Kitz stared at everyone pleading for mercy, frozen in place, his expression utterly sour.
Chen Si slowly took a few steps forward. Dozens of people flinched and retreated a step together, while Kitz scrambled back two. Seeing his soldiers frightened so badly by Chen Si alone, Kitz felt utterly humiliated.
Seriously? They're that scared? Chen Si was speechless.
"Hey, take a good look at this!" Chen Si raised the military token Pixis had given him.
"Captain, that's Commander Pixis's military token," an adjutant whispered into Kitz's ear.
"What?!" Kitz paled in shock. He did not have the nerve to defy Commander Pixis.
Kitz cleared his throat, then barked:
"Chen Si, the cadets' top graduate, has distinguished himself fighting Titans. His merits offset his offenses. We will pursue this matter no further."
"What? Why did the captain back down?"
"Are you stupid? That's Commander Pixis's token!"
"So Captain Kitz doesn't dare offend Top Graduate Chen Si."
"What? Chen Si is one of Commander Pixis's men?"
"Does Commander Pixis know Chen Si is a Titan?"
"Maybe Chen Si is a wizard. Didn't the Church of the Walls say something about that?"
As everyone began whispering among themselves, Kitz felt he was losing face.
He desperately needed a new target for his anger.
"Although Soldier Chen Si has been cleared of suspicion, it remains an indisputable fact that Cadet Yeager is a Titan. Titans like you, whose true identities remain unknown, are precisely what invaded our Wall Rose.
"Even if you are a cadet authorized by the king, I must stamp out every risk before it can grow. I have done nothing wrong. The Armored Titan that destroyed Wall Maria could appear at any moment. I have neither the time nor the manpower to waste on you!" Kitz pointed at Eren and the others and roared.
"Just try it!" Mikasa's gaze sharpened slightly as she raised her blade and prepared to strike.
Kitz's expression darkened at the sight.
"Yes, their intent to resist is quite obvious. But Chen Si is someone the commander specifically requested. If we execute them, we'd best avoid injuring him," Rico analyzed from beside him.
"Not only that, Cadet Ackerman is an exceptionally rare combat talent. While serving with the Rear Unit, she single-handedly killed several Titans and successfully protected the civilians' evacuation. She alone is worth a hundred soldiers. Losing her would be a tremendous blow," Mitabi of the Elite Squad added.
"Damn it, why does the commander value this soldier Chen Si so much?!" Kitz demanded through gritted teeth, unable to understand.
"Captain, aside from Levi, he's the only person who has fought the Colossal Titan and come away unscathed," a Garrison soldier said.
"Captain, the report from the front states that Chen Si, the cadets' top graduate, personally killed over fifteen Titans, plus a full five Abnormal Titans! That means Chen Si alone killed over twenty Titans!" an Elite Squad member exclaimed in astonishment, holding the report.
In reality, Chen Si had killed over thirty Titans along the way. The seven in the supply room had not been credited to him, because he had shared those achievements with the members of the 104th Cadet Corps.
Kitz's expression shifted unpredictably, his eyes filled with doubt and alarm. Twenty Titans killed single-handedly? Is this recruit another Levi?
"Kitz Woermann, stop barking. If we intended to rebel, ask yourself whether you'd still be standing upright in front of me," Chen Si said scornfully.
"Insolent bastard! Soldier Chen Si, you are provoking your superior officer!" Kitz snapped furiously.
"Hey, have you lost your mind? If Eren really is a Titan, have you considered that the two of us could wipe out everyone you have here? You're determined to drive two of humanity's strongest soldiers into a corner where rebellion is their only option? Can you take responsibility for that?" Chen Si continued to press him.
All the soldiers present erupted into an uproar again.
"Exactly, that's a Titan! I heard several Titans surrounded Eren after he transformed, and he still killed them all."
"And that's Top Graduate Chen Si. He's fought the Colossal Titan. If we push him too far..."
"No, I absolutely refuse to fight other humans."
Panic spread through the crowd. None of them had any desire to fight Chen Si and Eren, who possessed such terrifying strength.
Hearing Chen Si's words, Kitz's already grim expression turned black as ink. Indeed, he could not take that risk. If his orders led to the annihilation of all the Garrison soldiers present, he would bear the blame.
In that case... Kitz clenched his fists at the thought and roared at Chen Si and the others:
"The four of you, spread out immediately! I will no longer hold you accountable. Spread out and put down your weapons, and I will let you leave at once."
Mikasa vaguely guessed Kitz's intentions. She turned toward Chen Si, a question in her eyes.
Chen Si met her gaze and shook his head.
Seeing this, Mikasa lowered her blades and dropped both to the ground with a clatter.
No one noticed that, on Kitz's orders, the gunner had subtly adjusted the cannon to aim at Eren, who now stood in the open after they had spread out.
Armin also took several steps away from Eren. He breathed a sigh of relief. Although he did not know what Kitz intended to do, he believed his words and thought they had been saved.
Chen Si also threw his blades to the ground. No one noticed the arc of electricity that suddenly flashed behind him at the very instant his blades landed.
"Fire!" Kitz suddenly bellowed.
Just as the gunner was about to ignite the fuse, a bolt of lightning tore toward him with a thunderous roar. The gunner was blasted to pieces on the spot, and the massive howitzer instantly fell apart.
Before anyone could react, Chen Si had already lifted Kitz off the ground with one hand.
"It seems you didn't understand what I just said." Chen Si's eyes brimmed with murderous intent, piercing Kitz's gaze like a razor-sharp steel blade.
Everyone fell deathly silent. No one dared move, much less fire a shot.
"T-too... terrifying."
"Is he even human? That speed is terrifying."
"He blew a man to pieces with one hand and destroyed the cannon too. This..."
Everyone stared in horror at the chunks of flesh on the ground. At that moment, they all had only one thought:
Chen Si can't be beaten. I don't want to die.
"Y-you..." Kitz was drenched in sweat and utterly panicked. An incredibly foul stench of urine suddenly spread from his lower body.
Disgusted, Chen Si flung him away, and Kitz passed out on the spot.
Chen Si had not used much force. In truth, Kitz was so humiliated that he had merely pretended to faint.
Chen Si had originally intended to kill Kitz as well, but after some thought, he decided to spare him out of respect for Pixis and kill only the gunner.
"Lebron Hanel defied a military order personally issued by Commander Pixis and, without authorization, fired a heavy weapon at Eren Yeager, a soldier who distinguished himself on the front lines. He also disregarded Captain Kitz's orders and angered him into unconsciousness. I have now executed him on the spot." Chen Si's voice was calm, yet carried an authority no one could resist.
Disregarded his orders, my ass. You're the one who knocked Captain Kitz out.
Everyone grumbled inwardly, but none dared voice it.
"So, who's in favor, and who's opposed?" Chen Si asked mildly, wearing a warm smile like the boy next door.
Everyone fell silent at the sight. Only the sound of swallowing remained. No one dared speak, and no one dared object.