Chapter 16: Your Conscience Will Surely Ache

Hange Zoë stepped forward and gave a detailed account of the previous situation to Survey Corps Commander Erwin Smith.

"So the trainee Eren Yeager can turn into a Titan?"

"That's right, but when he transforms, he has an aggressive tendency and attacks humans. However, compared to humans, he's more interested in Titans."

Erwin looked at the unconscious Eren, deep in thought.

Keywords like 'human turning into Titan' and 'attacking humans' provoked the nearby Military Police Brigade Commander Nile Dawk.

"Are you serious about what you just said?"

Nile Dawk glared at Hange Zoë with a dark expression.

"Yeah, it's true."

Hange Zoë replied to Nile Dawk in a perfunctory tone.

"This person must be handed over to our Military Police Brigade for handling."

With that, Nile Dawk stepped forward, trying to take Eren from Su Xiao's grasp.

Su Xiao shifted his hand to the side, and Nile Dawk grabbed nothing but air.

"What do you mean by that, you prisoner? Men! Seize him!"

Nile Dawk shouted loudly, and the surrounding Military Police members swarmed forward, leveling their guns at Su Xiao.

Su Xiao swept his gaze around. Even with Nile Dawk included, he could kill all these people within a minute. These people had no scent of blood on them, indicating they hadn't fought in a long time—a rabble of amateurs.

"Bai Ye, stay calm."

Erwin signaled Hange Zoë with his eyes. Hange Zoë quickly ran to Su Xiao's side, grabbing his arm with one hand, her face tense. It seemed Su Xiao's predecessor had killed someone right in front of her before.

"You've already killed three Military Police members. If you kill any more, even the Commander won't be able to protect you."

Hange Zoë whispered in Su Xiao's ear.

Su Xiao raised an eyebrow, getting a rough idea of the identity the Reincarnation Paradise had arranged for him.

He was a former member of the Survey Corps who had been sentenced to death for killing three Military Police members. Before the execution, Wall Rose was breached, and he was thrown onto the battlefield in the form of atoning for his crimes through meritorious service.

Having figured out his identity, Su Xiao felt more confident about his subsequent plans. The identity of a former Survey Corps member was quite favorable.

However, noticing Hange Zoë's tight grip on his arm, Su Xiao sensed that his predecessor's temper, as arranged by the Reincarnation Paradise, must have been quite bad, so he couldn't deviate too much in his behavior.

"Erwin, what do you mean by this? Are you trying to shield this prisoner?"

"No, I want to reinstate him as a member of the Survey Corps."

"What! Are you provoking the Military Police Brigade?"

Nile Dawk was furious.

"According to yesterday's battle report, Bai Ye almost single-handedly held the breach in the wall. By law, anyone who makes a significant contribution to humanity, even if they have past or subsequent faults, has the opportunity to atone through meritorious service.

Given Bai Ye's performance yesterday, he protected the safety of many civilians. Moreover, you should know better than anyone what those three Military Police members Bai Ye killed did. The victim's husband has been trying to appeal to the Commander-in-Chief, but has been blocked for 'various reasons.'"

Erwin's expression was calm, unfazed by anything.

Nile Dawk's face changed color repeatedly. He knew all too well what his three subordinates had done, but for the sake of the Military Police Brigade's reputation, he could never admit to that incident. Nile Dawk had seen the pitiful state of the female victim, but he was the one who had ordered the destruction of her body.

Su Xiao's predecessor had killed three Military Police members. Under normal circumstances, he should have been executed immediately, with no chance of imprisonment.

Su Xiao raised an eyebrow. The identity the Reincarnation Paradise had arranged for him was even more interesting.

"Tch, let's drop this matter. I won't say anything more about you reinstating this guy, but Eren Yeager must be handed over to our Military Police Brigade for handling."

Nile Dawk chose to back down a step.

The hiss of ODM gear sounded as Mikasa and Armin arrived.

"Commander, two members of the Training Corps want to come up onto the wall."

One of Nile Dawk's subordinates reported to him.

"Training Corps? Send them away. This isn't a place for them."

Nile Dawk meant to drive Mikasa and Armin away.

"Commander, those two are from the same hometown as Eren Yeager. The three of them trained together in the Training Corps."

