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"Surely you understand how important this is now," James said from behind the screen. "If Arc has been withholding key information we have to uncover it now."
"I agree, but we shouldn't drag him up here just because we have certain suspicions." Ozpin said.
Upon learning the scars were much the same and hearing that the boy allegedly didn't know what a semblance was before Beacon he wanted to do nothing but call Jaune up to his office. However, after a moment passed to temper his paranoia. It would suit them better if they didn't assume the worse here, something more was going on but dragging the boy into an interrogating room would give the wrong impression. If Arc knew more than he let on what then?
Tract down every member of his family and friends and force them to swear secrecy. The idle choice without a doubt but Cinder Fall is Jaune's enemy as much as she is Ozpin's. Shoving him under intense scrutiny even while he has mental issues could make things more problematic.
"I do not want to blindly throw accusations around, we know little about his and Amber's relationship. Especially to assume he means ill."
James nodded but was still tense, he is a man of action. It was a useful trait in the right situation but so was a slow and tempered mindset. "I understand what you are saying but if you really suggest we hold and allow him to have potentially confidential information-"
"It is not," Ozpin assured quickly. "We need more information before we act on this and I will personally see to it."
James nodded, he wasn't satisfied but it would have to do. "What about Qrow's niece?"
"Yes, there is that matter now." He thought tired.
Diverting Hunters away from protecting the city would turn heads from the council, they may accuse him of playing favorites to his student over the city. So limited resources had to be moved as to not draw as much attention and scrutiny.
"I have people looking into it and Qrow is already on his way. A storm is brewing in the area though, he may be delayed."
"I heard, can you ask him where precisely he is? I can send a military airship there except he rarely accepts my calls."
"I will message you when I get it," Ozpin nodded with a smile, Qrow would appreciate the help.
"Good, keep me posted on the Jaune Arc situation old friend."
Ozpin nodded as the call closed out, it was about time to get started. Gathering information was the best step to make, Ozpin already had records from when he first uncovered Arc's mental instability. Although those weren't what he had in mind, they wouldn't give him anything about the boy's time spent with Amber. His father Roland on the other hand might be a bit more talkative if it meant helping his son.
It was time to speak with an old student.
Ozpin wasn't in the habit of keeping in touch with members of the student body so this talk would have less familiarity involved. He needed information and this was the only place he could get it. He connected the line a patiently hoped Roland was having a good day, which would make this a tad easier.
"Hello?"
"Good afternoon Roland, this is Ozpin."
There was a slight before a weary sigh came through the speakers. "Has Jaune done something?"
Getting a call from the Headmaster of the school your son was enrolled in was never a good sign so the assumption was understandable.
"He isn't in trouble never fear, this has more to do with his mental health."
"What's happened have things gotten worse?" While the boy was officially an adult Ozpin expected his family to be informed of records being pulled. Expesscally when they lived in such a small town with a popular Huntsman.
"Jaune has never had issues before is the stress affecting him?"
"No, but your son has been hearing voices in his head."
"What?" Roland sounded confused. "When I heard about he was having mental issues I thought it was some stress related to schoolwork. What do you mean he's been hearing a voice in his head?"
"It means exactly that Roland."
The boy had shown no signs of schizophrenia or any kind of mental illness before Beacon as his records suggested. It wasn't uncommon for the stress of tests or the training of a combat academy to eat at the students. That's why a therapist was required by law to be on campus like doctors and medics.
"Could you please tell me more about this voice?"
"From what's been ascertained it's a girl named Amber." Ozpin paused to wait for a sign Roland remembered the name, to his mounting shock the man didn't. "It was uncovered during innovation when I observed your son talking to himself in the Emerald forest."
"A girl...?" Roland muttered.
"I have a few questions about your son if you don't mind. It's all in the name of helping him and everything we discuss will be confidential."
"Okay, what do you want to know?"
"Who is Amber? His childhood friend, brown skin, eyes, and hair?"
"Never head of her Ozpin. If it's a girl Jaune wouldn't get with five yards of her much less be buddies."
"When asked he explained Amber was a childhood friend from Ansel?"
"Jaune told you that?" Roland sounded just as confused as Ozpin but for a different reason. "Of it was between nine and fifteen he couldn't so much as look at someone in the opposite sex without blushing. Much less be friends with one."
"Are you certain?" Ozpin asked hopeful, if Roland didn't know who Amber was that left him at a dead end. While he still wouldn't assume the worse there was still something terrible off about all this...
"We live in a small town and never get tourist Oz. He's always gone with one of his sisters when leaving the house so there isn't a way he could have met this girl. Much less spend much time with her or keep it hidden"
"Who trained him on how to be a Hunter?"
