During the lunch break.
Lillian sat in the outdoor corridor, eating an apple. Compared to Annie, he wasn't relaxed at all.
If Annie had endured physical exhaustion that night, then what Lillian carried was mental exhaustion.
Convincing—and turning—her had been incredibly difficult. Every word had to be carefully chosen, and the odds of success had been very low. Given Annie's personality, tying her up like that should have made her furious beyond reason.
But thankfully—thankfully—she was the kind of person who truly thought things through. She hadn't completely shut him out just because he had done terrible things to her. That alone already put her ahead of most people.
In reality, there were plenty of people who saw the world in pure binaries—good or evil, right or wrong. Once someone was labeled a "bad person," everything they said or did was dismissed as evil as well. That kind of thinking was clearly flawed.
Fortunately, Annie wasn't like that. Even after what she herself had suffered, she was still able to listen—because Lillian had given a solid reason: he was afraid she would transform without hesitation.
In fact, Annie herself had thought about it. If Lillian hadn't drugged her, hadn't restrained her, and had instead directly told her that he knew she was a Titan—what would her reaction have been?
Would she really have done exactly as Lillian said, killing him immediately to silence him?
There was no answer, because that situation never happened.
But regardless, at least for now, Annie had agreed—temporarily.
As he ate his apple, Lillian recalled her final words to him:
"If you're lying to me, I'll kill you."
Honestly… that was a little terrifying. Because he had lied.
But the only lie was his claim of being a Restorationist. Everything else was completely true—his genuine thoughts and convictions.
To be frank, he didn't feel much attachment to the identity of "Eldian." His soul had crossed over into this body—it wasn't truly his to begin with. Why should he fight a racial war belonging to this body?
Yes, there was no sense of belonging. And yet, just as he had told Annie, he didn't want to fight—but because he now had people he cared about, he was forced to.
"How did I even end up coming to the island in the first place…"
Lillian muttered to himself. He could have gone elsewhere—anywhere else.
The continent wasn't just Marley. There was the Mid-East Alliance, the nation of Hizuru… He could have avoided the Titan conflict entirely. Run to another country and live quietly. No fear of being eaten by Titans, no need to constantly think about how to oppose a monster like Marley.
But now, thinking about it—if he had to choose again…
He might still choose the same path.
"Since Annie didn't appear this time, the Survey Corps' expedition should've gone smoothly."
Lillian reasoned that Reiner and Bertholdt couldn't possibly act—neither their abilities nor the circumstances allowed it.
But that would only make them wonder why Annie hadn't shown up.
He was certain Reiner and Bertholdt would investigate. And if they wanted answers, it would have to be through letters or a face-to-face meeting. Given the situation, the latter seemed far more likely.
So… how should he deal with the two of them?
Could he use the same methods he used on Annie?
Lillian wasn't sure. Bertholdt might fall for it—but Reiner? That man was extremely cautious. Even more so than Annie.
In truth, the only reason Annie had been caught was because it had been completely unexpected. She never imagined that Lillian—who had just finished investigating a case with her—would drug her without the slightest warning.
Especially since, before handing her the cup, Lillian had deliberately taken a few sips himself, planting the subconscious suggestion that it was harmless.
That's why Annie fell for it. Otherwise, with her usual caution, there was no way she would have casually drunk something given to her by someone else.
As for Reiner, he was naturally more alert, and his relationship with Lillian was rather distant. So using a "sleep-inducing lemon" on him would be much harder. Besides, Annie's current agreement with Lillian was only temporary—she wasn't blindly obeying him.
Under these circumstances, Annie might not agree with Lillian's plans regarding Reiner and Bertholdt. After all, they had spent so many years together—growing up in the same training camp and sharing countless battles.
The bond between the three of them was like the trio with Eren: not unbreakable, but they genuinely cared about each other's safety.
Lillian knew that if he rushed things, he might push Annie—who was already leaning toward him—back into opposition. That would be counterproductive.
"Take it slow…" he sighed.
---
After lunch break, the afternoon patrol within the district began.
Since Annie had taken a day off, she didn't need to come along. She could finally rest and recharge. Lillian, on the other hand, was also exhausted, but as the team captain, he couldn't just go back to the dorm to sleep—he had to push through.
By the time the patrol ended and evening approached, some familiar faces came calling.
"Captain Lillian~ I surrender myself."
Carly Stratmann and Elliot Stratmann arrived, keeping their promise.
"Lillian, can we talk privately?" Elliot asked. Lillian nodded and called over his subordinate, Hitch.
"Hitch, take Miss Carly to a separate detention room, and stay there with her for now."
"Understood."
Hitch nodded, looking at Carly in surprise. "Aren't you… the one who went missing?"
"Yes, that's me."
"…."
Though Hitch didn't understand why the missing person had become a criminal, she obeyed Lillian's instructions and led Carly away. Meanwhile, Lillian took Elliot to a secluded area for a private conversation.
After they left, the division commander emerged from behind a door. Watching the two figures gradually fade into the distance, a cold, grim smile flickered across his face before he turned back to his office.
---
In a quiet corridor, the two stopped.
"Mr. Elliot, if you're hoping to plead for your daughter, forget it," Lillian said first. "You should understand the seriousness of producing drugs."
"I understand," Elliot nodded. "It's all my fault… as her father, it's my responsibility."
Lillian raised an eyebrow. "So, you intend to take the fall for her?"
"No," Elliot shook his head, then sighed. "I can't. If I fall, the whole family collapses."
"I see. Then what do you want?"
"Cooperation," Elliot said. "I want to cooperate so that you personally look after my daughter. Don't let her be bullied in prison."
"…I'm only a squad captain. Prison affairs aren't within my authority."
"The battalion commander can handle that."
Lillian narrowed his eyes.
Elliot lit a cigarette. "The previous battalion commander has been dead for a while. He colluded with the thieves, and you personally caught him. That's a huge achievement. If the new battalion commander doesn't let you take the post, it would be unfair."
"That's not for me to decide," Lillian replied calmly. "I only follow the orders from above."
"…Even privately, you won't say what you really think?"
Elliot said seriously, "No joke. The new battalion commander isn't just my wish. The division commander also agrees with it."
"The division commander…"
Lillian frowned. That old bastard should hate him to death. How could he possibly want him promoted? Did he really think he could win me over and establish a relationship like the old commander had with him?
"The invitation at the last banquet was also proposed by the division commander," Elliot continued. "I think when the battalion commander's appointment letter comes in a few days, your name will be on it."
"Is that so?"
"I'll also use the guild's influence. The appointment is decided by the royal capital. Those bureaucrats can be bought with money, but what I want is only for you to take care of my daughter. Honestly, I've been a poor father."
"That's obvious."
"…This child and I weren't especially close. Perhaps I was too busy with my career when she was young and neglected her. Later, five years ago, when I lost everything, she abandoned her research to help me… you know that."
"Yes, I know."
"She's a true chemistry genius. I believe she has the potential to change the world. But now, because of my incompetence as a father, that power is at risk of being wasted in prison. I…"
Lillian looked at Elliot and patted his shoulder. "I'll take care of it."
"…Thank you immensely."
"Don't mention it. Let's each take what we need."
After a few more words, Elliot left. Lillian watched him go, lost in thought.
"A chemistry genius… I wonder if she works with explosives or something. Inside the walls, we really lack talent like that."