"Are you sure?"
Sienna questioned her agent through the hologram.
"I'm sure, all the dust is being packed in one of the spare safehouses. So far I haven't heard talk of sending it back, Adam is planning something I'm certain of it. He just hasn't told us about it".
Damn it! She thought to herself. She had taken this call to her personal quarters under the guise of family business. It was no secret that Adam was gaining mass amounts of support from nearly every facet of the White Fang. Needless to say he was charming his way into the hearts of many, boasting about the fight for justice, about bringing in a new age of freedom.
Many that came to them had been broken. Beaten beyond repair and left utterly hopeless. Those that joined up had seen the worst that humanity had to offer, believing this path to be the only option. She understood all too well just how cruel humans could be, Adam understood this too, perhaps even more than most of their older members.
While his voice spoke of justice and honor, his actions told another story. Most who join up do so for vengeance, to lash out at those that brought their suffering. The remaining few just want to run away from it all, to escape to somewhere they felt needed, without the prejudice of the populous.
Yet there are a small few amongst them. A small few that truly believe they have a chance. A small few that believe that they can achieve the equality and acceptance that they so desperately fight for.
Adam was not one of those few. No, Adam was something else entirely. Perhaps he once held a desire for peace, for equality and justice as he so often preaches. But that desire must have been lost long ago. A man's innocent wish for peace, perverted into an endless need for suffering. Adam had this... destructive air about him, Sienna herself couldn't be more than a few moments in the same room as him without feeling... uncomfortable.
Once upon a time she had held the same wrathful will as him, yet time has a way of numbing even the harshest of wounds. Sienna had found herself mellowing out as the realization would come to cross her vision. As leader of the White Fang she was privy to all of their operations, and the affects they had. She had read the reports and opinions that the world as a whole had of them. She had witnessed as even the faunus they so often claimed to fight for had turned against them, believing their methods too much.
Sienna couldn't help but scoff before others, brushing it off as ignorance to the cause. Yet, alone and hidden from prying eyes, she found herself somewhat agreeing with her detractors.
She herself had first proposed the idea of violence as a way of showing that they would not stand idly by, of being still while others would pelt them so mercilessly. She wished to show that they would not allow themselves to be the victims any longer.
It had started out so simple, trashing businesses that refused faunus, raids on warehouses of companies that abused its faunus workers, and hunting down the occasional slaver camps stationed secretly throughout the kingdoms.
Yet despite her best efforts, as the organization grew, so too did her grasp begin to slip away. Trashing turned to shooting, raids morphed into hostage taking, and the slavers were gunned down on the spot rather than bound and left for authorities.
And so, here she was.
The great Sienna Khan. Leader of the notorious White Fang, conversing secretly with a solo agent. Unable to voice her displeasure with the organization in fear of being overthrown.
I'm so pathetic! She thought to herself.
"Ms. Khan I'm afraid I have to cut this short. I have to get back before I'm missed".
"Right... but keep me updated, we have to figure out where all that dust is going".
"Over and out".
With that the call ended. Sighing to herself she took a seat on her bed. The week so far had been stressful enough already, but this just made things worse.
Adam... just what are you up to? Sitting around here wouldn't help, the situation was already out of her control. There wasn't much she could do at this point.
"Fuck it, I may as well get some air".
A walk would do her some good. Maybe it would help clear her head, dust knows she needs it.
"Fennec, You're in charge while I'm gone"
She called making her way out.
"Wait! Ms. Khan, if I may ask, where might you be heading?"
"Just out for a walk across the docks. Might drop in for tea with Mrs. Belladonna. Regardless I'll be gone for most of the day, handle any incoming calls from the other sectors as you see fit".
With that Sienna made her way out.
How did I end up here? I thought to myself, arms full with Kali's bags of various goods.
My morning had gone reasonably well. Breakfast had been interesting though, salted fried fish with what had appeared to be a fruit based glaze. An odd mix of sweet and salty that I'd not experienced before.
It was... unique to say the least. Still, I had enjoyed it somewhat. It was not of the highest quality that I had been raised on, yet I think that was what made it so special. I was used to cooking prepared by the top chefs throughout our kingdom, only the best of the best for a noblemen. But here, I was just another patron, and had been treated as such.
The woman from last night, having presumably overcome the surprise that had been my visit, seemed much more relaxed than before.
"So how'd ya sleep last night?"
She had asked, presumably looking much more awake than myself at the moment.
"Rather well actually".
I'd been so used to making camp over the last few months of travel that I'd fallen into slumber almost instantly as I had lay down.
"Heh, glad to hear it. So I take it you'd like your breakfast now?"
I had stood confused a moment, only to remember she'd mentioned it the night before, and so had Kali before that. The rest must have had more of an effect on me than I had previously thought.
"Yes, that would be wonderful thank you".
I watched as she went through the curtain behind her, only to instantly pop back out, plate in hand.
"That was... quick".
"I made these an hour earlier. Guests usually wake up around this time so I've had these waiting in the back. Don't worry, I've kept it warm in the oven, just added the sauce when I heard a door open".
With that she handed me the meal. I stood for but a moment before voicing my concern.
"Did you not get any rest last night?"
I had watched as she rolled her eyes in amusement, waving me off.
"I work night shifts on weekends, so don't worry. You caught me just as I started my shift last night, and I get off in about an hour. Also you can take that back to your room for privacy, just try not to make a mess".
