Chapter 157

"We will now begin to determine which military branch Eren Yeager will be handed over to for processing. Both sides, state your respective proposals. First, the Military Police Regiment."

Darius Zackly sat upright between the two military branches, his presence imposing without anger.

"Ahem." Nile Dok coughed lightly and took a step forward.

"Commander-in-Chief... Your Honor, the fact that Eren Yeager can turn into a Titan is of great importance. In the past, we would have conducted research on him first.

But considering the current situation, if Eren Yeager is handed over to us for processing, the Military Police Regiment will execute Eren Yeager immediately to eliminate this unstable factor. That is all."

After stating the proposal, Nile Dok stepped back. This was actually Nile Dok's personal opinion; the Military Police Regiment had become his one-man show. Except for orders from the royal family or the Commander-in-Chief, Nile Dok ignored everything else.

"Next is the Survey Corps."

Darius Zackly signaled for Erwin to speak.

"Your Honor, I suggest handing Eren Yeager over to us for processing. If humans can turn into Titans, then a new threat different from the Titans will emerge.

Suppose—and I am only supposing—the following explanation is merely my personal speculation."

The usually steady Erwin took a deep breath; it seemed the following speculation was very heavy.

"First, we have confirmed that Eren Yeager previously turned into a Titan, so we cannot rule out the uniqueness of this ability. Does Eren Yeager maintain his current appearance in normal times?"

Erwin looked at Su Xiao, and Su Xiao nodded.

"Then another possibility arises: are there other humans within the walls who can turn into Titans, or are they already lurking among us, preparing to cause devastating destruction to humanity?"

After Erwin expressed his conjecture, everyone else gasped.

Eren Yeager was right before their eyes, and the fact that Titans could turn into humans had been basically confirmed, with eyewitnesses among the military members.

"Therefore, in order to thoroughly investigate whether there are other 'humans who can turn into Titans' within the walls, the Survey Corps has decided to detain Eren Yeager first and keep him under our control.

Of course, this also depends on Eren Yeager's performance after regaining consciousness. If he can control the Titan he turns into and has subjective consciousness, and is loyal to humanity, we might consider controlling him to help humanity fight.

This ability to turn into a Titan might be randomly bestowed, or perhaps it is some kind of accident. We do not understand Titans. That is all."

Erwin's words were very skillful, first explaining the threat if humans could turn into Titans.

Erwin's deduction on this point was very accurate; there were indeed 'intelligent Titans' who had infiltrated within the walls.

Erwin's meaning was to detain Eren first, and then judge whether Eren was loyal to humanity or wanted to destroy it.

If he was loyal to humanity, they would use him to repel the Titans; if not, they would slice him up for research.

This roughly matched Su Xiao's plan. The wall was breached, and they were in imminent danger; the Survey Corps would do everything in their power to plug this gap.

At least to Su Xiao's knowledge, the Survey Corps was wholeheartedly thinking for the sake of humanity.

"Is that so..."

Darius Zackly feigned a thoughtful expression.

In fact, after he understood the ins and outs of the matter, he had already decided which military branch to assign Eren to. The temporary court was just a formality; arbitrary power would cause dissatisfaction in certain military branches.

"I have decided to assign..."

Darius Zackly was halfway through his sentence when he noticed Eren slowly waking up, and he retracted what he was about to say.

Eren lifted his head in a daze, scanning his surroundings blankly.

Upon seeing the situation around him, Eren immediately wanted to get up, but suddenly felt a force pressing down on his back, pinning him firmly to the ground.

"What is going on? Why am I here? Let me go."

Su Xiao stepped on Eren's back with one foot. If Eren dared to get up, he would definitely be riddled with holes, and the things he had planned would fail as a result.

"If you don't want to die, stay still."

Su Xiao's words had no effect; Eren still struggled with all his might. Su Xiao applied force with his foot, and Eren let out a terrified cry.

Imagine the feeling of being stepped on the back right after waking up, and then being stepped on hard again.

Eren was very innocent right now; he still didn't know what had happened.

"Eren Yeager, do you remember what you did after turning into a Titan? Were you the one controlling the Titan in the fight?"

Darius Zackly stared at Eren; Eren's next words would influence the verdict he reached.

"What? I turned into a Titan? This isn't funny at all. Who are you, old man?"

Eren clearly had never seen 'Darius Zackly', this Commander-in-Chief. In the technologically backward world within the walls, the highest official Eren had ever seen was the Training Corps commander. He had no chance to come into contact with a figure like 'Darius Zackly'.

Eren had indeed seen the other man's portrait, but that portrait was too abstract.

"Old man?"

Su Xiao was somewhat speechless; this kid Eren was a bit of a blockhead.

"This is Commander-in-Chief Darius Zackly, who holds authority over all military branches. Watch your tongue, or I'll shoot you dead right now."

Nile Dok glared at Eren with ill intent.

"Commander-in-Chief of all military branches?"

Eren swallowed hard.

"Eren Yeager, answer my previous question."

"I don't know anything about turning into a Titan. I'm a human; how could I turn into a Titan? This must be a joke."

Eren's attitude was somewhat uncooperative; such a conversation was meaningless.

"Give me one minute."

Su Xiao looked at Darius Zackly, and Darius Zackly sighed.

"Don't be too rough. I've reviewed your case."

Su Xiao nodded, lifted his foot to release Eren from the ground, and grabbed the other man by the shoulder to lift him up.

"First, you can only listen; you have no right to speak."

Eren immediately wanted to speak, but Su Xiao raised his knee and slammed it into Eren's lower abdomen. Eren bent over in pain, spitting out a mouthful of acid.

"Hey! What are you doing? He might turn into a Titan; don't provoke him like that."

Nile Dok roared, stepping back quickly.

"Oh? According to the previous situation, this guy is about a 15-meter class 'Abnormal' after transforming. Even if he has some combat instincts, I can take him down in five minutes at most.

Continuing our previous conversation, you are only allowed to listen, not speak."

Eren nodded immediately; he wasn't stupid, and he'd get beaten if he spoke.

"That's the right attitude. The fact that you can turn into a Titan has been confirmed; I saw it with my own eyes. Considering you don't believe me, there are other witnesses."

Su Xiao turned his gaze toward Armin and Mikasa.

"Say what you saw, if you still want him to live."

Mikasa gritted her teeth and lowered her head. Armin realized the situation was wrong and spoke quickly:

"Eren, you very likely turned into a Titan earlier. We rescued you from inside the Titan's nape. Also, do you remember how you were swallowed by the Titan..."

"I only have one minute. You only need to confirm that he turned into a Titan."

Su Xiao interrupted Armin and looked at Eren.

"You can turn into a Titan. I'll give you five seconds to accept this."

Eren nodded blankly, but immediately shook his head. At this moment, Eren had only one thought: this man holding the long blade in front of him was terrifying.

"Five seconds are up. Now you must accept the fact that you can turn into a Titan."

It would take a long time for Eren to accept that he could turn into a Titan, so Su Xiao used the simplest and crudest method.

First, a beating, then forcing the other party to accept the fact, and finally, confirmation from his friends.

Eren's eyes were somewhat vacant; the fact that he could turn into a Titan had caused severe trauma to his young heart.

"You can continue the interrogation."

Su Xiao placed Eren on the ground and continued to step on him. He was also helpless; if he didn't do this, those cowardly guys from the Military Police Regiment wouldn't lower their guns. Once a shot went off, it would stimulate the nerves of others, and the wall would descend into chaos. If a high-ranking official were shot dead in the crossfire, his plan would have to be delayed.