Choosing a Regiment
As night fell, the remaining Training Corps of the 104th Cadet Corps lined up neatly. Apart from the Soldiers who had been killed or wounded in the battle to retake Trost District, more than 140 Training Corps had survived.
This time, the Three Military Branches still attached great importance to the selection of New Recruits. After all, the 104th New Recruits were all Soldiers who had faced real Titan. Such high-quality recruits were very rare. It is said that even the Military Police Brigade decided to make an exception and postpone the selection of New Recruits from the top ten of the Training Corps to the top twenty of the same period.
Next came the speeches of the leaders of the Three Military Branches. The first to take the stage was the representative of the Garrison Regiment, an officer of the Garrison Regiment whom Yago and the others did not recognize.
The content of the speech was naturally dry and boring, nothing more than protecting the city walls and protecting humanity. Although it was not very appealing, Garrison Regiment was still the destination for the vast majority of New Recruits.
Next came the representative of the Military Police Brigade, an officer I didn't recognize. The Military Police Brigade's speech was concise: join the Military Police Brigade, serve the King, and supervise the people.
It was very tempting, and many of the New Recruits present were interested. Unfortunately, this opportunity could only be given to the best performers.
The Military Police Brigade representative stepped down, and the Survey Corps representative took the stage. To everyone's surprise, Yago's previously slouching posture straightened up.
Because the representative of the Survey Corps is Survey Corps Commander, Commander Erwin.
"I am Erwin Smith, Commander of the Survey Corps. Tonight, you will make a choice: to join one of the Three Military Branches. To be frank, I am here to invite you to join the Survey Corps," Commander Erwin said bluntly.
"Having experienced the Trost District recapture battle, I believe you have all witnessed the cruelty of the Titan. Although humanity suffered heavy losses in this war, we also gained unprecedented hope because of Eren Jaeger." Commander Erwin suddenly uttered Eren's name in a startling statement.
Ignoring the murmurs below, Erwin continued, "Eren Jaeger proved to us with his Courage and blood that he stood on the side of humanity. Moreover, Eren not only helped us win the battle to retake Trost District, but also gave us the opportunity to uncover the truth about the Titan!"
In the basement of his home in the Shiganshina district, he buried a secret about the Titan that even he himself was unaware of. I believe that if we could reach that basement and learn the buried secret, it might be possible to end the cruel history of humanity's oppression by Titan for the past 100 years and regain our freedom!
These words shocked everyone present, and they began to discuss among themselves, asking, "Really?" "A basement? Could there really be Titan's secret?"
Reiner, Bertholdt, and Annie's expressions changed immediately; this was completely unexpected.
Upon hearing this, Yago recalled that when facing the Garrison Regiment's guns and cannons, Eren seemed to have mentioned that it was the basement of Eren's father, Dr. Grisha. But who was Dr. Grisha?
Commander Erwin continued, "Therefore, our Survey Corps' goal is to obtain the secrets hidden in the basement of the Shiganshina District, but we must first reclaim Wall Maria, which is consistent with our previous objective."
However, the city gates of the Trost District are now unusable, and the various stations and the entire front line that the Survey Corps has built over the past four years have had to be abandoned. Therefore, we have no choice but to head east from the Karanes District.
Over the past four years, the Survey Corps has lost nearly 60% of its Soldiers. They are all brave and fearless heroes. Next month, we will conduct another expedition beyond the walls, and the New Recruits will also participate. I estimate that we will lose 30% of our Soldiers, and even in another four years, most of you here may be gone. But those who survive will become the strongest and most impeccable Soldiers!
Hearing this, the Survey Corps' terrifying casualty rate instilled fear in many Training Corps, and many Training Corps who originally had ideas were frightened by Commander Erwin's blunt words.
Even the officers of the Survey Corps standing nearby couldn't bear to listen anymore. Their Commander's scare might frighten away all the Training Corps, and their expressions were full of worry.
"Now, those Soldiers are truly willing to Dedicate Your Hearts to humanity, please stay. Soldiers who wish to join other legions may leave. That's all I have to say." Commander Erwin concluded his speech.
As soon as the speech ended, many Training Corps turned and left. Some Training Corps struggled for a long time, but in the end, they could not overcome their fear and left.
Gradually, more than half of the hundred-plus Training Corps had left, but Commander Erwin remained resolute, his expression unchanged, as if everything was going according to plan.
His body trembled slightly, his mind was in turmoil, and reason kept urging him to leave and choose the comfortable life of the Military Police Brigade.
But thinking of Mark lying in bed, and of his screams as the Titan off his right leg while trying to save him, Jean pinched himself hard. "Jean! Don't let yourself regret this!!" Jean muttered fiercely to himself.
Reiner and Bertholdt stood silently at the back.
Connie and Sasha were also very conflicted, wavering for a long time, but in the end they did not move their feet.
Christa and Ymir stood together, Mikasa and Armin, their bodies trembling, also stood firmly in place.
Yago's attention was completely focused on the Bun-Headed Girl beside him. Seeing that Annie hadn't left, Yago's heart was filled with a mixture of joy and unease.
In the end, nearly thirty Soldiers, including Yago, stood silently before Commander Erwin.
A Scout approached Commander Erwin. "Commander, of the top ten Training Corps from this batch, Training Corps are here, except for one Soldiers who is injured and cannot join the regiment!"
"Really?" This was unexpected for Commander Erwin. Nine out of the top ten Soldiers chose to join the Survey Corps, which was almost unprecedented in history.
Looking at the thirty Soldiers who remained, he smiled with satisfaction and asked, "If someone ordered you to go and die, would you go?"
"Reporting, Commander! We don't want to die!"
"Good! You are all excellent Soldiers. I hereby declare that all of you are accepted into the Survey Corps as New Recruits! Now, I pay you my highest respects!" Commander Erwin placed his right fist over his left chest, "Offer your hearts!"
Thirty New Recruits of the Survey Corps saluted in unison and shouted, "Yes, sir! Dedicate Your Hearts!"
"You overcame your fears; you are all brave warriors. I admire you greatly."
But some of the New Recruits had rather strange expressions. Sasha was so frightened that tears welled up in her eyes, but she still didn't leave.
Jean and Connie's faces were also filled with fear and unease.
The New Recruits were all somewhat nervous and uneasy, and even Mikasa had a vague sense of worry, of course, about Eren.
Yago's calm demeanor made him stand out among the many New Recruits.
Commander Erwin announced the disbandment of the Survey Corps, and all New Recruits are to assemble at the Survey Corps headquarters tomorrow afternoon.
"New Recruits Yago Norman, can we talk?" Commander Erwin called out to Yago, who was about to leave.