Captain Edwards could not believe what he was hearing. One of the students that would accompany him on his way to Europe was bringing up an issue before they were going to go. He confronted that very same student and her adorable bunny ears. "Velvet, let me get this straight. Because your field trip to another world, you're required by your parents to take a look at your permission slip. Is there anything else I need to learn?"

Velvet acknowledged with a nod. "Yes, but they're in a place called Menagerie. Which is across the globe on Remnant."

"You're not making this easier for me, are you?"

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you as soon as possible, but I want to discuss this with my mom. Thing is, she is living over there."

The captain shook his head. "Well, I can't let you go without supervision and I can't let the other students and Baker Company go without my expressed permission. Looks like I'm going to be coming with you?"

The bunny girl raised her eyebrow out of confusion. "Wait, you're coming with me to talk with my parents? Why are you going to do that?"

"Let me make this simple, if something goes wrong in Europe and there is blame on Baker Company. I have to be there. You're going to be travelling on your own to Menagerie to meet with your mom. However, Johnny Vastano is going to Menagerie on other business. So if we go there, I can have two excuses that he needs me to make sure he doesn't do anything rash while you take care of this problem with your mom."

"Johnny is going to Menagerie as well?" She asked. "Why is he going?"

Bill was quick to shake his head. "I'm sorry to say, but he sort of sees this as a personal issue thanks to what the White Fang did to Persinette."

"I see, but why do you say that you need to make sure he doesn't do anything rash?"

"My friend has a tendency to bring out his criminal side to do the talking than reasoning with people."

When she heard those words from Bill, she was surprised. "Wait, Johnny is a criminal."

"He didn't tell you, did he?"

She shook her head. "No. I didn't know much about him, but I didn't think he would commit a crime. What did he do?"

"You're going to have to ask him yourself." The officer answered. "It's the reason why he's in the military. The only other person I know who knew about this was Jackson, Persinette's father."

"But the White Fang killed him. I heard on the news when they discovered his body. Who was he?"

"In my circle of friends, Captain Jackson was seen as a mentor for Johnny. After all, he was the only one that Vastano decided to listen to. Now that he's gone, he is watching out for Jackson's daughter, but the White Fang kidnapped her. So he's on his way to look for answers."

"Why was he in the military if he was a criminal?"

Captain Edwards looked up at the sky besides the snow-covered half-track. "From what Jackson once mentioned, the court decided that he would do better in the military than in a jail cell. Though, I wonder what would happen to him if he came home after the war."

When the trucks arrived at the gates of the Schnee mansion, a servant stood at the gates and slipped through. However, he straightened himself in the presence of another Schnee. "Nicholas Schnee, I did not receive any word of your visit." He began. "Normally, you would send us a message as usual.

As the trucks decelerated to a halt, Nicholas Schnee stepped out of the truck and stood up and tall over the servant. "Forgive me, Klein." He replied. "I would, but sometimes I like to enjoy surprising my granddaughters." Then he glanced over to the trucks along with Klein. "Captain Durante, please come in. I prefer that you come towards the front of the house."

Captain Durante dismounted from the trucks as he looked over to his men. "You guys get some hot chow and some coffee. I'll cover that."

One of the drivers acknowledged him. "Yes sir, we'll come back here once you're done."

"Look, you don't need to freeze your asses on my behalf. Just get going." He ordered. "Besides, I could use a walk." Then the officer followed Mr. Schnee into the mansion as Klein closed the gate and locked it.

The servant followed the head of the household as he began to ask questions. "Good evening, Mr. Schnee. How was your day?"

Nicholas was quick to reply with excitement. "Wonderful, I am surprised that this officer has an interesting life beyond military service. I still wonder what kind of adventure you had during the war."

The captain shook his head in disbelief. "With all due respect, sir, I'm not sure some of those stories are worth telling."

"I beg to disagree. A story can tell more about a man than what he can say about himself."

When the trio arrived at the front doors of the Schnee manor, Klein opened the door for both men as they walked into the entrance room.

"Captain Durante, please make yourself comfortable. I would like to hear every detail of it from you without… interference." Mr. Schnee stated as he took a fresh breath into the very house. "Ah, the smell of boredom in the evening. I wonder what do you think about this place." He asked his question towards the captain.

Monte was hesitant in making a reply, but then his thoughts about the emptiness of the manor took over him. "Forgive me if I disrespect this establishment, but it feels like a morgue in my world. Too quiet for any life. If you make a mouse noise, you're bound to find something."

"Quite an assessment." He said. "Willow, Jacque, I'm home!" Nicholas shouted to the top of his lungs as a woman burst into the hallways to greet her father.

If there was something about her that Monte noticed, she looked almost just like Winter, but in an older way. As she continued to make her way to her father, they both hugged each other. 'Father, it feels like it has been ages since we last met. I thought you would always send us a note that we were coming." She said.

"If I did, Jacques would have to prepare everything to look good for me. I just want to see what he can do on the go. Besides, I was passing by and I wanted to see how my grandchildren were doing." He said.

The group in the main hall began to increase when two girls came down the stairs; however, Monte recognized Winter stopping in her tracks. Then she quickly followed her sibling as they both bowed before their grandparent.

