the safety of their families and their community. Let Benevolence Wins!"

"Let Benevolence Wins!" The crowd repeated the King's last sentence.

"Now, a moment of silence for our heroes! And hope that our country would never put itself in the position that it'd need more people like them!" Gohan bowed and closed his eyes.

The crowd followed him, the sentries only lowered their head but kept their eyes vigilantly opened. Historia also gave her moment of silence, Gohan did give a good speech, a very touching one and he was right in every word, all except for one part. He did have, or rather, had the knowledge of how to bring the fallen back to life.

---

Flashback.

"I found it in a forest in one of my expeditions back in my Scouting days." Answered Keith Shadis as he glanced at the white orbicular artifact the King had laid on his table.

He remembered how one of his supervisor in the Training Corps had waken him up in the middle of the night. So he had hurried to change into his uniform as they had told him that the newly crowned King – Gohan Son, or recently known as Winters, one of his former trainee requested his audience. Keith thought he shouldn't have been in such a rush if he had known that the King was only asking him about some random rock he found when he had been a Commander of the Survey Corps.

"Anything out of place about the… well.. the place you found it?" At first Keith Shadis found it annoying that the King had awaken him just to ask about the rock. Of course he chose not to make that annoyance visible. But when the Alpha of the Wolfpack Security Personnel asked his question. Keith noticed that not just the King, but also the Alpha and the Lady, Commander Erwin and Captain Levi shared the same interest with the King.

"It was laying around in the ground, my horse stepped on, lost her footing and almost tripped. I almost fell off the horse myself. The place where I found it was pretty meh, it the same looking grove as any others." The Drill Instructor recollected. He shook his head as he thought back to the day he found the white orb. He couldn't really tell the different between the stretch of forest that he found it with any other area of that same forest. It had had the trees, the rocks, the dirt. Those to be expected from a forest.

"Not thing out of the ordinary at all?" Bulma stepped in. She looked tired and disappointed. The rest of the Scouts looked disgruntled at Shadis' answer. Their reaction to the information of a random rock probed the Drill Instructor to wonder even harder what the damned thing was.

"Except when you shake the rock there three five pointed stars come floating at the surface? Well no, the thing just lying there, in a very ordinary part of wood that my horse stepped on." Keith still spotted the unsatisfied look on the King and his commanders. "I knew it's not actually a rock. It's an artifact. An artisan made it somehow and…" The former Commander of the Survey Corps stopped mid-sentence. The realization manifested in the Trainee Corps' Head Instructor was hard to be overlooked by the people around it.

"Is something just came up?" The King pressed.

"Somebody must've crafted it. Simple rocks of course wouldn't have stars showing up when you shake 'em. Or have stars at all." Shadis' voice showed shock. "I know this when I found it. But I never looked bigger at where I found it. I just thought the place was just an ordinary corner of a forest but the oddity was in plain sight the whole time. I found it outside Wall Maria, Titan Territory."

"Oh I see your point! What artisan would bring it there!" The Lady scratched her chin. "But then again. Your soldiers could've brought it there and dropped it."
"Those people could most likely be dead already!" Grunted Levi, they had come here to narrow down the clue, not expanding it. "And those who survived could be hundreds of them."

"No, artifacts like that would be hard to miss in the Survey Corps if it were one's belonging. The Corps was always small before the King came. Everyone knew everyone, sure we wouldn't know what eachother like, but inventory like this one, even when they didn't know its value. Words would travel." Retorted Erwin, he came up with a theory that everyone found it plausible. "This is more likely to come from Marley rather from the Corps."

"It's not quite possible for any those people sent from Marley to carry this that far inland. They got turned into Titans, they belonging wouldn't be with them. If they dropped it, it would be somewhere closer to the beach." Bulma shook her head, as far as she knew, none of the expeditions conducted by the Survey Corps to Titan Territory had ever reach anywhere close to the sea. And of course, none of the Pure Titans wearing any clothing that had pockets, or bags whatsoever.

"We have to get to that beach in a couple of days after this!" Erwin commented on the beach that Marley used to land on the island.

"Which one? We're an island. We're surrounded by the sea, there plenty of beaches." Jested Bulma.

"There is this guy in particular. From speculation of course, after the reveal. He is from Marley, Eren Jeager's father, Grisha Jaeger. I ran into him, outside the Walls the same day I found this thing." Shadis provide a crucial revelation, however he didn't see the brass being happy with that.

"We're just going full circle!" Levi waved his hand and walked to the corner of the office. They had already knew Grisha had known nothing of it.

"Commander, we've already ruled out Dr Jaeger as the ball's original owner." Explain Gohan, His Overlordship was the only person who didn't make his disappointment visible. Or audible in that matter. "The two journals we've found in his cellar, give us a great insight of what he's been through in Marley, but they have no mentioning of this artifact." The King shifted his body to reach to the orb, revealing his stump under the jacket he was cloaking. He lifted the white ball-like object from the table and to Keith's face level. "And in the cellar. This was in the open, not hidden like many of his Marley origin belongings. So I think Dr Jaeger did not bring this from Marley!"

"I found Grisha further out from where I found the ball." Shadis answered, using Gohan's vocabulary. He demonstrated on how the former Scout Commander had found the Marley national on one of his expedition. He told the King that he had ridden further to the Titan Territory after he had found the artifact, the two location of his finding had been 20 miles apart, and Grisha had been walking towards the Walls, so he was not the ball's original owner. The Doctor had not recognized the artifact once Keith had shown it to him.

"Shit! Another dead end!" Commented Levi.

"Not really." Erwin was not as tense as his subordinate. "By what Go.. The King had told us. It lies a possibility that the thing had been laying there for thousands of years, unknown to the world until Commander Keith Shadis stumbled upon it. The Titan Territory had been uninhabited for centuries, and even in the time of the Eldian Empire peak, few people traversed that area. Whatever it is, we're done here."

Commander Erwin Smith left his seat, and the others were preparing to leave the office. Gohan gave the ball to Bulma who put it in her satchel. The Scouts and their 'auxilaries' were about to leave the room but Keith Shadis interrupted them.

"Your Majesty, permission to speak freely!" Gohan turned at the Head Instructor's request.

"Granted!"

"What is the importance of this paperweight that it got you to disregard your injuries and reclamation campaign to come to both me and Carla for information?"

The King was not surprised by his question. He smiled and looked at the satchel carrying the artifact on Bulma's shoulder.

"I will say this in a manner that wouldn't reveal the classified information to you. You're more special than you think you are. The artifact that you found on pure coincidence is worth more than what you and the doctor ever realize. The paperweight that you gave Dr Grisha Jaeger, is ironically one of the seven most powerful objects on the entire planet." The Drill Instructor gawked and gaped in response to the King's word. "Fate is a funny thing, isn't it? It's never up to us to decide who's special and who's not, sometime people just unwittingly doing great deeds. Only when the deed is long done, and the fruits of it comes, that they aware of the greatness they have done. Sometimes, they never even know."
"Will you tell me about it now? What did I find? What's that thing?" Shadis didn't shy away his shock, he of course had yet to fathom the magnitude of his discovery, but he knew for sure the King did not jest.

"I don't want to get your hopes up. But when I am sure that it is what I think is it, you will know that you have done a great contribution for humanity. And when I said humanity. I didn't mean just here. But out there as well."

---

Present Time

Eren had a very mixed feeling about his mother's remarriage. On one hand he felt happy for her, she was a good person and deserved happiness, she couldn't mourn his father all the time and stay as she was forever. On another hand, Eren had always prefer that his father and mother stayed together, all because of the call-back of the joyful days he had with his parents. When he had first heard of her decision to remarry, his reaction had been surprise, not anger, nor joy, just taken off-guard by the decision, as to him, it had came out of nowhere. In months of preparation for the wedding, Eren had soon came to term with that fact. It had only bugged him, other than the nostalgia of his father and mother's relationship, was that if his father had been revived by the Dragon, what would they have to explain to him that his second marriage had been ended. However, Grisha himself would have a lot to explain to Carla about his deeds in the past should he had been resurrected.

The Titan Shifter, who had been initiated as a Novice of the Fighter Initiative once the new service had been founded years ago, readjusted the uniform he was wearing. The unique service uniform of the Fighter Initiative was the dead giveaway of his unit should any civilians or military personnel could see it from afar. The camo patterned shirt and pants, and the black beret issued only to the Initiative. Knowing for sure that he had made his uniform up to regulation, the Fighter came to the reception to greet the guests.

Carla Jaeger had bought a ranch of a wealthy Maria refugee, of course the one thousand Talent she had won from Bulma had not cut it, but the retaking of Maria had urged the former to sell it quickly, by premise of that Carla had to pay annually what she had fallen short on a detail installment plan. Fortunately, the King, with the wealth of a King, paid off her debt. Carla of course, had not approve of the King's courtesy, but the King paid it off all the same, saying that it the least he could do for the Second Mother of State, the Title he had granted her, saying the estate was her fief and his token of appreciation.

Eren Jaeger could only recognized a few of the guestlist, some of them were close to him, some he had made acquaintances of, he only knew their faces never had their names. Amongst of the guests were Garrison soldiers, Carla's newfound friends from Trosts, General Erwin and Major General Hange were also invited, the King was the officiator so he was here, and where the King came the Lady Consort went with him. Some soldiers from the 1st Shock Army were also invited, because many of them were Eren's friends when the Army had still been the Survey Corps. And of course, the entire Fighter Initiative was invited, they were the main security detail for the wedding, but everyone knew they would enjoy the festivity here.

"Uncle E'en!" Eren was startled by a voice behind him, it was voice of a child. The Fighter looked behind him and find a toddler standing there. The three years old was Kakarot 'Karl' Winters, Petra and Gohan's son. The boy was told by both Gohan and Bulma to look exactly like his grandfather-Goku, sans the hair and eyes who he got from his mother, and the furs on the boy's dangling tail even shared the same color with his mother's hair. The boy's hands extended toward Eren, he wanted up.