So I'd done just that, downing my meal and returning my plate to her afterwards. I'd left the inn with the intent to gather any information I could about the area, In hopes of finding a way off of the island.
I had left my coin back on the cart before I ended up here, and as such I was for the first time in my life... coinless and broke. The gift from Kali had been a blessing as without it I would have had to spend the night on the street. That itself would have been the lesser of the issues I'd have faced as I would have needed to steal for food, and I refused to fall so low as to become a petty thief.
Now however I had been guaranteed a meal each day. While not much, it would do and allow me to focus on my search.
I had at first decided to take a look around the stalls, making idle chat with the shop keepers. During this I had learned of some of the events happening on the main land. From what I understood there was a festival happening this year. While not that important for most amongst them as they preferred to stay here, it did however result in an increase of fish sales. Mass orders to the kingdom that held this rotating festival, at least... that is what I'm able to make of it.
At first I thought I might take advantage of this and hopefully convince the sailors to grant me passage back. This Idea however was hampered as the festival was still months away.
I had decided that I might continue gathering more info, only to be halted by a familiar figure bumping against me.
"Oof... sorry about tha- oh, hello again Mr. Rose. How are you doing today".
The sound of her voice had confirmed that it had been Kali that I had bumped into, although I couldn't see her face from behind the bags in her arms.
"I am rather well today. Um... pardon, but do you require some aid? That seems... quite cumbersome".
With that I had found myself here, arms full and being dragged about as Kali went about her grocery shopping.
"Most of the main shops are closed on Sunday, these stalls however like to hold themselves open for a little while in the mornings. They close at around lunch time".
She brought me about amongst the other stalls, adding various food product to the bags I held. During which time I had received many a look of pity from what I could only assume were married men who understood the feeling.
Speaking of which, where is Ghira?
The walk helped, a bit at least. Sienna had started in the earliest hours of the morning, just before the weekend stalls in the market opened, having wanted some time alone to relax.
The sun having barely begun to peek above the horizon, she had plenty of time to enjoy the cool morning breeze.
Now however, the day had begun. People both young and old, scurrying about the streets and enjoying the weekend.
'Maybe I'll drop in and see Kali, I could use some tea and hopefully figure out a way to keep the others in line'. Most of the White Fang only answering to her out of procedure, she could tell they'd much rather go to Adam.
She didn't have the same charm he seemed to have. The way he'd grasp and pull the rest along with his call to action, there was no denying he was the poster boy for the group.
Sienna had made her way towards her destination, random bystanders stepping to the sides allowing her a sort of path forward. While she lacked her original hold of the Fang she still held large amounts of respect from the general populace of Menagerie. Most being in the dark, having been withheld the truth at her own call, had still believed she followed Ghira's beliefs for the White Fang.
She'd rather not trouble the people with stresses such as theirs, much rather they go about their simpler lives carefree then allow them to worry... or criticize. They had enough trouble with Remnant as a it is, dealing with pushback here would be... less than ideal.
Glancing up, she realized she had made it to the manor. Proceeding up the steps she gave a solid couple knocks to the door, only to be answered by one of the many servants.
"Ms. Kahn? apologies, we weren't expecting you. Please, do come in. I'll let Mr. Belladonna know of your arrival".
Making her way inside as the servant shut the door and walked off, she took a seat down to rest as she awaited Ghira. He wasn't long as she saw him walk in from what was his office, most likely looking over the local budgeting and preparing for the influx of shipments for the Vytal Festival later that year.
"Sienna, nice to see you. Are you doing well?"
Ghira asked, taking a seat across from her. While he may not have agreed to the approach she took, he could still hold words with her rather well. The choice to step down as leader had been his own, and as such he held no real animosity towards her despite their differing views.
"Fine I suppose. I'd thought I might drop in for a while, to relax a bit while everything's calm for the moment. The amount of trouble everyone can get into just gives me a headache".
Ghira let out a small chuckle, understanding the feeling all to well.
"Yes, I can understand that. So this is just a break from it for the time being then I assume, while you collect your thoughts".
She nodded, Ghira had dealt with these things before so it made sense he would catch on so quickly.
"Spot on. Just taking the day off for once, although I hope I'm not interrupting anything".
She asked, not wanting to take his time from more important matters.
"Not at all. I'm just finishing up actually. Just got done cataloguing the expenses for the planned shipments. Got to make sure everything is paid for before they arrive for the cargo in the coming months".
He answered, seeming to relax a little more.
"For the Vytal Festival right?"
"Yes, dealing with shipment fees, as well as customs. Balancing that with expected sales, especially with all the activity and excitement expected to be going on and such. Let's just say it makes for quite a bit of work".
It was true, festivals and such were always hectic for any business. Trying to keep up with buyers, along with trying to stand out. Chaos, it's simply chaos.
Before the logistics of seafood sales could be discussed any further, the door could be heard opening.
"Dear I'm back with the groceries! Mr. Rose was such a dear and helped with carrying it all back, so I've invited him for dinner, hope you don't mind!"
Sienna could only sit in confusion as Ghira let out a sigh.
"Looks like she's roped the poor lad into shopping with her. I'll go help settle it away".
As he got up to go save whoever Kali's pack mule of the week was, Sienna had only one curious thought.
Mr. Rose?
Author's Note
...
Random inspiration at 3pm for no reason? Sign me up! Look... I've had too much time at the moment so here's another chapter because I can. Not doing too well for that update schedule, Huh.