"Th-this..." Armin stood frozen after watching Chen Si blast a Garrison soldier to death and knock Captain Kitz unconscious, too terrified to speak.
"Eren... Chen Si only crossed the military so people would accept the fact that you're a Titan..." Armin told Eren, tears filling his eyes.
Eren stared at everything before him in stunned disbelief. What the hell is going on? Was I the only one who didn't think I was a Titan?
Eren held out his hand and looked at it. I'm a Titan? Why does everyone keep saying I'm a Titan?
"I agree!" Mikasa was the first to raise her hand.
Mikasa then turned toward the others, murderous intent in her eyes.
Everyone flinched, and the crowd stirred uneasily.
"I... I agree." A soldier Chen Si had rescued at the Supply Station shakily raised his hand.
"I agree too!"
"I agree!"
More and more people voiced their support.
As the voices continued, Chen Si turned toward a section of the crowd that had remained silent.
"Hey, what about you?" Chen Si stared fiercely at those who had yet to voice their support, but they still gave no response.
What's going on? Chen Si was puzzled. Why do they look so much more confident?
"Commander Pixis!" a soldier on the verge of breaking under Chen Si's stare cried out in panic.
Chen Si looked up toward the platform and saw a bald man with a straight mustache slowly approaching. Everyone's gaze immediately shifted to Commander Pixis.
"Get up, Captain Kitz. You're just as you always were-a towering frame, but a heart as fragile as a fawn's." Pixis surveyed everyone present before finally narrowing his eyes at Chen Si.
"Commander Pixis..." Kitz stopped pretending and slowly climbed to his feet, leaving a puddle of urine on the ground.
Rico and Mitabi both shot Kitz a contemptuous look.
"Reporting, Commander. I have executed the traitor who violated military orders. Captain Kitz failed to notice in time, so please don't blame him." Chen Si accused the other side before anyone could accuse him.
"What? You..." Kitz did not know how to refute him. If he challenged Chen Si's account, wouldn't he be admitting that he was the one who had defied the military's command token? But if he said nothing, the dead soldier would have to take the blame.
Kitz weighed his options, stole a glance at Pixis beside him, and chose to remain silent.
"Soldier Chen Si, I'm not quite that senile yet," Pixis said gravely.
"Ahaha, naturally, nothing gets past you. But rest assured, everyone unanimously approved his execution. They can all testify to it. I was only following the will of the people." Chen Si scratched the back of his head and smiled, showing eight teeth, looking utterly harmless.
"Soldier Chen Si, support coerced through force will not last. I hope you'll remember that." Pixis narrowed his eyes meaningfully.
"Yes, sir! I'll take your lesson to heart!" Chen Si saluted. The moment Pixis appeared, he had known the matter was settled. Everything that followed would merely be formalities to help the military save face.
"Commander, Chen Si resisted arrest at headquarters and killed a man while doing so. In my opinion, even the top graduate must be punished." Rico, deeply dissatisfied with Chen Si, hurried to offer her recommendation.
Pixis raised his hand slightly. Rico understood and said no more.
"Soldier Chen Si, although you have distinguished yourself in fighting the Titans, you must still be punished for carrying out an unauthorized execution. I hereby strip Si Chen of his standing as top graduate and his eligibility to join the Military Police Brigade. Mikasa Ackerman will inherit his standing as top graduate." Pixis's voice was steady and powerful, ringing like a bell.
"Chen Si, do you have any objections?" Pixis suddenly opened his eyes wide, his gaze as cold and fierce as a wolf's.
"Uh... no." Chen Si did not care much about being the top graduate. Giving it to Mikasa was fine too. He had never intended to join the Military Police Brigade anyway.
"Cadet Ackerman, you are also suspected of insubordination, but there were mitigating circumstances. I am stripping you of your eligibility to join the Military Police Brigade and granting you the standing of top graduate. Do you have any objections?" Pixis continued.
"No," Mikasa answered calmly. She knew this was already the best possible outcome. Although she did not know why, Pixis had not made things difficult for them.
"Commander, does that even count as punishment?"
"Chen Si's the top graduate. What more do you want?"
"Have you forgotten? The top graduates from past years all became commanders of the Central Military Police Brigade. Never mind killing us-even if they confiscated a minor noble's estate, no one could do anything to them."
"I heard the current commander of the Central Military Police Brigade killed a hundred of his own men. He also..."
"Shh! Watch what you say."
The Garrison soldiers whispered among themselves.
"Hey, Mitabi, do you think the commander is trying to..." Rico whispered beside him.
"I think so," Mitabi said with a helpless nod.
They had already realized that Commander Pixis wanted to recruit Chen Si and Mikasa into the Garrison.
This is punishment...? Kitz grumbled inwardly, but he did not dare voice the slightest objection.
"Now, as for how we should deal with Eren Yeager..." Pixis stroked his chin in thought.
"Commander Pixis, Eren can be extremely useful! He can definitely contribute to humanity! I have an operation in mind that requires Eren's Titan power. I swear it on my life!" Armin suddenly saluted and shouted excitedly.
Well, damn. I was going to steal your lines, but you still beat me to it. Armin really does care about Eren. Maybe I should...? A wicked idea suddenly occurred to Chen Si, but he quickly stopped himself.
"Is that so? Then I'll give you a chance to explain your plan." With that, Pixis turned and left.
The Inner City, within Wall Rose.
Mina slowly awoke in a hospital bed.
"Mina! You're awake!" Historia's tightly furrowed brow immediately relaxed, and she cried out in delight.
"Christa... where am I...?" Mina opened her eyes slightly and looked around.
"You're in the military hospital at headquarters. Chen Si and Armin saved you. The other doctors are all overwhelmed, so Aunt Carla has been looking after you," Historia said, holding Mina's hand tightly.
"Chen Si... Armin..." Mina tried to sit up slowly, but found she could not and fell back down.
"Don't move! I'll get Aunt Carla!" The moment she finished speaking, Historia hurried out.
Before long, Carla came in with Historia, carrying a bowl of medicinal broth.
"Mina, you took a heavy blow to the back of your head, causing a severe short-term concussion. You can't get out of bed right now. You need more rest. Drink this bowl of medicine." As Carla spoke, she blew on the broth and handed it over.