"Well there is my favorite little shit!" Eren gently lifted the toddler up and held him in his arm. The boy's present lifted his spirit out all the thing that was buzzling his mind. "Why your parents let you out here."

"They helping ganny Carla inthide! They told me I can play, they thay they know where I am." The toddler answered honestly and he asked the next question with his innocence. "Uncle E'en, what's a little shit?"

"Oh!" Eren choked by the boy's question, he realized his mistake of saying bad words to a child and gulped before he replied to the kid. "Please, do me a favor, Karl, and don't say that to your parent."

"Ith that word a 'no-no' word?" There was a slightly bit of fear expressed on Kakarot Winters' face.

"Yeah, I should've said it! Sorry kid, try to forget the word for me." The Fighter Novice apologized to the kid as he walked back inside the estate's front yard, still holding the King's son in his arms.

"I don't see Auntie Mikatha here, ith thee invited?" Karl asked the right question.

"Oh, Auntie Mikasa is on a diplomatic mission with granny Bulma in Hizuru! Can't tell if they can be here in time." Eren smiled at Kakarot.

"They fly there by plane?" Karl's face got brightened up with excitement when he heard of a travel aboard.

"No, Karl." Eren exactly what to say to get the boy more excited, it would feel really odd if he was silent all the time holding him. " Auntie Mikasa flew Granny Bulma there herself."

"Yay, ith a beth thing ever. My mommy and daddy fly me here too." Karl clapped his hands, the kid really enjoyed seeing people flying and being flown by them, without the enclosed hulls of the air vehicles.

Kakarot mentioning of Mikasa and Bulma reminded Eren of their diplomatic mission. Whether Magath had delivered the King's peace terms or not, it cleared had not worked out. Marleyan Navy had sent a total of 32 vessels to scout the coast of the Islands, months after the Battle of Shiganshina District, for a course of three years. King Gohan and his Initiative had to intercept those ventures, capturing all ships that had trespassed Paradis' waters along with all their crew. The King and his cabinet had seen this as the sign that His offer had been rejected and the prisoners' testimony had confirmed it.

On one particular day, for about 3 years earlier, the Island had been approached by a new foreign ship, it hadn't looked anything Marley, it had been a Hizuru ship. Unlike its Marleyan counterparts, the ship had arrived with a more moral intention, it had carried a diplomatic envoy with a diplomat named Kiyomi at its head. Eren closed his eyes and he still remembered the looks on the Hizurian faces when they had seen the railroad under construction, and questions had been made on how Paradis could pull that off. The Representatives of Hizuru was more prone to listening Paradis' suggestions once they had seen faces to face with the architect of the Island's industrial development, Bulma Winters and only agree to welcome Paradis' diplomatic envoy if she was going, and she did.

"Hanneth, Hanneth!" Karl called out to Hannes, the groom, who excused himself from the Garrison guests when he saw and heard the prince.

Hannes was a good person despite his many flaws. Eren had made no objection when he had heard the family's friend would be a part of his family. Hannes had been the one who did everything in his faculty to help the Jaeger family ever since they had lost their home when Shiganshina had fallen, the man had been drinking less and less as the time progress, focusing on taking care of Carla Jaeger and her children, so it came to no surprise of their union. The union between Carla and Hannes was preeminently platonic and the couple themselves made little physical intimate interaction with one another. It was friendship and years of shared hardship and cooperation that laid foundation to their marriage, not romance.

"Aaaand I just found my new favorite little sh-" Hannes darted to Eren and the kid, his arms outstretched to the little kid. Eren made no intervention on the Garrison soldier approach, but he still cut off his sentence before he could finish it.

"No, no, no. Hannes. I've already made that mistake, you're speaking to a kid!" Eren averted his iris to the toddlers in his arms before Hannes could finished his cursing.

"I meant to say sugar!" Hannes was made aware of his error and corrected his vocabulary, hoping the child would buy his cover-up story. The senior soldier gently took the toddler from Eren and held him close to his chest. "Did your parents told ya the entire country rejoiced the day you were born?" And Kakarot giggled when Hannes lifted the kid up above his head, and gently shook him. "You're the sweetest thing ever that happened to this isle!"

"The ceremony ready?" Eren raised his heels to peek behind the groom, most of the guests were gathering to the altar, where the ceremony of unity would be done and he could sense Gohan approaching there.

"Yeah, I should go there." Anwered Hannes before he put Kakarot down. The quarter-blood slightly pouted when his feet touched the ground again. Someone of the guests, a Garrison soldier from Hannes' squad volunteered to watch over the kid, but Hannes dismissed him. The groom readjusted the bowtie on his collar, and Eren helped his step-father with it. "I think you know where his mother is. Can you return him to her?"

"Yeah, sure I will. And I'll get to mine, you better be in the altar when I walk her to the aisle!" Answered Eren as he finished helping his step-father with his bowtie. "You're good, go!"

Hannes nodded at his soon-to-be step-son before he turned and strode toward where the altar was, many of the guests, dressed in uniforms of the groom's unit patted him in the back and shoulders, whistles and cheers echoed loudly in the estate front yard.

The guests nearby scurry aside as Eren lifted the 'prince' up again and held the boy tightly. Kakarot Winters pouted at first, but then screeched in excitement when Eren levitated from the ground, the screech became louder when Eren swiftly but securely flew the boy across the venue. In less than 20 seconds, Eren landed before Petra, standing right where he sensed her.

"Mommy!" Karl's hands extended to his mother.

"Lady Consort, the Prince." Spoke Eren as he handed her the toddler whom she embraced to her chest.

"Hope he didn't bother you too much!" Jested Petra before she cuddled with the kid.

"Oooh, he totally did. Have no idea how you and Go- the King could handle him!" Teased Eren, the Fighter playfully pinched the boy's nose.

"You don't want to know. Gohan hadn't do a power-ups since we got the Marleyan fleets, but Gohan still complains about headaches." Petra jested again, she did funny faces to Karl and the boy giggled, knowing full well his mother was jesting. "And, uh, you can call him Gohan. Hang the formality!"

"Not with other people around!" Eren motioned to guests whom majority he knew he didn't knew and they were watching the conversation. "If there's nothing else. I'll go and find the bride!"
The young man levitated again, and with the speed of sound he flew toward the house's window, the gust of his departure flapped the venues tablecloth and the guests' clothing. This did not made Petra or any of the guests happy.

"You're walking her, not flying her. Do not get mixed up!"

---

Flashback.

The former monarch's living room had a very thick atmosphere the moment the new King walked into it with his companions on his side. Rod deduced from the King's injury, his missing arm, that the King was not in very good mood despite his facial expression, and the tensed looks on the faces of the Scouts, the Lady and the Alpha did not help Rod to comfortable at all. Rod had no idea why the new monarch had given him a visit, only speculations. Was he going to ask for Historia's hand in marriage? That would certainly cement Gohan's rule over Paradis. Or he would like to ask for aids? Not so baseless once come to think of it, members of the Reiss' loyalists would be in dire need of pacification, and Rod Reiss could possibly convince them to bend the knees to the new King. Or, the worst one, King Gohan had came to tell him that the deal was off? As long as Rod Reiss, and even Historia Reiss was alive, they posed a threat to Gohan's hegemony if the subjects had any dissident with him in the years to come.

All the scenarios played in the former King's mind so many time that he had not notice when the new King placed a white orb on his table. The artifact left puzzles into Rod's mind, as he had no idea what Gohan Winters meant to do with it, and Rod couldn't make any speculation related to the object.

"Your Majesty, what the meaning of this? This thing you lay before me. Is this some kind of riddle? A final test of my submission?"

"No, Duke Rod. It's not a test. Well, in a way, it might!" Gohan calmly answered, the new King touched his remaining hand on his chin as he stared at the old King.

The King and his followers halted for a moment as Historia came out from the kitchen, she gently walked to the table where the two Kings sat by, a tea tray on her hands. She gently put the tray of tea cups and pots on the table. She reached to the teapot, but when her eyes set on the orb nearby, she startled.

"Is that…" Historia pointed at the artifact, her finger was shaking, causing her father to squint at what could scare her daughter that much. "…what I think it is?" And she knew what it was, but was restraining from calling by its name.

Gohan grabbed the orb and shook it in his hand before putting it back on the table. Rod widened his eyes when the stars appeared on the orb's surface.

"We have them here?" Historia knelt and grabbed Gohan by his hand, the tone of her voice was evidence that she knew what the object was, and it must be very important.

"My lord, I found this in the basement of what used to be the Jaeger's residence in Shiganshina. Do you know what it is?" Asked Gohan, and to Rod's surprise, Historia jerked her head to him, waiting for his answer.

"N-no, I d-don't know what this thing is. This th-thin- I.." Rod Reiss stammered at Gohan's question, puzzled of why would the new King think he would know anything about it.

"Ugh, did your family have anything with similar shape or feature in your inventory?" Asked Gohan.

"No, I never. This is the first time I see a thing like this, I would know if I ever saw an orb with stars when you shake it."

"Your father, Uri or Freya…" Bulma was about to probe for more but Yamcha interrupted her.

"Frieda!"

"Yes, Frieda. Did any one of the Founder inheritors, I don't know, or anyone in your family mention any thing about 'wish-granting dragon', 'seven balls' or objects whatever, Devine Dragon, reviving the dead, ultimate power, immortality as result of a wish? Anything like that?" Bulma barraged Rod with questions and the poor man almost fell of his seat by the tone and frequency of the questions.

"Bulma, calm down. He won't understand the question." Advised Historia.

"Well, we did talk about what ifs. If the dead can be revive, immortality or power or such such. But with the dragons being spoken in your manners, I don't think it gave the right context you try to impose." Answered Rod, sweats already breaking from his forehead.

