Hello everyone, I hope you like this chapter as it begins the real plot of the story now. If you got any questions you can either PM me or review.
Chapter 9
"This...is indeed quite troubling." Muttered a single man who had a nice cup of hot coffee sitting in front of him but he did not drink it, instead of focusing on what happened in front of him which was Adam reporting to him with Glynda on his fight earlier in the day.
"This isn't a coincidence, sir. First, a Devil Grimm infiltrated the school and now a group of armed individuals was found in Emerald Forest, storing equipment before they blew it up to hide what it was." His tone grew much more serious as he went on. "Something is going to happen, and it will be disastrous."
"Mr. Taurus, I know you are worried but we cannot just cancel the Vytal Festival over every—"
They were stopped as they heard the elevator doors opening, turning to find one Roman standing in the center the elevator with one cigar sticking out of his mouth before taking it out to blow a ring of smoke.
"You called four-eye—" He was cut off by his cigar being abruptly levitated out of his hand and crushed before thrown in the garbage can by one fierce glaring teacher who pushes up her glasses, gaining a sigh as the orange-haired, 'thief' starts to drag himself towards the desk.
"What can I do for you guys, as you know I'm a fairly busy man with the whole 'guard duty' thi—"
"By busy, do you mean blackmailing Third years to do some delivering?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Upon hearing this exchange, Ozpin just pinches the bridge of his nose.
"Am I to assume that one Cardin Winchester was lying when he told us upon being found with an envelope in a class filled with lien I might add was a payment for doing a delivery job.
"Ohhhhh, thaaaaaat! It's nothing bad, it's all legal in the eyes of the law." Despite pointing it out with a carefree smile, it didn't help the hole he had already started digging for himself.
"That really does make it better." With a hint of sarcasm and a raised eyebrow, Roman was about to reach for his cigars but stops when noticing Glynda's glare so he stops and looks at Ozpin.
"So why was I asked to come up here," He approaches the desk "it can't just be for what we just talked about, right?"
As he asked that, Ozpin takes out a photo and places it on his desk, the sight of the one in it got a more reluctant expression, seeing a well-dressed man, the same one the students and Adam fought in the forest.
The once criminal just reaches into his pocket and takes out a cigar, the sight triggering Glynda who was about to act before Ozpin interferes with an arm and the shake of a head, allowing Roman to smoke which he does so, letting out a single puff man of smoke before he spoke.
"His names Thulian Gray."
"How and where did you meet him?"
"Years ago, when I and Neo were on our own in the streets of Vale." His tone took a more sad tone yet the expression was that of being reminiscent as if he were thinking back to a different time.
"You could say, we're like brothers." As he lets out another puff of smoke, his eyes narrowed a little. "After what happened with the Hero a year ago, our contact stopped so haven't seen him."
"What can you tell us about the organization?" With Glynda's question in the air, she got a surprising response.
"Can't."
"What do you mean can't?!"
"Simple, because that was one of the conditions the boss gave me when I was leaving it with Neo. Can't disclose information about the workings and etc," His words only furthered to get on Glynda's nerves. "Thulian's name is the only thing I'm gonna give you..."
"You can't be—"
"That is alright Glynda, am I to assume that goes for this man as well?" Ozpin himself expected that answer to be the same yet even so he showed the other being the man wearing the Oni mask. This got a different reaction, one of confusion as the tamed Thief took the photo before tossing it back on the table with a shrug.
"Nope," His back begins to turn towards the elevator door. "never seen that guy before. Must've been my replacement when I left... Can I go now?"
"You may, but where is your partner?"
That gained an expression that appeared to be one of thinking.
"Dunno?"
"Roman, even if you are allowed here that doesn't mean you can do what you want..."
"...but I'm smoking a cigar?" Instantly the cigar was gone from his hand. "Was smoking a cigar, I mean."
It was at this point that Adam starts moving towards the elevator as he spoke.
"If that's all, I'm gonna be going now."
"As you wish, Mr. Taurus."
Adam simply focused on the destination in mind, a certain blonde that got a one-way ticket to Beacon's infirmary, thankfully they had doctors on hand in staff so immediate help was brought to the injured such as one unconscious blonde.
As he made his way through the halls, passing by both students and a couple of nurses, he could hear clear shouting and shattering of glass which quickened his pace. Turning a corner he saw a nurse and doctor leaving the room, home to one shouting teen all the while sitting outside the door and against the wall was one large freshman student, Cerberus who still wore his cloak to conceal himself.
