Straightforward

"I can agree to your request, but I’ll only accept this one."

Levi gave Xu Yue his trademark dead-fish stare and spoke coldly. Aside from his good buddy, the Commander, he couldn’t be bothered with anyone else.

Though he did not openly contradict Xu Yue like Borchart had, the title of advisor clearly meant nothing to him either.

"That won’t do. It would ruin my plans. How about this—we compete and see who kills more Titans. If you win, I’ll listen to you and never interfere with Corps matters again. But if you lose, you’ll have to obediently do as you’re told."

Xu Yue shook his head with a speechless expression, then said with a smile.

The Survey Corps could become a force he could make use of in the future. They could not be too unruly, and the most direct approach was clearly the most effective way to deal with them.

Yet dressed in his refined, scholarly-looking "gentleman’s" attire, he did not look remotely threatening while saying such things.

Borchart immediately snorted with laughter, making his uniquely exaggerated expression as he said,

"Pfft—hahaha, hahahaha! Competing with Corporal Levi in Titan kills? Even Commander Erwin can’t beat him! Let me tell you, newcomer, Corporal Levi is the real trump card of the Corps. Number one, understand?"

Faced with such absurdly malicious mockery, Xu Yue still maintained his gentle and elegant demeanor, smiling brilliantly.

"Only this way will all of you be convinced, won’t you?"

Choked by that response, Borchart seemed unable to think of a rebuttal. Somehow, it sounded perfectly reasonable.

"Hey, can you even use Omni-directional Mobility Gear?"

Unable to argue back, he could only change the subject.

"Not yet."

Xu Yue’s answer was sincere and blunt, instantly freezing everyone’s expressions.

Only Eren and Mikasa looked at the Survey Corps members with sympathy. Come on, he could tear Titans apart with his bare hands without even using Omni-directional Mobility Gear.

Armin, who had never seen Xu Yue fight, looked somewhat worried.

"Then could you give me a set to try first?"

Xu Yue smiled and held out his hand, seemingly asking Borchart for one.

"Uh, all right…"

Completely bewildered, Borchart agreed instinctively. At the same time, both he and Petra involuntarily thought,

If this advisor specially dispatched from above accidentally died during the competition, wouldn’t that be troublesome…?

No, no. Given the situation, he was more likely to fall to his death while using the Omni-directional Mobility Gear.

"Mr. Advisor."

Petra was still too softhearted to bear it and cautiously said,

"Um, won’t you reconsider?"

"No need. As an advisor to the Survey Corps, it would be far too improper not to learn how to use Omni-directional Mobility Gear."

Xu Yue adjusted his collar, seemingly not caring in the slightest.

One of the rewards for the mission to save the Queen had been the Omni-directional Mobility Gear Blueprints, along with an Omni-directional Mobility Gear Instruction Manual that came with copying capabilities.

The latter was an item similar to a skill book, and it possessed a copying function. It was also something the space had never sold before.

However, due to its limited use, its price would definitely be extremely low. After deducting the copying cost, there was little profit to be made, though it could help promote Omni-directional Mobility Gear.

Using Omni-directional Mobility Gear did not necessarily require a skill book. Xu Yue had no intention of learning it himself. A skill book that could be copied should naturally be kept for reproduction and business in the space; learning it directly would be such a waste.

With his current physical condition and sense of balance, using such an auxiliary device posed no difficulty…

Watching Xu Yue dart up and down, almost immediately becoming proficient with the gear, nearly everyone felt as if they had been deceived.

This was what he called not knowing how to use it?

"You big liar! Hmph, don’t think this will make us see you in a different light. A lot of your movements look far too amateurish to me—far too amateurish, understand?"

Borchart stomped about and bristled as he spoke, treating Xu Yue as though he had known how to use it all along.

"You’re indeed correct."

For once, the Corporal nodded in agreement with Borchart’s assessment. Borchart was so excited that he nearly trembled, his nostrils practically expanding across half his face.

"He is controlling the equipment through his exceptional physical abilities. In that regard, he is stronger than everyone present."

Yet the Corporal’s next icy sentence froze Borchart’s expression.

"No way. With that build? He’s not even as strong as I am."

The five-foot-three Corporal swept Borchart with an icy glance, instantly turning the latter to stone.

Th-that seemed to have been the wrong thing to say…

News that the Survey Corps’ advisor would compete with the Survey Corps’ Corporal in killing Titans spread rapidly.

The fall of Wall Maria had plunged the entire world within the walls into pessimism. Aside from a very small number of people, most had no idea that the Founding Titan even existed.

Together with the strain the refugees placed on food supplies, this was the most unstable period imaginable.

Yet at such a time, this explosive news arrived, more than enough to divert everyone’s attention.

Whatever the reason, it caused quite an impact.

Because of the fall of Wall Maria, the Survey Corps, once poorly regarded, now held a much higher status than before.

And since the competition involved something as sensational as killing Titans, it naturally drew tremendous attention.

The royal family even secretly encouraged it. In order to redirect the public’s attention, people were permitted to climb onto the walls to watch this simple contest!

From such a height, with the aid of binoculars and similar tools, they would be able to see the general course of the competition clearly.

"Amazing! This is amazing! This time, everyone will finally see the strength of our Survey Corps!"

Standing atop the wall, Borchart clasped his hands together, his face flushed red with excitement.

Having endured controversy for so long, the Survey Corps members had been under immense pressure. But now, they could finally hold their heads high.

"It’s a shame I can’t take the stage in an event like this."

But then he sighed again, looking somewhat dissatisfied.

He was the sort of person who loved showing off and cared greatly about appearances.

"Since you’re so interested, why not join this competition as well?"

At that moment, Xu Yue’s familiar, gentle voice reached him. Borchart paused, then stared at Xu Yue with full suspicion as he said,

"Let me guess. There are too many Spectators, so you know you’re no match for the Corporal and want to bring me in too, right? But whatever. Even if that’s the case, I’m still stronger than you. I’ll do as you wish."

Borchart fiddled with the Omni-directional Mobility Gear at his waist, his face filled with excitement.

"Actually, I think the Survey Corps excels at coordinated combat. Why not have the entire Levi Squad join as well?"

Xu Yue’s expression remained as natural as ever, but his smiling, narrowed eyes made Borchart shudder for no reason.

His smile was clearly gentle, and he still looked like a refined scholar.

Yet the invisible pressure in his words, that utter indifference and air of looking down upon everything, made Borchart’s heart race uncontrollably. His blood circulated faster, and he found it hard to breathe.

"I agree with that arrangement. Let it be so."

At that moment, a crisp female voice sounded. Looking toward it, they discovered that Frieda Reiss had somehow personally come up onto the wall…

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