The next day, the trial concerning Eren was held within Wall Sina.
After being thoroughly beaten by Levi, he officially joined the Survey Corps.
Because of Eren's inclusion, Erwin began making preparations for the 57th exterior scout mission.
"Mr. Tang An."
Near noon, a carriage appeared outside Tang An's residence.
The shop owner entered the courtyard with a beaming smile, his expression appearing somewhat hypocritical as he looked at Tang An, who was stripped to the waist and wearing only stretchy boxer briefs.
Tang An was doing a handstand, his right hand tucked behind his waist as he trained with a single arm. Beads of hot sweat dripped down his sharply defined muscles--especially his six-pack abs--making him radiate an aura of raw masculinity at all times.
"What brings you here?"
Tang An did not stop, continuing his one-armed handstand push-ups, moving up and down rhythmically.
"Tsk... tsk... How on earth do you do that?"
The shop owner rubbed his protruding belly, watching Tang An's routine with a mixture of envy and shock.
Seeing that Tang An remained silent, the shop owner gave a dry cough. "Thank you for the warning last time. If I hadn't gone to Wall Sina ahead of time, I might have been eaten by a Titan."
"I merely gave you a heads-up."
Tang An switched to his right arm to continue his workout.
"How did you predict that the Titans would breach the wall?"
The shop owner was extremely curious about this. If he could get advance notice of such information every time, he would be able to relocate his goods beforehand, and all of that meant cold, hard cash.
"Did you get the news from the Survey Corps?"
"Pretty much!"
Tang An replied casually.
"I heard you were personally invited to join the Survey Corps by Commander Erwin. You're bound to hold a high position in the future. I've always enjoyed making wide circles of friends, so if there's any news in the future, please remember to let me know. As for this house, it's my gift to you.
I'll send people over to renovate it shortly."
The shop owner finally revealed his true purpose.
Even though his network was extensive, his keen eye told him that Tang An was destined to be extraordinary.
Investing in him or getting on his good side now was definitely the right move.
"No problem."
Tang An did not refuse; after all, it was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
"Haha..."
The shop owner was overjoyed. He loved dealing with people like Tang An--straightforward and decisive!
"I'll have people come fix up the house right away, then."
"Do as you please."
Just as the shop owner was about to call for workers, a Survey Corps soldier in uniform landed in the courtyard from afar.
"You must be Tang An!"
The newcomer locked eyes with Tang An immediately.
"What is it?"
Pushing off the ground with one hand, Tang An executed a backflip and landed squarely on his feet, looking at the soldier.
"Commander Erwin wants to see you."
Tang An frowned slightly and glanced at the shop owner.
"Go ahead. The house is on me," the shop owner said, patting his chest.
"Give me three minutes."
Tang An took a quick dip in the nearby river to wash off, returned to his room to change clothes, and then left with the soldier.
Meanwhile, the shop owner began rounding up workers to renovate the property.
About half an hour later, Tang An followed the soldier to Erwin's office.
Upon walking in, he saw quite a few people gathered there.
Erwin, Levi, Eren, Hange, Mike, Oruo, Petra, and other Survey Corps elites were all present--a total of eight or nine people.
"Reporting, Tang An has been brought here."
"You may dismissed."
Erwin nodded at the soldier, who promptly went outside and closed the door behind him.
"Hey! Eren."
Tang An made himself completely at home, pulling up a chair to sit down as he casually greeted the nervous Eren sitting nearby.
Eren felt somewhat awkward. After all, when Kitz had cornered him previously, Tang An hadn't helped him at all; instead, he had stood there with the others looking terrified and had even drawn his blades.
"Sorry about yesterday."
Tang An didn't dwell on the explanation, turning instead to look at Erwin, Levi, and the others. "Why did you call me here?"
The time to kill Eren hadn't arrived yet; it was still safer to take things one step at a time. Besides, Eren wasn't going anywhere.
"The time we agreed upon has arrived."
