Chapter 39: Preparation

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Roku strode through the Survey Corps headquarters, his mind consumed by the impending mission and the preparations that needed to be made.

As he approached Commander Shadis' office, he squared his shoulders, ready to report on the progress of their operation.

"Commander Shadis," Roku greeted as he entered the office, offering a respectful salute.

Shadis looked up from his desk.

"How is the preparation for the mission?" he inquired, his tone serious.

"Everything is going as planned," Roku replied confidently, taking a seat across from the commander.

"I will be heading to the training site today to oversee the final preparations."

Shadis nodded a hint of approval in his gaze. "Good luck with it. Make sure to report everything to me when you are back."

"Understood," Roku affirmed with a nod, rising from his seat.

With a final salute, he left the room, his mind already racing ahead to the tasks that awaited him.

As he made his way through the bustling hallway, Roku unexpectedly collided with Erwin, the current captain of the Special Squad.

"Roku..." Erwin began as he approached.

"You are leaving today, right?" Erwin inquired, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Yes, I will return next week," Roku confirmed,

"Well, that's quite a bit of time."

"It will be our first training session, so it's bound to take a little longer than usual," Roku explained, his tone indicating his confidence in their preparations.

Erwin nodded in understanding, "I understand."

Roku paused, his gaze searching Erwin's face.

"How is your progress with Levi?" he inquired, curiosity lacing his words.

Erwin's expression shifted, his demeanor becoming more serious. "I've conducted some investigations, and I'll be heading to the underground tomorrow to capture him."

Roku nodded, knowing full well the challenges that awaited Erwin in the depths of the underground.

"It's going to be hard, so good luck with it. Levi is a stubborn brat."

Erwin offered a smile in response. "It seems you were close to him."

Roku's expression softened slightly.

"Me and him grew up together. I've known him for many years."

Erwin's curiosity was piqued. "Then why did you choose me to capture him? You could have done it yourself if you're that close to him."

"There are several reasons. First, our closeness doesn't guarantee his obedience. Levi is fiercely independent and unlikely to bend to anyone's will easily. Second, as the captain, you need to be the one to capture him to establish your authority. And lastly, Levi is a hot-headed brat. If he found out I was behind it, he'd likely give me a beating."

"If he can kick your ass, he must be damn strong."

"Yes, he is. With a little experience, he could surely surpass me."

Erwin was a little surprised by how Roku talked about Levi, It got him more excited to capture Levi.

"Good luck with your journey, see you later," Erwin said as he walked away

As Roku was preparing to depart, a knock echoed through his quarters.

"Enter," he called out, setting down his teacup, to his surprise, Hange barged in with her usual exuberance, her excitement palpable.

"Rokuuuuuuuu!" she exclaimed, plopping down beside him with a grin.

"I heard you're leaving. Where are you off to?"

Roku's expression tightened at her loud intrusion. "It's none of your business," he replied curtly, his irritation evident.

Hange ignored his brusqueness, undeterred by his gruff demeanor.

"Oh, don't be such a grump," she chided playfully. "If you won't tell me, I'll just have to torture it out of you."

Roku rolled his eyes, unamused.

"Hange, I don't have time for your antics."

But Hange was persistent, reaching out to grab him from behind. Roku reacted instinctively, catching her finger and applying pressure until she relented with a yelp of pain.

"Ouch, okay, okay, sorry, sorry," she relented, rubbing her sore finger.

"What did you want?" Roku asked

"I heard you were going somewhere. Can't blame my curiosity. It seems like it's a serious matter," Hange explained, her demeanor shifting to a more serious tone.

Roku hesitated for a moment, weighing his words. "It is serious. But it's not something I can discuss."

Hange frowned, sensing his reluctance. "Well, fine.

"How is your progress with the research?"

"It's not so fruitful, you're an irresponsible man to dump this much work on me. I haven't found anything worthy of research."

Roku sighed, understanding her frustration. "I know it's tough. But we have to keep trying. We can't afford to give up."

Hange nodded, but her expression grew thoughtful.

"It's hard to gather information about titans when we're always fighting them. Maybe if we could inspect them more closely..."

Roku's eyes narrowed, cutting her off abruptly. "No. Your idea is rejected."

Hange bristled at his dismissal. "But I haven't even—"

"I know what you're thinking," Roku interrupted, his voice firm. "Capturing a titan is forbidden as long as I am in the Survey Corps."

Hange scowled, feeling slighted by his refusal. "You're not even in charge anymore. You don't get to decide."

Roku turned to face her, his gaze piercing. "If I want something done, it gets done. The Survey Corps owes me everything," he asserted, his voice steely.

With that, Roku resumed packing his belongings, his demeanor calm but resolute. Before he left, he offered a terse farewell.

"See you later," he said, his tone final as he exited the room, leaving Hange to stew in her frustration.

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End of the Chapter