Zero's Remnant Requiem

by Alpha4689

The Zero Requiem is complete, now Lelouch passes on, fulfilling his destiny. Or has he. Forced into a new world, he shall take up the Mantle of Zero once more, to fix a broken world. (Rewrite of Zero's Remnant)

5. Chapter 5

Disclaimer (I got nothing special here, sorry)

Code Geass is a masterpiece made by Sunrise

RWBY is the disappointment made by RoosterTeeth

Here we go, Chapter 5 is upon us! As promised, here is Lelouch, back to being himself.

Now, as for C.C. and Raven, that will be shown later, maybe in chapter 7 or 8. For now, I am going to focus on Lelouch, and his endeavors.

One more thing, it seems these chapters are getting longer and longer as time goes on. The previous chapter specifically had broken 10K words. Before, I tried to make a 10K chapter with Zero's Remnant, and it took me over a week, and I nearly burnt myself out doing. Now I can make such a chapter within DAYS and still be ready to start on the next one right after. Geez, I can't tell if it's because I've improved or what, but I can say for sure that I was not expecting something like that!

Anyway, I would like to thank you all for your support. I am genuinely surprised, so far, I've only gotten several negative comments thus far, and even then, they were more about my plans and subplots rather than the story itself and I've had over three thousand views by this point! It's already surpassed the original in views and this story is barely a week old by the time I started this chapter!

All I can say is, Thank you.

Now, I hope you enjoy the chapter, it's why I write to begin with.

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Chapter 5: Recruitment

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As promised, the ten former victims of Jax Asturias returned to the warehouse district a month after their rescue. The official story was that upon waking, the victims found themselves alone in a warehouse and left when they saw that the exit was open. The rescued prisoners all silently agreed to keep Zero's involvement a secret. If they were going to work for the masked man, it would be best not to risk his ire by letting the authorities in on his existence just yet.

When the ten arrived at they warehouse, they found instructions for them to go to another warehouse, and to make sure they weren't being followed. Luckily, one of them was a bat Faunus with bat ears, so the latter wasn't much of an issue.

When they arrived, they found Zero standing in front of the entrance, still as a statue.

"I see you're all here. I will admit, I expected at least some of you to have second thoughts." Zero admitted.

"You saved us; we owe you." The bat Faunus said. She had tanned skin, shoulder length green hair and orange eyes. Her bat ears were black however, making them easy to notice.

"No. All you owed me was listening to what I had to say." Zero denied. "You are all here because you want to be here."

While most of the group just accepted the masked man's words at face value, Kaigun Ran, now retired Huntsman, easily understood the message of Zero's words.

No one is being forced to join him. Zero wants followers who join willingly, rather than duty or obligation. Most people would pressure or manipulate their followers into believing they are the best chance their followers have of achieving their goals, but Zero is essentially saying "If you don't believe in me, you are free to leave."

Either Zero was confident he can prove himself, or thought a little compassion would earn him some sympathy. Kaigun was betting on the former considering his initial impression of the masked man.

"Well, then, since you're all here, I might as well show you our base of operations." Zero said as he dramatically spread out his arms. Then, as if on cue, the doors opened to show the interior of the base.

Unlike most warehouses that were filled with dust and cobwebs with the occasional machine here and there, this one was impressive by comparison.

Not only was it clean of all of that, it was filled with crates and supplies. There were even a few Sandcrawlers parked nearby. Everyone entered slowly, completely in awe of what Zero has shown them thus far.

"Zero, just… how?" Emily Suisen asked in awe, unable to take her eyes off what she was seeing.

Vacuo was one of the most restrictive Kingdoms when it came to imports and exports, especially their imports. Anything that came in was heavily monitored, guarded, and tracked. As a result, it was almost impossible to smuggle anything that couldn't fit in a person's pocket. Even local gangs needed to use shell companies to supply their materials, which made covering their tracks all the more difficult.

It also made what Zero was showing them all the more impressive.

"I found some "benefactors" who are heavily investing in ensuring our success." Zero replied ominously.

