A/N: Wow I'm surprised that people actually like reading this as much as they do. Its pretty fucking motivating seeing people enjoy it, and praising it despite not even making it to training camp. Well we are on our way there soon.

ZoidGi: I think what you recommended is a pretty good idea. I should be able to easily mesh it into what I was already planning to do, and the aspect of being a disciple of Erwin is far to interesting to pass up. So thank you.

"Dialogue"

'Thoughts'

Journal

Narration

3. Soon to be a Cadet

Year 845

It's been about a week since my first game with Mr. Artlert, and getting to study the garrison soldiers ODM gear. That gave me lots of insight on how they work, but theory only takes you so far. Using the ODM gear will be much different than speculating how to use it. Dimo has come to me to find more cheap labor, greedy bastard. I found him the labor but it allowed me to get my hands on some more wine. I intend to get another ride with it so that I may see it used again.

Logan put down his pencil thinking about what to write, as he pondered he found himself illustrating the part of the city he could see from the bench he was sitting on. The main road ran in front of him with plenty of that extended up and down the road. Looking north Logan could just barely spot the main marketplace with its white tents and carriages running in and out of it. Logan continued to draw what he saw until shade was casted over his journal. Logan looked up to what was blocking out the sun and saw Mr. Artlert.

"Hello Mr. Artlert." Logan said shielding his eyes from the sun that shone behind Arthur.

"Arthur is fine kid we've known each other a week." Arthur replied

"Our only interaction is through chess Mr. Artlert, I would hardly call that enough time to call you by your first name." Logan said dryly.

"I think it's plenty of time considering how we have a professional and friendly rivalry going on in the Den."

"If that's what you think I'll oblige and call you Arthur."

"Say what were you doing in that journal of yours?" Arthur asked noticing that Logan is always looking at it.

"Well I was drawing the street and buildings before you blocked the sun." Logan deadpanned.

"Fine then I will take the seat next to you, I need to rest my old bones."

"You say that but you are remarkably healthy for how old you complain to be." Logan replied getting back to work on drawing the view he has.

"Not my fault we happen to make enough money for me to buy us food and other things."

"Us? Last I checked you haven't bought me anything Arthur."

"I wasn't talking about you and I, I am watching after some other kids your age. Speaking of you should meet my grandson Armin, he's got the same wit as you. You two would probably get along well." Arthur got slightly enthusiastic at the prospect of Armin making a friend who could keep up with him whenever he talks about science and other such subjects.

Logan had thought about it but decided that meeting kids his age might distract him from obtaining as much information about the ODM gear in preparation of joining the military so he can achieve his revenge on the Armored Titan. Just as Logan was about to decline the offer he thought about the chances that Armin would join the military because he was also a refugee, and if Armin is as smart as Arthur claims he would be a great partner to have discussing how best to beat the Armored Titan.

Logan began to smirk "Sure I'd love to meet your grandson. I know we have a chess game later in the Den why don't you bring him then." Logan replied.

"Ok sure I bet you two will become friends really quickly." Arthur smiled.

"Who else are you watching? You said kids in the plural form." Logan asked not really caring who it was but wanted to keep the conversation going since he liked talking with Arthur.

"I'm the guardian for two other kids. One is this boy named Eren Yeager he's a good kid if not a bit rambunctious, and his step sister Mikasa Ackerman. She's quiet and emotionless unless it involves Eren." Arthur replied.

Logan didn't respond but he hummed his response to Arthur. Logan was well aware who Eren was, he constantly got into fights with guards and other kids alike. Logan decided to avoid being in Eren's presence as much as possible because of how much of a health risk he was to himself and others. As well as whenever he was in her line of sight the now named Mikasa would constantly watch him as if he was suspicious or dangerous. Logan did not like the feeling of holes being drilled into him from someone's sight alone so he started to avoid the infamous trio.

Logan jumped when Arthur suddenly commented on his drawing. "That's a pretty nifty drawing there Logan."

"Thanks." Logan muttered

"As much as I would love to sit here and admire your drawing and talk I need to get some things before our match later." Arthur stated standing up and started to walk away waving goodbye to Logan who reciprocated the wave before returning to the drawing.

After putting the finishing touches on a house Logan looked up to see a group of people heading towards the marketplace. Logan stood up and started to follow the group to see two Military Police soldiers atop a small wooden stage with a large piece of paper in hand talking about a mission by the King himself for an operation to reclaim Wall Maria, anyone from the refugee camp 15 and up would be required to take part in the operation starting in 4 days. Logan thought nothing of it and left the marketplace making his way to the Den to play some chess before his game with Arthur. After emptying the pockets of 2 different Den workers Logan had heard a familiar voice calling out to him.