"Urg, to hell with this shit!" Sighed Levi before he stepped in and asked his question, this time he had to be clearer and more revealing in his question. In order to have a clearer answer, he had to give in more context to the question, and he had to take the risk of revealing to much information. "Rod, listen to me. I going to ask you this question one time. As in the clarity of information of the context I am about to give couldn't be repeated." And now Rod knew it was classified. "Do anyone in your family, had ever told you, or mentioned, or slipped up about anything that might related to a wish-granting dragon that is summoned by seven objects like that orb ?"

"That is what that thing can do?" Rod recoiled when he heard the Captain detailed question, the old King pointed his finger at the ball. "And there's six more?"

"Thank you, Captain germophobe. Why don't you tell him all our classified information next?" Yamcha stared daggers at the SOS Captain as he briefly reprimanded him.

"No, he's only revealed only a fraction of it. Experience told me that we can't get answers from anyone who doesn't understand what we ask him." Retorted Erwin, defending his subordinate officer. And the Commander spoke facts, and Yamcha acknowledged it as he nodded and spoke no further of the Captain's question.

"No, our family would had had it as an occasional topic for our dinners if we knew anything about it." Rod's answer was enough for Gohan to retrieved the ball and handed over to Bulma. Whether the Reiss family had known anything about the magical artifact, Rod had no knowledge of it.

"My lord, does any record of your family still available?" The new King asked before the ball was put in a bag.

"My family archive was in the cavern, I believed your Survey Corps and Military Police had taken all its contents." Answered the former King, and he was truthful. The Survey Corps and the MP had indeed confiscated all the documents they had found in the Reiss' secret carven, splitting the contents of their finding to unburden their examination.

"And you believed it right." Replied Erwin, the Commander gently tapped Gohan on the shoulder and had the young King's attention. "Your Overlordship, we found no information of the Balls in all of the Reiss' archive, none of the documents mentioned the slightest hint of the Dragon Balls. And Nile would've told us if he found it, he wouldn't miss information like that, either." The Commander and the King taking some distance from the Reiss and continued their discussion with a quieter tone. "It is evidence that the Reiss had no knowledge of the Dragon, or for the least, if they did, it was not common knowledge even amongst family members."

"Then we have to know if our enemy knows about it. If Marley knows. Our next move will be decided by whether the enemy knows what we know." Gohan nodded, showing concurrence with Erwin's deduction as he explained his plan. "Bulma, where is Zeke?"

"The Bunker!" Answered Bulma, not bothering to withhold that information from Rod, he's already knew about the Bunker.

"Get Pyxis and Nile to the Bunker! We might need to discuss this matter further after we done with our with our prisoner!" Ordered Gohan.

The King's entourage replied him with a quick but firm 'Yes' before they gathered their items and turned to the door as their exit the house. Gohan waited for his commander, captain, mother and butler to leave the old King's house before he gave Rod and Historia some formal parting before he himself left the house, not neglecting to close the door for the Reiss.

Rod was left confused and baffled of what had just unfolded in his house. He stared at his daughter, and then shifted his gaze his front door. The object earlier that Gohan had asked him about was said to have the ability to grant wish if it reunite with its sisters and brothers. And provided with the King and lackeys urgency of finding out who else had knowledge of the objects, it was real. Historia also knew of it, so there must be some extend of the story behind this that she knew about. The story, the Dragon Ball, the name was very new, if not unheard of amongst Eldian population inside the Wall, and by the demeanors of the Eldian who knew about it, Rod could conclude that they were told of it from the foreigners. And Gohan had trusted Historia enough to told her about it, so if Rod wished to know, he should not ask his daughter about it now. He would have to wait and find an opportunity.

---

Present Time.

The wheel on Carla's chair rolled on the dirt road as her son pushed the wheelchair down the aisle. The bride, whose beauty was now enhanced by her make-ups and wedding dress, smiled on her wheelchair as it got her closer and closer to the altar. She made a glance at her son behind her, and Eren smiled when he saw her smile.

The guests on both side of the aisle smiled back at her, each of them applauded when Eren pushed her pass them. Historia and Ymir were seating next to eachother, Carla had been there when Historia had tried to surprise her but failed due to Ymir newfound ability. Carla waved her hand when she saw Karkarot Winters was waving at her, the boy was sitting on Petra's lap. Hange Zoe clapped her disfigured hands together just like the rest of the guest, only difference that only a few of the guests shared her injuries, the now promoted Ground Chief of Staff didn't need a seat, she had a wheelchair of her own. General Erwin Smith, the Commander of the Ground Force sat next to his Chief of Staff, he was the military personnel that dressed the most presentable, Carla had been told that he seldomly smiled, but here he did that. Sasha, Connie, Gunther, Oulo, Levi and Yamcha, and the aforementioned Ymir dressed in the same dress uniforms that her son was wearing, camo patterned clothing and black beret. The Fighters didn't sit in one groups, but their seats were dispersed over the venue. Other branches also sent representative to attend the Second Mother of State's wedding. Senior Aviator Floch Forster and six other aviators were the only representatives of the Aviator Arms, though Bulma was invited, but her diplomatic mission in Hizuru overlapped the schedules. There was a platoon of Interior Minster troops in the wedding, but only Minister Nile was the only IM guest as the other officers were the wedding's sentries.

"We are gather here today to celebrate the union of these two persons." Spoke Gohan when Eren handled out his mother to Hannes at the altar. Hannes and Carla held hand as Gohan made his speech. "Carla Jaeger, a virtuous mother of two and Hannes Standhafbauer, the daring Major of the 20th Rifle Regiment. The two had known eachother for years, and their relationship progressed to love and then to marriage. Their fate had now joined after decades of intertwining. And under the witness of my divine rule, the Overlord of Paradis himself, Carla, Hannes." The bride and the groom looked at His Overlordship as he called their names respectively. "You are now husband and wife." The King handed each of them a glass of wine. Ladies, gentlemen, raise your chalices and join the drink that shall unite these two souls!"

The King himself took a cup of wine for himself and raised it, and the guests raised theirs while the couple crossed their elbow to one another and drained their cups. And the wedding guest drained theirs, sealing Hannes and Carla commitment.

The hardest part had past, now it was the fun part, and Carla knew the King would love it. It was the feast. Having learned about the Saiyan's appetite, Gohan and Karl must have been famished the whole wedding. They had already arranged dining tables for the wedding feast. With the bride and groom and her son sitting with the King's family. The Menu for the wedding was a very unique one, Hizuru style Sashimi and Sushi. A ton lot of them as there were two Saiyan mouths attending the feast. The raw seafood reminded Carla and those had been at the Scouts, including her son about the ocean. After the retake of Maria, the Survey Corps had seized the beach, Carla could recall that Bulma had betted- the activities she had sworn to cease, that some of the Eldians would contract thalassophobia, and ironically Carla had had it the moment her son flown her to the beach, making that bet the first bet Bulma had ever won. Nevertheless, Carla's fear of the ocean did not deter her from her new found love to seafood when they had been introduced to her. The wasabi condiment for the raw food might had its pungent taste, but she knew how to eat it. So she was the person who took the first bite, and she now needed another dish of sushi and sashimi.

"Damn, Carla if it weren't for Gohan and Kakarot, people would've judge!" Jested Hannes, her new husband dipped an ika to his bowl of soy sauce and munched on it. The Major then shifted his gaze to Gohan and his boy, who were shoving pieces after pieces into their mouths, not even bothered to dips their servings. The King and his 'prince' were embarrassed by the groom's words and slowed their paces and ate more gradually.

"Hannes, please. Use formality, he's the King!" Advised Eren, the Fighter looked upon the King and Karl, reassuringly.

"Well, my apology, Your Overlordship, Your Highness." Hannes jested again, bowing at Gohan and Kakarot respectively. "Wait, talking about formality. Should I be refered to as Second Step-Father of State?"

" That is … probably for later!" Gohan averted his eyes.

"That's a bit mouthful, don't you think?" Intervened Petra before sipping her glass of wine.

"It is!" Agreed Carla, looking at her husband whom shrugged as a response.

"Well, Hannes. It's still long way for me to start calling you dad. But if you wish to tell me any dad jokes, well, I'll react accordingly." Eren took his wine glass and emptied it.

"Well, let's see." The groom scratched his chin. He looked at his sushi dish and came up with an idea. "What'd you call a fish without eyes?"

"I take back what I said!" Grunted Eren, mentally smacking himself in the head for suggesting.

" A fshhhh!" The King's table groaned as Hannes slammed his punchline. Hannes also groaned as he heard himself. "Yeah, perhaps it's not for me!"

"They do know how to time." Commented Eren before he looked up. Something had distracted him from Hannes' bad joke. Carla, sitting opposite of her son, was puzzled by the young man's remark.

"What is it?" She glanced behind her, following her son's gaze and dropped her jaw as she spotted Mikasa levitating above the venue, holding Bulma in one of her arms.

"Auntie Mikatha! Ganny Bulma!" Kakarot Winters hopped off from his seat and ran toward the levitating women.

But there still other people who faster than the toddler, the adults of the Aviator Arms rush under the levitating Fighter and her passenger. The seven aviators gave Bulma a solid salute, their eyes fixed on her.

"Air Chief Marshal!" Said Floch, on his fellow Aviators behalf.

"At ease!" Said Bulma as Mikasa slowly landed onto the ground. When the two women had finally landed. Gohan, Eren and his mother, Hannes and the Fighters had already approached them.

"Grand Master!" Greeted Mikasa when she saw Yamcha amongst the Fighters. And then to Gohan, whom she bowed to. "Your Overlordship!"

"I told you they wouldn't miss all of it!" Yamcha snickered as he glanced at the King. The Grand Master of the Fighter then turned to Bulma. "How Hizuru?"

"Should I speak about state matter here?" Bulma averted her eyes at the tables, those were seated by many guests who either low ranking military personnel or civilians.

"At the table then." Gohan pointed at the bride and groom's table. "Novice Sasha, Novice Connie, can you two fetch me General Erwin ,General Nile and Major General Hange , thank you." The two mentioned Fighters complied and flew past the tables. "Paladin Gunther, Paladin Oulo, can you watch over the guests to make sure they would not hear much?"