"No one, he's mainly self-taught and... while I am proud of him of getting this fair at Beacon. He never got any big education beyond basic things I taught my kids for safety reasons." His voice got lower like they were exchanging some sort of secret. "I know this sounds horrible but everyone here expected him back by now."
"...Sorry to bother you then, I will keep you updated on this situation. Also, it would be better if your son didn't know someone went off and asked such things like this."
There was a sharp sigh from behind the screen. "I'm going to tell the misses about this but get my son the help he needs Oz."
"He will Roland, never fear."
The call ended and Ozpin leaned back into his chair, this wasn't what he wanted but life had a way of disappointing people like this. His transcripts were only just acceptable and thus did look off in places... How would someone get the trama to have someone they might have never met become a voice in their head? Once more Ozpin got more questions than answers. He'd need to have a word with Mr. Arc that much was-
His scroll rang and interrupted his thoughts, sliding out from its pocket Ozpin found it was Jemima. One of the Huntresses he sent after Ruby. This, of course, took precedence at the moment as he accepted the call.
She got to the point the moment they connected. "Has something been found?"
"No, but we're going to need more men for this."
"More...?" The White Fang had been shattered after Mountain Glenn and they couldn't be that much of a threat to seasoned Hunters. "What has changed? Has a ransom been issued or..."
He held his tongue in asking if Ruby Rose was dead. She was asking for reinforcements not reporting a death, Jemima would have specified it when they connected.
"Sir, there are more missing children and unlike the one, you want they actually left calling cards."
"That's really it, huh?" Yang asked blankly as Weiss told her what had happened.
The blond already knew but this time asked things like what streets they used to get there, if they saw anything off, recognized any faces, how long was Weiss inside the store for. It was an interrogation and one that Amber saw as Yang starting to grasp at straws.
"Did you see any..." Yang leaned forwards and covered her, contemplating something before she muttered something about 'regretting this'. "Did you see any Faunus?"
Jaune's fork clattered to the table, although the sound was fairly drowned out by the general noise in the cafeteria. Everyone from both JPBY and WRRN redirected their gazes towards Yang who looked as if she wanted to shrink into her seat. Jaune looked past her at Blake who returned his attention with the most nonchalant expression she could muster. Returning to her fish she tried to keep cutting it while trying looking unbothered. She knew what Yang really meant but it is a hot topic for everyone to discuss.
Weiss must've noticed it too as she went to reply. "There was this one dog Faunus... I could tell by the ears."
"What... What did she look like?" Yang asked quietly and Weiss eyed Blake who sighed then nodded slowly.
"Casual clothing, red t-shirt, blue denim jeans, brown hair. This was all from behind mind you, I was starting down the sidewalk for Ruby."
"Maybe... tell the police?" Yang flinched when Blake groaned. "Sorry, forget I ever said anything."
"Your sister has been kidnapped and probably by the White Fang considering what we've been involved in..."
"Discussing it here won't accomplish anything." The mysterious Ren spoke up for once.
"Yeah, I know," Yang snapped. "Sorry, I hate not being able to do anything. This sitting around stuff doesn't suit me."
"While I never knew Ruby on a personal level she is on my team, when you find her please tell us." He gestured around to his team. "Before you act."
"Yeah, got it. When someone else gets the news that is..." Her voice trailed off, she suddenly had that look Jaume would have when he finally found the answer to a particular math problem.
"What?" He asked.
"It's nothing, forget it."
Yang returned to her plate but merely began to pick at her food. Her demeanor was that of a parent in the waiting room of a hospital expecting to hear the terrible news they were certain to come any moment now. She was like that since this morning and now lunchtime. Understandable as to why Weiss had sent her report to the police and the Headmaster promised to help. It was all they could do without a lead to go on and now here she was in a constant state of readiness.
"She knows someone that can hack into scrolls," Amber said. "We know she visited a shady club too and I'm fairly sure that guy is also an information broker. You might want to keep an eye on her Jaune."
"We've got the police on the case but they couldn't even stop the White Fang from robbing dust shops." He thought grimly. "Headmaster Ozpin will help us but how much can he do with the city being as is."
A barely functioning police force, Hunter teams being spread out amongst the city, and one little gone. She can not be the only missing person case anyone have to look at. The situation made had his stomach-churning, the likelihood anyone would find Ruby soon was small.
Jaune shot Yang a quick look, there was the same contained fury of a lioness but she seemed to be thinking about something.
"If she wants to run out to solve things like Blake then I am going with her." Jaune knew it would be impossible to stop Yang and he wouldn't consider it.