Emily gulped but didn't pry any further. Zero had just shown that he could smuggle entire vehicles into the capital of Vacuo. Emily didn't want to risk her leader's ire on her first day by being too nosy.

"If you have no more questions, then we shall move on." Zero said as he gestured to a chest off to the side. "Within this chest you will find your uniforms. Each is labeled with your name and has been tailored to each of you specifically."

Zero then gestured to makeshift rooms made of scrap metal. "I have made changing rooms for anyone who is self-conscious. Afterwards, I have prepared weapons for all of you. Once you have finished changing, familiarize yourself with your new armaments." Zero finished as he gestured to a second chest next to the first.

"Uniforms? Weapons? Zero, sorry if I sound ungrateful, but why do we need all of this?" Kaigun asked as he gestured to the chests.

"Yeah, and how do you know our names and measurements? Have you been spying on us?!" The bat Faunus asked, pointing an accusing finger at the masked man with a blush on her face.

"There is no need to apologize Kaigun your questions are warranted. Yours too Miss Olive." Zero said unaffected by the woman's outburst.

"The uniforms are for appearances. If we are to be treated seriously, we need to appear as if we are unified and professional. Uniforms help in that regard. The weapons however fulfill a more economic role. Our current resources are limited and must be budgeted accordingly. If I gave each of you a customized weapon, I would have to spend those resources building, maintaining, and making sure those weapons have sufficient ammunitions. By having a stand issue weapon, less resources can be spent on those expenses." Zero explained.

"What would we need more than guns and ammo?" A guy voiced out.

"Resources are vital to our organization. Building supplies, food, medical equipment, transportation, generators, metals and alloys. I told you before, I have plans for Remnant, and those plans will require more than what mere guns can accomplish. I seek progress, and that is not attained by simply taking over and making things different. Progress is attained by improving on the previous system, fixing the flaws that made the system obsolete, and making sure the new system works just as well. My plans are more than simply conquering Vacuo through brute force. I plan to fix Vacuo! I will restore the Kingdom, and make it self-sufficient once more! And to achieve such a thing, we will need resources beyond tools of destruction! Does that answer your question?" The masked revolutionary asked.

The natives of Vacuo were silently absorbing what Zero had just said, unable or willing to say a word. Making Vacuo self-sufficient once more, such a thought was considered a pipedream, a fantasy by most people. There were few still alive who could even remember such a time, yet here was a man who planned to do just that.

Kaigun himself was speechless. The former Huntsman had only joined Zero at first because he had lost faith in the system he once swore to uphold and had nowhere else to turn to. Now he sees that Zero's plan for a "peaceful" world was more than just pointless rambling. Now he sees that Zero truly believes in his goals and has a plan to accomplish those goals.

Zero is fully aware that conquering Vacuo is merely the first step to fixing the lawless Kingdom. The masked man before him was no conqueror, but a revolutionary. One that seeks to fix Remnant and will walk the path of blood if necessary to do it.

The former Huntsman no longer held any doubts about Zero's goals, but it remained to be seen whether his loyalty will be rewarded or if he'll simply be let down again. Worst case, he can simply be a rogue Huntsman traveling the world, trying to help people like he's supposed to.

"However, I should still note that your accusations are warranted Ms. Olive." Zero said, looking at the green haired Bat Faunus. They were all so focused on Zero's speech that they forgot about what the Bat Faunus said earlier, even the Faunus herself.

"The fact that you agreed to join me, whose identity you do not know, even if I freed you from your imprisonment from Jax Asturias has earned you some trust. So, I will answer your question." Zero said as he pulled out several folders from his cape.

"I discovered your names and faces when I was looking into Jax Asturias. I simply put two and two together when we first met. As for your "measurements," I will admit, I hacked into several databases to obtain your hospital information. These folders hold all of the data I compiled. I planned to dispose of them if there weren't any complications with your uniforms, however, if that is not enough, you can simply dispose of them yourself." Zero explained as he pulled out a lighter. He already had the data memorized for future use, but they didn't need to know that.