Erwin crossed his arms and rested his chin on his hands, looking as though he wanted to see right through Tang An.
"I feel like the Survey Corps is too dangerous. I'm starting to think the Garrison Regiment suits me better."
Tang An feigned hesitation.
"You and I are cut from the same cloth."
Levi wore a cold expression. He certainly didn't believe Tang An was afraid of danger.
As Levi finished speaking, Hange, Mike, Oruo, and Petra--several elite members of the Survey Corps--unexpectedly shifted positions to guard the doorway, their hands resting on the hilts of their blades, ready to draw at a moment's notice.
"Hey! What's the meaning of this?"
Tang An leaned back against his chair, tapping rhythmically on the armrest with one hand.
At first, he hadn't figured it out, but after locking eyes with Erwin, he understood.
Could this guy possibly think that he, like Eren, might be the Armored Titan or the Colossal Titan?
"Let me guess. Do you suspect that I, like Eren, can transform into a Titan--that I might be the Colossal Titan or the Armored Titan--and therefore you need to keep me under your thumb?"
Tang An crossed his legs leisurely, looking at Erwin with a hint of amusement.
Sure enough, Erwin's expression shifted slightly.
Hange, on the other hand, stared at Tang An with fanatical intensity, practically wishing Tang An really was a Titan.
As for Mike, Oruo, Petra, and Eren, they all looked at Erwin in utter astonishment.
Earlier, Erwin had merely instructed them to surround Tang An without explaining why.
Could this guy really turn into a Titan just like Eren?
Everyone's gazes shifted back and forth between Erwin and Tang An, their muscles tensing as they heightened their vigilance.
Erwin waved his hand, signaling Mike and the others to stand down, and then looked at Tang An with a frown. "It seems you aren't one."
"You believe me just like that?"
Now it was Tang An's turn to be surprised.
"My apologies."
Erwin offered only a brief apology.
Based on various pieces of evidence and their brief exchange just now, Erwin had preliminarily concluded that Tang An could not possibly be a Titan. That was his judgment.
Of course, suspicions still remained.
However...
"It seems you know something."
As Erwin spoke, everyone's focus locked back onto Tang An.
After all, Tang An's previous remarks invited deep contemplation.
"Judging from Eren, I can roughly guess that the Colossal Titan and the Armored Titan might be humans who can transform. They could be in the Garrison Regiment, they could be in the Military Police Brigade, or they could even be right here in this office. Everyone present is a suspect, including you."
Tang An swept his gaze across everyone in the room, sparing neither Erwin nor Levi.
"Surely all of you have thought of this, haven't you?"
Silence descended upon the office, and every face flickered with uncertainty.
Just as Tang An had pointed out, ever since Eren transformed into a Titan, they had all considered the possibility that the Colossal Titan or the Armored Titan might also be humans in disguise.
"The Titan that Eren turns into, as well as the Colossal and Armored Titans, are indeed different from the rest. It's like... like they possess intelligence."
Mike hesitated before speaking up.
"Now we can be certain: this guy is definitely not a Titan."
Levi still wore a sour expression as he pointed straight at Tang An.
"You guys may not suspect me anymore, but I still have to suspect you. Any one of you... or you... or even you could be a Titan."
Tang An curled his lip, pointing successively at Mike, Oruo, Petra, and the others, before finally gesturing toward Levi.
"Horseshit."
"You're the Titan!"
Mike and the others were thoroughly irritated. They were actually being suspected in return!
"There's no telling. Commander Erwin could very well be one."
Tang An folded his arms and sneered, firing shots indiscriminately.
Mike and the rest wanted to retort, but Erwin stopped them with a gesture.
"Tang An makes a valid point. Everyone is a suspect, including myself."
"Commander!"
"From today onward, you are officially a member of the Survey Corps! Levi, Hange, head out to the new outpost shortly. Also, keep this matter strictly confidential."
"Understood."
Mike and the others nodded.
Tang An did not speak this time, tacitly accepting the outcome.