CHAPTER - 17 { Vlad's Squad }

The sky was slightly orange with few white clouds floating aimlessly.

In an open field, there was a platform at the end of this field's entrance.

"Hey, which regiment are you joining?"

"Garrison Regiment. And you?"

"I will join the Scout Regiment."

All the trainees gathered here and were having conversations on which regiment to join.

"Trainees, lineup! Line up before the stage!"

A superior soldier shouted in the field as all the trainees started lining up.

Vlad moved forward and stood at the front, behind him stood Vector with a smirk on his face.

"Hey ladies! Wanna hang out after this?"

Vector looked at the two trainee soldiers behind him and asked with the smirk.

The two girls behind him blushed as Vector was pretty handsome compared to most of the guys here.

"Stop it. You aren't getting laid like this."

A figure came towards Vector with a straight face. She spoke with some sarcasm in her voice.

The girls showed surprise as they looked at the woman in front of them. She was tall, similar to Vector in height, and also very beautiful.

"Rose, please don't speak nonsense."

Vector gave a forced smile to Rose but she didn't give a thought to him and came behind Vlad.

Vlad glanced at her but focused on the stage again. Rose shook her head in slightly frustration.

"Hey!"

Another voice came in. This time it was a young man with a small body. He stood at 168 centimeters in height.

"Mike, lazy as ever."

Rose commented with a smile. Vector almost wanted to punch Rose on her nose seeing her talk with a smile to Mike.

"You know. You can also talk properly with me."

Vector rubbed his palms and said to Rose with a smile which was shaking. Mike greeted them and stood behind the two girls.

"I don't want to converse with a horny guy."

Vector's face turned ugly as the two girls behind him tried to hold their laughter. Mike yawned and closed his eyes.

"Okay that's enough. Stay quiet, it's going to start."

Vlad turned his head and said with an indifferent face. Rose gave a bitter smile and obeyed him while Vector was breathing fire.

The sky got dark as the senior soldiers lit the torches around the field.

Standing on the stage in front of all the trainees, Erwin Smith cleared his throat and held his head high.

"I am Erwin Smith, the commander of the Survey Corps. Today, you will choose your military branch."

"Put bluntly, I'm here to persuade you to join the Survey Corps. During the Titan Attack, you have learned how terrifying they are."

Vlad stared at Erwin. For him, this lecture or speech to convince them to join the Survey Corps was useless.

From the moment Vlad escaped the very first Titan attack, he had determined himself to join the Survey Corps.

Behind him, Rose, Vector and Mike were also not interested to listen because they all had already decided.

But for Armin, Mikasa, Reiner and the rest, this will be a hard decision to take.

As he spoke, Erwin also reveals the information about the basement of Eren's old house.

"What! Titan's secrets!"

"Have we really advanced this much!"

The trainee soldiers were all surprised and truly admired Erwin while Armin was shocked.

"We will head for the basement in Shiganshina. Whoever, that requires us to retake Wall Maria. In other words, our objective hasn't changed."

Two soldiers standing behind Erwin opened a huge map where all the locations were drawn.

"But with the Trost gate sealed, we'll have to take the long way around, from Karanes to the east."

"The four years we spent laying a route for the large army has gone to waste. In these four years, more than sixty percent of the Survey Corps lost their lives."

"Sixty percent in four years. An insane figure. Any trainees who join will participate in our excursion beyond the Walls, in a month."

"We expect thirty percent won't return. In four years, most will be dead. But those who survive will become superior soldiers with a high survival rate."

Every trainee was disheartened to hear such words. Most have already decided after hearing this to not join the Survey Corps.

"Knowing these discouraging facts. Any still wanting to risk their lives, remain here. Ask yourself… Are you willing to sacrifice your beating heart of Humanity?"

"That is all. Anyone who wishes to join another branch is dismissed."

Saying this, Erwin stood silently on the stage. His face is covered with a layer of darkness making it unable for the rest to see his face.

And as he expected, most of the trainees started moving from their positions.

It didn't even take a second as half the people had moved to leave. And the number didn't decrease at all.

Only a few individuals stood in their positions, but they still were very nervous.

Jean gritted his teeth seeing all the trainees around him leave one after another.

"Rose, are you really sure about this?"

Vector asked with a serious face. In his eyes, Rose wasn't fully determined to join the Survey Corps.

"Ya, I am. If I left you all, won't the squad crumple? And about what I wish, it isn't for you to fulfill."

Rose didn't look at Vector as she spoke. Her face was staring forward like Vlad.

The two girls hesitated to leave. Mike had already opened his eyes and smiled bitterly at those trainees who left.

Finally, after a few minutes. Those who wanted to leave all left. Only about 20 trainees stood before the stage now.

Erwin eyed them, he stopped to look at Vlad and then behind him. Somewhere in his heart, Erwin felt slightly happy.

"Can you die if you're ordered to?"

"I don't want to die!"

One of the trainees standing at the back shouted loudly in some frustration.

Erwin, listening to the shout, lowered his head and smiled.

"I see. I like the looks on your faces."

Erwin then stomped his foot and stood straight with his chest high before the trainees.

"Then I welcome everyone here to the Survey Corps! This is a true salute! Offer up your heart!"

He slammed his tight fist on his chest. All the trainees followed his lead and saluted with shouts.

Jean, Conny, Armin and Sasha were showing different emotions on their faces.

Scared, frustrated, regret and relief.

"I am getting goosebumps…"

Muttered Mike as he stared at the front. Vector nodded in affirmation.

"Captain, don't you have to say something?"

Asked Rose. Vlad looked down on the ground for a bit before turning back to see his squad.

"I am grateful… Having you all in my squad."

Said Vlad with a smile. Rose, Vector and Mike showed some surprise to him.

As Vlad rarely smiles. Because of this, the squad of four all had smiles on their faces.

Be it the strict Rose, carefree Vector, lazy Mike or rank first Vlad, they were truly happy to meet each other.