The encounter

The next morning, many Survey Corps veterans in a meeting room were discussing the process of off-wall exploration.

Many still don't realize that off-wall research a month later won't be the same as before. 

Commander Erwin dropped off the reports on the new recruits joining the Survey Corps, many had already studied these files the day before. 　 

After everyone had read the profiles of the recruits, Erwin asked, "How do they see it, is there anyone to be more careful with?" 

Captain Mike said, "In a group of good soldiers. You can tell there is talent from all aspects within this batch of graduates." 

Mike, like many others, felt that the quality of recruiting in this group was extremely high. Overall, it was good that some graduated with a B from instructor Keith. However, there are over ten evaluations with an A this year, and four of them have an A+, all of which was like winning a lottery prize. 

Hange Zoe said, "They can all learn slowly, I think Ness will teach them well what to learn." 　 

Nanaba hesitated, "Isn't it too hasty to let them participate in research outside the walls in a month?" 

Many people in the room turned their heads to look at Erwin waiting for answers. In the past, they would not be in such a hurry to teach new Survey Corps soldiers and would normally be finished teaching them in three to four months. This time, Commander Erwin's demeanor was wrong. 

Erwin just smiled, he couldn't share all his plans for now and said, "It's okay, it's just a short and quick investigation." 　 

The plan is still being perfected, and out of prudence, even if all the veterans are present, he does not intend to unveil the plan and all the hidden meaning of this operation right now, it will not be too late to share the plans a few hours before the operation.

Erwin knew very well that the enemy had already broken through the wall and was possibly now in the allied ranks, otherwise why did the colossal titan attack the Trost district gate right after the Survey Corps left the city, was it just a coincidence? A coincidence five years later?" 

Eren can become a titan. The colossal titan and the battleship are probably just like Eren not counting the female titan that appeared right at the end of the gate being sealed. His guesses were reinforced when the experimental subjects were killed, which means that the enemy may belong to the Survey corps or be in another division of the army. Anyone who had not been in the corps less than five years were suspects, he could not allow the enemy to fool him. 

Relatively speaking, suspicions such as Takashi having strange power capable of equal to that of the titans is something to be taken into account. The most likely to be enemies are those who come from the Shiganshina district. 

Seeing that the commander did not say much, the Survey Corps elites did not ask, Erwin had a high prestige in the Survey Corps and the soldiers were very convinced of his plans. 

... 

The first day when they arrived at the castle, Takashi and the others were busy clearing the grounds and the next day it all started in the morning.

The good squad leader Ness, who was wearing a white hood, called Takashi and his group of recruits to the stables to feed the horses. 

Ness told them all, "I know you all brought horses that you carry with you from the training corps, but sometimes the distance to investigate outside the wall is too great, so you must change horses and you need a spare one." 

"Remember, don't treat the horses badly when it comes to feeding them, no matter what horse it is! Outside the walls, the horses will save our lives! Average titans cannot match the speed of horses that are carefully bred and selected." 

Seeing that everyone was listening intently, Nass nodded and brought out his horse, "This is my mare Shallot. She loves to chew on hair, so be careful if you don't want to go bald." 

"Nice to introduce you all to her!" 

"Hey! Stop it, Shallot!" 　　 

"Ah... Hey, somebody hold her!" 

Ness's mare bit the white cloth hood on his head, Takashi's face smiled ruefully, he finally knew why Squadron Leader Ness was wearing a funny white hood. 

Connie stepped forward and helped that separated Ness from the mare "Shallot." Ness was not angry. He was used to his strange horse, so he shaved his hair and now his scalp is balder than Connie's, clean and shiny. 

Like Takashi, he also got used to his horse with a noble temperament, "Babas."　　 

Thomas also remembered his horse Dorito, now he thought that army horses were much rarer than soldiers. 

After the horses had been fed, Nass took all the new recruits to a classroom. On a blackboard was a diagram of the route formation to be made in a month, it was invented by Commander Erwin and its function is to go through the most special in the shortest possible time. 

"You new recruits will be here. Among the support team and those who will guard the carriages. Your job will be to shuttle the spare horses and relay messages." 

Takashi was looking at the map intently. Armin and Nelson on their side were taking notes, showing an analytical demeanor. 

The principle of this formation is intended to increase the scouting ratio, with soldiers spread evenly thus obtaining a reliable range of vision in all directions, being at maximum scouting ability and communication sphere. 

