The Puppet King

Civilians gathered near the outer wall remained optimistic. Word of last night's triumphant victory had already spread like wildfire among the people, lifting their spirits with hope and excitement.

Eren, Mikasa, and Armin were among the first to arrive after hearing that the three military branches had returned. Grisha and Carla had also followed close behind.

Carla, especially, was worried about the crowd. She feared Eren and the others might get caught up in something dangerous.

"The gate's opening! Byakuya is coming back!"

Eren shouted excitedly as he watched the gate slowly rise.

"Don't worry, Eren. They definitely succeeded" Grisha said with conviction.

The moment he heard Byakuya had taken command of the operation to reclaim Wall Maria, Grisha knew failure was not an option.

Forget Pure Titans or even Abnormals — Byakuya and that green-haired girl could probably topple the entire Marleyan Empire if they wanted to.

And right now, Marley still stood at the peak of the world's power.

Once the gate was high enough, elite soldiers from all three branches rode in on horseback.

"There are so many of them... and barely anyone looks injured? Every time the Survey Corps comes back from an expedition, they're usually devastated."

"Haven't you heard the news? The two commanders killed over a thousand Titans in just one day. Just the two of them!"

"No way! That's insane. How is that even possible?!"

"Judging from their expressions, I'd say it's true. Did we… actually defeat the Titans?!"

"…"

...

After the battle, Byakuya and Eto returned to the shelter.

"Eren, you'll be able to return to Wall Maria soon. Shiganshina District hasn't been fully reclaimed yet, but we'll take it back the same way before long."

Byakuya had come specifically to inform Eren.

But Eren's mind was clearly elsewhere. He looked up at Byakuya with awe and asked, "Brother Byakuya! Is it true you and Sister Eto killed over a thousand Titans?!"

"It's true" Eto replied casually. "About two thousand, give or take. We didn't keep count."

"That's… incredible!" Eren said, overwhelmed with excitement.

Grisha chuckled awkwardly, remembering how shaken he'd been back in the underground chapel when he first witnessed their strength.

"Dr. Yeager, when the time comes, take Eren to see what's in the basement."

Byakuya's words caught Grisha off guard.

"…Alright" Grisha nodded, still unsure of Byakuya's intentions.

He had originally planned to pass on the Attack Titan's power to Eren before showing him the basement, but it seemed plans were changing…

That night, Grisha found a moment to speak with Byakuya in private, who agreed to the meeting.

"Mr. Byakuya, are you suggesting I pass the Attack Titan to Eren now?"

Grisha asked directly. He didn't mind either way, but he needed to confirm.

After all, he only had about a year left to live.

Twelve years ago, he inherited the power from the previous host. Thirteen years is the limit for Titan shifters.

"No need," Byakuya replied flatly. "Keep the Attack Titan for yourself. You're worried Eren will be in danger once he learns the truth, right? Don't be. Eto and I will protect him — and so will you all."

"But if I don't transfer the power, it'll disappear when I die."

"That's fine. Let it disappear. You'll still live."

"…What?" Grisha blinked in confusion, unsure he heard correctly.

"In any case, there's no need for you to worry about it" Byakuya said, unwilling to explain further.

"…Alright. As long as you'll protect my son, I leave it to you."

To Grisha now, the Attack Titan's power mattered far less than Eren, Mikasa, and Carla's lives.

He was beginning to question even the mission passed down from the previous inheritor, the Owl.

All he wanted now was for them to live in peace.

Byakuya nodded silently.

Seeing this, Grisha finally felt relieved.

...

Once the news spread that Wall Maria had been reclaimed, all of Trost erupted in celebration.

The stunning news quickly spread throughout Wall Rose and Wall Sheena as well.

Even Rod Reiss, who had seen a glimpse of Byakuya and Eto's strength, was utterly shocked by the speed of the victory.

He had believed they would probably succeed—but not like this. Not in just three days.

After all, what he had witnessed was only the tip of their power.

However, the nobles in the capital weren't so quick to celebrate. Rod Reiss used the opportunity to present Byakuya's demand: provide relief for the refugees.