"Got you covered!" Spoke Oulo as he and Gunther walked toward the two tables that were closest to the King's.

"Novice Ymir, you can go back to the feast." Ordered Gohan.

"Permission to leave the party, Your Overlordship?" Requested Ymir, and Gohan knew what her intention was.

"Granted. There's a lake three miles east from here. Historia would love it." Nodded Gohan, before Ymir strode off.

With all thing set up for the reunion conversation. The groom and the bride led the King and his consort, Eren, Bulma, Yamcha and Levi to their table, Mikasa had already gone ahead of them, with young Karl on her shoulders, the boy had always loved a piggy back ride by his Aunty Mikasa. King Gohan did not dismiss either Hannes or Carla from his 'state matter', the table was their table afterall and Gohan would not go back on his words and break his promise to his 'premature supporters'. Petra was the first one to take a seat, then Bulma. Gohan was next , then the groom and his bride. The bride's son quickly gathered more chairs for the table, with the new training he had had the object weighted nothing and he finished in less than a minute. Mikasa sat the quarterblood on her lap, the boy playfully clapped as she gently pinched his cheek. Grand Master Yamcha and Master Levi of the Fighter Initiative was the last ones to sit down to their new table, until the other three people arrived.

"Air Chief Marshal!" Greeted Erwin as he pushed Hange's wheelchair to the table.

"General Erwin, Major General Hange!" Bulma got off from her seat and greeted the two Ground Force commanders. "Come join us!"
"I've heard you want to talk about Hizuru." Spoke Nile as he rushed from the venue. "How was it?"

"Take a seat." Bulma gestured to the new chairs Eren had just added. The moment the two Generals sat down. She got back to her seat and began her report. "Alright, the Hizuru imperial family, their prime minister and their ministers, they are in love with the blueprints I gave them."

"They understand how they work?" Erwin probed.

"Well, the electricity in where they live are quite primitive, and not very widely used. But electricity exists, and of course still flourish comparing to our non-existence power grid." The soldiers and civilians frowned and saddened at the regard Bulma made about Paradis' power grid. What the blue-haired noblewoman turned commander of the Aviator Arms spoke was true, Paradis lacked the resource and trained workers to establish a decent electricity systems for the island. "So I dare say they had some degree of knowledge on electrical engineering."

"Can't imagine how they convinced that those design would work." Commented Hange, this was her question in disguise and Bulma picked up on it.

"Well, they had their doubt at first. Blueprints of technological advance beyond their own comprehension, but drafted by a blue haired person from a backwater nation. Of course they had their doubts, they first assumed those were just very sophisticated paintings." Bulma rubbed her head. She didn't add anymore, which annoyed each and every one sharing her table.

"And?" Hannes was the first one to lose his patience. He raised both his hand and stared daggers at the Air Chief Marshal. "You didn't do anything to convince them?"

The Lady remained silent.

"She had to do some demonstration." Answered Mikasa in the Lady's stead. And like Bulma, she cut it short. And the table was not happy.

"What kind demonstration? Mikasa, what the hell? I can get it if Bulma over there go and try to be mysterious, but you? You spent about 2 weeks alone with her and you've already tried to be her." Eren crossed his arms, uneasy with the way the Master and the Air Chief Marshal answering the questions.

"Bulma, you were right. It is harder to tell them than I thought it should be." Mikasa looked at the Air Chief Marshal as she spoke before the Lady herself came clean.

"I popped a capsule!"Bulma's answer left the table to gasp.

"Bulma, what the shit?" Commented Yamcha, the Grand Master and the High Commands of Paradis had been keeping that info a secret for many years.

"We didn't bend our knees early for you to give those exclusive infos to foreigners." Hannes protested.

"My Lady, I mean, Air Chief Marshal. Those capsules are our military secrets, you can't just flaunting them over to foreign power like that." Commented Erwin, the General slammed his fists to the table after he finished his sentence.

"What will those military secrets do us any help? They will wear down after we first use them. And we can't never make use of their potentials for our advantage unless we have the means the duplicate the contents of our capsules. Which we haven't." Bulma tapped her fingers fidgetily on the table. Her elaboration on why had she compromised a classified information had calmed a few heads. "Hizuru has an abundant of knowledge on the discipline to duplicate and mass product the technology we need. They already had a few hydroelectric plants built, and had hundreds of thousands engineers and scientists with more years of experience than our science students that are grinding their asses on the academy' desks. If we want to have our techs to help our nation we need Hizuru's resources and grey matters, we need them to trust us and we can't not do that we can't trust them."

"Shit! She's got a point!" Levi emptied a cup of wine after he had to agree with Bulma.

" More than a fucking point. It's a fact!" Growled Bulma.

"No swearing in front of the Kid!" Said Mikasa and Petra simultaneously, the two women choked for a second as they awkwardly looked at one another and then to the toddler on Mikasa's lap.

"Novice Eren, Master Levi, Grand Master Yamcha and Air Chief Marshal Bulma. Do be mindful of the language you use." Admonished Gohan before he reeled the conversation on course. "Bulma, I was there when Kiyomi arrived, she and her colleagues of course had seen what you'd done to the infrastructure. I'm not very convinced that Hizuru wasn't convinced after Kiyomi saw what she saw. Did she not vouch for you? Was she not present there?"

"Then your Overlordship must've remember that I didn't fly my jet on her visit. Not even once she saw the 576." Replied Bulma, giving a little tweak on the event of Paradis and Hizuru made their first contact.

"I remember that thing was quite under the weather that day. Is it okay, now?" Said Carla.

"All fixed up. It took quite a bit of time! Thanks for asking, Carla." Grinned Bulma. "What I'm trying to say that, despite knowing that I have more knowledge in technology than the world population. Kiyomi and her fellow Hizuru only speculated that whatever technological innovations I have in here." The blue-haired woman tapped on her temple. " Do not make too much distance from what they already have. The contents of the blueprints I gave…" Bulma gazed at Gohan. "…subverted their speculation."

Eren, Carla, and almost everyone on the table followed Bulma's gaze to the King. With the way the Lady spoke, her body language her obvious gaze at the King. They knew that Gohan knew what the content of the drafts Hizuru was holding, and by the look of Bulma, she was putting the blame on him, which meant he chose those blueprint himself.

"Gohan, what were in those blueprints?" Probed Carla.

"Powergrid. Improved Hydroelectric Plant. Electric automobile. Jet Aircrafts. Telecom manuals." The civilians and military personnel widened their eyes as the King nonchalantly answered them. "Computers."

"Things that are much needed for civilian life. And to improve the economy." Commented Hange, she was quite compose when she heard the King's answers. But then she got tensed. "Is there anything military?"

"Some of the aircraft drafts were. But I can tell that Hizuru could weaponize the rest of all other civilian drafts." Answered Gohan, the other officers frowned. "Paradis needed those aircrafts too. Don't be like that."

"Well, we're arming another nation with our own techs. Those yet we do not have." Commented Levi.

"My techs, actually." Retorted Bulma.

"T-90 Tank you left behind obviously not yours." Retorted Mikasa.

"What the…" Bulma was shock at Mikasa's slip up.

"You left WHAT behind?" Hange could have jumbed off her wheelchair if she still had her other leg.

"The capsule that Bulma popped, it's a T-90 tank."

"WHAT?"

"Well done, Bulma. Next time you could always tell them about our world, the Dragon Balls and our war plans when you visit Hizuru." Mocked Yamcha.

"Least' we still have our Fighters to counter their now advanced arsenal." Said Erwin, reassuring the group. "When will we get our products?"

"Hizuru had promised to bring specialists to build our hydroelectric plant and the power grid next quarter. The aircrafts would take a bit longer, couples of years. And the telecoms and the computers, I don't even think they would be swift to build their owns, so that one sits." Explained Bulma, grabbing some sushi and sashimi and put them one by one to her mouth.

"Did they make any condition?" Pressed Gohan.

"They want full monopoly on the iceburst stone mining and trade on the island." Answered Bulma, nonchalantly, however the group sharing her table did not have the same level of nonchalant in their reaction.

"They're asking too much!" Commented Eren.

"And it's an awful conflict of interest to our King's 'Governed Buffer Zones' strategy, how Hizuru would react if Marley would be part of us later." Commented Erwin.

"Sons of bitches made us pay a very steep price for our own technology!" Hannes restrained himself from smashing the wine glass in his hand.

"Well, Hannes, we've to pay our workers somehow." Carla patted her husband's shoulder. The bride quickly turned to Bulma. "You had some tricks in your sleeves, you used some didn't you? You had to made a clever counteroffer to their, hadn't you?"

"I didn't." Bulma shook her head, just to get a frown from her 'co-conspirators'. "However, making their demand of monopoly fixated on the iceburst stone on the island is the mistake they've made."
The Officers, the Fighters , the Royal Family and civilians raised their eyebrows upon hearing Bulma statement.

"Mistake?" Too many on the table spoke the same word that Bulma couldn't pinpoint who did and did not say it.

"Hizuru's mistake was to assume that they would be the only one who'd be manufacturing our high-end technologies. If anything, they're the only one who got it first. Once our plan was executed, Marley soon would get the same production line of our inventions, and soon the other nation once peace is ensured." Explained Bulma, at every sentence she spoke the group got more relaxed. She reached to her satchel, and took out two piece of documents, one was written in Eldian logogram and the other Hizuru's. Those were the two copies of the written agreement signed by Hizuru leader and Bulma. "Take a look. The contract only dictates what I have told you, the time and amount that our equipment would be transport to us and the monopoly Hizuru would have on our island's Iceburst stone mining and trading. They said nothing of their sole role of technological manufacturing, nor do they restrict our trading with other nations on other resources. There more to come from Paradis than just steam emitting rocks, there yet to be any hydrocarbon exploration made on the island, so that a possibility."

"So in other words…" Replied Carla.

"…You didn't even bother to haggle, because you had already loopholed them." And Yamcha continued the bride's reply.

