A/N: Hello, readers! Welcome to another chapter! Enjoy!

edited on june 5th, 2021 @ 11:36am

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𝓒𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝙵𝙸𝚅𝙴,
𝓦𝙷𝙰𝚃 𝚂𝙷𝙾𝚄𝙻𝙳 𝙱𝙴 𝙳𝙾𝙽𝙴, 𝙽𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃 𝙱𝙴𝙵𝙾𝚁𝙴 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙲𝙾𝚄𝙽𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙾𝙵𝙵𝙴𝙽𝚂𝙸𝚅𝙴, 𝙿𝙰𝚁𝚃 𝚃𝙷𝚁𝙴𝙴.

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"IT LOOKS LIKE THEY DIDN'T find any soldiers who've used their Maneuver Gear without permission." Gunther stated. "Then who did it?"

"No idea. Right now, I'm more worried about the upcoming induction ceremony. How many among the new troops will be crazy enough to join us?" Eld wondered out loud.

"Hey, Eren... Are there any in your class who will request to join us?" Gunther asked Eren who was giving water to one of the horses.

"There are." Eren replied but then paused. "No, there were. I don't know about now."

"Section Commander. You have a younger brother in Eren's class, right? Is he thinking about following you here?" Gunther questioned.

Julian snorted. "That little shit hasn't written to me in a while. But he's probably going to the Military Police." He responded.

"And you're okay with that?" Eld asked.

Julian looked at him. "I would rather have him safe than killed." He admitted.

"Attention!"

Levi then appeared as Gunther and Eld saluted him in greeting.

"Get ready. We're going out on patrol." Levi informed.

"Yes, sir!"

Eren rushed over quickly and saluted. "Good morning, Captain Levi!" He greeted.

"Listen, Eren... Never fall two horse lengths behind me. Don't forget that the only reason you're not locked up is because I'm watching you." Levi reminded him.

"Yes, sir!"

"Let's go." Levi said as he took off with Gunther, Eld, and Eren right behind him.

"Let's head out too, Ly. Meet up with the others." Julian informed his right hand man.

"Right, sir."

Julian hopped onto his horse with Lyon following in suit.

"You're worried about Jean, correct?" Lyon asked.

"Of course I am. His best friend died. I'm concerned for his health." Julian replied, sighing as he did so.

"Why hasn't he written to me? He knows how worried I get when it comes to him..."

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Julian and his squad were taking a rest from their patrol as Julian held out a map for his squad to see.

"Levi's squad and Eren will be placed here." Julian informed, pointing to the center of the formation.

"For protection, right?" Zach asked.

"I would assume so. It's the only logical explanation." Julian responded before closing the plans. "Let's head back."

Erwin was holding a meeting for Squad Leaders about the 57th expedition that was coming up.

"Section Commanders Hange, Miche, Julian, and Captain Levi please stay behind." Erwin spoke up.

The four sat back down at a table and looked at Erwin to see what he had to say.

"I suspect there's a spy in the military who killed Hange's Titans." Erwin began.

"So, there's someone working behind the scenes, and you plan to snuff them out." Julian said as Erwin nodded in confirmation.

"My suspicions are more than just that, Julian." Erwin looked at him. "It could be more serious than we thought."

"How serious are we talking about?" Julian questioned.

"It could be another Titan shifter." Erwin replied.

Silence.

"Okay. That is serious." Julian broke the silence. "So another person like Eren?"

"Yeah." Erwin confirmed.

"And they don't want us knowing anything about this because?" Hange mumbled.

"That we are going to figure out with the use of the upcoming expedition." Erwin looked towards Hange. "We're going to use the expedition as a capture mission."

"W-We are gonna capture the Titan?" Hange gasped as Erwin nodded.

"If they are going to kill these Titans then they are bound to be interested in a certain boy, especially with the recent events."

"Eren." Levi said and got a nod from Erwin. He frowned and looked down at the ground, clicking his tongue.

"And let me take a guess." Julian leaned against the chair. "You're going to use Eren as bait so you could capture the killer of the Titans with could be — looking at the possible evidence — a Titan shifter?"

"You know me too well." Erwin chuckled.

"So, how are we going to do that?" Miche asked.

"I was planning on using the new recruits, we have the same formation as last time, however, this time, Levi, take Eren and your squad through the main route and lead the killer directly to the middle of the forest." Erwin explained.

"The new recruits?" Julian questioned. "Absolutely not."

"Don't put your personal feelings into this, Jude." Levi interrupted.

"My younger brother is apart of those new recruits, Levi. I'll be damned if I let him die."

"Julian, this is a serious situation that involves the possible kidnapping of our only hope of reclaiming Wall Maria. I am not taking any chances on stalling for that possibility to arise. Besides, they can take it as the ultimate training." Erwin shrugged.

Julian crossed his arms as well as his legs and scoffed. "Fine. But if Jean dies, I won't forgive you Erwin. My little brother means everything to me. Even though he's a little shit who pisses me off, I don't want to lose him." He said. Erwin only nodded at him.

"With that, Hange and Miche, you're with me and we will head to the small route towards the area where we will be capturing the killer. Julian, you'll be with Levi's squad as backup. Be sure to inform your squads so they don't have a heart attack on the day of when we take action. Levi, do not tell your squad, they will lead Eren away from the capture scene and protect him from there. Make sure to tell no one, this is supposed to be a private capture. Dismissed." Erwin finished.

"Well, that's my cue to inform my squad." Julian got up and walked towards the door. Once he left Erwin's office, he walked towards the lounge where hopefully his squad was located. Thankfully, they were, and they were currently talking about the recent slaughter of the two Abnormals.

"Good. You all are here." Julian announced, closing the door and walking towards his squad. "I have an important announcement from Erwin."

"What is it?" William asked.

"There's another titan shifter killer that's looking for Eren." Julian responded. "There's someone behind the scenes trying to keep us from finding out any information. There's a high chance that they're also a titan shifter so we're going with Levi's squad as backup to protect Eren. Think of it as like a... precaution."

"Great. Another Julian and Levi team-up." Zach sighed. "They should really make a book about you two."

"So, we're using this mission as a capture?" Melody questioned.

"Precisely." Julian answered. "This could become one of the most gruesome and intense expeditions that we have ever faced. You all better come out alive."

"You know we can't make that promise."

"Try." Julian told them. His squad members just sighed and nodded.

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City bells were ringing as the Survey Corps were getting ready to go on another expedition.

"We've driven away all the Titans in the area. Thirty seconds until we open the gate!"

"Hey, Jude..." Levi began as Julian glanced at him. "Don't you die on me."

"I won't. I survived this long, haven't I?" Julian smirked in reply.

Eren had a look of determination as he heard gasps. Curious, he looked over and saw two young kids around the age he was when he saw the Survey Corps for the first time.

"It's the Survey Corps!"

"They call the emblem on their back the Wings of Freedom!"

"So cool..."

Eren gave them a smile and turned back around.

"It's time! Humanity will take another step forward. Show me what you can do!"

The soldiers cheered and raised their swords in response.

"Open the gate!"

The gate soon began to open. "Advance!" Erwin shouted as the Scouts headed forwards.

"We will now begin the 57th expedition beyond the walls! Onward!"

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A/N: Another chapter is completed! Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 1403 words.