The Survey Corps

The fighting ceased after everyone had withdrawn, the Survey Corps needed to know what had happened and many of the soldiers from the garrison troops needed to regroup. 

By eight o'clock in the evening it had grown dark, a moon hung in the night sky along with numerous stars. 

The night this time was not pleasant at all, many depressing things had happened and information about the future of mankind had stalled in the first victory of mankind. 

Gustav, Rita and Anka from Commander Pixis' staff took Eren, Takashi, Armin, Rico and Ian for a walk through the streets of the temporary base under the wall. 

As planned, they would meet with a high-ranking group from the Survey Corps to discuss the operation and the cleanup to be done tomorrow. Incidentally, an order was issued that Eren should be handed over to the Survey Corps. After the report tonight, Eren would be imprisoned. These are his last hours being free, then his future would be uncertain. 

Takashi expected that he would also be imprisoned, but apparently the only one who found out about his Susanoo was Levi. Therefore, Takashi was looking forward to meeting with him. 

Walking down the street and knowing that he would soon be imprisoned, Eren felt depressed and said, "It looks like I'll be treated like a monster in the end, although I can understand, it's still a lot to process." 

No wonder he felt lost, he made a great contribution, but no one could do anything for him in this situation. Most importantly, he did not lose control of his titan this time. As he retired after completing the operation, some of the same soldiers who trained alongside him in the training corps, looked at him as if he was a monster. 

Armin could sense their concern and calmly explained, "Eren, not everyone treats you like a monster, you shouldn't blame them even if they fear you, their fear is due to them unconsciously transferring their fear for titans to you. Don't get too depressed, it's not that bad." 

Smiling bitterly, Eren looked at the silent Takashi and asked, "Really? Takashi, when we trained together many used to call me a monster, but that was just an exaggerated description, who knew I've become a monster now?" 

Takashi looked at Eren's sad face and said matter-of-factly, "Even if you can become a titan, most of the time you live like a human being. Eren, do you know what makes people human?" 

Without waiting for Eren, who was a bit lost to answer, Takashi explained, "Humans have human nature and what all that entails us to have morality, conscience and dreams. Some of those who are human and don't have those traits, are just humans without conscience and life."

"You are a warrior Eren, if the higher ups have intelligence, you will be a great support to all of humanity and they will make you a hero. At least now, we know that titans are not invincible." 

The atmosphere in the group suddenly became silent, Rita, Anka and Gustav who were walking in front of them looked at Takashi unconsciously, Rico and Ian also had strange expressions. 

The young cadet Takashi was far superior in every way, his combat skills also seemed to have no rivalry within the soldiers of his own age. 　

Ignoring everyone's surprised expressions, Takashi sighed now calmer said, "Eren, for now you will be held by the Survey Corps and in a few days you will be guarded by the Gendarmerie corps, you must be prepared as they will definitely not treat you with love." 

"You have to be smart and not take their words seriously, because you can't expect a group of quiet soldiers who will have consideration for your true capabilities." 

Hearing this, Eren smiled and said, "Takashi, you seem to have changed a lot lately. I thought you would stop talking to me or just make fun of the general situation." 

Recalling the events of the past, Armin couldn't help but laugh. Words like "Listen-Farts" were uttered by Takashi and they could always hear some witty insults from him from time to time. Armin now also felt that Takashi's performance did not match his usual behavior.　　 

"Takashi, although there are no members of the gendarmerie regiment here, you'd better not speak ill of them." Rico lifted her glasses and reminded him. 

Ian nodded and said, "Rico is right, once you offend the military police, it will cause you a lot of trouble." 

Takashi didn't say anything, he didn't know much about the military police regiment, only that it was the most honored and treated corps among the three main corps, but after staying in the military for a long time, he knew some things. 　　 

The group entered a small two-story building. There were two guards from the garrison troops in front of the door. The lights in the building were glowing. Without speaking, they all climbed the stairs to the second floor and sat down. 

Commander Erwin had a brief meeting with Commander Pixis, and together with his most trusted staff they discussed the details and the operations that were carried out with the garrison corps. 

The fact that Commander Pixis was very busy since the end of the operation. He has a lot of follow-up issues to deal with right after a large-scale battle. Just considering the losses, senior officers killed and many more things must be followed up closely by the commander. 