Now that the battle was won and everyone recognized Byakuya's strength, Rod framed it as a direct request from him, just to see how the nobles would respond.

Predictably, some resisted in secret.

Rod couldn't do much more than notify Byakuya. He didn't want to anger either side — not the nobles, nor Byakuya.

"That's the current situation" Rod explained to Byakuya and Eto.

"Then let's see how they respond" Byakuya said calmly. "Any nobles willing to help can be left alone. The rest — we settle the score."

He had long since grown sick of the nobles.

Living in luxury while ignoring the suffering of the people.

The Reiss family wasn't innocent either, but at least they were obedient for now.

"…Understood" Rod replied with a shudder.

He was lucky to be on the obedient side—otherwise he might be next.

After that, Byakuya and Eto lingered a bit in the Reiss estate, checking in on Historia.

Since that day, Frieda had stopped erasing Historia's memories. She hadn't told her the full truth either—worried it might be too much too fast.

More and more people in the Reiss territory had noticed Frieda spending time with Historia.

No one dared bully her anymore.

Seeing things heading in a better direction, Byakuya decided not to interfere.

...

Days passed.

With the combined efforts of the three branches, the last remaining Titans inside Wall Maria were cleared out.

The refugees could finally return.

One by one, the nobles made their positions known.

Most were reluctant, but afraid of Byakuya's strength, they still handed over some of their wealth to support the relief effort.

However, a few nobles acted like they were dead—refusing to say or do anything.

They were gambling. They believed Byakuya and the Reiss family wouldn't really turn against them, especially with the First King's Vow of Nonviolence still looming.

But what they didn't realize… was that Byakuya didn't care about that vow.

He didn't serve the Reiss family's interests.

In truth, the Reiss family was now his puppet.

"…Time to begin the purge."

Upon hearing the nobles' refusal, Byakuya and Eto headed straight for the capital.

Byakuya already knew exactly where each noble was.

"Let's start with the king" he said. "Even if he's just a puppet propped up by the nobles, he's still king on paper."

"Who's going to take the throne?" Eto asked curiously. "You? Or someone else?"

"Not me" Byakuya said. "Frieda. It's time the people of Ymir knew who their true queen is."

He had no interest in being king.

Frieda, however, was the rightful heir.

He wanted the Eldians to learn the true history—and the identity of their true ruler.

"You're right. There's no one better than her" Eto nodded.

With that, the two stormed the royal palace.

The Military Police and even the Central Military Police were stationed there. The regular MPs recognized Byakuya and Eto immediately, but the Central MPs didn't.

They rarely left the capital.

"Who are you?! You dare trespass in the royal palace?"

A Central MP shouted, stepping forward.

"They're the ones who led the operation to reclaim Wall Maria!" a regular MP quickly stepped in to explain.

He was terrified these idiots might provoke them — and drag everyone down with them.

These two could kill thousands of Titans. If they got angry, no one here would walk out alive.

The Central MPs had heard of them, even if they didn't recognize their faces.

"Still… do you have a permit? We can't let you through without one" one of them said stiffly.

It was standard protocol. He had to ask.

Byakuya didn't seem angry. Calmly, he said:

"I don't have one. If you try to stop me, you'll die. Think carefully."

That was his only warning.

As long as they didn't throw their lives away, he had no intention of harming them.

"Uh…"

The soldiers exchanged panicked glances.

After a moment of hesitation, they stepped aside.

With nothing more than words, Byakuya and Eto entered the palace without resistance.

Soon, they stood before the so-called "king".

The man on the throne looked the part—but he was nothing more than a figurehead, a puppet serving the nobles.

Rod Reiss was the true king, but he usually stayed out of their business.

"What's the meaning of this?! Who are you?!" the puppet king demanded with practiced authority.

He clearly didn't recognize them.

"Time for the puppet to abdicate" Byakuya said coldly.

At the word "puppet" the king's face went pale.

His façade of confidence crumbled instantly.

Only those within the inner circle of royal power — the nobles and Reiss family — knew of his role as a stand-in.

Yet these two strangers knew the truth.

How?