Levi fights to survive in the capital's rubbish dump, the Underground, many years before becoming the famous captain of the Survey Corps. Levi, as the head of his own criminal enterprise, tries to make ends meet with modest revenues with the help of fellow crooks Isabel Magnolia and Farlan Church. With little hope for the future, Levi accepts a bargain with Nicholas Lobov, the leader of the anti-expedition faction, who promises the trio citizenship aboveground if they can assassinate Erwin Smith, a Survey Corps squad leader. As Levi and Erwin cross paths, Erwin recognizes Levi's quickness and skill and offers him the choice of joining the expedition team or being turned over to the Military Police to make amends for his actions.