"A lockdown? What is that man planning to do?"
In a spacious, well-appointed office, Darius Zackly received the report and slightly frowned.
More than half a day had passed since Asahi locked down the central area, and the purpose of his action remained a question mark.
As for why he knew, it was not hard to understand: an informant, or more accurately, eyes and ears. The two hadn't become tense enough to be enemies.
However, "not knowing" and "not understanding" were what demanded attention. Or perhaps... this was instinct. Impossible to avoid, even if one wanted to.
These two concepts made Darius extremely uncomfortable, or perhaps fearful.
Discomfort was likely the superficial layer of feeling. No leader wants an overly large "variable" revolving around the area they govern. Fear: things unknown, things not understood, things uncontrollable. A person with a strong sense of possessiveness and desire for control like Darius absolutely fears these things the most. This fear even surpassed the former nobles, the ones he had endured for years pretending to be a dog for.
The strong, merely by their existence, cause everything around them to change.
Good or bad, salvation or destruction, it all depends on the strong individual. It sounds overly arbitrary and sad, but that is the truth.
Darius would rather not believe it, nor let this false sense of security mask his ambition.
"No, this is too passive."
Although he had outwardly calmed down, the impatience in his heart only increased. Darius intended to call someone in to start delegating something.
But suddenly, he stopped. The impatience instantly vanished, like a settled lake—utterly calm and somber.
Composed.
"Is that so? I understand."
"In that case..."
"Is it unnecessary?"
"..."
At this moment, Darius seemed like a madman, continuously muttering to himself, or speaking to someone who didn't exist.
In the desolate room, only the faint voice of the former Commander-in-Chief of the Three Regiments, now the secret power holder of the entire government, echoed. A sight that could instantly terrify others.
"It's done."
Darius ended the "communication," his demeanor fundamentally different from moments ago.
No one knew who he was talking to, or even what he was talking about. They only knew that shortly thereafter, the clandestine force controlling the entire government began to activate madly from the shadows, like an evil dragon awakening from a deep sleep. Not only did it mobilize countless people and resources, but also many other mysterious things that had been hidden for decades. Many of these things were unknown even to the majority of Darius's close aides until this very day.
Nearly a hundred years—such a period was more than enough time for anything to happen.
Did people truly believe that the old discoveries preserved under the former regime and currently being unearthed by the Survey Corps were "accidental"?
"Seventy years... I truly didn't think this day would come like this..."
Darius Zackly sighed with emotion, standing in front of the window, looking out over the city. His sharp gaze flashed through his round glasses. It was as if decades of history were passing before his eyes.
Seventy years ago was truly horrifying. The mortality rate when facing Titans was nearly 100%. Humans at that time were practically livestock, literally, until the Omni-Directional Mobility Gear appeared...
"My King, we will..."
"Defeat the gods."
Asahi continued to administer anesthetic to Grisha, striving to keep his spirit at a minimal level of stillness while continuously "cutting" the Attack Titan out of the poor man.
The physical and the spiritual are distinct, yes, but saying they are completely unrelated is a mistake. Take the case of these Titans: why do memories appear after they literally consume the power of their predecessor by eating them?
"The physical body serves as the medium, the mind serves as the anchor. To truly strip this thing away, both are needed."
Asahi drew blood and spinal fluid, using them as a "physical container" for the Attack Titan. On the spiritual side, he was peeling the Attack Titan away from Grisha's spirit. This thing was like a malignant tumor, constantly killing its host every moment. Though he couldn't witness it firsthand, through prediction, he could guess that when the 13-year term finally reached its end, the host's life would not only be drained but their spirit would also merge into one with the Titan.
And because he was already on the brink of death, even if Grisha were rescued, he likely wouldn't live another ten years. Eroded life force can be replenished, but an eroded spirit is very difficult to heal.
"When that time comes... we'll deal with it then..."
He focused absolutely, as if he had forgotten the passage of time. He was completely unaware that a great many things had transpired during this period.
"Hey, hey! Erwin, why the rush?"
Hange Zoe blocked Erwin Smith's path, preventing him from taking another step into the area where Asahi was performing surgery. Even if she didn't know what he was doing inside, something important enough for Asahi to lock down the entire central area definitely should not be disturbed.
Even if it was Erwin.
Blocked, Erwin still tried to persuade Hange to let him meet Asahi. She responded only with dismissive hand waves and head shakes.
"Oh come on, don't make it hard for me, Erwin... I don't have the authority and wouldn't dare violate the order. Besides... who would dare defy the Commander-in-Chief?"
"I know, but this is very, very important. And I need to inform Asahi as soon as possible. Further delay will only cause trouble."
Although he appeared relatively calm outwardly, Erwin was actually burning with anxiety inside. Yesterday, the secret power in Sina had fully activated. Through certain inconveniently disclosed sources (because no wall is so sealed that wind cannot pass through), he learned the extent and scale of their operations, which genuinely frightened him.
Erwin, in terms of his resume, was merely a small-time squad leader in a "bottom-tier" military branch, only recently promoted to the lead position because his predecessor resigned. To put it nicely, he was inexperienced; to be blunt, he lacked the necessary standing.
The complicated and tangled network of connections in the capital did not vanish merely because the former nobles were imprisoned; it was simply waiting for a replacement. And these things were still somewhat out of Erwin's reach.
Compared to the Titans, compared to the survival of the entire civilization within the Walls, these matters were too small and weak. But for ordinary people, they represented a kind of insurmountable power.
Making one person vanish from the world? Too simple. Making a group of people vanish from the world? Not much harder than the former. That is the strength of organized society. Erwin secretly coming here was an extremely great risk, as the government's eyes and ears were everywhere.
Perhaps only an anomaly like Asahi was exempt.
"Darius... only he could be orchestrating this... Hange, how long until Asahi comes out?"
"Huh? That... I don't know, but..."
"That's enough then. Take this, and don't disclose this meeting to anyone."
Erwin said in a low voice, shoving a tightly folded piece of paper into Hange's hand to conceal the content. Turning around and pulling up his hood, he quickly disappeared from the research institute, leaving her surprised.
At the exact same moment, a masked person stealthily approached the courtyard where the Titans were being held. A sharp knife flashed, and the ropes binding the Titans were being cut away, one by one.