Cooking showdown

"Huh? That actually happened?" Yago returned with Thomas and Bertholdt to the alley where the cadets gathered to rest. They immediately spotted Sasha and Connie striking "eagle spreads its wings" and "monkey steals the peaches" poses, with a furious Jean facing them.

Reiner was trying to break up the argument. Yago asked what had happened and learned that Jean was angry because they had stolen his points for a Titan dummy. However, that area had been assigned to Sasha's squad in the first place.

For a moment, Yago had no idea what to say. After a while, Jean declared, "Then let's settle this in tomorrow's training! We'll see who can score more points!"

No sooner had he spoken than a deep voice rang out. "How interesting!"

Everyone turned to look. Commander Pyxis, his face flushed with drink, approached with his hands behind his back. Everyone, Yago included, placed a hand over their left chest and stood at attention in salute.

Commander Pyxis, supreme commander of the Garrison Regiment's southern division, was practically the highest-ranking person any of them had ever seen in their lives.

Miniko and Li An followed behind Commander Pyxis. Even Sasha and Connie, who had been clowning around moments earlier, stood ramrod straight. They were usually a pair of jokers, but they knew how to behave at a time like this.

Jean looked uneasy too, afraid that his behavior just now might have given the commander a bad impression of him.

Pyxis stopped before them and surveyed the surrounding cadets with satisfaction before fixing his gaze on Jean and the others.

Not good! This is not good. A bead of cold sweat appeared on Jean's forehead.

"Then allow me to judge your contest! Your extraordinary competitive spirit has impressed me, but using tomorrow's training for your own private competition would be completely out of line!" Commander Pyxis said, his face brimming with righteous-or rather, alcoholic-spirits.

Yago felt a little respect for this commander he had never met before. He forbade soldiers from settling personal disputes during training and was willing to adjudicate for ordinary troops. He seemed to be a good general who cared about his soldiers, though apparently a little too fond of drink.

Under everyone's gaze, Commander Pyxis took out a bottle and enjoyed a long sip. "Cooking. Compete through cooking..."

Everyone present: "..."

Apparently deciding he had spoken too softly, Commander Pyxis deliberately repeated himself at a louder volume. "Make it a cooking contest!"

A buzz of conversation rose from the crowd. Everyone was clearly astonished by Commander Pyxis's decision.

Behind Pyxis, Miniko and Ian exchanged a glance, communicating with their eyes. Miniko: There, you wouldn't stop the commander from drinking, and now he's embarrassing us! Li An: I... I didn't think this would happen either.

They wished they could drag Commander Pyxis away right then and there. This was so embarrassing.

Yet Commander Pyxis still stood perfectly straight. Apart from Sasha, whose eyes shone as she looked at him, everyone wore an expression of utter bewilderment.

Yago looked like an old man squinting at something baffling on his phone. What the hell? I thought Commander Pyxis was serious a moment ago, but now he just looks like a mischievous little old man!

Jean was equally confused. He stammered, "Commander, I... I don't understand. Why cooking? Aren't we soldiers?"

Sasha, however, excitedly stepped in front of Jean and announced that she would give the pampered young master a proper cooking lesson and show him what real cooking was. Connie egged her on from the sidelines. "That's right, Jean! Your mom still cooks your meals for you!"

How could Jean take that provocation lying down? His blood surged, and he immediately accepted the challenge.

Pyxis said, "Very good, then. We'll hold the cooking contest tonight at eleven. Think of it as a late-night snack, and bring your finest midnight meal to compete!"

Everyone cheered. Something like this rarely happened, and now they would have a show to watch that evening. A cooking showdown between Sasha and Jean sounded especially entertaining.

Yago shook his head, amused, but Commander Pyxis suddenly walked up to him. The pungent smell of alcohol filled Yago's nostrils as those seemingly unfocused eyes, concealing far more than they revealed, stared at him.

Yago immediately straightened his back. "Commander!"

"Cadet Yago? Would you care to take a walk with me?" Pyxis asked mildly.

Yago replied, "Of course, Commander!"

Then Yago followed Commander Pyxis away under the others' somewhat envious gazes.

But when they recalled Yago's consistently outstanding performance, they all accepted it.

Two figures, one tall and one short, walked along the broad top of Wall Rose. Yago felt uneasy, while Commander Pyxis walked calmly ahead. Miniko and Ian had stayed at the other end of the wall rather than following them.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Pyxis asked, pointing to a distant meadow. A small lake glittered in its center. It was indeed lovely, but Yago did not understand what Commander Pyxis meant.

Seemingly oblivious to Yago's confusion, Pyxis continued, "The scenery inside the walls is so beautiful. I imagine the scenery outside must be lovely too. I've always wondered whether there are humans beyond the walls, besides the Titans. Cadet Yago, do you know whether there are humans outside the walls?"

Yago frowned. "Commander, I don't understand what you mean."

Pyxis suddenly turned around, his eyes gleaming sharply. There was no trace of a drunkard about him now. Yago felt as though he were facing a ferocious tiger. This commander was certainly not as frivolous as he had first appeared!

Yago knew he had underestimated the commander.

Pyxis stared at Yago and said, "It's very interesting. The Garrison Regiment once reported to me that there apparently wasn't anyone named Yago Norman in Shiganshina District before the Survey Corps returned. So, Cadet Yago, do you have an explanation?"

Yago: "..."

Yago's breath caught. His arrival from beyond the walls was a secret. Although he himself did not know where he had come from, this commander had uncovered his secret with ease. Or did the commander have informants in the Survey Corps?

Seeing Yago's conflicted expression, Pyxis suddenly patted him on the shoulder. "Relax. I didn't mean to pry. I merely wanted to see what was special about the person Erwin took an interest in. Now that I've met you, I must say, Erwin has an excellent eye. Hahaha."

In what seemed like an instant, Pyxis became that muddleheaded, drink-loving commander again. Still feeling rather dazed, Yago followed him back to where their walk along the wall had begun.

After saying goodbye to Pyxis, Yago still felt shaken. He could sense a faint trace of killing intent from Commander Pyxis. Though subtle, it had been enough to put Yago on guard. And then there was Commander Erwin. It seemed he was the one who had told Pyxis all of this.

But why had Commander Pyxis sought him out? Was it to warn him, or...

Yago did not dwell on it, but his heart still felt somewhat heavy. He could not shake the feeling that he was under suspicion.

That evening, Jean and Sasha's cooking showdown began. Sasha's group had caught an enormous wild boar, and the fragrant pork convinced everyone that she was sure to win. Commander Pyxis ate it with delight as well. Just as everyone thought Jean had already lost, an ordinary omelet turned the tables.

After tasting Jean's omelet, Pyxis announced that the winner was Jean Kirstein!

The crowd erupted. Nobody had expected pork to lose to an ordinary omelet.

Sasha looked dejected over losing the cooking contest, but Jean seemed to have realized something in the end. With a rare show of gentleness, he helped her up. The misunderstanding was resolved, and everyone was happy.

Only Yago's brow carried a hint of worry.