The scouting teams Lock had dispatched returned before long. The bay marked on the century-old map—once sealed away in Rod Reiss's private chamber—had finally been located. Without wasting a moment, Lock ordered the convoy to march through the night toward the coastline. Along the way, Dina Fritz cleared out more than a dozen wandering Pure Titans, sweeping the path clean.
At first, the soldiers remained tense every time a Titan appeared on the horizon. But now, after days of traveling with Dina's support, their reactions had changed completely.
"Look! Titan!"
"Oh."
"There it goes—it's running!"
"Mm."
This was the new normal. Whenever a Titan approached within Dina's influence, it instinctively fled in the opposite direction. Encounters that once filled them with terror were now little more than passing moments. Only twice did a Titan reappear after being driven off—both times because its escape route was blocked by cliffs or massive fallen trees, forcing it to circle until the convoy crossed paths with it again.
Under this protective umbrella, the convoy reached the bay without a single casualty. The Pure Titans nearby were dispersed quickly, and work began immediately. Soldiers erected a temporary station overnight using both transported supplies and the abundant natural materials around them.
Since it was only a provisional outpost, the structures were simple—reinforced sheds, watchtowers, supply storage, and a command tent. Even so, by dawn, the area was already a functioning base.
The bay itself was impressive: a sweeping crescent sheltered by ten-meter cliffs, naturally shielded from harsh winds. The water deepened steadily farther out, easily suitable for docks large enough to hold multiple ships at once. This, Lock thought, could one day become the heart of Paradis's maritime power.
The next morning, after inspecting the coastline in detail, Lock felt satisfied with the location. Yet the reality was undeniable—the craftsmen he had brought knew only how to build river harbors. Ocean ports were another matter entirely. Their training was limited, their knowledge incomplete.
Lock knew patience was necessary. The first true port of Paradis Island cannot be crude. Not when its future may determine the fate of the entire island.
"The island alone can't build this," Lock finally admitted to himself. "We'll need Irena's support… and the sooner the better."
He immediately ordered the engineers to begin drafting layout concepts while he personally reviewed their work, sketching additions from memory—design principles and structures he recalled from the modern world he once knew. Many of his proposals stunned the craftsmen, who whispered among themselves in amazement.
Even Dina Fritz—who had been observing quietly—found her expression growing increasingly complex.
She had believed she understood Lock's strengths and weaknesses. She now realized she had drastically underestimated his capabilities. Not only did he possess overwhelming leadership and combat ability, but he also exhibited an unexpected mastery of planning and design—knowledge the island itself had no way to teach.
Just what kind of person is he? Dina wondered.
Meanwhile, far to the south, Irena and her group had already been escorted by Erwin back to Marley's patrol vessel. Their mission finished, the warship turned its bow toward Marley's mainland military harbor.
"Stay close," Irena whispered sharply as they disembarked. "Don't look around too much. Don't ask questions. If the Marleyan soldiers even sense something strange about you, we're both finished."
Kenny Ackerman—now wearing a Marleyan soldier's uniform and carrying no weapons—grinned with an ease that didn't match the tension around them.
"Relax. I'm not stupid enough to die here."
His usual swagger had dimmed, replaced by a seriousness born from stepping into unfamiliar territory. As they passed checkpoint after checkpoint, Kenny observed quietly, storing every detail away.
Once beyond the heavily guarded port gates, Marley's capital greeted them with its full splendor.
Kenny's eyes widened despite himself. Strange metal carriages raced along stone roads without horses. Stalls sold food he had never seen. Buildings towered higher than any within the Walls. Clothing came in colors and designs foreign to Paradis. The staggering difference between the two worlds struck him harder with every step.
"So these… these are the things Lock's been pushing for," Kenny murmured internally. "They're real. He wasn't exaggerating. But how the hell did he know all this without ever leaving the island?"
The question hung unanswered in his mind.
Irena watched him carefully. Once satisfied he wasn't losing control, she let out a subtle breath of relief. If Lock trusted him enough to send him as a covert operative, she would trust that decision as well.
Wordlessly, they slipped through the bustling streets and into a narrow alleyway. At its end sat an inconspicuous bar with a faded sign.
"Our contact is inside," Irena said softly. "Stay sharp."
Kenny nodded and followed her through the door. His mind shifted instantly from curiosity to absolute focus. He was here for one reason:
To infiltrate Marley.
To find and unite anti-Marley elements.
To gather intelligence and prepare the ground for Paradis's future war.
Know yourself and your enemy. Only then can you win.
Lock had said it plainly—he would not fight a battle blind.
For Kenny Ackerman, this new mission meant something else as well.
It meant freedom.
A world beyond the Walls.
A chance at something far greater than the stagnant life he had left behind.
He felt the thrill of it—raw, fierce, intoxicating.
"This," he thought as he entered the dimly lit bar, "is where things finally get interesting."
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