Without greeting him, Adam walks past him yet took into account the chains coming from the cloak. When he entered, he found one nearby table had been flipped which sent glass contents of a pitcher and cup onto the floor where it shattered. Near it was a pissed Branwen in bed, farthest corner of the room not paying him any attention. She was glaring at her fists that held torn bandages, teeth-gritting and hair appearing to almost be ablaze, only snapping out of it upon hearing knocking at the door, being greeted with the sight of Adam standing there yet she just looks away.
"What do you want?" Her scowl increased. "Came to gloat about me getting my ass kicked easily, after all, I did the same to you."
Seeing as she was looking at him, he decided to approach her more before sitting down upon a bed opposite hers.
"I simply came to see how you were doing, judging by your attitude it seems I had nothing to worry about."
"Ha! Funny, you act like you care but it's just because my old man was your master."
"Well, your not entirely wrong nor are you entirely right."
"Huh?" This time she looked at him in confusion. "What are you going on about, now?"
Adam goes into his pocket to take out a note before tossing it the confused Yang who caught it, opening it which her eyes widen all the way.
"Not only was this a mission given by your father it is also my duty as a huntsman to protect the students." He proceeds to stand up, facing the doorway. "Yet again I wasn't able to defeat the foes before me, so your not the only one who needs to grow stronger."
As he spoke, he took a single step yet stops and turns to Yang after recalling something.
"Oh yeah, there's another thing I needed to inform you about."
"What?"
"The Team your apart of, you were unconscious so you weren't at the assembly."
Upon hearing that, one bubbly girl came to mind and let out a loud sigh while scratching her head.
"Team: RAYN or Rain will be your team name."
In an instant, her eyes shot wide and turn to Adam with surprise.
"As of today, Ruby Rose, Yang Xiao Long, Jaune Ace, and Pyrrha Nikos will be apart of the same team."
"Greeeeat, I get to have vomit boy aka, the Kidnapped blonde on my team." She grumbled.
"As well as Ruby will be your team leader."
"Fuck..."
Adam just smirks at seeing and hearing of her reaction before turning away from her.
"I'll see you later," He proceeds to walk towards the door, being watched from behind. "also classes have begun but you have today off to recover so..."
Before he finished, he looks back at Yang who just stares at him.
"I suggest you think hard about what happened and why it went down like that."
Was the last thing he said before leaving the hothead by herself as the door closed behind him. All this brought was silence to the room which she looks down again at her hands, recalling clearly of being outright beaten by the foe and all this did was cause her hands to turn into fists as she leaned a little more forward
(The weak die, the strong life. Those are the rules.)
Recalling the words of her mother, further increased what she felt.
"Am...am I weak?"
While asking herself that, her hair starts falling in front of her vision, causing her to sit up and grasp her hair with her right hand, staring at it before giving it a small tug while thinking about how her hair was used against her at that moment, easy to grab onto. At that moment she glanced at a nearby table where bandages sat next to a pair of scissors and reached out for them, grasping the pair in her hand.
"Gonna take time to get used to this." Muttered the Branwen who was exiting the room, her hair much wilder after having been cut by an unprofessional barber such as herself. She was rubbing her neck due to the airbrushing against it, usually covered by her long hair until now.
"..."
Yang was stopped in her tracks, focusing ahead to stop in time from running into someone and what she got was a certain ice-cream haired girl standing before her, at a shorter height which had Yang looking down at her smiling expression. The eye color of her eyes switched places with a single blink of the eyes, puzzling her.
"What do you want," Her arms cross. "aren't you the partner of that Roman guy?" Despite showing and sounding annoyed, the girl just continued to smile and looks up at her hair, causing surprise before anger.
"You've got something to say—" Despite the stance taking more of a fighters pose, she was stopped in her tracks as the shorter one reached up to touch the tips of her hair but what stopped her was the wink she gave her while pulling her hand away as she makes her way past Yang who watches her before extending a hand after her, what she got upon contact was her form shattering to show nothing at all, much to her shock. While this was happening, the ice-cream haired girl stood at a corner just smiling at the interaction she had with the cute blonde before getting back on topic and looked at the small bag of Yang's hair that was left in the room before taking out her scroll to look at her messages.
[Neo: I have it.]
[Boss: Good, deliver it with the others.]
[Neo: Understood]
After sending that message, she leaves the app but stops to stare at a picture of the background showing her, herself and Roman years ago. With a look of regret, she turns off the scroll.
"~~and with a mighty swing of my ax, I cleaved the Alpha Beowolf's head clean off its body, ending its reign of terror and freeing the village from its dreadful suffering!"