Several of them glared at Zero in indignation. They considered the masked man's actions as unforgivable. However, they eventually just sighed and moved to the crates to get their uniforms. Being angry won't change anything and Zero was allowing them to destroy the folders personally even after he said that he planned to do it regardless.

Besides, Zero was putting a lot of trust in them. With the exception of Mistral, Vacuo was the hardest place to find trustworthy people. If you can survive in Vacuo, your welcome in Vacuo, but acceptance doesn't equal trust.

One by one, the recruits had changed into their uniforms. The outfits themselves were remakes of the old Black Knight uniforms with a few modifications. The uniforms were built with slits in the helmets and clothes for the Faunus members, and the female uniform was also altered a little. He replaced the shorts with proper pants, and he made the skirt removable for anyone who didn't want to wear it.

Lelouch mentally wondered what he was thinking when he first designed the female uniform before he remembered that C.C. had pestered him about it until he agreed. If she was here right now, she'd probably be annoyed that he had removed her "improvements" without her permission. The thought made him smirk in amusement.

After changing, several recruits had walked up to him to burn their personal files. A few even looked through them, either to make sure it was theirs, or to see what he had. Probably both. Then, after they were finished, Lelouch used the lighter he had to burn the rest right in front of them.

With that matter settled, the group went on to their new weapons. Kaigun, being the first to arrive, opened the second chest and pulled out an assault rifle. It was pitch black with gray highlights, and a red symbol painted on the side (The Black Knight's symbol). While they looked over their new weapons, the Bat Faunus' eyes widened.

"Zero, are these Atlesian rifles?" The Bat Faunus, Trisha Olive asked incredulously. If Zero remembers correctly, her family immigrated from Atlas a few years back because of the White Fang's violent activities. It made life in Mantle more tedious for the Faunus as General Ironwood cracked down on the former capital to try and weed out the terrorists and any sympathizers.

"They are. Standard issue and state of the art too." The masked revolutionary explained as everyone was suddenly interested in what they have.

"How?" Emily asked, voicing everyone's question.

"You'd be surprised what people are willing to do behind the military's back if it means lining their pockets with more Lien." Zero said vaguely, though most nodded in agreement. It was almost sickening how selfish humans were even though destruction was literally scratching at their front door.

"You sure these work?" Kaigun asked cautiously. He assumed the rifles came from the Black Market, and was hesitant to trust any Atlesian product purchased from said market.

"I can assure of the rifles' quality. Our limited resources are no excuse for subpar quality." Zero reassured the former Huntsman. He personally went over every rifle to make sure it worked, and did all the cosmetic changes too.

"So, what do we do now Zero?" A man asked.

"For now, familiarize yourself with your new weapons. We have a target tonight, and I need to make sure everything is in order." Zero ordered.

"Who's the target?" Kaigun asked with a raised eyebrow.

"The heads of the Scorpion's Tail." Zero replied simply, electing looks of shock from everyone present. The Scorpion's Tail were the largest drug dealers in Vacuo, and Zero was saying that they were going to take out their leaders? Is he crazy?

"The Scorpion's Tail? Are you crazy?!" Trisha shouted.

"Perhaps." Zero admitted. "Regardless, that is tonight's target. Whether you back out or stay, this will not change. If you're having second thoughts, now is the time to leave." He then walked over to the warehouse's office building without another word.

There was a quiet silence as they took in Zero's words and the hidden truth of them. Zero didn't need them, not really. Their help was welcomed, but not necessary. Maybe later down the line, Zero would need allies, but that didn't mean them. Right now, they were replaceable, and they didn't know what to think.

"So, what now? Do we leave, or do we stay and try to take out one of Vacuo's biggest crime syndicates?" A man asked. Everyone mulled over the man's question. They may have agreed to join, but this was too much. Even Huntsmen were hesitant to get involved when it came to the Scorpion's Tail.

"I don't know about you guys but I'm staying." Kaigun voiced out. "I retired from being a Huntsman to help Zero, so I'm not about to quit before the starting line."

