Lock looked at the cold gaze behind Rico's glasses and understood the reason for her anger.
He flipped onto his horse, bringing himself to the same height as her.
"Then I won't disturb you further, Captain... Rico."
Lock didn't bother arguing with her about his past rights or wrongs; he knew clearly that nothing he said could change her opinion.
Since that was the case, why waste his breath here?
Lock was about to turn his horse around to leave when he suddenly remembered something and said to Rico with a smile, "By the way, Captain Rico, this should count toward my Titan kill count."
"When the Survey Corps comes to verify it with you, please remember to provide a witness statement for me."
Rico didn't explicitly refuse; instead, she asked, "Why the Survey Corps?"
Lock turned and waved, saying, "Because I just transferred from the Military Police Corps to the Survey Corps yesterday, Captain. We'll have more chances to meet in the future."
"Hyah!"
Rico watched Lock's departing figure with an unreadable expression... Half an hour later, Lock passed through the gate of Wall Rose and headed straight for the War Department in Trost.
After showing the Soldier at the gate the token Hange had given him, Lock was immediately led inside the War Department.
Upon hearing that a member of the Survey Corps had arrived, all the Soldiers and officers within the Corps gathered around.
Including Erwin and Pixis.
After saluting the two, Lock said seriously, "According to the report from the Garrison Regiment's advance team, the wall from Krolva District to Trost District is intact; no breaches were found."
"None?" Everyone was surprised and suspicious.
Pixis's expression didn't change as he asked Lock, "Then what about the advance team? Where are they?"
Lock glanced at Erwin and said, "Squad Leader Hange's plan to trap the Colossal Titan and the Armored Titan failed. The advance team is currently fighting those two Titans alongside our Survey Corps!"
"Trap... plan?" Jean, standing nearby, looked completely confused.
Erwin said, "In other words, their identities have been confirmed?"
Lock nodded and said calmly, "Besides the Colossal Titan and the Armored Titan, there is another person among the 104th Recruits who is also a Titan."
"Three!?" Jean's eyes widened, and he asked urgently, "Lock, who are those three?"
Lock glanced at the Soldiers from the other corps around them and remained silent.
Erwin reached out and grabbed Jean's shoulder, saying, "Jean, calm down."
He looked at Lock and asked in a calm tone, "Then what is your purpose for coming to report alone instead of participating in the battle?"
Lock said in a low voice, "We are bound to lose this battle. Please, Commander, prepare in advance to pursue the enemy into the Titan Territory and find a way to take back Eren."
Erwin asked, "Is this Hange's judgment?"
Lock said sincerely, "This is an idea I proposed personally, but Squad Leader Hange agreed to it."
After a moment of silence, Erwin said to Pixis, "Commander, it seems I'll have to borrow another batch of supplies from you."
Pixis laughed heartily, "No problem, take whatever you need. After all, this is the only help I can offer."
...Considering that Lock had traveled a long distance, the officers thought he needed a temporary rest, so they didn't have him participate in moving the supplies.
But Lock still didn't stay idle.
Pixis's female adjutant, Anka Rheinberger, found Lock.
"Please follow me. Commander Pixis wants to see you alone."
Sensing the coldness in the woman's eyes and tone, Lock, following behind her, couldn't help but ask, "Do you know me?"
Anka replied without looking back, "No, I don't think we've met."
Lock rubbed his chin and recalled, "Ma'am, when I was locked in the dungeon here, you were with the Commander when he came to see me, weren't you?"
"How can you say we've never met?"
Anka suddenly stopped and looked back at Lock, saying, "The Commander is in the office ahead. Go on by yourself."
"Remember to knock." After saying that, Anka turned and left, her manner as cold as could be.
Looking at her departing back, Lock shook his head helplessly.
It seemed his reputation in the Southern Garrison Regiment had already sunk into the sewers.
He hadn't vetted the story his father had made up back then, and looking at it now, it was indeed too outrageous.
These witnesses naturally couldn't stand him.
He wondered if that crude attempt at "killing with a borrowed knife" on the ship back then had anything to do with these people.
Pixis probably wouldn't be that bored... at least, he wouldn't be that unprofessional.
Lock shrugged and knocked on Pixis's office door.
"Commander!"
"Come in," Pixis's voice came from behind the door.
Lock pushed the door open and walked in... Pixis immediately poured a glass of wine for Lock himself.
A regional Commander personally pouring wine for a green Recruit like him... Lock held the cup with both hands, looking terrified.
Seeing Lock like this, Pixis smiled gently, "Don't be so stiff. Every time I went to your house in the past, I had to bow my head and beg your father for wine."
"This wine might not compare to the good stuff in your family's cellar, but its merit lies in its price."
Lock took a small sip and then put the cup down with a bitter face.
Ignoring Pixis's smirk, he asked, "Commander, is there something you wanted to see me about?"
Pixis put down the wine bottle. "I heard from Erwin that you left the Central Military Police Corps to join his Survey Corps?"
Lock nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes."
"I've gotten a general idea of your reasons from Erwin." Pixis's expression was a bit strange. "Did your father really agree to this?"
Lock nodded again.
Pixis hesitated. "Has your father's... illness worsened recently?"
Lock shook his head. "Father's condition has been okay lately."
Seeing that Pixis was somewhat skeptical, Lock added, "Since I graduated from the Training Corps, my father has always respected my choices."
Pixis sighed. "Your father won't let me visit him anymore."
Lock was a bit puzzled; he hadn't heard his father mention this.
"When the Garrison Regiment took a stance on your case, I cast an abstention vote."
"Later, when you were targeted, that group of thugs confessed there were shadows of the military behind it."
"Although it's still unknown which corps it was, your father blamed it on me as well."
Lock took another sip of the wine with a bitter expression, waiting for Pixis to finish.
Pixis rubbed his head. "I've also checked privately; at least it wasn't done by my subordinates."
After a moment of silence, Lock stood up and said, "I understand, Commander. I'll explain it properly to my father when I return."
Pixis smiled. "In that case, prepare to head back now. There's no need for you to go on this reinforcement mission."
Talking to this old man is exhausting; he took such a long detour before finally stating his true purpose.
Lock complained inwardly but was also somewhat moved.
He performed a military salute and said righteously, "Commander, every Soldier has a family. Our mission is above all else. I do not consider myself special. Please, respect my decision!"
Pixis gave Lock a deep look, his smile still gentle. "Then, before you go, remember to finish the wine in your cup. Consider it a toast to your journey."
Lock's face turned bitter once again.