"How Hizuru could be this careless, they didn't made any precaution at all? Didn't they see it that you agreeing with their condition too good to be true?" Questioned Hange, and she found it also too good to be true for her side.

"They're not convince that we could broker a trade deal with other nations other than them. They held on to the belief that with anti-Eldian sentiment the World Alliance had would keep us from any future foreign trade. And of course, we'd be crazy a f-" Bulma replied with excitement and confident in her voice, but she stopped midsentence to look at Karl and changed her language. "And we would be crazy if we decide to give the people who hates our guts our own equipment."

" Never knew being in receiving end of prejudice could be handy!" jested Levi.

"Now, I hope you all satisfied with the result of my diplomatic mission?" Asked Bulma, and the others nodded. "Now, it's my turn to do the asking. Where's Mr Gleave?"

"Paladin Hermann Gleaves hasn't returned yet. He is still in Marley!" Answered Yamcha. Prior to Bulma and Mikasa's diplomatic mission in Hizuru, Gleaves had been tasked with scouting and gathering intelligent on Marley. The former Wolf had been gone for six months, and he would only return when he had surveyed all of Marley ports and garrisons, totaled up Marley strength, their political affair and what they knew about the Dragon Balls.

"Well, that has to sit, too." Said Bulma, she stood up from her seat and raise her glass. "Now, where's my manners? This is a wedding and I haven't make any congratulation to the newly wedded." She pointed her raised wine glass toward Carla and Hannes' direction. "To you Carla. To you Hannes. I must be honest, Hannes, I know jack of you, just some info the others have already know. But I must say, Carla, she didn't give me much impression of a good companion, but perhaps that me being me attributes to that. Either way, from my point of view, you deserve all the respect for having her as your wife…" Carla sneered at Bulma.

"Bulma.." Said Gohan.

"If you manage to sustain this marriage, Hannes, you'll be sitting in Erwin's office with stars on your shoulders." Carla glared at Bulma as the Air Chief Marshal spoke. "A bit of advice, don't try to bet her or play UNO with her, she'll beat you to it. So, cheers!"

The guests emptied their cups as Bulma emptied hers, Carla just shook her head as the blue-haired commander sat down.

"Thanks a lot, Bulma! Do you always make such speech at every wedding?" Mocked Carla, unappreciated of her speech.

"Well, there's a reason Gohan left Yamcha in charge of his wedding." Answered Eren, before turning to Mikasa. "So Mikasa, what Hizuru's like?"

"The food is… good." Replied Mikasa, pointing at the dishes before her. "Cars were everywhere, almost no sign of horses or horse drawn transport. The people there is quite civil, they were tolerate of me and Bulma. I don't know if that tolerance was attributed from my lost origin of the shogun family or Bulma's ingenuity or they simply not that prejudice against Eldians. But they were tolerance of us."
"You make any interaction with the local? I mean others than their officials?" Yamcha pressed.

" Well, I helped this one guy to navigate back to the port. He's a weird person, it looked like that was not the first time he got lost." Mikasa put her finger to her chin, trying to retrack her memory. "I saw people wielded swords there, but he the only fella who wielded three at the same time, and all Hizuru there had their hair black, if none were greying but this guy's green."

"Now that's weird!" One of the officers commented.

"Does Hizuru know about the Dragon Balls?" Asked Erwin, out of the questions that the table had barraged Bulma with, they forgot to ask this one important question until it just came to the Commander of The Ground Force .

"I must say their knowledge of it is comparable with our furry friend." Answered Bulma as she looked down on her wine glass. "Red wine with Sashimi? Talking about compatibility. Waiters! Do you have sake?"

---

Flashback.

The casualty report post the battle of Shiganshina was daunting to the eyes of the regiments that face fewer losses per mission like the Military Police and the Garrison. To be fair, Pyxis and Nile's reactions were ably anticipated by another reasons, many of the recruits that perished in the battle were redesignated from their branches. Neither Nile nor Pyxis remained composed of the news, though the latter was calmer ,in regard other factors as well, the King's loss of arm, Jean Kirstein's death, and the Titan Shifters' inability to distribute their Ki to their Titan Forms were concerning and somewhat wavered their commitment to the Earthlings' grand strategy. Apparently, even the Ki Users could still be maimed and killed by conventional mean if the required ordnance could present, obviously, powerful as it was, Ki had its limit. The other matter was that, they could not afford to have Son Gohan reached his full potential, as it had revealed, the bio-android known as Cell had made an parasitic bond with the half-Saiyan, so should the King need to reach his full power, he would have to have Cell take control of his body; knowing the nature of the bio-android, the commanders were fearful of the thought.

However, as dreadful as their condition were, there was good news. Yamcha had reveal that thought the Earthlings were far from retaking their homes from Space Pirates, the Eldians were not so far from seeking peace on their terms. The Eldians Pupil Fighters, although had minor set back with the distribution of Ki of the Titan Shifters and the overall power level, Yamcha had guaranteed that if the pupils reach the power level of 5000, no conventional weapons would be able to harm them. And reveal of the existence of a set of Dragon Balls in their universe had elevated the brass' hope and had eliminated the doubt in the cause, and they still committed to it.

The current crucial task was to find out whether or not Marley or the enemies without the island knew about the Dragon Balls. The War Chief of Marley's Warrior Unit was held in one of the living quarters in the Bunker. Eren Jaeger who was suspected to have familial relation with the captive, was assigned to interrogation objective.

The King, Gohan Winters accompanied the Titan Shifter down the elevator to the Quarter level of the Bunker. The defector, Annie Leonheardt had speculated that should the Royal Member- the direct descendants of Ymir Fritz made physical contact with the Founder holder, they would open the access of the Founder's telepathic power. So the King's supervision was highly recommended.

"He touched me, once. Back in Shiganshina, nothing happened!" Said Eren.

"Your father journal proved true that his first wife was Fritz. And his consumption of Freida Reiss inherited him the Founding Titan's power, which went to you." Retorted Gohan, the elevator opened and reveal a corridor and the two of them walked out. "Annie's speculation is not unfounded."

"You believe Annie?"

"I believe carefully vetted intelligence. This was also from Rod and Historia." Said Gohan as the two walked to a quarter's door. "What happened or lackthereof could be explained by other means. Whatever block your telepathic connection could be the result of unawaken state of the Founder's power, the Ki somehow make barrier to it, or just simply mine, Yamcha, Bulma's presence in this time line caused a paradox. But we cannot take chance and risk it a second time."

"Well, I understand why you take precaution. The First King made sure that his Reiss successor wouldn't part take in further war. I'm sure I wouldn't know what to do with it, but who knows what the Beast Titan wants with it." Eren nodded and looked at the room number, room 17. "I promise I won't touch him."

"Keep your distance, it's not you I afraid!" Gohan commanded, both at Eren and then at the door. "Open!"

The metallic door slid open, revealing the blond, bearded man lying on the bed, Zeke Jaeger get up and sit by the bed when he saw the King and his brother.

"You're not from the island, aren't you?" Zeke had already made note of that by the voice command lock on his cell's door.

"Step to that corner and put your back on the wall." Commanded Gohan as he pointed at the back of the room. Zeke was confused by the order, the War Chief looked down to his own hands then at Eren's and he gave an abrupt 'ah' and complied to the King's command.

"If you like to ask me of the Marley's defense and strength, I must say that many information is limited to me. High ranking as I am in their military and Honorary Marleyan and all that, I am still considered Devil's Spawn regardless." The War Chief explained.

"We'll get to that in another time." Eren dismissed the War Chief. "That is not why we're here."

"Curious! Oh,yes." The War Chief realized, making another assumption. "Berthold had told me you the Coordinate. But mayhap that's an incorrect speculation, you're the Attack Titan, not the Founding Titan. Perhaps, that's why nothing happened when we touched. But regardless ,brother, we've seen eachother!" Zeke outstretched his arms, waiting for an embrace from his half-brother.

"Hmm," Gohan stepped forward, shield Eren from the Warchief. ",no, Berthold's speculation was true. Frieda Reiss, the previous Founding Titan was consume by your father. The current holder of the Founding Titan is him." Gohan pointed at Eren, the War Chief widened his eyes and unwittingly strode to Eren.

"Then why.." Zeke's question was interrupted when the King raised a remote control on his hand and pressed the button and Zeke collapsed, knowing he was being electrocuted. "What have you done to me?"

"You were given a clear order, you disobeyed it, and was punished. Get up!" Commanded Gohan as Zeke slowly stood up, rubbing the back of his neck where his pain stemmed from.

"My apologies, your majesty." Apologized Zeke, he brushed and readjusted his clothing. "There must be some explanation to loss of connection of our power somehow? The physical connection between the Founder to a Royal Blood should have take us to th.." The War Chief stopped himself, it was evidence that he had revealed something he shouldn't have.

"What was that you trying to say?"Eren pressed the question, obviously neither Gohan or Eren was blind to Zeke's mannerism.

"That's also for another time." Dismissed Gohan. "That is not why we're here, either."

"Forgive me, your Majesty. I am more than confused. It's not Marley's defense you want, nor my connection to the Royal Blood. Then what do you want from me?"

" 'Your Majesty'? No more 'Devil of All Earth' ?" Asked Eren with intrigue, he had yet to let go of the slip up Zeke made but he and Gohan had looked at eachother in agreement to let it sit for the moment. "Why your attitude to my King change so significantly when you're captured."

"By what he had shown to me in that, forgive me, Your Majesty, your 'monkey form'. And by what Berthold had told me of what you've done to Reiner Braun, I had made assumption that you were true to that moniker." Zeke explained. "But after what I've heard of your leniency to Magath, I have returned to my initial belief that the 'Devil of All Earth' what nothing but a hoax."

"A hoax?" Eren raised his eyebrows.

"Eren, what we're here for." Commanded Gohan.

Eren showed the War Chief the Dragon Ball, removed from his trench coat. Zeke was confused when he looked at the artifact, Eren shook the thing, and three black stars appeared at the surface, floating.