"I'm staying too." Emily said resolutely, looking over her gun.

"Why?" Trisha questioned the blonde. "Most of us just went along, but you were the first to sign up, why?" Most of them were just swept up in finally being rescued, and Zero's natural charisma, but these two, they clearly believed in the man's propaganda.

"He's my hope for a better future." Emily explained, electing looks from everyone else. "Zero's right, Remnant's broken, and no one is doing anything about it! Things have changed, but not for the better! We've all experienced firsthand how much of a failure the current system is!" Emily's words made people flinch at the reminder of their time as Jax Asturias' prisoners.

"That's why I follow him, because he seems to be the only one who notices these problems in our society and is clearly willing to do something about it unlike everyone else." Emily explained.

"Oh, get off your high horse!" A man shouted in outrage. "You can only say that because Zero pointed them out to us! Don't try to act all superior just because of a few problems!"

"Isn't the fact Zero had to point it out for us the problem?" Emily rebutted. "That none of us even considered the possibility that anything was wrong in the world, even after all we've been through, the problem? That the idea that it was a rogue Huntsman that captured and tortured us, yet none of us were truly surprised by the notion, the problem?!" Emily Suisen was shouting at this point.

"Isn't the fact that I considered our world peaceful and happy until a man in a fancy mask had to spell it out for me, the problem?!" Emily spent a few moments catching her breath, having finally calmed down. "Zero did more than save me that day, he opened my eyes to the truth. Remnant is the problem, our leaders are the problem, and Zero is the solution." Emily paused for a moment to let her words sink in.

"So, tell me, can you just walk away from this? Walk back to a system that personally failed us, and who knows how many others. I can't, not when I'm being given the chance to make things better."

"She's right." Kaigun spoke up. Everyone turned to the retired Huntsman as he looked over his new rifle.

"Ms. Suisen over there has a point. None of us were even considered the possibility that our current system wasn't working until Zero explained it to us." Kaigun said, not looking at the group.

"When was the last time humanity even tried to gain ground against the Grimm that wasn't simply reclaiming a lost settlement? Mt. Glenn, and we all know how that turned out." The former Huntsmen's words were really having an impact on the others. Kaigun was had been a Huntsman before joining Zero. He once fought for the very system he now criticizes, and that is enough to make them pause.

"Remnant is currently in a state of futility." Kaigun continued after a few seconds. "Mankind needs to change, and right now Zero seems to be the only one who wants that right now. Say what you want about him, but can you truly say that Zero's words don't hold at least some merit?" The former Huntsman returned to inspecting his weapon and didn't say a word after.

The warehouse was filled with silence, as everyone either tried to focus on their guns or absently stared off into space, mulling over the two's words.

Completely oblivious to the conversation below, Lelouch, sans mask, was looking over data on his new computer. After dealing with Jax Asturias, the former Emperor looked into any other local threats to his plans, but found none (he found that mildly disappointing). However, it also allowed him to comfortably expand his research and gather resources using his new "contacts."

Now his office was fully furnished with a few desks, a computer, and a filing cabinet with a combination lock for his physical files. He also had several maps, old and new, strung up along the wall and finally had a proper bed to sleep in after so long.

Lelouch was truly busy this past month, as he spent most of it expanding his knowledge of Remnant by hacking into the other Kingdoms using the CCT Network, while ironing out his future plans in between. Currently, his options were a bit of a mixed bag.

Menagerie was a no go. They were fairly primitive compared to the rest of Remnant other than a relay tower here and there. Menagerie was also an isolationist city, which meant getting a foothold through any means other than force will be met with great resistance if not outright denied.

Shame, after he conquered Vacuo, Lelouch was hoping to claim Menagerie next. Not only would it be the perfect staging point to move to Mistral, it would also be a serious moral blow for the White Fang.

Ah well, what did the French say, ah yes, ce la vie. He'll make do, either by using the Dragon Continent North of Vacuo to move against Atlas, or head East to Vale and try to take all of Sanus. However, the holes in those plans were obvious.