At the long table on the second floor, Anka, Rita and Gustav sat at the main seats, Eren sat in the middle of them and behind them Mikasa and Armin stood. Takashi was sitting on the right, with Ian and Rico behind him. There was something that was about to end and that was his status as captain of the vanguard squads. 　　 

The Survey Corps soldiers were late, so we couldn't blame them. The gate to the Trost district was locked when they arrived and most of their personnel could not easily gain access. In addition, there were a large number of titans outside the Trost district, so many of them needed to take care of supplies that could only be taken away with elevators, first from the Trost wall gate to the Rose wall.　　 

Now their supplies were still being sent back, but at least most of their soldiers had withdrawn.　 

The first person to enter was Erwin Smith, the Survey Corps commander. He looked Eren over carefully and then saluted the officers closest to Commander Pixis before sitting down across from them. 　 

The Survey Corps commander seemed calm enough, but the same could not be said for the others.　　 

"Hello, good evening everyone!" 

With reddish-brown hair and glasses, she ran over to Eren and Hange Zoe said excitedly, "Sorry for the wait, Eren Jaeger, right? Well, let me see..." 

However, before she could reach out to grab Eren's hand, she found someone grabbing her arm, and when she turned her head, Moblit Berner tugged his hand nervously, "Be careful! Squadron Leader, you must not be too impulsive as usual!" 　 

After saying that, Moblit Berner, the vice captain of squadron four under Hange Zoe's orders, also looked attentively at Eren, still believing it difficult that the other party could become a titan. He felt that his squad leader's actions depended on a small thread to survive, so he was really worried Hange's careless actions would take his life. 

"Don't be so nervous, it's okay, I just want to take a closer look..." 　 

Hange's eyes did not give up, but before she could finish speaking 1.6 meters tall, passing by on the side patted the back of his head and said with an impatient tone, "Hey, four eyes, pay attention to the overall situation!" 

Only then did Hange realize that she had momentarily lost her temper, turned her head to look at Levi, who was staring at her like a dead fish and slowly withdrew the hand that wanted to touch Eren. 

"Ha ha ha! Sorry, it was my bad manners fault." 　 

Looking at Eren reluctantly, Hange sat down on the left side of the Survey Corps commander. Only then Eren breathed a sigh of relief and smiled nervously. 

He had been under a lot of pressure for a long time, but when Hange looked at him, it reminded him of Sasha's eyes when she looked at the meat.

However, before he could relax, a man with blond hair and a beard and mustache, appeared behind Armin without a word, put his hands on his shoulders, lowered his head and started sniffing with his nose as if he were a dog to where Eren was.　 

Eren felt a shiver and his body tensed.

How would it feel if a man started sniffing people if you didn't know him?　 

Eren was really in a cold sweat at this point. He was very puzzled and confused. He didn't know how to react to these pitiful things. Mikasa's eyes had turned cold and she was about to start sweeping people off their feet. 

But at that moment, Captain Mike Zacharius finally raised his head, if he kept sniffing for a moment longer, maybe he would face Miaksa's polite treatment. 

With a slightly sarcastic expression, Mike smiled slightly, released Armin and then turned to walk towards Eren, because Hange and his inferior officer had taken his place, he walked to Takashi's side. 

As he passed by Takashi's place, Mike averted his head, but this time he didn't get too close, his nose twisted twice and said with some disgust, "Boy, the smell of blood on your body, you must have killed a lot of titans to smell like that." 

Takashi looked at Mike with a bit of surprise, did this man have a keen sense of smell, would he be a Beagle familiar? He knew a lot about the smell on his body. 

After a titan's blood evaporates, there will still be some smell left, which Takashi had also felt, after all, he was bathed in blood on numerous occasions.

Mike is not very talkative, so he sat directly next to Takashi after making that scene.

Anka, Gustav and Riya were not surprised, the Survey Corps is a place where a lot of strange people gather. 

In addition to the leaders of the main squads, some people who were only one rank lower than the captains also came.　　 

In short, the main figures of the Survey Corps were gathered ready to start the meeting. 

Takashi had calmed down since hours ago, sooner or later he will know what Captain Levi knows about his mother and understand her behavior better.