Chapter 37: Each with Their Own Schemes
"That female giant is something akin to 'Eren Yeager.'"
Su Xiao's words startled the few people present.
Levi had already fought the Armored Titan, so there was no need to hide this information.
"Another intelligent giant, huh. That makes four, counting Eren."
Levi wiped his mouth with a napkin after eating, frowning when he saw the untouched food in front of Su Xiao.
"Don't waste food."
"No appetite."
"Eat it even if you have no appetite."
"Oh?"
Su Xiao stared intently at Levi, sensing a slight hostility from him.
"Really, these two are at it again."
Hange Zoe held her forehead with one hand, looking like she had a headache.
"What, a few days in prison made your taste buds picky?"
Although Levi was verbally taunting him, Su Xiao didn't feel strong hostility, which puzzled him. His predecessor might have had some connection with Levi, only to fall out later, leading to this situation.
His own strength wasn't weak, so the Reincarnation Paradise had arranged a predecessor for him who wasn't weak either.
Hostile but not hateful, a rival?
Su Xiao shook his head. Given Levi's personality, that was unlikely.
"Your verbal jabs are as sharp as your height. I heard you've grown a bit taller recently."
Su Xiao said this with a calm expression, watching the veins bulge on Levi's forehead.
"That's enough. If you two want to fight, go to the open ground outside. Don't damage the headquarters' facilities."
Erwin spoke up, and Levi fell silent. Hange Zoe moved the food in front of Su Xiao to herself and quickly devoured it in a few bites.
Su Xiao silently admired her. She actually ate that terrible-tasting food with relish.
"Enough small talk. Next is our future strategy. I suspect those three 'intelligent giants' are members of the Training Corps."
Erwin's words were shocking, and Su Xiao couldn't help but admire his intelligence.
"Commander, what's the basis for that?"
"The timing of the wall attacks."
Erwin pulled out several yellowed documents.
"This is the record of the first wall attack. After that, the 104th Training Corps recruitment was completed. Though the two-year gap is a bit forced, the second wall breach happened exactly on the graduation day of the 104th."
Everyone's eyes lit up. The timing of the second attack was too coincidental—the Training Corps would have been close to the walls then.
Su Xiao found it a bit headache-inducing. The "Three Intelligent Giants" were too naive; choosing that time to attack the walls was incredibly stupid.
"My... my classmates? That can't be."
Eren's face was full of disbelief as memories of those faces flashed through his mind.
"Do you have any clues?"
Erwin handed the documents to Eren. Although Eren could turn into a giant, he was absolutely trustworthy.
"This... probably... no. They're all good people, though some are a bit withdrawn."
"Withdrawn?"
Levi keenly caught the word "withdrawn."
"I..."
Crack.
The leg of Hange Zoe's chair suddenly broke. Her body leaned back, kicking over the table in front of her, sending dishes and cups flying everywhere.
The table flipped over, and Eren, across from her, yelped and instinctively leaned back, causing his chair to topple backward.
Thud.
Eren's head slammed hard against the ground. He clutched his head in pain, a trickle of blood seeping through his fingers.
Two figures rushed toward Eren at the same time—Su Xiao and Levi.
Su Xiao locked Eren's throat in a guillotine hold, while Levi pinned down Eren's body.
"Eren Yeager, calm down."
Erwin shouted. If Eren transformed into a giant now, it would be disastrous.
"Spare... spare me."
Eren's eyes rolled back as Su Xiao choked him, and he slapped the ground to signal surrender.
"Go easy on him."
Levi said urgently. Su Xiao loosened his grip slightly, but Eren was already unconscious with his eyes rolled back.
"Ha, looks like your skills haven't dulled after a few days in prison."
Levi released Eren, and Su Xiao did the same.
Eren's body went limp and slid to the floor—Su Xiao had choked him unconscious.
"Sorry, sorry. I got a bit excited earlier."
Hange Zoe looked ashamed, vaguely sensing she had interrupted something crucial.
Su Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. If Annie was exposed, the other two wouldn't be far behind.
Erwin quickly approached Eren and checked his breathing.
The situation required subduing Eren. If he transformed into a giant here, everyone present would be dead or injured.
"The headquarters' 'chairs' need to be replaced. Arrange for Eren Yeager to rest. Levi, you're in charge of monitoring him."
Erwin showed no visible emotion. He scanned the room once and left.
"Damn, I really messed up this time."
Hange Zoe scratched her head and kicked the broken chair hard. It rolled away without further damage.
"Time to rest. I'm so sleepy."
Su Xiao yawned and left, heading to the dormitory on the lower floor.
The Survey Corps dormitory was a large communal room. Su Xiao found a clean bed, lay down, crossed his legs, and rested his head on his hands.
At that moment, the dormitory was empty except for Su Xiao. Other Survey Corps members were handling post-battle matters.
Tap, tap, tap...
Footsteps approached. Su Xiao turned his head to see Hange Zoe.
"This is the men's dormitory. Are you planning a night raid on someone?"
"Haha, of course not."
Hange Zoe laughed heartily and sat on the bed next to Su Xiao.
"I just came to ask about the Female Titan's information."
Su Xiao chatted with Hange Zoe, most of the questions revolving around the Female Titan.
"Bai Ye, where did you go after the battle? And how did you get so badly injured?"
"I went to observe the traces of the fight with the Female Titan. As for the injuries, they're from the earlier battle with her."
Hange Zoe nodded in understanding.
"Is that so? Where did you get that armguard? It's pretty cool."
Su Xiao narrowed his eyes.
"Are you interrogating me?"
"Don't mind it, don't mind it. Just a colleague's concern. I've always had a crush on you, haha."
Hange Zoe waved her hand and laughed.
"I picked it up in an abandoned house."
"Is that so?"
Hange Zoe lowered her head, hiding too many things in her eyes.
"Hey, Bai Ye, we once fought together, through life and death."
"What, you came here in the middle of the night just to say that?"
"Haha, nothing. Just feeling a bit sentimental."
Hange Zoe stood up, hesitated for a moment, and left the men's dormitory.
Su Xiao watched her retreating figure, his mind racing.
He was being suspected. His extensive contact with the giants and the earlier accident had made the Survey Corps suspicious of him.
At least Erwin and Hange Zoe had started to suspect him. Levi's stance was unclear for now.
Even if he was suspected, Su Xiao didn't regret it. If he hadn't acted earlier, Eren would have severely disrupted his plans.
Whether he was suspected didn't matter to Su Xiao. He didn't even care about his identity as a Survey Corps member.
The Survey Corps was too poor. Joining them had no future.
As for the freedom the Survey Corps represented, it had nothing to do with him. He wasn't here to save the civilians inside the walls.
"Hurry up and come find me, you three idiots. If this keeps up, you won't be able to hide much longer."
Su Xiao muttered a curse. Annie, Reiner Braun, and the others were the three dumbest spies he had ever seen.
After sensing his surroundings cautiously, Su Xiao began to rest. He needed to conserve energy because the next few days might offer no chance to rest.