The Dragon Continent was clearly filled to the brim with Grimm, possibly even ancient ones at that. Older Grimm were documented to be smarter and more dangerous than younger ones and Lelouch knew that any current attempts would be met with failure. Even Atlas, the current military superpower, lacked the resources to make a permanent base there.

Trying to take Vale also brought its own risks. Vale was symbolic, a representation of the "peace" throughout Remnant. Huntsman and Military intervention would surely occur if Lelouch tried anything, the council's feeling be damned. Besides, other than its geography, and being the center of the world (Lelouch rolled his eyes at that) Vale has little value from a tactical standpoint other than moral.

Vytal was a possibility, but it's significance was only historical and cultural. conquering Vytal would only risk uniting the other Kingdom's against him, and while Lelouch enjoyed a good challenge, he knew an unwinnable situation when he saw one.

Regardless, conquering Remnant by force is a terrible idea. Unlike his time as the Demon Emperor or with the Black Knights, Lelouch couldn't just use propaganda and speeches to paint someone as the "bad guy." He was trying to "enlighten" the people of Remnant of how fucked up their world truly was, and subjugating them like a tyrant was only going to instigate rebellion not peace.

It was tricky situation, but Lelouch knew it was one he could adapt to.

Back to his research, Lelouch didn't get much useful info out of Mistral. Due to having the most settlements in Remnant, most of the Kingdom seemed to prefer physical and verbal negotiations. Anything Lelouch found was mostly related to the Kingdom's vast culture and history. And other than a few suspicious transactions here and there, Lelouch didn't have a whole lot to work with.

Though he did discover the existence of Lil' Miss Malachite, who is considered by many as Mistral's top info broker. If she lives up to her reputation, she'll be trouble for Lelouch later down the line, so it's good to at least be aware of her.

However, he may just have the perfect leverage for such an endeavor as it seems Miss Malachite had a pair of twin daughters, Melanie and Miltia, who are currently working as security for his latest pawn, Hei "Junior" Xiong, who was ironically enough, Vale's top info broker.

Now Vale had more than a few skeletons in its closet that piqued Lelouch's interest. However, two most notable things he found was a fairytale titled, Black King, and Vale's newest vigilante, Guren.

The story of the Black King was clearly about him. It gave a general overview of his reign as the Demon Emperor and how his death brought world peace. Considering the uncanny similarities the story had, it was clear to Lelouch that there was at least one other person on Remnant from Earth, and depending on who, could be either an asset or the biggest hindrance to his plans.

There was a silver lining though. The story was old, at least as far back as the Great War according to speculation. That meant either the source was dead or immortal, and he only knew one immortal that lived through his reign.

While Lelouch was slightly annoyed at how clear cut the story was and the several errors in details, he didn't blame C.C. for it. It was a fairytale, and Humans tend to embellish and change things so children could understand the story better. King Arthur was an excellent example, as even most Britannians mixed up Excalibur, King Arthur's iconic sword, with Caliburn, the Sword in the Stone.

"Perhaps this isn't another world like I originally thought." Lelouch thought. If C.C. was here, then the possibility, however unlikely it was, that this was simply a dystopian Earth thousands if not millions of years past his reign. Regardless, no one knew who the Demon Emperor was, so it was a moot point to denote whether Remnant was simply Earth or another world entirely.

He'll have to devote some time to locating his witch later, but for now, Lelouch will focus on his plans. C.C. can stand to be a little patient, she's waited at least a several hundred years for him, she could occupy herself for another year or two.

It was then Lelouch's face contorted into pity at the thought. Unless you piqued her interest, or she considers you entertaining, C.C. will treat you as nothing more than a servant to play with until she gets bored. He could only hope that whoever was fulfilling that role at the very least deserved it.

However, now was not the time dwelling on his witch's hobbies, there was another matter to attend to, Guren. There is only one person Lelouch has ever associated that name to and right now, he will admit, he is unsure of how to approach her.

