Kitz looked at the crowd of soldiers pleading on Chen Si's behalf and froze for a moment, his face turning extremely ugly.
Chen Si slowly stepped forward a few paces. Instantly, dozens of people were startled and collectively stepped back. Kitz himself even jumped back two steps. Seeing his own soldiers frightened so badly by a single person made Kitz feel utterly humiliated.
Seriously? They're this scared? Chen Si felt speechless.
"Hey, take a good look at this," Chen Si said as he raised the regiment token that Pixis had given him.
"Captain, that's Commander Pixis's regiment token," an adjutant whispered into Kitz's ear.
"What?!" Kitz's expression changed drastically. He didn't have the courage to oppose Commander Pixis.
Kitz cleared his throat and shouted:
"Cadet Chen Si, top graduate of the training corps, has rendered meritorious service in combating Titans. His merits offset his faults. He will not be pursued further here."
"What? The captain backed down?"
"Are you stupid? That's Commander Pixis's token!"
"So Captain Kitz doesn't dare offend Chen Si?"
"What? Chen Si works under Commander Pixis?"
"Does that mean Commander Pixis knows Chen Si is a Titan?"
"Maybe Chen Si is a wizard. Didn't the Wall Church say something like that?"
Kitz heard the growing murmurs and felt increasingly embarrassed. He urgently needed a new target to vent his anger on.
"Even if Chen Si has cleared his suspicions," Kitz roared while pointing at Eren, "the fact that Cadet Yeager is a Titan is undeniable! Humanity has already suffered because Titans of unknown identity breached Wall Rose!"
"Even if you are a cadet authorized by the king, I must eliminate all risks before they grow! I have done nothing wrong! The Armored Titan that destroyed Wall Maria could appear again at any moment. I do not have the time or manpower to waste on you!"
"You can try it if you want," Mikasa said coldly, raising her blade and preparing to strike.
Kitz's expression darkened further.
"Indeed, their intent to resist is obvious," Rico analyzed from the side. "But Chen Si is someone personally requested by the commander. If we execute them, it would be best not to harm Chen Si."
"And more than that," added the elite squad member Mitabi, "Cadet Ackerman is an extremely rare combat talent. In the rear guard, she killed several Titans by herself and did an excellent job protecting civilians during the evacuation. One person like her is worth a hundred soldiers. Losing her would be a huge loss."
"Damn it… why does the commander value Chen Si so much?" Kitz gritted his teeth.
"Captain, someone who fought the Colossal Titan and retreated unharmed—besides Levi, he's the only one," a Garrison soldier said.
"Captain, the frontline report states that Cadet Chen Si personally killed more than fifteen Titans, including five abnormal Titans. That means he has personally slain over twenty Titans!" an elite squad member said in shock while holding the report.
In reality, Chen Si had killed over thirty Titans along the way. The seven Titans he killed at the supply depot weren't counted toward his record, because he had shared the credit with the cadets of the 104th.
Hearing this, Kitz's expression shifted uncertainly.
Over twenty Titans… by himself?
Is this recruit another Levi?
"Stop barking, Kitz Woermann," Chen Si said disdainfully. "If we really intended to rebel, you should first ask yourself whether you'd still be standing upright in front of me."
"You insolent brat! Cadet Chen Si, are you challenging your superior officer?!" Kitz shouted angrily.
"Are you serious?" Chen Si replied calmly. "If Eren truly is a Titan, have you considered that the two of us alone could deal with everyone here?"
"You really want to force the two strongest human soldiers into rebellion?"
"Can you bear the responsibility for that?"
The soldiers erupted in shock again.
"Yeah… that's a Titan!"
"I heard the Titan Eren transformed into killed several Titans even while surrounded!"
"And that's Chen Si—the one who fought the Colossal Titan! If we push him too far…"
"I don't want to fight other humans!"
Panic spread through the ranks. None of the soldiers were willing to fight Chen Si and Eren, whose terrifying strength was well known.
Kitz's face, already gloomy, turned as black as ink.
Chen Si was right. He couldn't take that risk. If his order led to the complete annihilation of the Garrison soldiers present, he would bear full responsibility.
In that case…
Clenching his fists, Kitz shouted at them:
"The four of you, disperse immediately! I will no longer pursue your responsibility. Spread out and drop your weapons, and I will let you leave at once!"
Mikasa seemed to sense Kitz's intention and glanced at Chen Si for confirmation.
Chen Si shook his head slightly.
Seeing this, Mikasa lowered her blades and tossed them onto the ground with a clatter.
No one noticed that the artillery operator had subtly adjusted the cannon under Kitz's orders, aiming it at Eren now standing alone in the open.
Armin also stepped away from Eren. He sighed in relief. Although he didn't know what Kitz intended, he believed his words and thought they had been saved.
Chen Si tossed his blade onto the ground as well. No one noticed the arc of electricity that flashed briefly behind him.
At the exact moment his blade hit the ground—
"Fire!" Kitz suddenly roared.
Just as the artilleryman reached to ignite the cannon—
A bolt of lightning shot forward with a thunderous roar.
The artilleryman exploded on the spot, and the massive cannon shattered instantly.
Before anyone could react, Chen Si had already grabbed Kitz by the collar with one hand and lifted him into the air.
"It seems you didn't understand what I said earlier."
Chen Si's eyes were filled with overwhelming killing intent, like a sharp blade piercing straight into Kitz's soul.
The entire scene fell silent.
No one dared move.
No one dared fire a shot.
"T-Too terrifying…"
"Is he even human? That speed…"
"He blew someone apart with one hand—and destroyed the cannon…"
Everyone stared at the scattered chunks of flesh on the ground in horror.
At that moment, every soldier shared the same thought:
Chen Si cannot be fought.
I don't want to die.
"Y-you…" Kitz stammered, drenched in sweat.
A foul smell suddenly spread as he lost control of his bladder.
Chen Si looked at him in disgust and tossed him aside. Kitz immediately fainted.
In truth, Chen Si hadn't used much force. Kitz had simply passed out from humiliation—or perhaps pretended to.
Originally, Chen Si had planned to kill Kitz as well. But after thinking it over, he decided to give Pixis some face and only killed the artilleryman.
"Leblanc Harnor," Chen Si said calmly, his voice carrying unquestionable authority, "disobeyed the regiment order personally issued by Commander Pixis and privately used heavy weapons to attack frontline hero Eren Yeager."
"He also ignored Captain Kitz's orders, angering Captain Kitz to the point of unconsciousness."
"He has now been executed on the spot."
Ignored orders? What nonsense. Captain Kitz was knocked out by you.
The soldiers silently complained in their hearts, but none dared speak.
"So," Chen Si said with a gentle smile like that of a friendly boy next door,
"Who agrees?"
"And who objects?"
Silence filled the area.
Only the sound of people swallowing nervously could be heard.
No one spoke.
No one dared object.