The primary circular method is flare guns, based on the color of the smoke, will be able to be aware of the situation appropriately. 

It is clear that the front line of the division are the ones who will use them most often. In case a titan is spotted, the first division will have to fire a red flare, the neighboring units will confirm the color of the smoke and follow them until it reaches the center, when it reaches the center, it will fire a green flare indicating the direction in which they will advance. 

However, when the eccentric titans appear a black flare will be fired. Since these titans seem to understand the basic principle of the formation, they will try to break the formation by ignoring the surrounding soldiers and attacking to the center of the formation. 

The formation center is where all the supplies such as food, weapons, and other expeditionary tools are kept. 

Takashi knew that the results of this formation reduced the deaths of Survey Corps members by 30%, which is truly fantastic. 

It is a bit ironic to say that the past investigations outside the wall actually made it all the way to the Maria wall. Because there are so many abandoned buildings, conditions were better than before. 

In the afternoon, the Hange Zoe class was taught by Nifa. The girl mainly talked about the use of flares. The meaning of each color of flares and when to use them. 　　 

Takashi frowned, he felt that a new signal was still missing, a special flare to signal a smart titan. However, that would show the main objective of the operation. 

Still, Takashi believes it was necessary. 

In the original situation, many Survey Corps people treated the female titan as an abnormal titan after they became aware of its existence, resulting in many casualties. Also, even if someone knew it was an intelligent titan, they could only fire black flares and the people in command would just think it was something normal. Titans were still treated as normal, abnormal titans.

In this way, the right signals were misleading at all times, and the female titan wiped out a large number of soldiers. 

After class, the thoughtful Takashi went to the dining hall with everyone. As he passed by the stables, Eren, who had just left, looked at his classmates. 

Eren felt a little excited and asked Auruo Brossard who was supervising him, "Sir, can I go talk to my training partners?" 

Auruo Brossard's face was indifferent, but he wouldn't treat Eren like a prisoner either and said, "Go ahead boy, remember to come back soon!" 

Eren nodded and ran after Takashi and the others, "Guys! You're all here, have you joined the Survey Corps?" 

Connie: "Yes, I was inspired by everyone who came here, ready for action." 

Mikasa quickly grabbed Eren's hand, "Eren, they didn't abuse you, did they? Like beating you or psychologically torturing you, did they?" 

Eren scoffed, "No, they treated me well." 

Mikasa's face was grim: "That dwarf is too arrogant, I'll deal with him sooner or later!" 

Eren sweated on his forehead, "You mean Captain Levi? Alright..." 

"Cof* Cof*" Takashi coughed loudly beside Miaksa, girl, my uncle is not to be trifled with. 

Eren turned to look at Takashi, Reiner, Sasha and Ymir, "So you all joined the Survey Corps, only Jean, Marco and Annie went to the military police?" 

"Humph! Marco is dead!" Jean Kirstein came up from behind and came out a little late today when she was on duty to clean up the classroom. 

Eren looked at his old enemy in surprise, "You said Marco is dead, how is that possible?" 

Jean's face darkened and he said, "It seems that not everyone has a dramatic death, we don't even know what Marco's end was like. He died without anyone knowing or anyone seeing him." 

Eren was silent, not knowing what to say. 

Suddenly, Jean held Eren by his shoulder and said, "I heard you led everyone in your group to their death, Mina and the others died because you rushed to attack like a mindless idiot. I hope you'll be wiser now, not everyone here wants to die." 

Hearing those words, Eren was stunned for a moment. It was true that his entire squad died because of him, what Takashi was always careful about was leading others to their death. However, Eren didn't seem to care. 

The losses in the recovery battle were actually minor, for example, Ian was still alive. But those who died will be remembered by the living. 

Jean didn't have as many grievances against Eren as before, but if his good friend died, he wouldn't have good words to say at their reunion 

"I'm... I'm so sorry." Eren said in a daze. 

"That doesn't matter anymore, concentrate on your work and we can all win." Jean said with a serious expression. 

"Well, something normal for that couple, right Ymir?" Takashi said with a distracted look. 

"As you say." Ymir replied with a grimace. 

As the atmosphere was getting gloomier, Nass's voice was heard, "Hey, new guys, come this way!" 

"Your uniforms are ready!" 

There were loved ones who died, but at least Takashi would make their deaths worth it, one day humanity would no longer suffer at the hands of the titans.