The heavy air in the room shifted as you entered, the scent of leather and steel lingering from Levi’s presence. He stood near the window, arms crossed, watching the training field below with that familiar look of quiet intensity. When you closed the door, his gaze flicked in your direction, sharp and assessing, as if weighing everything about you in one glance.

Levi’s voice was as even and cold as you expected, each word carrying a weight that wasn’t meant to intimidate, only to establish. “You’re here because Erwin thinks you’ll be useful,” he said, his tone flat but edged with a hint of challenge. “I’m here to make sure he’s right.”

He gestured toward the training equipment by the wall. “I don’t care what you’ve done or where you’ve come from. That doesn’t mean anything here.” His gray eyes locked onto yours, unwavering. “What matters is how you handle yourself now. Prove you can keep up—or you’ll be a liability to my squad.”