Chapter 110 Justice in the Shadows

"Old man, are you okay?"

Ryo watched as the Military Police disappeared into the distance before approaching the trembling vendor. At first, the vendor flinched, mistaking him for another soldier here to extort him. But upon recognizing the Wings of Freedom on Ryo's uniform, relief washed over him. Clutching Ryo's arm, the old man began to sob uncontrollably.

"It's okay. Take this money and leave quickly," Ryo urged, pressing a small pouch of coins into the vendor's hands. "They might come back to harass you."

The vendor's eyes widened in shock, and he shook his head vigorously. "No, no, no! How can I take your money? This has nothing to do with the Survey Corps!"

A murmur rippled through the crowd as onlookers began to voice their agreement.

"Young man, this isn't your responsibility!"

"You're already risking your life for humanity. You shouldn't have to pay for this!"

An elderly man stepped forward and placed a reassuring hand on Ryo's shoulder. "Listen, you and the Survey Corps are the only ones standing between us and those titans. Your sacrifice means everything. We can't let you spend your hard-earned pay on this. Let us handle it."

The crowd nodded in unison. They pooled together what little they had, passing coins from hand to hand until the vendor's stolen money was replaced.

The vendor, overwhelmed with gratitude, bowed repeatedly. "Thank you! Thank you all so much!" He clutched the coins tightly and hurried away.

Ryo watched the scene unfold, his chest swelling with emotion. The genuine support and respect the people had for the Survey Corps deeply moved him. Despite the hardships, their belief in the Corps as humanity's hope remained unshaken.

As he walked away, Ryo couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of pride in his uniform. The sacrifices made by countless Survey Corps members over the past century had earned them this reverence, and it reminded him of the weight of his role.

But there was little time to dwell on such thoughts. His focus shifted to teaching the Military Police a lesson they wouldn't forget.

---

"Silk, you're saying you got beaten by a single guy? Seriously?"

Several veterans of the Military Police were strolling through the streets when they encountered Silk, a soldier temporarily seconded to the Survey Corps. Silk, still nursing his bruised pride, recounted his humiliating encounter.

"That guy was strange," Silk muttered. "We couldn't touch him. But if you guys step in, I'm sure you can handle him."

The veterans sneered. "He's just a kid. Leave it to us. We'll remind him where the Survey Corps stands in the pecking order."

Unknown to them, Ryo had already caught up and overheard their conversation. He smirked, recognizing Silk among them. "Well, isn't this convenient? Looks like I won't have to search for you after all."

Silk flinched upon hearing Ryo's voice but quickly hid behind the others.

Ryo followed the group as they wandered into an empty alley. Once they were out of sight, he pulled his jacket inside out to conceal the Wings of Freedom and adjusted a scarf to hide his face. With a calculated swiftness, he attacked.

The first man fell before he even realized what hit him.

"Who's there?" another shouted, reaching for his weapon.

But Ryo didn't give them a chance. His fists flew in a blur, each strike landing with precision. The Military Police were slow and untrained for combat, their arrogance leaving them defenseless. One by one, they crumpled to the ground.

When the dust settled, Ryo dusted off his hands and surveyed the scene. The alley was silent, and no one had witnessed the scuffle. Perfect.

He crouched beside the unconscious men, rifling through their pockets for the money they had stolen and confiscating their weapons. Then, with a mischievous glint in his eye, he stripped them of their uniforms and left them sprawled on the ground in their undergarments.

"Let's see how you explain this to your superiors," he muttered, shaking his head in amusement.

Before leaving, he scribbled a note and pinned it to one of the uniforms. **"This is what happens when you prey on the weak. - A Concerned Citizen."**

Satisfied, Ryo vanished into the shadows, his job done. This wasn't just about revenge; it was a statement. The Military Police might hold power, but today, they'd learn what it felt like to be humiliated.