"You know what this is? Ever heard of it? Does anyone from your Marley leadership ever slipped up of such a thing?" Eren asked his brother why flaunting the ball before his eyes.

"Brother, is this some kind of puzzle?"

"This thing was found in our father's basement. His basement here, where he hid the information of his origin in Marley, the secret of the world beyond this Walls, that humanity never was extinct." Eren elaborated.

"It could be nothing, irrelevant!" Zeke shook his head, to all his knowledge, the Eldians on Paradis were chasing their own tail.

"To him, yes, it is nothing, it is irrelevant. By his journals, he mentioned nothing of this artifact. He never knew its significance." Zeke's eyes again widened from Eren's words, by his brother insinuation in his wording, he acknowledged that whatever their father didn't know, the Paradisians knew.

"What is its significance?" probed Zeke, at his brother, then the confused War Chief took a turn to look at the Hegemonkey King. "Who knows of its significance? You?"

"What Marley is pursuing, what the world that hates us is pursuing, what our forebears were pursuing. War. Domination. Would be irrelevant. The Rumbling, hell, even the King's and our newfound power will not be necessary if the artifact power is realized." Eren fondled the Dragon Ball. "What I need here, is your honesty. There must be some thing more than the Titan power that bond us, if you are my family I want you to be honest, and do not to use my forwardness to your advantages. This thing, has six others, they have stars ranging from one to seven. This one has three as you can see. If it reunites with those six, they'll grant wish, or even wishes."

"For real?" Unconvinced was a hard word to described what Zeke was feeling, afterall, he had seen the Titans' Power, knew what the Founder could do, and his skirmishes with the island's new monarch had given him enough to believe many thing. But wish granting artifacts, were still something new to process.

"We could end this war. This needless aggression without wiping out either of the sides." Eren couldn't believed himself to be advocating for peace. "No more oppression of our people or theirs. We could have lasting peace. We could even end this curse, that coursing in our vein forever."

"Fuck, this is new. I don't… what was the question you asked me again?" Zeke turned about face, his hands slamming on the wall.

"By your reaction, I can deduce that you know nothing of it. But do your superiors, do they ever told you something holds resemblance to Eren just said? A minor detail?" Gohan stepped to Zeke side, patting on his shoulder with his remaining hand. "Mentioning perhaps a wish granting dragon? Dragon Balls? Or just wish granting magic?"

"That thing summon dragons?" Zeke jerked about face again and pointed at the Dragon Ball. "Dragon Balls? That what those were called?"

"Just one dragon." Corrected Eren.

"Well?" Pressed Gohan.

"Sorry, sir. I don't know. This thing… shit.. things get bigger that what I've been planning." Zeke started to tear off his hair. "All those years." He started to walking back and forth, causing Gohan to instruct Eren to back away. "Plotting, killing, making it looks real. All for nothing. I was looking at the wrong direction."

"Making it looks real?" Puzzled Eren.

"I was helping our people. In the shadows." Explained Zeke, the War Chief collapsed to the floor, chuckling. "Starting from ratting out my dad and mom, joining the Warriors, helping Marley in their war efforts. Oh my god, I killed a whole lot of you guys to make it looks real. I even had this fucking plan of lacing my spinal fluid in wines and give it to you guys."

"You what?"

"And you're telling me… all that. All that fucking hate the entire population of the world has on us for what we are, for our mere existence could be wipe the fuck away just by mere wish? All what I bloodied my hands for. When we get seven of those together?" Zeke began to sob, his finger was shaking when pointing at the Dragon Balls.

"Pretty much, yeah!" Shrugged Gohan, the King no longer care about the spiked wine plan Zeke mentioned since the War Chief was already held captive.

"Does Marley know of this?" Eren shook the Ball. "It's what we want to know!"

"You think? My dear brother, you think I would've gone all that trouble. Put down the innocents I've put down. Betraying my family, my people. If I had known of it?The brass, they never fucking told me shit! Not a fickle of mentioning of this…thing, and its fucking cousins." Zeke didn't bother to make any hand gestures this time, or rather he didn't have any strength for any. "And if you want my opinion. I doubt they even know of it. I have this network of sympathizers, and if they know, they'd've told me."

" 'Nother deadend!" Eren concluded.

"We should leave. Let's head upstair!" Commanded Gohan, Eren nodded and followed his King outside the room.

"Wait, Eren!" Called out Zeke, the broken man crawled toward the door. Eren glance to the elevator and saw the King was already at the elevator.

"What is it?" Eren tiredly replied.

"Do you know how to find the others?" Asked Zeke

"We're working on it. What the hell, we found one. That's a good start, no?" Eren gestured.

"Maybe I could help with that. The Founder…" Suggested Zeke, but Eren cut him off before he could finish.

"You want me to touch you, and activate the Founding Titan power? I've already told you, it don't matter no more." Eren twisted his body as he refuted his brother. "The existence of the Dragon Balls had made the Founder's irrelevant. And no, Ymir Fritz, the bitch wouldn't know. None of the Reiss ever heard of the Dragon Balls."

"That's fair. Fair, fair, fair. I should assumed that you asked them already!" Zeke nodded in agreement. "Well, if there's time. Maybe we should talk some more. I know you never expected a brother, but neither am I. What our father did. And… what I did. It torn our families apart, I know you know. It's, if there's any making up to it, we could salvage what left of our families."

"A very nice offer, Zeke. But I'm sorry to tell you that, I only have one brother. His name is Son Gohan." Eren glared at Zeke before he commanded the door. "Close door!"

And the door shut on Zeke Jaeger's baffled face.

"Son Gohan? I thought his name is Gohan Winters?"

---

"Well, I never had the time to say congratulation." Spoke Oluo on Petra's pregnancy.

"This again?" Sighed Petra, she mentally cursed Gohan for leaving her alone in the Cafeteria with her eyeing comrades. "Who told you?"

"Not Gohan, that for sure!" Gunther chuckled as he looked at Yamcha, that obviously the tattletale.

"Hey, don't be angry at me! People need to know or else you woulda bring your child with ya to the battlefield if they were kept in the dark, that'll be a double kill." Yamcha raise his hands in surrender, anticipating Petra rage.

"Alpha!" Scolded Mikasa for his insensitive choice of words.

"Well, there's only person I should be angry at!" Petra stared daggers at the other side of the rooms, the fighters followed her gazed and saw Annie sitting across the room, needless to say they shared the same feeling. "Trying my best not to."

"Silver lining is that when we found the Dragon Balls, all those she murdered will be revived." Commented Ymir. Then she gazed at the Lady, sitting with the Commanders and the Captain. The Lady had brought out the Dragon Radar much earlier, but the thing broken. "Alpha, in your world, do people find those Balls without that device?"

"That's actually the more common method to find the Dragon Ball, the Radar was solely used by our group. Most people just do some investigation, take a lot of resources, man power, self-navigating. It takes them years of their lifetimes on this Dragon Balls trek." Yamcha replied, he didn't break his gaze of Annie. Unlike the Scouts, he did not had much contempt for the Female Titan, not after knowing her story and comparing to what he had done, it would be a pot calling the kettle black to judge the girl for her transgression.

"So what would yer name it?" Asked Sasha, with heightened curiosity.

"What?" Petra was confused.

"The baby, what would yer name it?" Sasha repeated her question.

"It?" Petra stared at the Potato Girl.

"Well we haven't know if it's a boy or girl yet, have we?"

"Way to start a conversation with a pregnant woman, Friendly Sniper!" Jested Yamcha.

"Naming the child is not what I have in mind right now!" Pouted Petra, she nervously looked at the elevator door, she needed Gohan to come to her rescue right now.

"I mean what else could we talk about? I don't dare to speak of the Dragon Balls before the King returns." Added Connie, Sasha nodded at the bald boy for having her back. " Taking about reviving Jean right now, it's still too soon."

"Yer just mentioned it!" Sasha glared at him.

"Fuck! So do you have the name for the baby? I mean what would you name it if it's a girl? If it's a boy?" Sighed Connie.

"Or an unisex name. That's one actually common." Suggested Oulo. He suddenly squinted in realization of he had just said. "Did I just get myself involved with this?"

"Fine. To let you know, I currently haven't thought of a girl name. For obvious reason." Petra relented, she said the word 'obvious' slowly as she respectively glared at Sasha, Connie and Oluo. "But there this one came into mind when it comes to boy. Kakarot!"

"Goku's Saiyan name?" Yamcha yelped.

"Gohan's dad?" Mikasa raised her eyebrows.

"I told you it the first, well who am I kidding? It's the only name that comes to my mind right now!" Moaned Petra, obviously her comrades did not aware that she did not want to get engage in naming her child at the moment. "Well you could call him Karl if you want!"

"Well, it's quite common for parents to name their kids after their grandparents. I don't see no problem with that!" Commented Gunther, Petra could have eaten him alive right now.

"Well, now come to think of it…" Petra decided to play along, she sighed. "… I would like to see how this Vegeta fella would react to two Kakarots. Hey, motherfucking fuck it! The name sticks."

"Hell yeah, any idea of fucking with Vegeta will be seconded by me!" Yamcha cheerfully raised his hand. "Fuck the girl name, you calling the baby Kakarot no matter its gender!"

"Oh, I'd love to see that." Oluo raised his hand in agreement, and the elevator door opened. "And comes the bugger!"

Gohan and Eren walked out of the elevator and the pupils and Yamcha came and greeted them.

"So ,King, how did it go?" Asked Yamcha.

The King just shook his head and the crew picked up on the cue very quick.

"Hey, Bulma! You lose another bet!" Yamcha yelled to her seat.

"Damn it!" Bulma slammed on her table.

"This is bull!" Nile did not make any gamble, but he was very frustrated. "Seven most powerful objects in this world, and no one knows of its existence?"

"Bulma?" Erwin glance at the Lady.

