THE KINGDOM behind walls, shielding the horrors of the Titans by withered defenses and royal deception, is faced with more parasidal and sinister threats. Rod Reiss, the head of the Reiss family, and puppet king of the kingdom, stands at the eye of a scandalous storm with shocking allegations of inappropriate misdemeanors against the Military Police soldier Hitch Dreyse. The royal elites have been astounded by claims that Reiss was seen “predatorily ‘prowling’ around” Military Police headquarters, his actions described as emotionally motivated by “true love” and an “enemies-to-lovers” plot. While some delegates attempt to dismiss his eccentric actions as precisely quirky and within the law, the soldier himself has come out to say that he was uncomfortable, scared, and distressed, stating that Reiss’s advances were unwanted and making remarks about the King’s behavior. Rod Reiss, when constantly questioned by military officials, always replied evasively, denying these “accusations, accusations, all [as] only accusations.”
The consequences of the scandal reach far beyond personal misbehavior. This scandal occurs at a time of record political instability in the kingdom, when faith in the monarchy has already been badly shaken by the murder of Pastor Nick, a former priest of the walls. His murder, reportedly ordered by Rod Reiss himself, has sparked a fire of public outrage. Civilians are rioting, soldiers are disobeying orders, and the previously unified tri-branch military, Survey Corps, Garrison, and Military Police, is starting to disintegrate along ideological lines. Supreme Commander Darius Zackly, who understands the gravity of the charge, has announced the internal crisis as insignificant: “I don’t care if Rod Reiss is a pedophile. What I wish to know is what he’s hiding behind those walls, and why Pastor Nick had to die for it.”
The military leaders then proceed to face the task of maintaining order while also uncovering the secrets of the nobility’s power. Commander Erwin Smith has suggested redirecting funds to scientific research and anti-Titan technology in affiliation with Captain Hange Zoë to initiate investigations within the very Walls. Altering the course of the war’s funds to research has been mainly approved, particularly by those who believe Reiss’s ongoing dominance over luxurious spending means necessary scientific progress is stifled at the expense of his own convenience, propaganda, and face validation. Commander Hange, committed to uncovering the secrets long underpinning the power of the peoples of the kingdom, clearly showcases the importance of the research of finding the Titan’s origins and how they acquire their shifting abilties. Across the FCC, many believed that research would change the tide of war but was woefully undermined by the King.
Meanwhile, other officials are proposing other “solutions,” from the ridiculous to unethical. Commander Dot Pyxis has suggested establishing casinos as a morale-booster and fund-raiser, an idea that has been the target of great criticism as unrealistic and exploitative. Moreover, Levi Ackerman, whose reputation as a cold man precedes him, has not yet commented on the debate, remarking only that “combat is my lowest stat,” and is happy to risk throwing himself on the mission of protecting the kingdom rather than endure political turmoil. Intelligence officers like Armin Arlert have turned to strategic tactics, suspecting misinformation to be one of the many main weapons in the arsenal in the military as corruption devours civility from the inside out.
The scandal still rages on as Kenny Ackerman and the Anti-Personnel Control Squad re-emerge in politics. Kenny’s previous association with Rod Reiss has once more erupted rumors that the monarchy has employed mercenary violence to kill opposition for decades. However, new rumors are dispersing that Historia Reiss, the true and honest monarch, may be preparing to step forward and expose the truth regarding the reputation of the nobility. If so, her arrival on the scene could rally an all-out revolution within the kingdom, but also risks directly aligning her in harm’s way of forces still committed to the corrupt royalty.
Adding to this are the psychic and moral toll the crisis is taking from regular citizens and soldiers as well. Mikasa Ackerman was been witnessed crying because of the death of Eren Jaeger, wrapping herself in the same scarf as Eren’s, a symbol of lost innocence, kindness, and love amidst rising war. Some attack her for being emotionally compromised, but others celebrate her loyalty as a symbol of persistent humanity amidst the collapse of civil integrity in the society. Eren himself comes under scrutiny as his Titan powers become more unpredictable and his ideological stances further move into unreliable measures. As belief in the monarchy bottomed out, citizens increasingly looked towards reform. Young officers like Marlowe Freudenberg and Hitch Dreyse have begun mobilizing low-grade resistance groups within the Military Police itself, demanding transparency and the complete eradication of royal authority.
This intramural demand for justice aligns much larger than only the Survey Corps objectives, but also places such officers in danger of retaliatory action from those loyal corruption to Rod Reiss’s twisted ideals. In a world where strategic brilliance, moral unity, and diplomatic fiber are the measures of consolidated survival, there is one question that eclipses all others: will the future of humankind be shaped by truth, or by power?