Guren is without a doubt Kallen Kōzuki, his former personal bodyguard, and Lelouch will not deny that he is unsure of how she will react to his presence here on Remnant. As necessary as it was for the Zero Requiem, Lelouch broke Kallen's heart, something he still regrets to this day. Even now, he could feel it, ebbing into his heart like a stream.

He will not deny the heart aches he has. Begging him to find them, both of them, and grovel for their forgiveness, for hurting them, so casually. Kallen, for rejecting her feelings back at Ashford, and C.C. for hurting her by following through on the Zero Requiem.

Lelouch had always been an emotional person, even now as he bites his lip to the point blood is streaming down his chin in remembrance for hurting two of the people he cared for most other than his sister and Suzaku. But his tactical mind won out in the end. However, once this was all over, he planned to do all of that, his pride and ego be damned. For now, though, he was Zero, and he needed to continue forward until he was in a much more stable position.

Back to the matter at hand, Vale had given him something immensely valuable, the cooperation of one Hei "Junior" Xiong.

Junior was surprisingly warm-blooded for a crook. He had morals and a conscience that he refused to abandon despite his line of work. And while his organization took a massive hit in influence and power after his father died, Junior still managed to maintain enough control not to be absorbed or removed by rival gangs. Considering his integrity, these achievements only improved Lelouch's opinion of Vale's top info broker.

However, that didn't stop Lelouch from blackmailing Mr. Xiong for his cooperation. The man certainly lived up to his reputation, that's for sure. Most of Lelouch's material had him connecting dots and through Junior's less careful clients. In fact, the former emperor doubted anyone other than Schneizel would have been even half as successful as he was at this.

Within a week, Lelouch had compiled enough evidence for the police to not only uncover Junior's little "side business," but also the identities of several of his regular clients.

Lelouch made it clear, if anything happens to him, prison is gonna be the least of Junior's worries.

This was how he pretty much got everything into Vacuo undetected. It was convenient having one of Vale's worst as a pawn, but Lelouch knew better than to get complacent.

Junior only works for him so long as he held leverage over him. If that leverage were to disappear, then Lelouch was certain that Zero would have a very notable bounty on his head by the end of the month.

However, that didn't mean Lelouch should keep the info broker at arm's length. Despite his reputation and profession, Junior was still someone Lelouch could see working with in the future. He just needed to give the Vale info broker a little incentive now and again.

Disappointingly, that was the most the Demon Emperor managed to get that he considered valuable. Beacon had some surprisingly serious firewalls, and other than getting a few basic things such as student rosters, past and present, and schedules, Lelouch held off trying to go deeper until he either had a stronger support base or better equipment.

Finally, there was Atlas, and if Vale had a diamond in the rough, then Atlas was a goldmine of opportunities.

The Atlas Military was too difficult for Lelouch to go too far in right now, but he did manage to get some basic info about their new Paladin-290s and AK-200s currently in development. Actually, that reminds him, Lelouch was going to need a name for his new organization.

Reusing the Black Knights was the best idea. The name wouldn't have the same impact here as back in Japan. Samurai was an unfamiliar term for Remnant, and he wanted to avoid animals. Lelouch refuses to be compared to the White Fang any more than necessary.

"Black Paladins." Lelouch mused, testing it out. It worked at least, and it would definitely be easy to remember. Though he wasn't completely sold on it. He needed a name that comes off as noble and honorable as well as organized to the people.

Sadly, since he's facing off against multiple Kingdoms with distinct cultures and ideas, making a name that would be a backhanded insult to all of them was all but impossible, and "Black Huntsmen" was both misleading and a PR nightmare waiting to happen.

"Black Paladins it is." Lelouch conceded, slightly disappointed. He wasn't happy about it, but knew better than to start from scratch.

He was getting off topic. While the Paladins and Ak-200s were definitely useful information for the future, Lelouch found something else that he considered far more valuable, potential allies.

If he played his cards right, then Lelouch could gain two allies that would be invaluable to his plans. He planned to contact them tomorrow, and with what he had, he was sure they would at least hear him out.