"Well, not so unlike our world, Yamcha."Muttered Bulma before she explained. "In our world, the Dragon Balls were not a very common knowledge. Actually only a handful of people know of it beside us. Even these other Dragon Balls seekers would not give much information when they go and ask around, so few would learn of it. And with the obscurity of communication technology in this world," The Lady tapped her fingers on the table when she shook her head. " even fewer."

"Then why the heck fire did you bet against that?" Scoffed Hange as she crossed her arms.

"Why in the slight odd that I win, I get all your money!" Bulma pointed at the Section Commander, Yamcha, the SOS. "And also I'm rich!"

"Both worlds!" Commented Yamcha.

"Section Commander, good to see you've recovered!" Greeted Gohan as he approached the Commanders' table. The King shook Erwin hand, Nile's hand, Pyxis'.

"Well my fingers and leg haven't grown back yet! So it isn't very miraculous!" Jested Hange as she struggled to shake the King's hand. "Welp, neither has my eye! Nor your left arm!"

"The bad news is her humor has!" Levi got a gentle elbow from Hange as he made his comment. "So, you are telling him your theory or not?"

"Theory?" Gohan raised his eyebrows.

"Section Commander Hange Zoe has this theory connecting the Dragon Balls to the Titans!" Explained Bulma. The Lady grinned at the Section Commander. "We were discussing it!"

"Not on fixing the Radar?" Groaned Gohan. Disapointed at the Commanders for not focus at the more pressing matter, however, his interest in Hange's theory did intrigued him.

"Radar's FUBAR." Sighed Bulma as she glanced at the mossed and molded device. "Our best chance is to make a new one, which material we lack. Finding the Balls will be left to more conventional means."

"Well, we didn't heard it from over there!" Yamcha pointed at the table he and the S.O.S had been at.

"Let's hear it!" Connie and Sasha spoke at the same time.

"C'mon. I don't think it be relevant anymore." Declined Hange, with all the knowledge of the Dragon Balls and the Power Level the pupils could push to, the Section Commander herself did not find her newfound theory to be helpful.

"I'll be the judge to that. Proceed with your theory, Section Commander!" Commanded Gohan.

"Well. The Dragon Balls could very well might be the source of the Titan Powers." Hange elaborated on her theory, and the Scouts and Wolf and the King himself listened closely. "We know about this First Titan- Ymir Fritz, right? Could she obtain her power from a Devine Dragon's wish?"

"Either that or Fritz, the King." Spoke Annie, and the Scouts glared at her.

"Actually that what we also talked about." Hange gestured her hand at the Female Titan. "Or King Fritz himself wished that power on her. Think of it, the Pure Titans characteristics. Enlarged bodies, regenerative abilities, no clear genital, lack of need for nutrition, and everlasting life spans. What do these characteristic remind you of?" Hange stared at Gohan.

And that sounded awfully a lot like a…

"Holy shit! Namekians!" Concluded Yamcha.

"I didn't know Namekians be that large!" Ymir was confused, probably someone who hadn't pay attention in her Namekian biology class.

"Many Namekians had the ability to enlarge their bodies." Gohan filled the gap for her.

"Awfully resembling them don't you think?" Giggled Hange.

"This has a few holes, shouldn't the Founding Titans had collective memories of the wishing?" Retorted Eren.

"That fall back? All of that?" Retorted Bulma, backing Hange's theory. "I do computers, I should know. The database always has limit no mater how big it is, sometime you will have to remove some memories you deemed insignificant, else it gets all laggy."
"That doesn't sound insignificant at all!" This was Connie turn to retort. "Really? The Divine Dragon? Who would missed that?"

"It's just a theory! My hypothesis is that King Fritz did not come across the Power of Ymir on pure happenstance. It's all by design, if anything, he could away command Ymir to omit that information from future inheritors or removed that crucial detail entirely, keeping that secret forever." Hange waved her disfigured hands, gesturing her retorters to calm down. "My best bet on who made the wish was like Leonheardt just said, it could be Fritz. He found the Dragon Ball, gathered them somewhere and the Dragon popped up, and he wish for that power."

"Coward didn't have balls to wish it on himself!" Commented Pyxis.

"Anyhow, back me up Leonheardt! The Marley history on the Eldian Empire mentioned this mystical entity named what?" Hange gestured at Annie.

"The Devil of All Earth!" Answered Annie.

"Needless for a picture. We could imagine what the historian illustrated this entity in painting looks like."

"I've seen it, it doesn't look like a Dragon at all!" Spoke Annie, the Scouts made no hostile reaction this time.

"It was not illustrated as a Dragon, no! My theory is, some of the inheritor of Titan Power had some vivid memories of the creatures despite Ymir could omit, but they did have it, vividly. Annie did told us that many of the Titan Shifters turned against the Empire, the inheritors may have seen something in their predecessors' memories. Like puzzle pieces mistakenly put together come to our current illustration of the Devil of All Earth, the one that gave the First Titan her power, mimicking its creature's power, a fragment of it. Like the Armoured Titan saw the horns, the Female Titan saw the head, War Hammer the claws, the Colossal the feet, the Beast perhaps the tail. I dunno, I already told you it could be irrelevant."

"Or the Namekian himself." All eyes turned to Yamcha. "Because why not? The green bastard could have been there to oversee the whole thing, and he looks less attractive than the all majestic dragon. He'd fit the Devil of All Earth thingy!"

"Lady Winter showed me the footage of King Piccolo." Annie informed. "He's not what the illustration looks like."

"Heck, Estrogenic Titanus, you have no idea how shitty medieval painter could be. Have youse ever looked at a tiger that was painted by an artist who never saw a tiger in his life? Looks nothing like a tiger." Answered Yamcha, and Annie had seen some painting like that so she knew what he meant, the Titan Shifter nodded in agreement.

"The fuck's a tiger?" Puzzled Gunther.

"My point exactly, try to paint the fucker you've never see before!"

"Actually, not all dragons look the same!" All eyes now turned to Gohan. "And I'm telling you, not all of them look all majestic like Shenron. Paronga looked quite different from our dragon."
"Paronga?" Pyxis squinted.

"The Namek Dragon." Replied Gohan. And the officers looked at Bulma, she hadn't told them that.

"Don't look at me! Never took a look at it!" Clarified Bulma.

"What I'm trying to tell you guys is that, perhaps what was described on the books in Marley, could be our dragon. This world's dragon!" The King slowly shook his head. "Not pieces of puzzle mistakenly put together!"

"Interesting!" Hange commented. "Another bet on how the dragon would look like?"

"I'm on!" Yamcha spoke up.

"No, none of that!" Eren stepped in. The Jaeger youngest was the one who was most affected by this theory. "Any conclusion. You believe all this."

"It's plausible! If this theory holds true, then we have finally found out the origins of the Titans' powers." Erwin smiled, it was seemed that he was the most satisfied person upon hearing his subordinate's theory. "Ymir Fritz, or her husband more likely, stumbled upon a cosmic wish granting set of seven artifacts and summoned the divine dragon and granted her the power that resembled the dragon's creator's."

"I don't see this have to do with anything!" Scoffed Eren, then he all of sudden turned to Gohan. "Verdict, Your Overlordship?"

"I think you know it, that why you've been dismissive of it all the time. If the Power of the Titans stemmed from the Wish of the Dragon, no wish could undo it!" And Mikasa went limp upon hearing the King's answer, that meant the Curse of Ymir would stay permanently .

"It's just a theory!" Reasured Hange.

Before Eren or any of the Titan Shifters and their close friend made any comment, Gohan stepped up to the table where the officers were sitting.

"We heard enough, time for planning." Commanded Gohan. "Erwin, what the progress on our reclamation campaign?"

"The Southern areas of Maria were cleared, the reports from other areas of that Wall made no note of Titan activities. Most likely they all concentrated in the South." Reported Erwin, he removed papers from his satchel and showed them to Gohan. "The runners that relayed these information are trustworthy. The Titans that we killed on our route to Shigashina were the bulk of their strength."

"Captain Levi, the map confiscated from the Marleyans." Gohan commanded, but he already saw what he was calling for rolled up on the table.

"Can't believe they brought world map with them." Levi spread the map on over the table, showing Marley and other nations, and of course Paradis at the North of their direct foe.

"Annie told us that the Republic of Marley and the many neighboring states do not see eye to eye. That should bought us some times, the casualties we inflicted on them in Shiganshina bought more." Gohan stopped to take a glance at the Female Titan who shied herself away. "She provided more crucial information, apparently, as oppressive as they are to Eldians, Marley has the most decent tolerance toward Eldians than the rest of the Eldian hating world. So, ironically, they the only nation that stand between us and the other more hostile forces. So, we'll make use of that fact, and turn it up a notch." Gohan then stared at Yamcha before he continued. "Yamcha's proposal of the New Penance is an excellent idea. But it holds to much reliance on the world to believe the façade. So, we have to devise a better strategy, not necessarily in conflict with it, but complementing it. Before knowing humanity not extinct I made a vow of protecting humanity, that has not changed. Because I've been doing that before I got here. The fact the world is at its own throat does not change my vows, it changes my approach. And my approach is this: We take Marley!"

"Well, that does not sound like the Eldian Empire at all!" Commented Yamcha, sarcastically.

"It does not!" Rebutted Gohan, he pointed at Marley. "We're not doing this as Eldians. You will not refer yourselves as Eldians, not the Subject of Ymir any longer. You will do it as Hegemony of Paradis, the Winters Dynasty. The Eldian Empire made the mistake of segregating non-Eldians like the world do Eldians now. But we will rectify that, we will treat these people as our own. We'll take Marley, give it time for Eldians and non-Eldians to co-exist as equals, no reprisal of any kind, we won't be there to repeat mistakes. Perhaps we shall keep feeding them the ideal of the New Penance like we originally planned. And with time passes, they'll see no difference between us and them, they would come to terms with our occupation. Marley is currently, no matter you like it or not, the buffer zone between us and those who even want us dead more than they do. And I want we to effectively managed that buffer zone by making it officially ours."

