Beacon Continental
Chap 2
*Ring* *Ring*
Groaning, I turned in the bed to turn off the alarm on the side of the bed. Looking at the time, I saw that it was nine a.m. A good time to wake up. Letting out a yawn, I moved the blankets off me and got up and stretched a bit. Going over to the closet, I grabbed my clothes and out them on. I chose to wear a three-piece tailored suit with black cufflinks. But unlike the suit I had yesterday, this one had bullet proof protection sewn into it. Looking myself over in the mirror and being satisfied, I went over to the table and grabbed my Beretta M9. Making sure that it was in working order and that it was loaded, I holstered it before leaving my room.
"Time to get some good breakfast again." I said to myself. Already smiling at the food that I would order. Heading down stairs, I made my way to the lounge area. Sitting sown at one of the seats, I ordered some roast duck with veggies and some hot jasmine tea to drink. Soon the waiter came back with my food.
'Damn, do I miss being able to eat this food.' I thought as I began to eat my food. As I was eating, I felt my scroll vibrate. Taking it out, I saw about ten messages from my 'teammates' and 'friends.' They were basically demanding to know where I was and why I did not come back yet. Sighing, I put it away and continued eating my breakfast. I did not want to deal them right now.
"There you are Jonathan. Been looking for you." Winston said as he approached me. Looking up, I saw Winston taking the seat across from as he put on his reading glasses.
"Morning Winston. What do you need?" I asked while taking a sip of my tea.
"The Bowery King contacted me yesterday. He wants to meet with you as there are things that must be discussed." He answered.
"Alright. I'll finish this then I'll head on over. Anything else?" I asked.
"Yes. I want you to head to the tailor, the wine store and the book store and give them these documents." He answered as he gave the papers to me.
'New shipments incoming and what to expect from them essentially.' I thought as I looked over the papers. Before the High Table was overthrown, doing this would be against the rules, but now, we can do it as there is more trust between others and to make sure nothing is amiss or alludes to helping the High Table.
"Very well. Consider it done." I said as I out the documents in my suit pocket.
"Thank you, Jonathan. Here is the payment as I have a feeling, I won't be seeing you for a while. Take care now." Winston said while placing five gold coins on the table. He then got up and left.
'Got some work now. Best get to it right away. But after breakfast.' I thought before returning to my food. About ten minutes later, I was finished with my food and left some coins to pay for the food. Getting up, I headed back over to the concierge to pay for the room service and doctor.
"Ah. Mr. Arc. Leaving already?" He asked as he began to tally my expense.
"Yeah, got some work to do. And by the time I will be finished, I'd have to head back to Beacon." I answered.
"Then I do wish you a safe travel. I do also hope you enjoyed your stay here as well." Charon said as he showed me my bill. Taking out a few coins, I paid my fee.
"Take care Charon." I said before turning around and leaving The Continental.
Stepping outside, I checked the time on my scroll to see that it was eleven thirty. Putting it away, I decided to first go to the Bowery King as he was located the furthest from here. Hailing a cab, I got in and told the driver to take me to the homeless shelter located across town. It took about half an hour to get there. Getting out, I paid the cab driver some lien and closed the door. Looking around, I saw beggars, vagrants and panhandlers scattered around the place. They were either eating some food, working or just resting. Moving past them, I entered the building. The first few rooms seemed normal. Like how a homeless shelter would typically be set up. Yet the next room over is very different. There were multiple desks across the room with each one having a typewriter on them. On the wall on the far side of the room, there was a map of Vale. If you were to carefully go over the map. You would see it holds locations of every underworld business in Vale. Going to the next room, I saw all forms of shipments coming from all over the kingdom. Yet only about ten percent of all cases and packages here are actually for the shelter. And the rest is for the shelters true purpose. Seeing the stairs on the other side of the room, I made my way over to them and climb them to the roof. Opening the door, I was greeted to the sight of many, many bird cages and pigeons. But what stood out amongst them, was the man near the edge of the roof petting one of the birds. He may not seem like much, but he was one of the main contributors in helping overthrow the High Table. He was once on the receiving end of a contract, but was spared. After he was spared, he built an underground intelligence network that expanded all throughout Vale.
"Ah, Jaune Arc. Was wondering when you would get here?" The man asked.