"Logan should you really be robbing these poor workers blind?" Asked a familiar voice.

"Why yes, Arthur it was necessary in order to beat you this game." Logan responded with a smirk.

Armin POV

Armin looked down at the table his grandfather was walking to. Looking at the two people sitting down there was a man near his 30's with a poorly shaved stubble, and across from him was a boy no older than himself with dirty blonde hair shoulder length and bright blue eyes. Upon Arthur's arrival a crowd began forming around Logan and his grandfather accompanied with a loud cheer. Logan sat across from Arthur with a slight smile on his face as he shook hands with Arthur. Armin could hear the sounds of people begging to bet on who would win. Armin felt very out of place standing next to his grandfather while people were shouting for him to "kick Logan's ass." Armin started to ignore the heckles and shouting instead starting to pay attention to the chess match, his grandfather told him the rules and how each piece moves so that he would have a slight understanding when he watched. Arthur was white while Logan was black, Armin watched the match while thinking about he would move, and would attempt to decipher what each player was thinking. Eventually he watched what he thought was Logan making a string of bad moves, just as Armin began to doubt his grandfathers words he watched as Logan in 3 consecutive moves take Arthur's knight, light square bishop and put him and a really bad check. 'So this is what my grandfather meant. Logan didn't play for the best move at the moment he played for the best move for the future.' Armin continued to watch as Arthur's defense was completely obliterated by Logan's queen and knight. Arthur had resigned shortly after. The two began shortly setting up the next game as a wave of bets where handed out and placed. This game had Logan as white and Arthur as black. Armin could immediately tell that Logan was stronger on the white side of the board enabling him to take the initiative on offense. Despite knowing that Logan was better at offense his last couple of moves have been purely defensive causing Armin to think about what Logan could be planning. As soon as he seemingly deciphered what Logan was going for he watched Arthur play right into his hand leading to his demise. Armin was left dumbstruck with how far Logan thought for his plans.

"Come on Armin you should play." Arthur had said to his grandson standing next to him.

"Ehh I'm not really sure I barely know anything about the game." Armin shakily replied. Suddenly Logan had stood up and held his arm out for a handshake.

"Hello Armin I am Logan. I've heard a lot about you from Arthur, if what he said is true I'm sure you'd be a better opponent than him. I saw how you managed to figure out my plan before Arthur had moved directly into it." Arthur and Armin were left slack jawed. 'He could tell that i figured it out? Wasn't he completely focused on the game?'

"I saw as you grimaced when Arthur made the initial and every subsequent mistake."

"Armin you figured out what he was gonna do and you didn't even warn me. My own grandson betrayed me." Arthur said feigning sadness. Armin quickly attempted to cheer his grandfather up not knowing he was being teased when the crowd abruptly demanded Armin play Logan after hearing that he figured out Logan's plan.

Armin sat in the chair with the white pieces in front of him before moving his king pawn to e3. Logan countered by bringing his knight to f6 attacking his pawn, Armin brought his knight out to defend his pawn. The game continued on for nearly 25 minutes before Armin was forced to resign. Armin was left with his king and 3 pawns while Logan was left with his king 4 pawns and a dark square bishop. It was the closer than any Den worker had gotten to beating Logan. Arthur was impressed with his grandson, despite Arthur beating him the first time they played with bets Arthur had either gotten pummeled or had barely won by resignation. Some of those times Arthur didn't even understand why he would resign. The crowd roared at Armin's performance and they demanded a second game. The bets were higher than Arthur's game and when Armin looked at Logan he swore he saw a devilish grin on his face. Armin sat back down and began the second game this time having black.

This game lasted only 15 minutes Armin had kept up with Logan for the first 8 minutes, but once Armin lost both of his knights Logan had a nonstop offensive leaving Armin's pieces pummeled. Armin considered what had changed between the two games and could only come up with 2 solutions to what had happened. Either Logan had held back the first game to test Armin, or it was the initiative that white has and Logan managed to exploit it.

"Its because you relied to heavily on your knights." Armin jumped when Logan appeared on his right side.

"How did you know what I was thinking about?" Armin asked.

"It was pretty obvious from the way you were so concentrated and focused, what else could you possibly be thinking about." Armin gasped in surprise to Logan's statement but made no attempt to deny what he had been saying. Logan stood up from the seat and claimed his money from the Den worker and started to leave. As Logan was leaving Arthur had called him and Logan over and told them to go walk around the city together. Armin deferred to Logan who looked disinterested before grinning.