However, before any of that, he had a raid to plan and a meeting to attend.

Confirming that everything was in order, Lelouch looked away from his computer to stare at one of the files he procured from the late Rally Chestnut. In it was a file about a man that piqued his curiosity. He planned to meet that man tonight once the Scorpion's Tail has been dealt with.

With a sadistic smirk that showed off his sharp front teeth, Lelouch retrieved his mask and returned to the Black Paladins for their first mission.

---

Vacuo: Later That Night

---

Lelouch, fully decked out in his Zero outfit, was standing atop a building overlooking a nearby abandoned apartment, the wind gently blowing at his cape. This was where the leaders of the Scorpion's Tail main base of operations and where they planned to meet tonight.

He had made sure to seal off all but two of the possible exits and had snipers on the lookout for any stragglers that tried to escape though the windows, with the leadership being a top priority. He already gave the Black Paladin's the images of who they were targeting tonight.

He had divided the remaining Black Paladins into two groups, one led by Emily Suisen and the other by Kaigun Ran. Those two seemed to be the most compliant, and Lelouch believed that they would be the most successful on their first mission.

As for how Lelouch knew about the Scorpion's Tail meeting, it was simple, he orchestrated it. He had slipped to their informants about false plans about a rival gang who planned to take one of their primary warehouses next month, and now their leaders were all gathered to plan their counterattack.

Now that everything was set up all Lelouch needed to do was give the signal to begin the operation. So, the masked revolutionary pulled out a detonator and pressed the button at the top. That triggered a chain of explosions across the third floor, where the leaders were meeting, as the two teams immediately broke in through the doors with a burst of gunfire. The initial confusion will allow the Black Paladins to claim the first floor with relative ease. Then, continue their momentum through the second floor, and finally deal with any survivors on the third.

Gangs like the Scorpion's Tail may come off as dangerous and intimidating, but their members typically lacked discipline and tended to falter without proper leadership. If these people follow his plan perfectly, then completing the objectives will a simple manner

Within a few minutes, his beliefs were confirmed when Kaigun reported through the helmet's built-in microphone. "Zero, the first floor has been cleared."

"Excellent, now move onto phase two." Zero ordered as he pulled out his scroll. He had placed tracking chips into each of the Black Paladin's helmets, and used it to track their positions. Currently, they were moving towards the stairwell, likely heading to the second floor.

"P-7, you're falling behind." Zero stated as he noticed one of them lagging behind.

"Sorry, I'll get moving." The voice of Trisha Olive grunted through the microphone.

"If the sounds are too painful for you, then fall back to the first floor and be on the lookout for enemy reinforcements. I prefer not to get new recruits killed on their first mission if I can help it." Zero ordered. Trisha was spluttering for a reply as her leader had just called her out on why she was lagging behind.

Bats' ears were designed for echolocation and were very sensitive to sound because of it. Continuous gunfire in an enclosed area would be torture for someone like Trisha, and Lelouch preferred to avoid such tactics, especially with his own troops.

"Understood." The woman managed to squeak out, before he saw her dot headed back down to the first floor. Within the next ten minutes, the remaining Black Paladins had secured the second floor and moved on to the third.

"R-1, report." Zero ordered as he saw their progress.

"No survivors. It seems they were killed in the initial explosion." Kaigun reported. It seems the former Huntsman had no interest in figuring out how Lelouch got those explosives there in the first place.

"Double check the conference room on the right, there should be at least seven bodies there." Zero ordered. There were seven people in charge of the Scorpion's Tail. Lelouch spent an entire day checking and rechecking his data in case he missed anything. If even one of them survived, it could greatly hinder Lelouch's plans.

A few moments later, Emily's voice called out. "Can confirm. Seven bodies around the remains of a table with one off to the side."

Emily's composed report surprised Zero twofold. His initial thoughts of the blonde was that she was meek but determined, he didn't expect her to be so comfortable with corpses so quickly. He'll have to talk to her about it later.