"Bowery King. Good to see you. How's the Homeless shelter? And it's true purpose?" I asked him as I made my way next to him.
"Doing fine. Finally recovered everything that was lost in the cowardly attack from the High Table led by Zero and his men. Now, we are even looking to make new pathways into the other kingdoms." He answered.
"Which kingdom will be next? Mistral?" I asked him.
"Oh, we already made our way into Mistral. A few more months and we will be all set over there. No. The next kingdom will be Atlas." He answered.
'Damn. That fast. I really have to pay more attention to these things.' I thought in amazement at the fact that he was already able set up his network in Mistral and is now making preparations to move into Atlas. Shaking my head and moving those thought to the back of my mind, I asked him the main question.
"You call for me bower King. And I doubt it was a social call. So, what do you need?" I asked him.
"I know that you are in the middle of a contract at Beacon. And I did hear that you were attacked a few days ago. Which begs the question, just what is the High Table up to now?" He said as he placed the pigeon he was petting back into its cage.
"What are you getting at?" I asked turning to face him.
"What I want to know is that, can we set a post at Beacon?" He finally asked.
"No. There are too many eyes there right now. And even though they are not as trained as us, they will be able to see it eventually. Not to mention the headmaster is extremely sharp. He would know almost immediately when something is amiss with his school." I answered.
"Shame. Would have been beneficial to have an outpost there." He said as he picked up a pigeon and attached a note to its leg before letting it fly to its location.
"However." I continued getting his attention. "There are two locations you can set up a post at where you can get all the information you need."
"Where would they be?" He asked turning to face me.
"There is an airstrip where all the students use to get to Vale and back to Beacon. The amount of gossip and news that goes through there is the equivalent as if you were actually in Beacon. The other place is located in the shopping district. Right across from the dust store called From Dust till Dawn. The store is a hotbed for anybody needing dust. Both criminals and students use that store. If you want information, that is the place to be." I answered him. He seemed to consider all this for a moment before finally saying something.
"I'll have some of my men check out the locations. And if they are as good as you say, I will have a post set up there. Hopefully we can get more information as where the last members of the High Table are cowardly hiding at and finally make them pay for trying to dethrone a king." He said with a chuckle before fully focusing on his pigeons.
Taking this as a sign to leave, I bid him goodbye and made my downstairs and outside the building. Looking around, I hailed another cab and asked the driver to take me to the book store as that was the closest location. As the driver took me there, my mind went back to what the Bower King just told me. If it is true, that he will be able to finish setting up his base in Mistral and would soon make ways into Atlas as well, then we have a bigger chance at finally finding the last members of The High Table and ending this war. Then we can all take a much-needed vacation. But we still have a long way to go before we can even begin to think about that. Best focus on the now and not the future right now. Turning to look outside the window of the cab, I decided to enjoy to view to put my mind at ease until we get to the book store. After about fifteen minutes of silent driving, we reached the book store.
"We are here Mr. Arc." The driver said.
Nodding, I paid the driver a gold coin before getting out of the cab. Looking around to make sure I was not being followed, I walked up to the book store and entered it. Inside the store, there were book cases and glass all around. Some contain a few books while others are packed with books. Yet despite the appearance and all the books, this place is not an actual book store. That is just a front. The real purpose of this place is in the back behind the fake bookcase behind the desk where the man I came to see is.
"Mr. Arc. Was beginning to wonder when you would be coming back? What location do you need to know?" The man asked. He may not look like much but he came to be known as The Cartographer. Reason being that he is in charge of keeping watch over all the modern blueprints and ancient layouts of nearly every building in Vale. Every time an assassin needs to eliminate a target that is in an unknown building, one that usually has a lot of people in it or has a lot of security in it they would come to see him.
"No location right now. I'm still in a contract that requires me to be in Beacon. Just came by to drop off this document courtesy of Winston. Just new shipments and what to expect." I answered.
"I will let him know I received it. Will you be needing anything else?" He asked as he looked over the documents.
"Yes. I would need you to send a layout of the airstrip Beacon students use to get to Beacon and send it to the Bowery King. He is planning on making a post there and it would greatly help him." I told him while sliding him a gold coin.
