The Survey Corps was like that. Naturally, few recruits volunteered to join them. No one wanted to die. Hoping to provide the last push to anyone who might be just a step away from applying, Carlo himself had come on stage to court them.
“We plan to have recruits from this year join us in an expedition to take place a month from now. If you learn the truth about this world, you will understand why the Survey Corps exists.”
Whispers ran through the recruits once again.
“There is no guarantee that you’ll return alive. If you, knowing this, still want to put your life on the line and venture beyond the walls, stay here. All of you who want to join a different branch, you are dismissed. That is all.”
The moment Carlo finished his speech, the grounds grew quiet, but only for a moment. When one new soldier began to walk away hurriedly, it put the whole crowd in motion. Recruits began leaving one after the other as if an avalanche had been set off.
Cardina said as he watched the recruits practically fleeing the grounds, “That’s no surprise. Why go out of your way to choose a dangerous path?”
“You’re all okay with it? Even after snagging the right to join the Military Police?” Rosa asked everyone.
“I came here to kill Ogre.”
“And I decided to tag along with him… But if he decides he just has to join the Military Police Brigade, I’m not opposed to the idea.”
“I’m only interested in the Survey Corps.”
Cardina slumped his shoulders. “That’s what I thought.”
The recruits continued to disappear before their eyes even as they talked. In the end, only one score of them remained on the grounds. Whether that number was large or small was in the eye of the beholder, but Carlo seemed satisfied.
“You’re brave soldiers. I respect you from the bottom of my heart,” Carlo said calmly to the faces that remained. “Well then, I welcome those standing here into the ranks of the Survey Corps. That is all!”
With that, the recruitment ceremony came to an end.
“Did I join the Survey Corps?” Kuklo asked to make sure.
“I think it’s pretty clear we just did,” answered Rosa.
“Sheesh. Rejecting the Military Police to join the Survey Corps? My father must be rolling in his grave,” Cardina mumbled with palpable regret as one who only wished for a life of debauchery.
“Time to give up,” Kuklo chided.
“Resign yourself,” Rosa said appalled.
“You’re not the only ones who’ve turned down the Military Police,” a voice said. This one belonged to Jorge. “It looks like he’s doing the same to join the Survey Corps,” he said before shifting his gaze.
Kuklo’s eye followed it only to fall upon someone so unexpected that his jaw dropped. “Xavi.”
Among the recruits staying on the grounds was Xavi, who could have exercised his right to join the Military Police. His expression was terribly grim, and his large frame seemed to be shaking a little. The life seemed to have been sucked out from his face, and he seemed unsteady and ready to faint at any moment. Clearly, Xavi’s true wish wasn’t to join the Survey Corps.
“Wasn’t he going to become an MP?” asked Kuklo.
“I thought so, too, but something made him reconsider,” Jorge said, though Kuklo had no idea what could have. “Putting that aside, let’s talk about your future,” the instructor cut to the chase, facing toward his pupils. “As Carlo informed you, you’ll be taking part in the expedition occurring a month from now. And of course, you’ll do so wearing the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment.”
“Will we be killing Titans?” Kuklo asked.
“That will depend. While you have all received plenty of training, you have close to zero combat experience. It will probably be hard for you to take on Titans from the get-go.” Jorge said “close to zero” rather than “zero” only because of Kuklo and Cardina’s skirmish of an encounter. Simply being chased by a Titan beyond the walls was a valuable experience.
“So what should we do, then?” Cardina asked.
“For now, just join the expedition.”
“To get used to it?” Rosa said with a look of understanding.
“Your first mission is to return alive no matter what. You hear me?”
Kuklo and the others nodded in reply.
“The next time I meet you, it will be a month from now. I’ll be watching you from the top of Wall Maria.” With that, Jorge walked off without any further parting words.
“So he wants to meet us in Shiganshina District after we’ve returned alive?” Cardina threw out.
“Probably.”
“Okay. Well, we can’t let him down.”
While Cardina and Rosa continued to chat, Kuklo was interested in something unrelated to his own safe return. He stared at Xavi, who stood there stock-still.
Why would he join the Survey Corps? Xavi hungered for power more than any of the others. Kuklo still couldn’t bring himself to believe that the guy had joined the Survey Corps after all. He had to have some ulterior motive. But what is it?
There was only one way to find out.
Kuklo approached the dazed-looking Xavi and asked him, “Why the Survey Corps?”
“It’s your fault…” Xavi’s voice and body were both trembling. “I’m going to join the Military Police. I’m going to gain power and become greater than my father ever dared to be!”
“Then why not apply to the Military Police?”
“I can’t keep losing to you! I’ll join the Military Police after I settle the score!!” Xavi yelled, glaring at Kuklo with all he had. He looked ready to pounce at any moment, and Kuklo was naturally put on guard by the tense mood, but rather than raise his fists Xavi spun and stormed off.
Chuckling, Cardina walked toward Kuklo. “You know, he might have some promise after all.”
Rosa tilted her head, mystified. “Maybe he wasn’t actually rotten to the core. Or maybe he was reborn after his thorough beating?”
Some change of heart must have visited Xavi, indeed. Yet it was unlikely to affect Kuklo in any way.
Taking his eye off of Xavi’s receding back, Kuklo gazed up at the sky. It looked calm─a perfect day for thinking about the future.
Of course, thinking guaranteed no flash of inspiration, nor was it his part to use his head.
Kuklo simply voiced his desire. “I wanna fly…”