This is serious and so long as it wasn't headfirst into danger it would be okay in his book. Besides if Yang really did have some crook that could give them information, what was the problem with getting one extra avenue of help here? All he wanted for her to not head into Vale alone. This is why he saw fit to talk about it with everyone else around.
"We'll come with you." He bluntly said.
"What do you mean...?" Yang was suspicious and Jaune wanted to affirm that he wasn't an obstacle here.
"I think for everyone that we want to help you find your sister. If you want to head down to that club and get help we'll come with you."
Jaune looked around and Pyrrha stood straighter and smiled. While Blake bookmarked the tome she had. "Not like I have any better to do."
"You're going to be talking to a crook aren't you?" Weiss sighed. "If you lien to pay this individual ask now, she may be your sister but she is my partner."
"Heh, I don't think money will be an issue." Yang smiled for the first time since last night, it was a bitter-sweet look but nice for Jaune to see. "Thanks guys."
"I'm your team leader, roles reverse you'd be doing the same for me." Jaune knew it an unbreakable fact. "Once we find where they're keeping her it'll be time to break down their door."
"Felt like yesterday you traveling to Vale without aura." Amber said cheekily.
Jaune chuckled internally. "Maybe one day I can finally help you too."
Small parks were scattered around the city as play areas for children or if you just wanted a casual stroll in a slice of nature. Not as popular as one from outside the city might think. Ozpin noted and sighed at the sheer number of people crowding around the park benched. Being held back by a few Huntsmen and VPD officers.
"No doubt this will be the talk of more than a few neighborhoods." He thought grimly, this was not what the city needed.
The police tape was pulled up at his approach and Ozpin ducked under and met Jemima at the tables. A few men and women from the VPD were packing up their bags when Jemima noticed him approach. She wore a tight blue shirt and likewise colored and pants. Her black coat was off to the rest of the outfit though, she was a textbook Hunter with clothes not too baggy or tight to get in the way. Her coat was zipped opened to show off an ammo belt crossing her chest, red eyes were firm as the situation called for it.
Jemima was middle-aged and had been a Huntress for most of her life but what Ozpin really cared about was her experience was working in cities. She understood how delicate they had to be when you weren't in a frontier village and surrounded by people desensitized by constant danger.
"They're just about done gathering evidence here, still going to be closed off for a while though." She said.
"Tell me what happened." No tallying here, Ozpin wanted this direct and clear.
"Some old man was walking when he saw some kids getting dragged away. Said it didn't look like they were rowdy kids and their parents got ruff. Call someone out and they found this." Jemima took him over to one of the evidence bags and had one of the officers pull out a rectangular cloth with the insignia of the White Fang carefully placed on it. "I got called in because we're already looking into them. This all happened this morning and in broad daylight mind you. They wanted to been found out and fast."
"It couldn't be boldness, perhaps they didn't have a choice or Cinder needs to frame it like he White Fang." Ozpin considered.
"You said missing children, a plural word correct?"
"Yeah this is the earliest one, there are more and I can get a report if you want."
"Do it." Ozpin wanted to ask how many were taken but preferred to wait until he had all the details later.
Never the less he felt sickened that this happened. First, his school is inflated and he's turned against a student, then they try to load up a train to blow up a portion of Vale. Now here was a new plan and once more he barely had all the details nor could he come up with an idea of Cinder's plan this time around beyond causing a panic in the city.
"Perhaps that's it but one can never use absolutes when ascertaining motivation and a goal."
"I'm going to need some more backup for this, can't cover much ground with the three I got." Jemima explained.
"You shall have all the support you need." He assured Qrow preferred to work alone but anything they found would be useful to him as well. "Continued with the Rose case but I want you to give each as much attention as you can."
It was not as if Ozpin had a choice to order otherwise, the city needed to feel safe with everything that has happened. The council would never allow him to play favorites. Children were being kidnapped off the streets people were already on edge. Add that with the dust shortages and coming blackouts to save the power for the festival. A dozen kids being taken from across the city would be all over the news tonight. Parents would lock up their kids in the house, rumors would start and the city authorities would be blamed for inaction in preventing the incident in the first place. The unease that already gripped the city will grow from it.
Even though the White Fang hadn't claimed responsibility, he doubted Ruby Rose being kidnapped was some random coincidence. This may be like killing two birds with one stone. They had a bait for team JPBY and Ozpin would have to further divide his resources depriving him from aiding the four. The search for the girl was already problematic because he only had so much manpower and resources. What with the Vytal festival and first year's team missions coming up adding more to the pile wasn't what he needed now.
"Qrow will tear this city apart looking for that girl but he just one man there is only so much ground he can cover alone..." Ozpin knew what he had to do, it wasn't ideal but trying to justify against it was getting harder here.
"Time to give James a call."