The brass nodded, the junior Scouts curled their lips, Yamcha and Bulma exchanged muted laughters. The Strategy was sound.

"A Governed Buffer Zone? That's sound like administrative headache, but I know you can manage that!" Commented Nile, he grinned and grinded his teeth before he leaned down and looked closer to the map. "It could work, the leniency you give to the Marley troops would be widely known amongst their own population. And your intention of no reprisal would add to your success. But the question lay in how do we take it?"

"Really? You asked that?" Yamcha mockingly stared at the Commander of the Military Police. The Alpha gestured to himself and to the pupils behind him.

"It's a long way!" Commented Nile.

"I know you could possibly train yourself and them to a level to what His Overlordship had demonstrated in Shiganshina." Added Erwin, the Commander of the Survey fondled on the map. "But we can't rely on brute force alone. The Survey Corps main task is gathering intelligent, and if we want to go further to take Marley, well, that made no changes."

"That is very true. With what we know so far, our prisoners know nothing of the nation's defense." Added Pyxis, he pulled out a flask and took a sip from it. "And what we know of their knowledge of the Balls is from limited sources. And I heard no commotion inside the Walls, so the Armored Titan certainly didn't spawn on our land, we need to know where that power went!"

"Well, if any of the nations other than Marley had the Armored Titan, it'll be complication to our plan!" Bulma scratched her head.

"I'll go!" Annie volunteered. "Send me back to Marley, I'll be your inside man!"

"NO FUCKING WAY!" The reaction from the Scouts was predictable, and of course sensible.

"You smartass think of us as born yesterday?" Levi leapt from his chair and approached the Female Titan with fury.

"No, stand down, Captain!" Commanded Gohan. "No, Annie. Even you are true to our cause, and even if we do trust you, Marley won't. They know you were captured, they're not going to believe anything you tried to explain of your escape. They'll feed you immediately to a candidate, and what you've learned in this room will be compromised to them."

"Who could we sent? Someone unfamiliar to Berthold would be ideal!" Pondered Bulma as she searched the faces in the room. "Everyone here is familiar with him, he'll recognize you if he run into you."

"And we couldn't fly our agent there by aircraft. Not just the thing is quite run down, the thing will be easily spotted. Seaborne is out of the question, we need our intel comes in and out fast." Nile joined Bulma in the pondering.

"I'll take to Herman when I see him." Hissed Yamcha as he clapped his hands together. "About the transport, you don't have to worry. There two spots missing after the battle of Shiganshina in the Fighter programs of the ten Pupils. I'll fill him in one spot. I know the man, he'll learn quick, he's not of the Scouts so Berthold wouldn't recognize him."

"Herman? Herman Gleave?" Asked Erwin. Yamcha's nod was responded with a shrugged from the Commander. "Alright, the Wolf might be our best option. Knowing your Wolfpack line of work, he seems fit for espionage business."

"Hold on a moment, two spot? Isn't just Kirstein died in battle? Who the fuck bailed? Which one of you?"Petra was puzzled by Yamcha's statement, she looked at Connie and Sasha. And Yamcha looked at her, Petra had already knew the answer to her question before she asked it.

"No! You can't do that!" Petra pointed at the Alpha's face, protesting the decision. "Gohan, did you know of this? Why? Because of my pregnancy make me unfit for the program?"

"It should be obvious! I've told you it'll be a double kill!" Said Yamcha. "There's no argument in this. We need to train fast, the clock is ticking against us. Your condition is not ideal for those rigorous I'll put them through!"

"After the child is birth, I'll teach you. You'll be able to fly, blasting Ki blasts, but you're not partaking in this." Pleaded Gohan as he held her in his arm. He could feel her tears on his armour. "If you're in my position, would you let me fight in that condition?"

"Fine! But to let you know, as soon as our kid goes to school, you'll get my ass back in the program. Do you hear me, Son Gohan?" Demanded Petra, well she was audacious to make demand to the King, who made no reply other than looking at the Alpha.

"I see no problem in that." Said Yamcha.

"Alright, that's fantastic! One position is filled, Jean Kirstein was a huge loss for us, Herman Gleaves has a lot of vigor." Levi made his comment. "I personally would prefer someone I know from the Corps, but I see the Wolf would do just find, but he's falling behind .You better not go easy on him,Yamcha, the son o' bitch has a lot to catch up on, and I'm not gonna slow the fuck down for him."

"No need to remind me, Captain Germophobe! I'll train him in the same level you are now. The same goes to Fraulein Ral's replacement." Reassured Yamcha, giving Levi a half smile.

"Now, you mentioned that!" Levi pointed at Yamcha for approval. "Who do you have in mine for that one. I personally suggest Gelgar or Nanaba from Mike's Squad. Nanaba would be a better pick, Gelgar has this habit that needs to put down."

"Yamcha and I have already discussed of the candidate. And we have already made our decision!" Gohan replied in Yamcha's stead. The King made no further statement of his answer, rather he looked at a general direction and let the Captain made the guess.

"The decision being?" Asked Gunther when he noticed Gohan refused elaborate on his answer and his Captain didn't ask further. The Scout and his comrades followed the King's eyes to Annie. No. Why? The Scouts knew their captured enemy in the same room with them but they didn't anticipate it to be like that.

"ABUSOLUTELY NOT!"
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MIND?!"
"Anyone but her!"

"My King! Gohan, Yamcha, did you not think it would be better if you discussed it with us?" Erwin had proved his cold mannerism was not only for show as his reaction held more composure than all of his subordinate.

"Okay, I'm totally okay with being ousted from the program, as long as that fucking bitch is not replacing me!" Petra took it the worse. Her lover ousted her from the Ten Pupil but replaced her with the murderer of her comrades in the Survey Corps was not something to put up with for the pregnant lady. Petra Ral hyperventilated and convulsed where she stood, Mikasa and Sasha were fearful for her health and they rushed to sit her down to the bench.

"Tell us you're joking, Gohan!" Spoke Eren disgruntedly. Glaring at his friend with his rage filled eyes.

Gohan closed his eyes, he took a deep breath and thought of what word he should say next. He could say about the martial art aptitude and training Annie had had, but the Survey Corps had been at the receiving end of those aptitude and training long enough to need knowing that. He could say about forgiveness, of letting it go, but the soldiers that Annie had murdered in cold blood had been very closed to each everyone of the Scouts and Gohan himself had not forgiven her.

"Annie!" The King exhaled, he's not going to make any explanation to them. Gohan approached the blond Titan Shifter, she was visibly as shocked as her haters. "You better get yourself used with this from now on!" He shrugged at the angry Scouts that were glaring at her. "In every Dende damned day of your training, you received the same contempt eyes on you, hearing insults on your way, facing mistreatment and abuse physically and emotionally day in day out by your new classmates. And you will obediently take it. You said in your vow may that your sins be atoned in your duty. This is a fraction of your penance. You will train, you will fight, and you will take the abuse like you love it! Then is when you'll prove your loyalty to me. This is your test, and it starts now!"

Annie made no reply, she lowered her chin and avoided eye contact with the King. Gohan took her silence as her agreement, but she did not know that what he had just said was not a request, it was a command, she had no choice in this.

"Yamcha, you'll be her watcher when she's out of her cell. Keep an extra eye on her. If she ever gets out of line, blast her to oblivion." Commanded Gohan, still keeping his eyes on Annie.

"Yes, sir!" Complied Yamcha, wearily exhaled in response to what Gohan said to the Female Titan.

"When does the training can start?" Gohan asked, he now noticed the room had gone quiet. It appeared that the angry collective of soldiers in the cafeteria were satisfied with his threatening words to Annie.

"Tomorrow!"

" I want it starts today!"

"Your Overlordship, with all due respect." Yamcha muttering was met with Gohan's piercing, authoritative eyes, But the Wolf pushed his luck. "We still have an island to liberate."

"The real threat was the Marleyan infiltration party and their Warriors in Shiganshina. They're no longer here. I believe the rest of the Survey Corps can easily neutralize any secondary threats." Replied Gohan, his tone was firmer. He was commanding. He turned to the Commanders' table. "Erwin, you shall go back to the field. Commander Pyxis, contact the other commanders of the Garrisons, tell them to deploy companies to secure the areas the Scouts've been clearing, I'll pull them back after they're done. Nile, spare a few hundred rifles, I want them with the Garrison units at the front right now!"

The Commanders stood up in compliance, they had no meant to argue with the King's orders. The King had risked the Scouts' safety by taking away all available Ki User for training, but undeniably he made up for that by allocating manpower from the other two branches into the Reclamation Campaign. The Commanders themselves knew that they would not be able to rely solely on the strength of their Ki Users forever, down to earth combats would still be expected from the non-Ki Users.

The Pupils and the Wolf went behind the Commanders when they treaded to the elevator. Erwin commanded the panel of the lift and the collective of the military personnel ascend to the surface level, leaving behind only Bulma and Gohan remained in the Cafeteria.

"Wow! Bravo! You're only King for more than a week and you're already acting like the most authoritarian King ever. When I said you'll be like Xiang Yu, I didn't mean literally like him!" Bulma's applaud echoed through out the level, she was at least fascinated by how Gohan handled the situation. Only when she noticed the King's lack of reaction to her compliment, she ceased the applaud. "Well, you didn't order me out like the others, there's must be a reason for that. So, do you want to discuss something with me. The future plan? If you want to discuss about the dragon radar or the time machine, I afraid we have to see your Governed Buffer Zone in fruition first."

The King said nothing, he only nodded. There was something he needed to discuss further with Bulma, and he could not allow the others to hear it, fearing their protest. He thanked Kami or whoever above gave him the thought of being an authoritarian commander and he played the part, so he could get them to leave. He knew that Marley would never submit to his rule if he was still adamant with his current role as the Eldian representative like the manner that he was. He knew that in order for the aspiration of amity between Eldians and Marleyans to take many steps forward, he himself would have to take several steps back. And he knew Bulma was the only person in the room understood that.

---

Next Chapter: The War Room.