In the end, out of more than a hundred trainees, only a little over ten chose to join the Survey Corps. Fewer than usual — but not unexpected. Erwin's blunt statistics about casualty rates had scared away many who had initially been ready to sacrifice themselves.
Erwin slowly scanned the faces of those who remained, as if searching for something, but in the end he simply said, "I respect each of you from the bottom of my heart."
They saluted in response.
Once all three corps had finished selecting recruits, everyone prepared to depart. The Military Police and Garrison would leave the next day, but the Survey Corps had to return to headquarters that very night. The trainees quickly packed their belongings and gathered again in the square.
For a moment, no one quite knew what to say.
"Hey, Connie, weren't you supposed to join the Military Police and bring glory to your village?"
"Don't talk like that when you stayed too!"
"I just…" Jean glanced toward Mikasa standing nearby, his expression darkening. "Forget it. You wouldn't understand anyway."
"Hah? You—"
"Alright, alright." Marco stepped in gently. "We'll all be comrades from now on, so let's not fight."
"Speaking of which, Marco, weren't you all about serving the king? Why did you join the Survey Corps?"
Marco scratched his head. "I just realized the king probably doesn't need one more soldier by his side… but the people outside definitely do."
"…Tch. You really are too good of a person."
While they were talking, Jean noticed Ymir and Krista standing together nearby.
"So… the trio is now a duo?" he asked casually.
Krista's face stiffened slightly, but she forced a smile. "It's… fine. I—"
"Honestly, I never expected Lillian to be such a coward," Connie muttered. "Guess being strong doesn't mea—"
"Stop it!"
Krista suddenly shouted, startling everyone.
Her fists were clenched, her blue eyes blazing as she glared at Connie.
"Lillian is not a coward!"
Her eyes turned red, and before anyone could respond, she spun around and ran off.
Ymir shot Connie a cold look. "Watch your mouth, idiot." Then she hurried after Krista.
Connie stood there bewildered. "I was just joking…"
Reiner patted his shoulder. "Connie… that's the first time I've ever seen Krista angry. Impressive."
---
Ymir caught up to Krista and grabbed her arm, pulling her close.
"Stop running."
Krista wiped her eyes, biting her lip as tears welled up. "I don't want them talking about Lillian like that!"
"I know."
"Lillian isn't a coward! If he were, then during the snowfield training, he wouldn't have used his own arm to— to—"
Ymir sighed softly and hugged her. "I agree. The short guy is strange in a lot of ways, but 'coward' isn't one of them."
Krista lowered her gaze in silence.
Ymir spoke gently, "Stop being so upset. If he didn't join the Survey Corps, he must have his reasons. You can just ask him later."
At that moment, Sasha jogged over nervously. "Um… Krista, Ymir… Commander Erwin says we need to depart now."
"Got it. Let's go. You'll ask him next time."
"…Okay."
They returned to the square. Connie immediately bowed to Krista. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to insult your friend!"
"I was too serious… I'm sorry too…"
At the edge of the square, hidden in a shadowed corner, Lillian stood quietly and watched everything unfold.
He watched Krista argue with Connie.
He watched her run off in anger.
He watched everyone depart with Erwin.
For a moment, something turned over in his heart. He murmured a quiet blessing under his breath, then turned and walked deeper into the long, stretching darkness, his figure gradually swallowed by the shadows.
---
The next day.
"Seriously, only one person from this year's top ten joined the Military Police, and all the rest went to the Survey Corps!"
"Yeah, who knows what those idiots are thinking, rushing off to die like that."
"A bunch of fools."
Two Military Police soldiers chatted casually as they rode their horses. Then they glanced back at the person behind them.
"Hey kid, you really lucked out, you know that? I heard the king is personally going to meet you."
"Yes," Lillian replied calmly.
At that moment, the Military Police were heading toward Wall Sina. As the innermost wall, Sina was unquestionably the heart of the interior. Most nobles and powerful families lived here. They were not afraid of Titans at all — instead, they worried that poor people from Wall Rose might flood into Sina and consume their food, even though their granaries were already overflowing.
