"It's alright, Mikasa. You can choose any life you wish to live. That is your right, and I will be responsible for protecting that right for you," Kanzaki said with a doting smile.
Upon hearing Kanzaki's words, Mikasa was moved and recalled the tragic scene of her father's death.
Mikasa looked at the back of the person in front of her, who, despite their brief acquaintance, was one of only two remaining family members in the world, and her eyes welled up with tears.
Kanzaki suddenly charged out, and the floor cracked and shattered once again.
He delivered a powerful punch to his back, and simultaneously, a sweeping kick brought the tall, strong man to the ground. Eren landed on his bottom, coughing incessantly.
Eren's eyes widened as he watched Kanzaki's fluid fighting technique, feeling immense admiration and envy. However, he didn't know that Kanzaki had never learned any combat skills.
He was simply relying on the Ackerman bloodline's speed and strength, mimicking how others fought.
Kanzaki stomped heavily on his back, and with a 'crack,' the sound of a breaking rib seemed to reach Kanzaki's ears. Great strength was indeed good.
Kanzaki slammed his face into the floor, making his already deformed face even uglier. He had been facing away from him just now, so he hadn't seen his face clearly. Now that he lifted his head, that face was simply unbearable.
How had Eren looked at his deformed face so expressionlessly just now? This was the same man he had punched in the jaw earlier.
After waking up, he had intended to exact revenge while Kanzaki was asleep, but the fat man stopped him, saying that damaged flesh wouldn't fetch a good price. The poor man lost his last chance for revenge.
"You little brats, I'll sell you all to the Underground City sooner or later, and let your mothers be tortured in front of you, so you can all..." The deformed man's curse was cut short.
At this moment, all 639 muscles in Mikasa's body suddenly burst with cracking sounds. Her entire circulatory system began to clear, and streams of air enveloped her body. The wooden floorboards beneath her feet instantly shattered, sending wood chips flying.
I will protect Mama! I will protect my brother! I will let them all live well!
Mikasa's eyes narrowed, and she plunged a dagger fiercely into the deformed man's heart. The deformed man's eyes widened in disbelief, staring at the seemingly frail little girl in front of him.
"Brother, I can't bear to let you face this cruel world alone." Mikasa's eyes were resolute at this moment. The principle of natural selection and survival of the fittest entered Mikasa's heart at this instant.
"Good!" Kanzaki was also moved upon hearing this and immediately responded to Mikasa.
Eren saw that Mikasa had also killed someone, and his perception of her changed. He began to curiously observe Mikasa.
Kanzaki looked at Eren's changed gaze towards Mikasa and was momentarily speechless. Was Eren a born warmonger? His personality was completely opposite to Grisha and Carla. Why was that? Kanzaki also fell into thought.
At this moment, Mrs. Ackerman slowly woke up, her mouth agape in horror as she saw the three corpses before her.
Mrs. Ackerman immediately understood what had happened. Regardless of how these three children had done it, she knew she had to take the children away from this dangerous place immediately.
That night, Dr. Yeager arrived on the mountain with members of the Military Police Brigade. The Military Police soldiers looked at the three bloody corpses, one of which was particularly gruesome and unrecognizable.
"Did three children really do this?" Both soldiers broke out in a cold sweat.
"Eren, didn't I tell you to wait for me at the foot of the mountain? Do you know what you've done?!" Grisha Yeager reproached Eren.
"Eliminating evil for the people! They were nothing but beasts in human skin," Eren retorted stubbornly.
"Dr. Yeager, it's not Eren's fault. He was very brave; he saved our family," Mrs. Ackerman quickly interjected, trying to stop Grisha from scolding Eren.
"Madam, you've been through a lot. Please accept my condolences." Grisha also felt great sympathy for Mikasa's family's plight at this moment.
Mrs. Ackerman held Kanzaki and Mikasa tightly, her eyes filled with tears as she remained silent.
"If we waited for the Military Police, they would have already moved on. It would have been too late," Eren continued to argue.
"Even so, you were just lucky, Eren. I want to tell you not to put yourself in danger so carelessly!" Grisha looked at the still defiant Eren, speaking to him with utmost seriousness.
"Dr. Yeager is right, but Eren wasn't just lucky. He possesses a bravery that ordinary people can't hope to achieve. Let alone children, many adults can't do it. This isn't just about luck," Kanzaki suddenly interjected.
Mikasa turned to look at Kanzaki, her lips slightly parted, her eyes fixed on Kanzaki's mature words. Eren, on the other hand, stared at Kanzaki with sparkling, grateful eyes, tears subtly welling up. Eren felt as though he had finally found a kindred spirit.
Kanzaki saw Eren's grateful and joyful gaze and turned his head away.
Eren, although I admire you greatly, I truly cannot accept Mikasa suffering for you again for her entire life. She deserves to pursue her own true happiness. I'm sorry, Eren.
Grisha was also lost in thought for a long time after hearing this, then glanced at Eren as if pondering something. A moment later, he slowly walked towards Kanzaki and Mikasa. He noticed the bloodstains on Kanzaki's clothes and the faint, dried bloodstains on his fingers, feeling a mixture of surprise and relief in his heart.
Grisha's peripheral vision caught a glimpse of an empty space. Kanzaki also subconsciously looked over, but there was nothing there, and he didn't pay it any mind.
Grisha looked at Kanzaki and said, "You are Mikasa's brother, aren't you?"
"Yes," Kanzaki replied.
Mikasa looked at Kanzaki's unwavering answer, and light occasionally flickered in her eyes.
"Yes, Kanzaki is also a child of our family," Mrs. Ackerman also spoke.
"What a brave child, well done," Grisha praised with a smile, his attitude completely different from how he had treated Eren just moments before.
"Thank you," Kanzaki smiled faintly, like a boy next door.
Eren's eyes widened, unable to comprehend why his father was so biased.
Grisha then looked at Mikasa. "Mikasa, do you still remember me? We met a few times when you were little."
Upon hearing this, Mikasa sadly lowered her head, her eyes filled with confusion as she said:
"Dr. Yeager, our father is dead..."
"So cold..."
Kanzaki quickly walked to Eren's side and said to him, "Eren, may I borrow your scarf for a moment?"
Eren, whose admiration for Kanzaki, the master fighter, was at its peak, unhesitatingly took off his scarf and handed it to Kanzaki.
"Here."
"Thank you, Eren." Kanzaki took the scarf and walked to Mikasa's side, carefully wrapping it around her. Mikasa's eyes gradually brightened considerably, and she stared blankly as Kanzaki put the scarf on her.
"Mikasa, whether it's sadness or pain, it no longer has any meaning. We must be strong. Auntie is still here, and I am still here. You just need to know that I will always be by your side. I will use everything I have to protect you all. So, be strong!" Kanzaki held Mikasa's cheeks with both hands, gazing gently at Mikasa, his words full of power.
Upon hearing these words, every single one was deeply imprinted in Mikasa's heart. Her tears immediately gushed out.