"Consider it done Mr. Arc." He said before hitting a switch which made the bookshelf behind move. He then went inside the room with the bookshelf closing behind him.
Satisfied, I stepped out of the store and saw that the sky had gotten darker and it looked like it was going to rain soon. Pulling out my scroll, I checked the time to see that it was already three p.m. Putting my scroll away, I decided to continue on to my next destination which was the wine store. Seeing as it was not that far from where I currently am, I decided to walk there. While walking there, I could not help but consider whether or not to get something while I am there.
'Perhaps I could get a wine to have when I finish my contract at Beacon. And some new weapons would be useful as well.' I thought as I continued my way there. Feeling a vibration in my pocket, I pulled out my scroll to see that I was getting messages from my teammates again. Ignoring them, I put my scroll away and continued my way. A few minutes later, I reached my destination. Opening the doors, I walked into and elegant building with rows upon rows filled to the brim with different kinds of wines. Moving towards the back, I saw a finely dressed going through a book.
"Evening. Is The Sommelier in?" I asked her.
"I have never known him not to be Mr. Arc." She answered before moving the book and pressing a button before motioning to the door behind her. Nodding my thanks, I went around and through the door and closing it behind me. Inside there were a couple more tables and racks with wines. But what stood out were the guns on the other side of the room. The true purpose of this place being to give assassins weapons for their missions/contracts. In front of racks of guns, there was a man there admiring a 2mm Kolibri pistol. He placed it down when he saw me and moved to stand behind the table next to him.
"Mr. Arc. Been a while. How's your contract at Beacon going?" He asked.
"Fine Sommelier. Almost done with it. Here." I answered before taking out the document and handing it to him. "Some new shipping orders and what to expect from them courtesy of Winston."
"Thank you, Mr. Arc. I will look over them later and then report back to Winston tomorrow about it. Now before you leave, would you care for a tasting?" He asked.
"Sure. But I would also like a tasting in wine as well for the celebration of my contract coming to an end." I answered.
"Excellent. Which should we start with?" He asked with a smile. Clearly enjoying his ability to partake in his favorite hobbies.
"The guns." I answered.
"And I know the best one to start off the night." He said walking back to the side that held the pistols. "I know your fondness for the Berrettas. Especially considering you have one holstered right now. But I can whole heartedly endorse the new line of Caracal pistols with 9x19 parabellum ammunition. They also have a textured grip should your hands get wet. And recent modifications now allow for fast loading and reloading."
"Nice. Now how about something bold and precise." I said as I put down the pistol after examining it and getting a feel for all of its features and handling.
"Bold. Precise." He repeated as he thought about which gun fitted the description. After a moment of thinking, he turned around and grabbed a gun from the shelf behind him.
"The Pindad SS3." He said handing me the gun. "Textured grip. Trijicon 1-6×24 VCOG optic for precise shots. STANAG magazines with 7.62 ammunition. This version has the long barrel with rotating bolt. What else?"
"Can you recommend something to finish off the night? Something that will definitely leave a lasting impression." I asked.
"How about the Benelli Nova." He suggested with a smile before reaching underneath the desk and pulling out a pump action shotgun.
"12-gauge or 19- gauge shotgun shells it uses in a 4+1 internal magazine. Pump action. Has option for either a mid: metal bead or a front: red bar for sights. This version being the supernova includes a number of recoil reducing features and a removable stock that can be swapped out with a pistol grip stock." He explained as I got the feel for this gun which I liked very much.
"And dessert?" I asked. He smiled before bringing out a folding case with different types of knives. Looking them over, I picked up one that I had my eye on for a while. A Crkt Du Hoc Karambit fixed blade.
"Excellent choice. Now. How about your wine?" He asked as he put away the case full of knives.
"Something sweet and fruity. Perhaps something with blackberry in it." I answered.
"I have the perfect one. Follow me." He said before exiting the room and back to the front. Following him, we went to the last row on the far-right side of the room. He reached down to the bottom shelf and pulled a large wind bottle. "Wild Vines, Blackberry Merlot. Sweet and fruity with no bitterness."
"Beautiful." I said as I took the bottle and looked it over. Already looking forward to tasting it when my contract finished and I can finally go home.
"Shall I have everything sent to your room at The Continental?" He asked.