"That's amazing. Looks like you're going to rise through the ranks fast." One soldier looked at Lillian with obvious envy. "When we get there, I'll show you around properly. There are lots of fun places inside Sina."
"Don't listen to this idiot," the other soldier cut in bluntly, glancing at Lillian. "He just wants to suck up to you because you'll outrank him soon. And trust me — don't go out with him. He's broke. He only takes people to the cheapest, dirtiest places that aren't even fun."
"Damn it, Cain, what nonsense are you spouting!"
"Am I wrong?"
The two began bickering loudly. Lillian listened in silence, then suddenly turned his head slightly. His gaze passed over the group and landed on a horse not far away.
Annie was riding there, expression cold and distant, moving along with the formation.
As the soldiers had said, she was the only one from the top ten who joined the Military Police. That was extremely unusual — in previous years, almost all top-ten graduates chose the Military Police, and the rare one who joined the Survey Corps was treated like a strange joke.
This year, everything was reversed.
Still, the Military Police didn't really care. In fact, they were pleased — fewer newcomers meant less competition for "benefits." Besides, new recruits rarely saw any profit anyway; they mostly just got bossed around and treated like servants.
It was much like certain bureaucratic organizations: no matter how capable you were, your first year meant pouring tea, running errands, and cleaning floors. Seniority ruled everything. Speak out of turn, and they wouldn't punish you — they'd simply "politely encourage" you to leave.
You'd stew in anger, complaining about unfairness while wasting your own talent and time — meanwhile, they'd have already forgotten about you and moved on to the next batch of rookies.
---
Soon, the group arrived at Stohess District inside Wall Sina.
Even though Lillian had been here before, he still couldn't help but look around at the elegant, towering buildings.
Compared to Wall Rose, the people here dressed in an entirely different way. Rose still felt agrarian, while Sina looked almost pre-industrial.
Many wore well-tailored suits, high silk hats, and carried walking canes like gentlemen. Military Police patrolled the streets lazily, and ordinary people avoided them out of fear of being harassed or extorted.
"Here we are."
They reached the Military Police headquarters. Everyone dismounted, and new recruits were assigned their barracks.
Stohess, like Trost, was a "ring district." Each wall had an outer and inner ring; Stohess was the eastern ring of Wall Sina.
Even within the Military Police, postings differed greatly.
Some were stationed at Wall Maria or Wall Rose.
Some were placed in Sina's four ring districts.
A few were assigned to the inner capital, right beneath the royal palace — the most coveted position of all, filled with nobles and officials and overflowing with bribes and privileges.
Most of those inner-capital slots were monopolized by nobles who placed their own people there. The remaining few were labeled "elite," but in reality they were just slightly more competent versions of the same corrupt system.
Lillian intended to reach the inner capital eventually — but he knew he had to move step by step. His starting point was already unusually high: a direct audience with the king. That honor alone meant even senior officers would hesitate to mistreat him.
---
When Lillian entered his assigned room, someone was already inside.
The young man immediately stood up and saluted.
"Hello! I'm Marlo Freudenberg. Please take care of me!"
"Lillian. Nice to meet you."
Seeing his mushroom-like haircut, Lillian recalled him clearly — earnest, principled, and surprisingly stubborn, but still too naive and impulsive.
"You look really young," Marlo said, studying his face. "Like… fifteen or sixteen."
"Something like that."
Before Lillian could unpack, a Military Police officer appeared at the door.
"Sir!" Marlo snapped to attention and saluted.
The officer ignored him completely and looked straight at Lillian.
"Lillian Kafka, right? The commander has arrived. He wants to see you."
"Understood."
Lillian followed the officer out. Marlo stood frozen behind him, stunned — not because he was ignored, but because he couldn't believe a new recruit was being summoned directly by the commander.
Is he a noble? Or connected to royalty somehow?