After coming to his senses, Chen Si noticed Sasha nearby, miserably stuffing apples into her mouth.
He immediately began coaxing and bribing her, promising all kinds of delicious Marleyan food. Eventually, Sasha agreed not to tell Mikasa.
Chen Si let out a sigh of relief. In the future, he could just kidnap a few chefs from Marley for Sasha. Dealing with Mikasa was far harder than killing people.
Chen Si then went with Historia to the camp to visit Mina.
"Hey, Mina! Did you miss me?" Chen Si called out cheerfully as soon as he walked in.
Krista suddenly grabbed a handful of flesh on Chen Si's arm and pinched him hard, glaring at him viciously.
Seeing this, Chen Si quickly wiped the smile off his face and became serious. He straightened an imaginary belt around his waist, instantly looking like a leader arriving for inspection.
Mina was delighted to see him and quickly stood up.
"Top graduate!"
"What 'top graduate'? I'm not the top graduate anymore. Mikasa is now. Heh… my title was revoked."
"What?!" Krista and Mina exclaimed in unison.
"Why?" Mina asked in confusion.
"Oh, nothing much. I just cursed out a few old geezers and offended them," Chen Si said casually. He didn't mention that he had nearly been labeled a traitor and forced into internal conflict.
"Chen Si! You're not allowed to swear anymore! Before, you even lied to me and said that sha bi meant 'cute melon'!"
Krista puffed her cheeks and put her hands on her hips.
"Alright, alright! I won't say it anymore, I promise!" Chen Si raised his hand in surrender.
But in his mind, he was already planning to invent new insults. He would teach them to Eren and Jean first, then claim he learned them from them.
Perfect.
"By the way, where's Thomas?" Chen Si asked. He remembered that Mina wasn't the only one he had saved.
"Thomas hasn't woken up yet," Mina said with a troubled expression.
"Although you saved him, most of the bones in his body were shattered. He's still unconscious," Krista added softly.
Chen Si nodded, thinking to himself that if there was time, he could seize one of the intelligent Titans to try to save him. If there wasn't time… then there was nothing he could do.
After chatting with Mina a little longer, Chen Si prepared to leave with krista to meet Polino.
Just as he stepped outside, he saw a familiar woman.
"Chen Si!"
Carla rushed over and hugged him tightly.
"Thank goodness! You're safe."
Tears glimmered in her eyes, but she was smiling.
Chen Si felt the genuine concern Carla had for him and felt grateful. Her kindness toward him was sincere.
"Auntie, don't worry. I told you already—I'm so strong, how could anything happen to me? Unless I just didn't want to live anymore. I'm—"
"You brat! Don't talk nonsense!"
Carla suddenly scolded him sternly, cutting him off. She knew that since graduating from training, Chen Si had become more arrogant. That wasn't a good sign.
Chen Si scratched the back of his head and obediently fell silent.
Eren and Mikasa stood beside Carla. The two exchanged glances and burst into laughter.
Mikasa covered her mouth while laughing, while Eren laughed openly.
It was rare to see the usually arrogant Chen Si getting scolded like that.
"Eren, are you looking to practice hand-to-hand combat again?" Chen Si asked with a gentle smile.
"Uh… I just remembered the commander needs me for something. I'll go first!"
Eren immediately turned and ran.
Just as Chen Si tried to chase him, someone suddenly blocked his path.
"You damn—"
Chen Si started to curse but stopped midway.
"What's wrong, Chen Si? Now that you're the top graduate, you don't even recognize your Uncle Hannes anymore?"
The man laughed.
It was Hannes.
Hannes nodded toward Carla.
"You actually don't smell like alcohol for once. I didn't recognize you," Chen Si said, rolling his eyes.
"Extraordinary times. Besides, I'll have to go up to the wall soon to carry out a mission. I heard the commander is about to announce a plan."
Hannes looked toward the wall with concern.
Suddenly, the assembly bell rang.
Chen Si, Hannes, and the surrounding soldiers all turned toward the direction of the bell.
"Time to gather. I'm heading up to the wall first. Headquarters might have a big move coming. You kid—be careful."
"Don't worry," Chen Si replied.
Hannes left first.
"Is there going to be a battle?" Carla asked worriedly.
"It's nothing. Probably just the regiments announcing something," Chen Si said. He deliberately didn't tell her about the plan to retake Trost. If she knew, she would definitely object.
"Auntie, you should stay inside the camp for the time being. If you need anything, ask a familiar soldier to buy it for you. And if something dangerous happens, go find Instructor Keith Shadis."
If the operation to retake the city began, there might be a Titan battle—and that mysterious transmigrator could also appear inside the walls.
Fortunately, Carla's "loyal admirer" should be enough to keep her safe. Chen Si had heard that recently Keith often brought vegetables and fruit to Carla…
"Mikasa, go ahead first. I'll be there soon," Chen Si said.
Mikasa frowned slightly, as if she wanted to say something.
"Five minutes," Chen Si said, holding up his hand.
Mikasa nodded and walked away, glancing back once before heading to the assembly point.
Chen Si sighed.
Whenever he was around Mikasa, he always felt strangely like a henpecked husband.
No wonder Eren, with his hot temper, couldn't stand it at first.
At the moment, Chen Si couldn't tell whether Eren had feelings for Mikasa. Maybe Eren was just too dense to show it.
Back when Chen Si helped Mikasa put on the scarf, he truly did it as an older-brother figure. When someone is in extreme pain and loneliness, even the smallest kindness can leave a deep mark.
By interrupting Mikasa's obsession with Eren's scarf, Chen Si only hoped she could look at her feelings objectively, instead of being controlled by that attachment.
Even if she ended up liking Eren, he hoped it would be because of Eren's character and actions—not just because of a scarf.
And if Mikasa didn't like Eren, Chen Si would support her too.
Whoever Mikasa liked, he would support her.
If necessary, he would even tie the guy up and deliver him to her.
As for Chen Si and Mikasa…
Chen Si already had Historia now.
In his eyes, both Krista and Mikasa were wonderful girls. Having both of them would actually be unfair to them.
If someone only had beauty but nothing else, Chen Si could take twenty of them without feeling guilty.
But these two girls were different.
How can the word "love" truly be explained?
No matter how you try to write it, it never feels quite right.