"Let's go Armin I have to be somewhere later so I might as well relax until then." Armin nodded before following Logan.

Logan POV

Logan walked along the road with Armin in tow, neither had spoken much since leaving the Den but the silence wasn't awkward. Logan had found a bench in the marketplace and decided to sit down and draw the marketplace. Armin had taken a seat next to Logan and watched as Logan brought out the journal he wrote and drew in.

"Hey Logan what's the journal?" Armin asked quizzically.

"It was a present from my mother, I usually use it to write about my goals or I draw in it like I am now." Logan replied. Logan looked and noticed Armin had a guilty look on his face so he decided to change the subject. "Would you like to see some of my previous drawings." Armin had nodded and moved closer to Logan as he begun flipping through all of his drawings, eventually he stopped at one of Armin, Eren, and Mikasa on the boat fleeing Shiganshina.

"Wow, you are pretty good at drawing." Armin said while smiling at the picture of the trio. Before getting to say thanks two Trost residents had walked by with the paper in their hands.

"Huh so they are gonna cast those refugees on a suicide mission."

"I feel bad for them but the rations are getting slimmer and slimmer."

After hearing the residents speak about the reclamation mission in 4 days Logan noticed Armin had tensed up. Logan looked at Armin and saw him holding back tears. Armin's fists had balled up in his lap and his eyes became glassy with tears.

"Armin are you alright?" Logan asked.

Armin sniffled still fighting back his tears, and nodded to Logan. Logan looked at Armin and knew that something was wrong. Logan began to think about what could be troubling him, accounting for his situation. A refugee with only his grandfather and 2 friends left, and the two citizens talking about the reclamation mission, then Logan realized.

"Armin is your grandfather on the mission in 4 days?" Armin slightly nodded at the question letting some tears slip through in the process. Logan's face fell knowing that Arthur would be forced to go on a one way trip beyond the walls. Logan looked to the sky and started to notice the sun as heading down, he turned to Armin patted him on the back and turned to leave.

A short walk led Logan to Dimo's company HQ where he got a meeting with Dimo himself.

"My what could I do for you Logan?" Dimo asked.

"We both know that the reclamation mission is happening in 4 days Dimo. So I've come to ask that formal position that you have reserved be given to someone of my choosing." Logan replied. This request took Dimo off guard but decided to humor the young boy.

"Last I checked that spot was reserved for you Logan." Dimo said with a smirk.

"Cut the shit Dimo, the contract states you'd leave a slot open for 'someone' not me specifically. Not only that but I gave you plenty of cheap labor so the least you could do is what I am about to ask." Logan said coldly and with a glare.

"All right fine point me to who it is." Dimo relented

"Good, his name is Arthur Artlert he has a good head on his shoulders and should do good as a financial advisor."

"Alright I will have some guys pick him up tomorrow."

"Good. When you hire him don't tell him I had any involvement. Have a good night Dimo." Logan said to Dimo before leaving the office.

Arthur POV

As Arthur was leaving the refugee camp he was intercepted by 2 men in suits. They were dressed far too nicely to be any regular robbers, or Den workers. Arthur had tried to get past them but was stopped by one of the men. Arthur watched as the two men looked at Arthur up and down before nodding to each other. Arthur started to get very nervous before the man holding started to speak.

"Are you Arthur Artlert?" the man holding him asked.

"Yeah. Who's asking?" Arthur replied skeptically.

"Mr. Dimo Reeves would like to speak to you." The man's reply made Arthur beyond anxious as to why the biggest merchant in Trost would want to speak to him. Seeing as he wouldn't be getting away from the two men he reluctantly decided to walk with the two men to Dimo. Upon arriving to the HQ Arthur was greeted with Dimo Reeves sitting in the lobby waiting for him. Dimo looked at Arthur with an inquisitive eye, then Dimo's face rested as he stuck out his hand.

"Pleasure to meet you Arthur I'm Dimo Reeves the owner of the Reeves Company."

"Ah yes I'm aware." Arthur shakily replied.

"Calm yourself down first, I called you here to offer you a job. I've heard of your exploits in the Den and as far as I'm aware you are on the reclamation mission, and that would be a waste of your talents."

Arthur stood there slack jawed processing what Dimo had just said to him. Arthur looked at Dimo trying to find what his motivation for employing a senior such as himself.

"If I may Mr. Reeves, why would you hire someone like me? I've been out of the workforce for a while now." Arthur questioned.

"Ah well plenty of rumors about you have arisen from the Den and with the reclamation mission I am gonna need some help running a tighter ship, since I have been employing refugees who will be used in said mission." Dimo responded

Arthur eyed Dimo suspiciously since that didn't make sense. "Then hiring me makes no difference since I will also partake in the mission."