Su Xiao spoke up at this point. Erwin nodded, signaling for Su Xiao to stand in the Survey Corps' ranks, and patted him on the shoulder, quietly saying, 'It's been tough. Even if the wall hadn't been breached, you would have been free in at most two days.'

"Nile, those two are Eren Yeager's fellow trainees. They should know Eren Yeager well."

Nile Dawk hesitated after hearing Erwin's words.

"Well... let them up. Since Eren Yeager can turn into a Titan, they're also suspects."

Mikasa and Armin were brought up onto the wall.

Upon seeing the Survey Corps and Military Police Brigade on the wall, they stood obediently to the side. Both knew that if they dared to cause trouble here, it would only harm Eren. They had to be patient and see how things developed.

"Let's continue our previous discussion. Should Eren Yeager be handed over to your Military Police Brigade for handling, or to our Survey Corps?"

"Of course, he should be handed over to our Military Police Brigade. The Survey Corps' area of responsibility is outside the walls. Eren Yeager is a member of the Training Corps, so from any angle, we should handle this."

Nile Dawk's argument wasn't without merit. Moreover, within the walls, the Military Police Brigade had far more influence than the Survey Corps.

One was the local power, and the other was fully dedicated to investigating outside the walls, trying to expand territory for humanity.

"Really, I could hear you arguing from far away."

A robust old man with white hair and a beard approached from a distance, accompanied by several guards.

"Commander-in-Chief Daris."

Both the Survey Corps and the Military Police Brigade saluted upon seeing the old man, placing one fist over their chest and the other hand behind their back.

Upon seeing this old man, a barely perceptible look of disappointment flashed in Nile Dawk's eyes. His advantage was gone.

The old man was named Daris Zackly, the supreme commander of all military branches within the walls. He was a reasonable man who cared about the people, inwardly detested the current royal family, and knew some of the truths within the walls, but was powerless to change them.

"Tell me the general situation."

After Daris Zackly spoke, a soldier brought a chair. The Survey Corps and Military Police Brigade stood in two opposing rows in front of him.

After learning the full story, Daris Zackly fell into thought.

"That soldier is called Bai Ye, right? I've reviewed your case. Place Eren Yeager in the middle. This will serve as a temporary court to decide which brigade Eren Yeager belongs to."

Daris Zackly's tone wasn't harsh but carried authority.

"Commander-in-Chief, I object."

Erwin raised his hand to speak.

Daris Zackly looked at Erwin, signaling him to continue.

"If the intelligence is correct, Eren Yeager could turn into a Titan at any moment when he wakes up. Therefore, I oppose letting Eren Yeager move more than three meters away from Bai Ye. Bai Ye is fully capable of subduing Eren Yeager, even if he transforms into a Titan."

Daris Zackly nodded. Erwin's considerations were thorough.

"Alright. Then Bai Ye will stand in the middle as well. If Eren Yeager shows any abnormality, execute him immediately. I now grant you that authority."

Su Xiao dragged Eren and stood in the middle of the two rows, facing Daris Zackly.

Su Xiao threw Eren to the ground and stood behind him with his blade drawn. He now held Eren's life in his hands. If Eren made any suspicious move, Su Xiao could kill him openly and justifiably.

He turned his gaze to Mikasa and Armin nearby.

Armin's eyes were full of pleading, his hands clasped together, looking pitiful. Mikasa turned her head away, no longer looking at Su Xiao. Showing hatred toward Su Xiao at this moment would be the stupidest move.

The situation was unexpectedly smooth. Daris Zackly's appearance was undoubtedly good news.

But Su Xiao had a doubt in his mind: where the hell had Enthu gone?

...

In a civilian house within Wall Rose, Enthu struggled to climb onto a bed, covered in blood but with no obvious injuries.

"Bai Ye, if you have any conscience at all, bring some fruit to visit me here. That blockhead Eren's Titan transformation was way too damn fast."

With that, Enthu coughed up some blood, but green light surged in his hand as he healed himself with a dose.

The plan hadn't gone without a hitch. Earlier, Enthu hadn't even carried the Titan that had swallowed Eren very far before Eren transformed into a Titan, and Enthu got crushed pretty badly.