Corps Crossroads (岐路の兵団 Kiro no Heidan?) is the 2nd chapter of the 13th volume and the 46th chapter overall of the Attack on Titan: Before the Fall manga, written by Ryō Suzukaze and illustrated by Satoshi Shiki.
Overview
Jorge is upset that they have such a limited amount of time but it is later revealed that three months was all the time Gloria was able to give them due to her uncle's desire to dismantle the Survey Corps. Despite also learning that they will not have enough sets of vertical maneuvering equipment produced, they restructure the training regimen so that only the top thirty will get to use the device. As they build the aptitude testing device, Kuklo resolves to go it alone if necessary to bring back proof but Xavi arrives and says he will not.
Summary
Kuklo wonders about the expedition's timing
After hearing the conditions, Jorge furiously yells at Sharle saying how ridiculous it is for them to undertake an expedition after welcoming new recruits to their ranks; Kuklo interrupts by saying that Sharle is not the one to blame. Cardina tries to defuse the situation by stating they should return to the barracks and think over the next course of action over dinner. As they start to head back, Kuklo realizes what Jorge was so angry about; the timing of the expedition is roughly the same time when the new trainees will be finishing their training regimen on learning how to use the vertical maneuvering equipment; he theorizes that it cannot merely be a coincidence.
Gloria enters Xenophon's workshop
During dinner, Angel reveals that one month ago while working with Xenophon on the equipment, they were informed that Gloria Bernhart unexpectedly arrived at the workshop demanding a meeting with them. As they try to hide their work, Gloria bursts in and notes with a smirk that Sharle is there as well as Angel; they are horrified to hear that Gloria is also aware of the report Cardina sent in earlier, revealing both he and Kuklo are indeed still alive. She is willing to let it slide if Sharle relays the aforementioned conditions to Carlo. Jorge mulls over why Gloria would issue such a demand when she could have had her uncle do it instead; Sharle reveals that Gloria showed an interest in the equipment after seeing it used from afar during the recent uprising in the Industrial City. This surprises both Carlo and Jorge due to her being the first person outside of the Survey Corps who has explicitly shown an interest in fighting Titans and, while not in favor of it, Angel notes that someone with her status and power is crucial in mass-producing it. When Kuklo and Cardina ask if she could be trusted, Sharle says that Gloria frightens her with her pragmatic views and methods.
When Angel and Xenophon protested that three months is not enough time, Gloria merely responds that the faster they develop the design, the more time the trainees will have in learning how to use it; she reveals that she will only be in charge of the Industrial District for three months, the only amount of time her uncle will allow due to wanting to dismantle the Corps. After hearing that only thirty sets of equipment will be produced in that time, Cardina proposes shifting the training regimen slightly and have only the most promising out of the trainees learn how to use the equipment; he reveals that him and Kuklo used a training device to help control balancing in mid-air and it can be used to weed out which recruits will go forward. Jorge resolves to take over the others and asks Angel to forge iron bamboo swords for them; he grimly tells Carlo that they must accept the dissolution of the Corps if they do not think the chosen recruits will be ready.
Kuklo and Cardina set up a balancing device
The next day, Jorge informs the trainees that they will be receiving new training after breakfast. Ivo is nervous but both Kai and Rosa tell him to stay quiet. Kuklo, Cardina and several others assemble the first training device and test it out. Cardina wonders how many of the recruits will pass this test, but Kuklo is still concerned there is not enough time; despite this, he is optimistic on their chances. He resolves to even go kill a Titan alone if he must, but Xavi suddenly arrives and states he will not.
Characters in order of appearance
- Cardina Baumeister
- Angel Aaltonen
- Carlo Pikale
- Sharle Inocencio
- Jorge Pikale
- Kuklo
- Xenophon Harkimo (flashback)
- Gloria Bernhart (flashback)
- Bauduin Bernhart (mentioned)
- Sorum Humé (flashback)
- Mammon (flashback)
- Mai (flashback)
- Ivo Hummel
- Kai Zimmer
- Hugo Stehler
- Felix Aufrecht
- Rosa Carlstead
- Xavi Inocencio