As they spoke, the three of them arrived at the Survey Corps mess hall. It was mealtime, and new and old soldiers were gathered here eating. When they saw Rayan enter, their gazes all focused on him. But Rayan was used to it and didn't mind.
Christa got three portions of food. Compared to the training corps, the food here was indeed much better, with meat and vegetables, although the amount of the former wasn't much.
Actually, it made sense. For an organization with such a high death rate as the Survey Corps, allocating more funds for better food was only right. After all, they didn't know if they would have another meal after this one, giving the feeling that every meal was like a last meal. Moreover, there was no issue of embezzling rations here. The higher-ups of the Survey Corps basically didn't care about money or material possessions, only about how to subjugate more Titans and figure out the truth about the enemy.
The three of them ate around the table. This kind of ordinary little thing could fill people's hearts with happiness. Rayan could also feel a sense of peace, and his tense nerves relaxed slightly.
To be honest, life in the Military Police wasn't very easy. He could tell that many Military Police officers didn't like him. On the surface, they were all smiles, but in their hearts, they were probably thinking about how to trip him up. Especially after this robber case he still remembered the gloomy face of the Branch Commander when he went to his office to report.
If he wasn't mistaken, the latter probably had some kind of vested interest with those robbers. Rayan thought that his days ahead would probably not be easy, and he would need to be careful and vigilant everywhere. In comparison, although the Survey Corps was more tiring and dangerous, at least the members trusted each other, and the only thing they needed to consider was fighting Titans, not the infighting between people.
"Oh right, Rayan, why didn't Annie come back?" Christa asked. "We miss her a lot too."
"You miss her, but she probably doesn't miss you," Ymir said. "That shorty never seems to know what she's thinking about, even weirder than this shorty."
Christa shook her head. Although she didn't understand Annie either, the latter was often silent not just with boys but also in the girls' dormitory, making her somewhat incomprehensible. But she could feel that Annie also had a lot to say, but it seemed like she couldn't say it to them.
"She had some things to do, so she didn't come... let's not talk about her," Rayan said. "Tell me about your recent training, is there anything interesting?"
"Of course!" Mentioning this, Christa immediately became interested, like a child sharing interesting things she had seen. "Rayan, do you know about the 'Long-Range Scouting Formation'? Commander Erwin invented it to avoid Titans. We new recruits have been training in this recently."
"Long-Range Scouting Formation..."
Rayan certainly knew about this. This was a major reliance for Erwin to successfully become the commander of the Survey Corps. Relying on it greatly reduced the casualty rate of soldiers one had to know that when Keith was the commander before, the casualty rate was terrifyingly high.
"We'll be using it for the expedition outside the walls next month, so we have to practice hard," Christa said.
"The beginning of next month?"
"Mm."
"Then there's less than twenty days left."
Silence fell for a moment. Even though Rayan knew she should be fine, he could still feel the heaviness in the air.
It wasn't just her; everyone in the mess hall at this moment was emitting this kind of aura. By this time next month, it was unknown how many of them would still be able to return here to eat.
Rayan thought that if he did nothing and allowed Annie to transform into the Female Titan and wreak havoc, it would cause huge casualties. But if Erwin had already begun to suspect him... then during this operation, would he also send people to secretly monitor him while it was being carried out?
"Rayan, what are you thinking about?" Christa looked at him curiously. "Your soup will get cold if you don't drink it soon."
"Mm."
...
An hour passed quickly. After eating, they chatted for a short while before someone came to announce that training was about to begin.
Although reluctant, Christa had no choice but to say goodbye to Rayan. The latter also naturally left the Survey Corps headquarters, preparing to return to Wall Sina.
Erwin and Levi watched Rayan's departing figure through the office window. The latter asked, "Erwin, a rare opportunity. Aren't you going to talk to him? Maybe you can get something out of him."
Erwin: "No, doing so would very likely alert him. And he's very smart, I already saw that three years ago. A 13-year-old child returning from outside the walls full of Titans, although he showed signs of being frightened, looking back now, it should all have been an act."
"Is that so? Kids these days are getting more and more mature."
"Levi, go and call Christa here. I want to talk to her alone."
...
Baker walked down the street, his face still showing undisguised joy.
He had gone home in the morning and left all the bonus money with his family. That money was a lot for his family, enough for his parents and younger siblings' living expenses for several months. The people in the village had also come to congratulate him. After all, he was the only Military Police officer in the entire village, a well-deserved pride.
He thought, this is good. If I just keep doing this, then... hmm?
Several people walked over. Just as Baker felt something was wrong, those people swarmed him, grabbed him, and quickly dragged him into an alley!
"Who are you?! Let go of me! I'm a Military Police officer, are you trying to die?!" He struggled and shouted, but those people didn't budge at all, dragging him to the depths of the alley and throwing him to the ground.
Baker fell with a thud, cursed, and looked up, instantly stunned. A familiar face appeared before him.
"Baker Glenn, do you recognize me?"
"You are..." Baker looked at the smiling middle-aged man in front of him, incredibly surprised. "Captain Woermann?"
Unbelievably, the man in front of him was actually a captain in the Military Police... But why would a captain bring him to this dark place in such a way... What was going to happen?
Baker looked at the several unfamiliar men surrounding him with suspicion and apprehension, forcing a smile on his face. "Captain Woermann, may I ask what this is...?"
"Baker, don't be afraid. I just have some things I want to talk to you about."
Woermann smiled kindly, recounting Baker's life. "You're a diligent child, a member of the 93rd Training Corps. It's just that your talent wasn't outstanding, so even though you worked hard for three years, you only got 19th place in the overall ranking, and couldn't directly enter the Military Police."
"..."
Baker's face looked a little unpleasant upon hearing this, clearly not wanting to bring up these things again.
"And then you stayed in the Garrison Regiment for eight years before finally, this year, you successfully became a Military Police officer," Woermann asked. "How does it feel to be a Military Police officer? Are your family proud of you?"
"...Yes."
Baker didn't know what Captain Woermann wanted to say, but he had a bad feeling.
"Then, what if that pride no longer existed, what would happen?"
"..."
Woermann didn't continue, but instead brought up another matter. "What about your captain, Rayan Kafka?"
"He? He... is pretty good."
"Is that so? But I think he's a bit unfair," Woermann said. "He divided you into two squads, right? But one of the squad leaders is a classmate who was with him in the same training camp for three years. The other is a new friend he just met."
Baker was silent upon hearing this. Indeed, it was true, and he did feel somewhat dissatisfied. Because he considered his experience to be the most extensive among the new recruits. After all, eight years in the Garrison Regiment hadn't been for nothing.
"Even Rayan himself, being able to become this squad leader, is because of the King's special favor, isn't it?" Woermann coaxed. "Now, your opportunity has come. As long as you do a few things for me, you can get what you deserve..."
Baker wasn't stupid. He naturally understood Woermann's meaning at this moment. He thought he would agree immediately, but he hesitated.
Indeed, he admitted that he was initially furious with Rayan, thinking it was ridiculous for such a green kid to lead him!
However, when they raided those robbers, as he watched Rayan walk to the door alone to knock, that anger suddenly disappeared. He had to admit that if it were him, he wouldn't dare to, and couldn't do such a thing.
So, at that moment, he was already convinced. But now, a captain directly under the Branch Commander had suddenly grabbed him and said such things...
What would happen if that pride no longer existed?
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Need More Chapters
Every 300 Power Stones
2 Bonus chapter
Every 500 Power Stones
4 Bonus chapter.
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