"No. Send them to my home. The usual way." I answered as I gave him back the bottle and paid the fee.
"Very well Mr. Arc. Have a nice day." He said as he took the payment and went back to the gun room.
Exiting the building, I began to make my way to the final destination of the day. The tailors place. However, only the underworld knows it as that. To everyone else, the location is actually a textile place. Every single worker of the underworld in Vale goes to him. He is the best as not only can he make the highest quality suits to the wearers preferred style but can make it in a single day. Something that few can even attempt to do and even fewer can achieve. As I was walking there, I began to think about what I will do now that my contract is almost over. I told Winston that I would pick up more contracts but even then, I would still have a lot of time to myself.
'Maybe just take a small vacation. I'll think about it more later.' I thought as I reached the location.
Opening the door, I walked up the stairs to the second floor where I saw roughly fifty people inside an almost claustrophobic room. There were about thirty desks with either sewing machines or filled with threat or wool. People moving about with boxes full of fabric and clothes. Moving to the nearest desk, I placed a gold coin on the desk. The lady working there took the coin and examined it before putting it away so no one else would see it. Getting up, she told me to follow her, nodding, I followed her to the back of the room and through the doors into another room filled with all kinds of clothing hanging. Ready to be sold or picked up. Going around them, we saw two guards standing next to another set of doors. The lady nodded at them to which they stepped aside and opened the doors for us. Stepping in, I saw an elegant room with two men standing around and discussing ideas about future suits.
"Evening gentlemen." I said getting their attention as the lady left the room and closed the doors as well for privacy.
"Buona sera senor Arc. What brings you here this fine evening?" The man with a measuring tape around his shoulder asked as he extended his hand to which is shook. "Avresti bisogno di un vestito nuovo?"
"No. But I wouldn't mind getting a new one." I answered before pulling out the last document and giving it to him.
"Ah. New shipments. I will let Winston know I received this." He said with a smile as he put the document away. "Now. How about that new suit?"
"Yes. Please." I said while moving to stand in front of the mirror. He then placed a trial vest on me and began to take my measurements.
"Tell me Mr. Arc. Shall this suit be formal or social?" He asked.
"Social." I answered after giving it moment of thought. 'Not really a formal kind of person either way.'
"And is this for day or evening?" He asked as he wrote down my measurements before handing them to his assistant.
"Day time." I answered.
"As for style, what shall it be? How many buttons?" He asked.
"Three buttons. As for style, make it Menageria." I answered.
'They do have some nice styles and I have a feeling I might get sent there for a contract at some point down the line. Might as well have a suit ready for it.' I thought as the assistant came back inside.
"As for the trousers? And how about the lining?" He asked.
"Have the trousers tapered. As for the lining, tactical." I answered.
"Done. Shall we have this suit sent over to your room at The Continental?" He asked while putting away his measuring tape and taking the trial vest off of me.
"No. Send it to my house. Can you do a rush job?" I asked him.
"Most certainly." He answered. I then reached in my pocket and was about to pay him when he stopped me. "No, no. No need Mr. Arc. Consider this as compliments of the house."
"Thank you." I told them before exiting the room.
Going down the stairs and exiting the building, I saw that it had started raining. Taking out my scroll, I saw that it was now seven thirty p.m. Seeing that it was now late and raining, I decided to call a cab to get me and take me to the airstrip. Normally, I would have walked there as it was close by but I did not want to get soaked right now. Waiting about ten minutes for the cab to arrive, I deleted every message that my teammates sent me which was a lot. Once the cab got here, I got in and asked the driver to take me to the airstrip. After about fifteen minutes, we arrived at the airstrip. Getting out, I paid the driver before making my way to the bullhead. Paying for my ticket, I was about to get on when I felt someone tap on my shoulder. Turning around I was surprised to see who it was.
"Velvet?" I asked confused as to why she was here. Looking behind her, I saw her mother was there as well.
"Jaune! Where have you been?! We have been worried sick about-" She began to shout but before she could get far into her rant, I turned back around and entered the bullhead and sat down in the area where more people are. Hoping that Velvet won't come after me since she was a shy person. But unfortunately, it did not work as they followed me and sat down right next to me.
"Don't you walk away from my daughter young man!" Velevt's mother lectured me as she sat down to my left with Velvet to my right.