"Weiss, Winter, both of you can hug me. Use your arms." He said, jokingly.

Weiss stepped forward to hug her grandfather as Winter walked to confront the captain.

Monte placed his hands in his pockets before he took off his helmet and let it rest underneath his arms. "Good evening, Winter." He greeted. "It's been awhile since our last talk."

She smiled. "Likewise, captain. Though, I do believe you have forgotten something before you went off to take care of your work."

He raised an eyebrow out of confusion. "Then what exactly did I leave?" He asked. "I don't remember dropping anything out of my pockets."

"Then you should put it elsewhere." The specialist replied as she pulled out a ring with a small jewel on it. "Do you recognize it now?"

Captain Durante was quick to snatch it out of her hand, only to grab the attention of Mr. Schnee. "Captain, is there something special behind that ring of yours?" He asked.

Durante was quick to hide it behind his back. "With all due respect sir, isn't it going into my life a bit too much to ask."

"True, but you're from another world. You should expect questions like these come by." He explained. "Now that is something to talk about and I'm sure you would."

Before the conversation could continue any further, the group was immediately interrupted. "Nicholas, what brings you into my home?" He asked.

Captain Durante glanced over to notice Jacques Schnee walking straight and tall while a young man followed his mannerisms from behind.

"You would give me a note or even a letter that you were passing by."

Then Nicholas replied with a smile. "I do happen to be passing by and I thought seeing my grandchildren and the rest of my family would do some good." He said. "Look, I even brought someone along who happens to be from the other world."

When Jacques glanced over to the grizzled officer, his face changed to that of disgust. "Nicholas, why did you bring this man of all people into this manor?" He asked. "He got my daughter drunk and had a chance to take advantage over her."

When Durante heard those words, it almost felt like he was whipped with fire. What he said was an insult to the very rank he worked for in his career. "Sir, I did not get your daughter drunk." He stated. "I'm an officer of the U.S. Army. If there is one thing they taught, respect everyone and don't be an ass."

"How can I trust your word?" Jacques asked. "You have rumors of being a notorious man in your army."

"Yes, but I steal weapons and expensive military gear not the hearts of women." Then Durante shook his head. "If I took advantage of your daughter, my mentor would give me an earful and hand you a shotgun. Besides, she's the one who told me about the wine cellar you have in the basement."

Ms. Schnee gasped as she placed a hand over her mouth. "Oh my, so someone is drinking my stash."

This quickly grew surprise out of the head of the family. "Willow, are you drinking?" He asked.

"Of course, father. I do drink."

"Come now, I think it is time the captain shares his stories over a drink. Shall we?"

Captain Monte looked to the corner of his gaze, only to see Jacques giving him the evil eye. "I am in no need of a drink. Maybe just water, but at the moment I am trying abstain."

When Nicholas grandchildren left the room, all that remained in the family room was the parents and Winter, talking with Captain Durante.

Then the head of the family began to ask a question. "Say, my granddaughter brought you a ring that belongs to you. Would you please tell us why you were so reluctant to show the rest of us?" Nicholas asked. "I'm sure you can answer us."

The captain brought out the ring and displayed it out to everyone as his eyes noticed everyone's gaze upon him.

"If you're shy about I can talk about something else."

Monte shook his head. "It's personal to say the least, but it's my family ring. A very old one to say the least."

"Interesting, a family ring. I never knew I'd meet an officer who would have something like that. Do you wear it at some point?" Nicholas asked.

"No sir, it's a reminder of who I am to say the least. To remind myself I am part of a certain family." Then the captain chuckled. "Oh how things have changed ever since my family got this ring."

Then Winter was the one to ask the questions. "How did your family obtain this ring?" She asked. "When I took a look at it, there wasn't much on it other than those markings."

"Cyrillic." He stated. "Those words are in Russian." When the captain noticed their reaction, he saw how Nicholas Schnee was petting his beard.

"Why are they in another language?" He asked.

"My family comes from the country that speaks the language." Monte replied. "I don't know how to put it, but my family's status made an importance during the Napoleonic era."

"Normally, I wouldn't like to rush things, but please get to the point of all of this."

The captain chuckled. "This ring, is a sign that I am now the head of my family. It's a symbol for nobility… or what's left of it."

Nicholas Schnee began laughing afterwards. "What a coincidence that I would meet a man from another world, only to find out he's a noble. Please tell me, do you have some kind of title since you're a noble."

"Legally, I am Captain Monte Durante. I have my father's name. However, my nobility side comes from my mother. My formal name is Count Monte Mikhail Bezukhov and I have a lineage that goes back a long time."

Of the Schnee family members, Jacques spoke up. "Then why do you have this notorious reputation I keep hearing about? Wouldn't that dishonor your family's reputation."

The captain laughed.

"What is so funny?"

Then he shook his head. "From what I know about my lineage, I have American-Russian blood in me. Not much good can come out of that."

Nicholas was quick to ask. "Would you care to explain?"

"We Russians defeated a French emperor while we were drunk. I know because my family was there. If there is another thing to worry about, I remember German documents taking a look at how we wage war and if there is one thing they can't understand is how we can thrive so well in chaotic situations."

The old man of the group began laughing. "I take that you were a surprise no one expected."

"You have no idea how much my buddies and the German hated me."