Entrance to the Royal Capital's Underground District
"Captain, are we really going in?"
Gunther's voice trembled slightly, unease written all over his face.
He stared at the entrance to the underground district, clearly reluctant to step inside.
He wasn't alone. Oruo and Eld also showed obvious resistance. In contrast, Petra and Ymir walked forward without hesitation. Both followed Lock's lead completely now—a change that didn't escape anyone's notice.
"The Captain was born here," Lock said evenly.
None of them dared to refute. Everyone in the Survey Corps held Levi in the highest regard. He was a true powerhouse—the strongest soldier humanity had. And Lock, through his recent exploits, was rapidly building a reputation of his own within the Corps.
With no further objections, Lock handed over the official documents to the guard stationed at the gate. After a quick check, the guard nodded and opened the door. Lock led the way inside.
"Don't think too much," Petra said with a smile. "We're not here to live—just to handle some matters. You're making it sound like exile."
Gunther, Oruo, and Eld flushed in embarrassment. Even Petra, the gentle one among them, didn't seem bothered—what right did they have to complain?
They followed Lock deeper into the underground.
The air grew thick and stale the further they descended. The underground district was nothing like the surface. There was no sunlight, only dim lantern light and the perpetual dampness of stone. A foul stench lingered in the air, making the newer members instinctively cover their noses.
Lock didn't react. His steps were steady.
This time, he had personally applied for entry. His objective: to recruit and train promising individuals from the underground. With Rod Reiss's tacit approval, the process had been fast-tracked, granting him a recruitment quota of one hundred.
Unlike previous military drafts, this recruitment was highly targeted. These one hundred recruits wouldn't be scattered among the branches. They would belong entirely to Lock's newly formed unit—
The Survey Corps Special Operations Squad.
Much like Kenny's Anti-Personnel Control Squad under the Central Military Police, Lock's unit would operate with significant autonomy. The catch was that he had to recruit, train, and shape the entire squad himself. Rod intended this as a test of Lock's abilities.
Commander Erwin Smith had raised no objections. In fact, in a recent private meeting, he had shared valuable advice drawn from his own leadership experience. Their mutual understanding remained unshaken—Erwin's composure and strategic vision continued to impress Lock.
The recruitment site was the Underground District—a place more slum than street. Its residents were the poor, the forgotten, and often the criminal. Many who had escaped punishment through shady means lived here. Gangs flourished in the lawless corners.
Most people here longed to escape, but opportunity was scarce.
Lock's recruitment was their beacon of hope.
But that hope would have to be earned. Only those with enough talent or strength to catch Lock's eye would be chosen.
As they walked down the narrow, chaotic streets, Lock and his team could feel countless hungry eyes fixed on them—gazes burning with desire.
"The announcement should have gone out by now, right?" Lock asked without turning his head.
Petra, walking beside him, nodded. "Yes. The entire district was notified three days ago. Recruitment begins at noon. We still have two hours."
Lock acknowledged her with a nod.
Oruo hesitated, then spoke up. "Captain, why are we recruiting here? Wouldn't it make more sense to pick from refugees or other regions? Most people down here… have blood on their hands."
Eld quickly chimed in. "He's right. This might not be the best pool to draw from."
Gunther added, "If we bring in people with heretical ideas or criminal tendencies, it could backfire. Captain, maybe you should reconsider."
Petra and Ymir remained silent, calm as ever, simply walking in step behind Lock like two capable lieutenants. Their quiet confidence only deepened the other three's envy.
Lock smiled faintly. "Let's see the situation first. We're not forced to fill all one hundred spots here. If this doesn't work out, we'll move to other districts."
He had already considered their objections—but he had chosen the Underground District for one crucial reason:
Loyalty.
This squad wasn't meant to serve the King. It was meant to serve him.
Citizens on the surface had been raised under years of royal propaganda. Their faith in the monarchy ran deep, and reshaping that loyalty would take immense time and effort—time Lock didn't have.
But the poor of the underground harbored nothing but resentment toward the monarchy, the government, and the surface. Their hatred and desperation made them ideal recruits. With proper training and equipment, their combat effectiveness could become a force to be reckoned with.
Lock didn't voice any of this. Petra and Ymir already understood and agreed, which was why they stayed quiet.
Oruo, Eld, and Gunther weren't convinced, but they couldn't press further. Lock was the leader; their role was to follow.
Ymir smirked slightly. She knew Lock well. Oruo and the others probably wouldn't be part of this new squad in the long run. Most likely, they'd return to the regular Survey Corps.
Why? Because they didn't yet know how to put themselves in the right place.
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