'Great. Just what I needed. This going to be a long flight.' I thought as I tuned them out to the best of my abilities and closed my eyes.
I was right in that regard. While the trip to beacon by bullhead would normally take about twenty minutes, it felt like forty minutes because they kept on lecturing me. And it took all my patience to not snap right there. Luckily, the bullhead soon landed and we were able to get off. Getting up from my seat, I exited the bullhead and made my inside Beacon with the intent of making to my dorm room and go to sleep before my teammates could say anything. But as I made my way there, I began to grow more irritated as Velvet and her mother kept following me and continued with their rant. Ignoring them, I focused on making my way to my dorm as quickly as possible. Only to be reminded that to get to my team's dorm, I have the go through the cafeteria where everyone is having dinner right about now.
'Fuck. Just what I needed. Hopefully I can get through without much issue.' I thought as I entered the cafeteria. Not stopping for a moment, I quickly sped up my walking speed and crossed the room hoping to not get any more complications. Unfortunately, that hope was quickly dashed as the person I disliked the most in this school called me out.
"Hey. ARC!" The person called out before he and his team stepped up to me.
*Sigh* "What do you want Cardin?" I asked irritated. I truly despise this asshole. He is an egotistical asshole who hates on faunas and always thinks he is top shit when he clearly is not. Honestly, if there ever is a contract to take this guy out, I would be the first one to take it up and do it without any hesitation.
"Easy. Just wanted to show you this." He said with a smug grin before pulling out and pointing a M1911 pistol at me. "We found this near your room."
"Get that out of my face." I said as I slapped the gun to the side. Obviously, he did not take this well.
"Don't do that!" He growled out as he pointed the pistol back at me.
"Stop playing with that. It's not a toy." I said while slapping the gun away again.
"Don't do that again!" He threatened as he pointed the gun at me. Instead of answering, I quickly grabbed onto the pistol. He saw this and attempted to pull away, thinking that I was trying to take it from him. After a quick minute of struggling, which caught the attention of everyone else in the cafeteria, I finally let go.
"Now, are you sure you want to try that again?" I asked. Instead of answering, Cardin raised his gun to me and pulled the trigger, only for nothing to happen. Everyone seemed confused at this. Especially Cardin as he pulled the trigger a few more times with nothing happening.
"What did you do?" He asked as he kept pulling the trigger.
"You need this Cardin." I told him as I raised my hand which held the magazine for the gun. Snarling, he took the magazine and put it back into the gun and fired at me only for the same thing to happen again.
'Idiot.' I thought as I watched him wonder what could be wrong this time.
"You also need this Cardin." I said while I raised my other hand which held all the bullets. Before he could snatch them, I tossed them in his face which infuriated him even more. He quickly snatched two bullets and put them back into the magazine and loaded it into the gun. Once done, he fired at me once more. For the same thing to happen again.
"You know Cardin, you're only a threat if you know what you are doing." I told him. Before he could say anything, I turned and left the room. All the while, raising my hand to show that I had also taken out the firing pin of the gun during the struggle.
Ignoring all the whispers that were now sure to circulate after what they just saw; I made my way to the dorm. Stepping in, I closed the door an entered the bathroom to take a quick shower. A few minutes later, I stepped out in my sleep wear and got into bed. As I felt sleep come to me, I felt happy that this contract would soon be over and I can finally leave this place and go home. Though, before I succumbed to slumber, a smirk did come to my face as I thought about how I just humiliated Cardin in front of everyone.
Note:
Thank you TheSlySage for bringing this up as I completely forgot to mention this in the last chapter. About eighty-two percent of all assassins have their aura unlocked. However, all assassins have been trained to easily bypass aura or exploit the weaknesses and technicalities of aura. There is also aura piercing ammunition as well but most do not go for it.
Pairing is undecided in this story and is still up in the air. I will let you all decided who Jaune gets paired with. Though no SalemxJaune as in this story she is married to Ozpin and I have plans for her later on. Also does not have to be a single pairing and can be multiple.
Apologize in advance in case I got anything wrong with the guns or wine I used in the story.
buona sera senor translates to good evening senor.
avresti bisogno di un vestito nuovo? Translates to would you be in need of a new suit?