"Use a Titan?" a soldier asked in disbelief.
"Have a Titan help us? That sounds like something out of a dream... how could..." Jean looked just as incredulous.
"It's not a dream. Whether this Titan is an Abnormal Titan or not, under the circumstances, keeping it rampaging longer would work in our favor," Mikasa analyzed calmly.
"This is already the most realistic and best way for us to survive," Chen Si added.
Mikasa froze. Why did my brother just say what I was about to say? Is this what it means to be on the same wavelength?
Mikasa looked at Chen Si. He blinked, and she blinked back.
Chen Si felt as though he were watching the show. He remembered that line and had blurted it out on impulse, never expecting it to be Mikasa's.
Mikasa worried that Chen Si was putting too much strain on his body. She had no idea how many times he could use that ability, and she also hoped this Abnormal Titan could draw more attention.
Chen Si had no intention of rescuing Eren before his secret came out. There was no need. It would come out sooner or later, and hiding everything would keep him from freely using his own abilities. That was why Chen Si had chosen to reveal his lightning powers this time.
Even if the Royal Government learned that there was a human within the Walls who could command lightning and another who could command the power of Titans, what could they do? He certainly wouldn't meekly let them arrest him. Who the hell did the Royal Government think they were?
Chen Si and Eren alone were enough to topple the Royal Government and replace it. There was nothing to worry about.
"It's fine. That Titan looks stronger than all the others. There shouldn't be any problems," Connie said.
"It'll be fine. It's strong enough to crush the Titans around it. We just need to wait for the result. Before more Titans arrive, we should find a chance to leave," Chen Si said.
Everyone nodded. After finding full gas canisters, they searched around and eventually found an enclosed attic where they could rest.
"Armin, you need to prepare yourself for the possibility that that Titan is Eren," Chen Si told Armin.
Mikasa nodded and said:
"Armin, there's a good chance that Titan is Eren after transforming."
"Eren is a Titan..." After observing it for so long, Armin had naturally begun to believe that theory too.
"Yes, Armin. What we need to do now is deal with questions from those idiots in the Royal Government. Since my abilities have been exposed too, I'm definitely not in a good position to persuade them. We'll have to rely on you," Chen Si said.
"This really is a headache... Oh, right, Chen Si, how exactly were you able to release all that lightning?" Armin asked, utterly baffled.
"I think my brother might have inherited it from our family, because I also have a kind of power that feels as though it's engraved in my blood," Mikasa said, clenching her hands.
"Yes, exactly. It does run in the family," Chen Si said with a nod.
Chen Si thought Mikasa's explanation was pretty good. It made things easy to explain. If necessary, he could just say that his Ackerman genes had mutated. Most people within the Walls probably wouldn't understand those technical explanations, but they would grasp the general idea.
Chen Si couldn't exactly say that some VIP System had given it to him after he killed a fish, could he? Not only would they fail to understand, there was simply no need.
"Even so, the Royal Government will definitely make things difficult for you and Eren. Aah, what are we going to do?" Armin clutched his head in frustration, racking his brain nonstop.
"It's fine, Armin. Worst case, Eren and I can just fight our way into the Royal Government and keep killing until they accept us," Chen Si said, brimming with murderous intent.
"That's a good idea," the valkyrie Mikasa said with a nod.
"Aaaah! How is that a good idea? Mikasa, Chen Si, don't do anything rash. I'll definitely think of something," Armin hurriedly urged them.
Although Chen Si wasn't anxious in the slightest, he nodded.
"How much do you know about that Titan?" Reiner asked, looking rather serious.
"Isn't having a chance to be saved good enough? We don't need to worry about that stuff," Connie said indifferently.
"Ah, you're right. Being saved is what matters," Reiner said with a smile.
Annie glanced at Chen Si, still thinking about the possibility that their secret had been exposed.
"Have you ever used your Titan powers in front of Chen Si?" Reiner asked Annie. He was starting to worry too.
Annie shook her head.
"Given Chen Si's personality, there's probably a better chance that he really was joking," Reiner reasoned.
"Have you figured out how to deal with him? Even if he isn't the Founding Titan, he'll still be our... enemy," Annie said after a moment's hesitation.
She thought Chen Si was a decent person, someone worth befriending. But then she suddenly remembered what he had said.
Be friends with my father...
Annie hugged her knees and buried her head between them.
"Annie, what's wrong?" Bertolt asked with concern. He knew that whenever Annie sat like this, she was in a bad mood.
"Nothing," Annie said flatly.
"Could it be because of Chen Si..." Bertolt guessed.
"I said it's nothing!" Annie suddenly raised her head and shouted at Bertolt.
"Sorry, Annie." Startled, Bertolt hurriedly waved his hands and lowered his head in disappointment. He had always liked Annie, but he didn't know how to express it.
He looked toward Chen Si with a hint of resentment. Wasn't he the one who had made Annie act like this?
"I'll sound him out." Reiner paid Bertolt no mind. He knew Bertolt had liked her for a long time. He stood and slowly walked over to Chen Si and the others.
"Hey, Chen Si, Mikasa. Armin looks a little anxious. What's wrong with him?" Reiner waved and sat down.
Mikasa nodded in acknowledgment.
"Well, after what happened to Eren, none of us feel good," Chen Si said with a sigh. Oh, has Armored Boy come to sound me out? Then I'll be sure to give you a proper welcome.
"Don't be too upset. Maybe Eren is somewhere safe right now, waiting to be rescued," Reiner consoled him.
"Yeah, just like the three of you from your hometown, Reiner..." Chen Si suddenly paused.
Reiner jolted in alarm.
"Maybe he'll get rescued by a dashing, handsome guy like me. Hahaha," Chen Si leisurely finished.
Reiner breathed a sigh of relief. What a narcissist. Though he really is pretty handsome. Annie seems to care about this guy quite a bit. I wonder if Bertolt...
Reiner shook his head, clearing away his scattered thoughts.
"Reiner, what would you do if Bertolt were a Titan?" the anxious Armin suddenly looked up and asked.
Reiner was startled again, cold sweat streaming down his back.
Damn it, is this a test? When were we exposed? Did someone see Bertolt when he broke through the Wall? Damn it, what do I do?