"What do you think those stars in the sky are?" Armin asked slowly, gazing upward.
"They're suns," Chen Si said calmly.
"Suns? What do you mean?" Armin asked curiously.
"Beyond the walls, there are oceans, volcanic lava, vast grasslands, and glaciers. But have you ever thought there might be new worlds up in the sky, too?" Chen Si offered a few casual remarks.
He knew how staggering this information was. He was only planting a seed in Armin's mind, leaving him to explore it himself in the future.
"Worlds in the sky..." Armin murmured.
"Beyond the sky is what we call the universe," Chen Si said.
"Someday we'll reach the universe, too, Armin. We'll definitely see that endless sea full of salt, and the universe with its countless stars!" Eren declared, his gaze resolute.
Chen Si couldn't help laughing. Little did he know that decades later, an "Arminstrong" would emerge in Paradia.
The next day, at the gates of Wall Rose.
"It's the Survey Corps' main force! Commander Erwin, please drive the Titans out!"
"Look! That's Captain Levi! They say his fighting strength alone rivals an entire brigade! (Survey Corps brigade size: 150 soldiers.)"
"Tch. So noisy." Levi paid no heed to the people lining the street. The only people worthy of his attention were Erwin and a woman beside him.
"Now, now, Levi. A little show for the public is still necessary." As she spoke, the captivating woman with slightly wavy, waist-length hair blew a kiss to a passerby.
At her words, Levi's sharp, dead-fish eyes softened a little.
"That's right, Levi. These people put food on our tables. Our funding comes from them." The bespectacled woman beside them, her hair in a high ponytail-Hange Zoë-waved wildly to the people lining the street as she spoke.
"It's Miss Chris Vineyard! She kissed me!" a burly man exclaimed excitedly, looking utterly enchanted.
"Nonsense! Miss Vineyard was smiling at me!" the tall, thin man beside him said, equally excited.
"What did you say?!" The burly man grabbed the thin man by the collar.
"It's completely different from five years ago. People are full of hope for the Survey Corps now!" Eren marveled.
"Yeah, and quite a few of their veterans are really popular," Armin added.
"Uh... what the fuck is going on here...?" Chen Si stared at the alluring woman beside Levi, his mouth hanging open in disbelief.
Chen Si looked at the lettering on the woman's stockings. There, unmistakably, was a familiar name-balenciaga... His mind raced through possibilities as he struggled to process the shock before him.
At last, he reached the conclusion he had hoped to avoid: he wasn't the only transmigrator in this world.
"Big brother, what are you looking at?" Mikasa gave him an unsettling smile, a faint murderous intent seeping through it.
"Chris Vineyard really lives up to her reputation as a charming woman. Even our top graduate, Chen Si, can't resist her," said Hannah, one half of the idiot couple beside them.
"Uh, no, no! I just don't think I've heard of this female soldier before. I'm a little curious." Sensing the barely restrained menace surging from Mikasa beside him, Chen Si hurried to explain.
"They say she joined the Survey Corps alongside Captain Levi. Apparently, Miss Vineyard was once surrounded by five Titans and killed every last one of them. She's a true elite," Armin explained.
"Why has no one ever told me about her?" Chen Si scratched his head in frustration. How had he missed such important information?
"Huh? Aren't you always the first to know anything about the Survey Corps, Chen Si? Every time there's news, you're sleeping right there beside us," Eren said, puzzled.
Huh? I only knew all that because of spoilers! How was I supposed to know some completely unfamiliar character would show up? Chen Si sighed inwardly.
"There hasn't been much fighting in the past five years. That pretty veteran is dressed so nicely, so the fighting must not be very intense. Maybe the Colossal Titan won't come again," said Franz, the other half of the idiot couple.
"That's true," Hannah agreed, following her husband's lead.
"What kind of stupid bullshit is that?! You idiot couple!" Eren snapped angrily.
"No! We're not a perfectly matched couple!" Hannah waved her hands repeatedly, looking bashful.
"You're getting ahead of yourself, Eren!" Franz said, looking just as shy.
Eren ground his teeth, trembling all over with anger.
Armin stayed beside them, smiling as he played peacemaker.
"Hey, you lot." Hannes approached with a familiar Garrison soldier.
"I heard you graduated yesterday, and all of you ranked near the top. Chen Si even took first place. That's quite an achievement," Hannes said.
"Hmm? Where's Chen Si?" Hannes spotted Chen Si, who had been staring at the Survey Corps. Following his gaze, Hannes understood. The kid had hit puberty, too.
"Hey, Chen Si. You're the top graduate now. You can't be so shortsighted that all you think about is a pretty face." Hannes reached over and ruffled Chen Si's hair.
Chen Si struggled and protested, but under Mikasa's intensely jealous gaze, he had no choice but to leave the crowd of onlookers.
While Chen Si studied the woman, she was studying him as well. When their eyes met, the corners of her lips lifted slightly, and she cast him a flirtatious glance. She had noticed Chen Si long ago. From the moment she entered the city, she had been watching the three protagonists and their companions.
Interesting. Black hair, black eyes... could he be from the same place as me? The woman rested her pale fingers against her lips and murmured softly.
"Hey, Chris, what are you looking at?" Hange craned her neck and leaned toward the woman.
"Oh, nothing. Hange, don't ride like that. It's dangerous," the woman said helplessly.
"Ahahahaha! I've even ridden on a Titan's neck. What's dangerous about riding a horse?" Hange laughed wildly.
"Hey, Squad Leader Hange! Keep your voice down!" Moblit glanced at the looks they were getting from the passing crowd and cautiously reminded her.
Chen Si had to admit that Chris Vineyard really was beautiful. She was a woman who truly suited contemporary tastes, with a very modern look.
Delicate features, a fashionable hairstyle, curves in all the right places, and impressive assets. Yeah, they're really big. Chen Si studied her closely. She was wearing black stockings, too.
He didn't yet know whether she was friend or foe, or whether she knew the plot. Judging by her close relationship with Levi, he could tentatively assume she wasn't an enemy.
Chen Si's brows knitted tightly. He had grown far too complacent. He had to kill a Titan as soon as the fighting broke out and quickly improve his abilities. He couldn't be sure whether other transmigrators had special abilities, too.
His preconceived assumptions had led him to believe he was special. What worried him most now was whether there were more transmigrators than just the two of them. Chen Si had already changed his plans. He would no longer leisurely follow the plot as it unfolded.
He needed to establish how much of a threat the other transmigrators posed, then decide whether to befriend them or eliminate them. A faint glimmer of killing intent flashed through Chen Si's eyes. He couldn't afford to gamble. He had to prepare for every possibility.
If they really had transmigrated from the same place as him, would they all be good people? Or, for that matter, would they all support Paradis Island...?