Despite going into great explanation and detail on the battle he went through when he was younger, one Peter Port found that his entire class wasn't listening...due to the incident that took place at the Forest, it caused quite a stir and decided classes wouldn't start till tomorrow while today after the forest training would have students come into their assigned classes to learn what they will by studying before sent to their dorms where they can finally have an introduction to their team they will be assigned to for the next few years.
Weiss was assigned to sit next to one Ruby Rose, team leader of Team Rain while she herself was assigned as a member of Team RNBW: Rainbow. Containing Lie Ren, Nora Valkyrie, Blake Belladonna, and Weiss Schnee. Despite wanting to not converse, it was quite troublesome due to the one she sat next to kept trying it get her attention. In the end, she began to tune Ruby out as she thought of Adam and what she remembered overhearing back in Atlas just as she too was leaving for Beacon.
(What do you mean he left, Clover?!)
(Winter, I saw his transfer paperwork on Ironwood's desk. He left Atlas to work at Beacon.)
(That...that complete IDIOT!)
Weiss just stares at her desk, lost in thought until something hit the back of her head and looks back at seeing one Nora just giving her a wave with a smile before a loud cough drew their attention, staring at the white mustache of one Peter who had a hand to his mouth before taking it away.
"Seeing that my 'story' wasn't enough to grab your intention instead of what we 'would' be covering. How about we move onto the subject of Grimm Evolution!" Now, this got their attention, Weiss, Nora, Blake, Ruby, Jaune, Pyrrha, and Ren all tuned in fully at hearing what is deemed as a very important topic when it came to the threat of Grimm, mostly what is labeled as a dangerous change when it comes to them.
"You see students, the longer a Grimm live, the larger it can become and with it, they usually take the shape of animals such as the Nevermore being that of birds. But changes in size and species are not all of what Grimm can do, compared to the many many Grimm out in the world of Remnant, there's a much smaller group of Grimm that are classified as higher creatures in many ways then normal Grimm's such as Beowolfs, Death Stalkers, and Griffons are capable of doing...of course, I'm talking about the Devil Grimm's..." Just after he said that he gave it a dramatic effect by pausing. "From your silence, I can only presume you've heard stories of these terrifying creatures, these devilish monsters. Unlike the Grimm you have come to know, these are called "Devil Grimm"! Which are far more dangerous compared to the average Grimm. Not only do they gain a more humanoid form, similar to ours but they also gain a great deal of intellect to the point their way of thinking is close to ours, and that includes gaining the ability to speak our language. Now, can anyone tell me how a Grimm becomes a Devil Grimm?"
With that single question being asked, he noticed a few students with reluctant expressions which were Ren and Nora yet the one to raise a hand was one Blake, the Cat-eared Faunus that gained the attention of the class.
"There are many theories, but the main being when a Grimm devours too many people with their aura awakened. Due to Grimm lacking a soul; they are unable to have Aura. Therefore it's theorized that by devouring those that do, a Grimm can gain a soul and in turn aura, yet none have yet shown capable of producing a Semblance. Not to mention, they change to resemble humans." Her words gained a laugh and a smile.
"Ha! Exactly! That is why Devil Grimm is considered a top priority when it comes to a true Huntsman and Huntresses. Like many, we must be honorable! Dependable! Strategic! Well-educated! Wise! And most of all, inspire and embody these traits! That is what I believe a True Huntsman and Huntress should be yet that is what I believe, it is your job to chose what kind you want to be." Upon finishing it, he could see the smiles and the looks on everyone's faces to see they were paying close attention and with a wiggle of his mustache, he continued.
"Now onto a more interesting story! Let me tell you all the time I fought a Beowolf with a pair of shoes!"
Groans echoed throughout the room, yet sadly the teacher either ignored them, didn't hear it, or just didn't give a fuck.
"Seriously Em, you sure this is the right way?"
"Will you just shut it, Mercury!"
The complaints of annoyance and ones of questions were ignored by each other as they made their way in the dead of the night towards a certain, area. Moving through the alleyways to avoid being seen mostly by wanders of the night, mostly couples due to a bright blue moon hanging above their heads in the sky, lighting it up and with it making it easier to read the sign of a certain store they now found themselves before.
[Tuskon's Book Trade]
Reading that, the two look at the door to see the lights were off and door closed, with a nudge the emerald haired girl stepped forward to grab the door handle and with a twist of the wrist, the door opens slowly, the creaking sound making it feel more ominous as they opened it fully before I'm jolting from the door suddenly shutting, turning to find the owner, Tuskon standing there with a book in his hand that read 'The Third Crusade'.