"True, but you will be exempt as a worker of my company. My employees are excluded from said mission." Arthur could tell he was keeping multiple things back, but couldn't deny that being exempt from the mission is a preferable outcome.

"Alright fine say I accept what will I be doing?"

"You will be a financial advisor. You will make a budget and where you get assigned will have to stay within the budget you come up with."

Arthur couldn't deny that the offer was very good, it may have come out of nowhere but getting a job and wage plus, getting to stay alive with his grandson and adopted grandkids was far to good to pass up. Arthur looked down towards to Dimo's extended hand and shook it and signing the necessary paperwork for employment.

"Before I leave Mr. Reeves, may I know who went to you with information about me?" Arthur asked.

"Sorry I cannot say, they wished to remain anonymous." Dimo smirked.

Arthur had hurried back to the refugee camp to deliver the news to Armin, Eren, and Mikasa. When entering the main building he could see them all sat down at a table, Eren and Armin where playing chess. Armin played chess nonstop since getting back from the Den yesterday. Arthur quietly watched as Armin had put Eren in a Scholars Checkmate. Armin had looked behind him with a smile upon seeing his grandfather.

"Mr. Artlert you are back much sooner than we expected" Mikasa said evidently surprised that Arthur was back at the camp already.

"Yeah well I came back to deliver some good news." Arthur deliberately paused for effect. "I got hired by the Reeves Company so I wont need to go on the reclamation mission." Arthur said in a whisper since they were in the refugee camp. After the trio took a second to comprehend what Arthur was saying a teary eyed Armin had hugged his grandfather. Mikasa and Eren let them have a moment but once they let let go Armin let go and asked his grandfather why they hired him. Arthur didn't really know himself but told them that someone had recommended him to the company.

"Do you know who recommended you?" Mikasa asked.

"Unfortunately no they wished to be unnamed." Arthur asked.

"Do you think it could have been Logan?" Armin asked. This had caught Mikasa's attention. Logan had subtly been involved in the trio's life but never openly talked to them, and this made her both wary of him, and curious. Before Mikasa could continue down those train of thoughts she was snapped to attention when Arthur doubted Armin's theory. For the rest of the night the group continued to banter and play chess amongst themselves.

Logan POV

Meanwhile Arthur was talking to the Shiganshina trio as Logan had dubbed them he passed a military recruitment table. The lady standing there looked at Logan with soft eyes.

"Do you need anything?" She asked.

"I was just wondering if I could fill out this form a year in advanced?" Logan dryly stated.

"Uh- no I don't think you can fill these out a year in advance, but since you have an interest I can give you some information." The recruitment lady handed Logan a piece of paper that was merely propaganda but rather than ignoring it he took it and left to go sit down at the nearest bench. Logan than began to look closely at the paper, noting the clear hyperbole of life in the MP's and how brave the soldiers were.

Year 847

It's been 2 years since the reclamation mission took place. I managed to get Dimo to hire Arthur Artlert. After he had been hired we began to play chess in the Den less and less. I only saw Armin occasionally mainly since I was avoiding the Shiganshina trio when they were together. As of right now I am on a carriage heading to training camp, I did sign up for the military. With all of the studying I have put into the ODM gear I can focus on getting really good with it. I can train and get the skills needed for taking on the Armored Titan.

"Hey what are you writing?" Logan was brought out of concentration by the voice to the right. Logan looked up at him he had short brown hair with freckles that peppered his cheeks. Logan looked at him dismissively and shrugged his shoulders.

"Words." Logan responded, closing his journal and putting it in his jacket.

The boy looked at Logan curiously thinking about what to say before he was interrupted by Logan.

"If you are gonna stare at me you could at least introduce yourself. I assume this will be quite the long ride." Logan remarked.

"Ah yes my name is Marco. How about yours."

"Logan."

"Well nice to meet you Logan" Marco was put off at how disinterested he was in the conversation but none the less Logan continued to talk to Marco. The two boys managed to hit it off on the ride to their training camp.

A/N: Holy shit I'm uploading late on Sunday. I planned to get this out much sooner but my resolve in this chapter slightly wavered. I think the middle portion is a bit weak and slow but other than that I don't think its that bad. I managed to write this chapter to nearly 4,000 words before author note's. It seems each chapter just gets longer and longer. Do you people even prefer longer chapters? Well since its still the 4th where I am Happy Easter to those who celebrate it and to those who don't I hope you had a pretty nice Sunday. For those who are reading this later, hope your day has been nice or gets better.