"Your late."
That caused the two to look at each other before looking at him.
"Hey, it's not that easy trying to sneak out of the school."
"I don't care," His right-hand points towards the back room. "she's here to meet with you."
Following where he pointed, the two made their way to the back room where sat Cinder at the table, staring at them which instantly both saluted her as they stood tall.
"MA'AM! Sergeant Sustrai and Sergeant Black, reporting for duty!" Shouted the mint haired girl who did not falter with introductions yet Cinder just sighs.
"Do you mind not shouting," The beginning of a berate caused the girl to falter, unlike Mercury who was enjoying this. "we can't be too sure if we are being listened in on, so act normal."
Instantly Emerald dropped her arm while Mercury's fell to his side and went to his pockets.
"As you know, Ma'am, we were sent here to work under you by General Anchor in case you need help while under the command of the Grimm."
"Indeed, so I am to presume for the remainder of the time I'm here you two will be working under me?"
"Correct ma'am."
Cinder couldn't help but smile at gaining two pawns to work under her before she spoke with her smile still there.
"You two have done well to blend in with the students from what I've seen, especially you Mercury." Immediate cringe was earned which Emerald spoke up.
"By blending in, you mean getting labeled as a pervert than sure," Emerald muttered.
"Hey, that was an accident and you know it!"
Seeing this disagreement caused Cinder to sign, should have known her two pawns would have some problems yet he annoyance was focused on the real threat.
"I won't be made a fool of by Kage, he is not my superior."
Calling...
Calling...
Calling...
As the calls took place, a single man stood in a room, staring at a device on the table that seemed to have the words 'Calling' glowing on it as well as a camera. While waiting, the man covered by shadows simply looks at the window where he saw a man in uniforms and masks lifting and moving equipment until a 'click' sound was heard, gaining a quick head turn as a voice was heard.
[Yes...?]
Upon hearing that voice, immediately he spoke up.
"Special-Forces Captain Fall, reporting in!"
[AH! Edmond, I've been wondering when you would make the call to contact me. How goes the shipment?]
The voice took a cheerful to tone, almost childish yet Edmond simply swallows.
"Sir, it was interfered by Huntsman and academy students. The organization we were partnered with took us to Emerald Forest, on the day of Beacon's initiation."
[...what...?]
"I believe we were lied to, sir. We managed to save the important equipment as well as I decided the best course was to rid ourselves of our equipment in order to keep it out of—"
[Edmond...]
Edmond froze as his blood went cold, despite it still sounding somewhat childish it had a bone-chilling effect on the Captain.
[You know for certain what failure means to me, Fall. I know you, and you know how cruel I can be, especially towards those that have used to me. Yet knowing this already, I can presume you called me because you found 'something' I want...so what is it?]
"I found her, sir."
[Are you sure...?]
"Yes sir, it was definitely her, she didn't change her name either."
[...so, she's not hiding her identity. That's good... Kids these days always like to rebel. Thank you, Edmond...because of this great news I'll forgive you with the failure, just try to avoid it next time, hehe.]
"Thank you sir...but, there something...I—"
[Speak freely.]
With a swallow, he did as so and very clearly.
"With all due respect sir, I am in complete disagreement with transferring command over Cinder to 'her'. It would have been better to keep her in the Special Forces rather than her solely being a spy."
[Really now, you view it as a mistake...let me ask you this, do you think of Cinder to be so vulnerable that she would be easy to manipulate or is it because you care deeply for her, after all, she is your older sister...?]
That got a reaction as his eyes suddenly went wide, not of surprise but panic which in turn got a reaction.
[Ahahaha, relax. I know what kind of person you are, after all among so many you are among the ones most loyal to the Union, more than your sister. I recall quite clearly the shock on her face when I myself made you her captain, making her obey her younger brother. It still gets a chuckle out of me every time. Ehehe... now that I think about it, you also fear that due to your sister's power-hungry attitude, she may end up betraying the Union, after all you know you would be the one sent to kill her.]
Slowly his hands turned to fists yet he simply answers truthfully.
"Indeed sir, like the one that has been with her the longest it would be the best choice."
[Indeed it would be...now the reason I chose Cinder is simple, she doesn't take well to be ordered around, especially by the Grimm.]
Surprise appears on his face before widening as he realized what exactly the outcome he's hoping for Cinder to cause.
[As of now, stay in the city and wait for further orders.]
"Yes, sir."
With that, the call ends which Edmond just stands there as his hand turns into fists.
xxxxxCHAPTER ENDxxxxx