"Understood. Search the place for anything valuable. Information, resources, anything. When you're done, I want everything including the drugs destroyed. Once you've completed your objective meet me at the rally point A. I have something I need to take care of personally before we leave." Zero relayed.

"Wilco. Will you be needing any backup?" Emily responded, surprising Lelouch with the familiar Military term. He'll definitely need to talk to her later.

"No, I can handle this myself." Was all the revolutionary said before he turned to leave. He had a meeting to get to.

---

Vacuo: Abandoned Apartment

---

Hazel Rainart was packing up, preparing to leave. He had heard the explosions earlier and immediately realized that he needed to get out of here. He couldn't risk the Beacon Headmaster becoming aware of his presence in Vacuo.

As he shoved the last of his supplies into a burlap sack, Hazel tossed it over his shoulder and moved to leave the abandoned apartment complex, only to be met with someone blocking his way.

He was shorter than Hazel, but that didn't mean much as his figure was obscured by a black cape and he wore a mask that reminded him of a chess piece, specifically the king.

"Hazel Rainart, it seems I came at the perfect moment." The man spoke, his voice distorted by a modulator of some kind.

"Who are you?" Hazel asks, as he tenses, preparing for a fight.

"Who I am is irrelevant." The man spoke. "What matters is my purpose here."

"Do you work for Ozpin?" Hazel asked, spatting out the Beacon Headmaster's name with unrestrained spite.

"Ozpin?" The masked man chuckled, seemingly in amusement. "No, if anything I consider Ozpin my enemy, even if he doesn't know I exist. That may change later down the line, but for now, I consider him an obstacle in the way of my goals."

Hazel visibly relaxed at the man's words, but he was still ready in case the man tried something.

"Then leave. You have no reason to be here." Hazel ordered, only for the masked man to chuckle again.

"I'm afraid that I cannot do that." The masked man replied. "You see, I'm here for you. I have a few questions, and you're the one with the answers."

"What kind of questions?" Hazel asked with a raised eyebrow, as his body grew tense.

"Let's start with something simple. Why you are here in Vacuo?" The masked man inquired.

"I don't think I understand what you mean." Hazel said, trying to keep his mission a secret. While the masked man claimed he wasn't working for Ozpin, he couldn't take it at face value. Especially since his face was covered by a mask.

"Then let me be more specific, who are you looking for in Vacuo?" The masked man clarified.

"What are you talking about?" Hazel asked, trying to play dumb.

"Please don't try to play dumb Mr. Rainart, you know exactly what I'm talking about." The masked man rebutted. "If you still want to try, then let me explain. I came across a man. A man who was compiled a list of people who were asking about, "unique" topics. After obtaining that list, I learned that it was at the personal request of Shade Academy's Headmaster, Theodore." The mention of one of the Headmaster's made Hazel grit his teeth, ready to kill the man in front of him at a moment's notice.

It seems the masked man understood Hazel's intentions as he immediately said, "I can assure you I have no intention of giving up this list, the implications are too dangerous. However, in case you were wondering, yes, your name was on that list, and it's what you were looking for that grabbed my attention and why we're having this meeting right now."

"Get on with it." Hazel was getting impatient and honestly a little unnerved. He felt like he was looking at an amalgamation of Tyrian, Watts, and the new recruit Cinder all at once. It made his skin crawl.

"Very well, I'll get to the point. "A woman with unusual powers" is what your file said you were looking for." The man replied.

"What about it?" Hazel asked, flexing his fingers. He didn't like where this was going.

"It's the word, "power" that grabbed my interest. You didn't say Aura, Semblance, or even Dust, but power. As if, the woman you're looking for has an ability that cannot be defined under any of the categories I just mentioned." The masked man explained.

"Drop it, you don't know what you're getting into." Hazel warned. This man was about to walk into a war older than history itself, better he stops now while he has the chance.

"I'm afraid I cannot. My hatred of Remnant and its stagnating system infuriates me inexorably. To walk away now would be to go against my very nature." The masked man denied.

"I don't care, walk away. Otherwise, you'll just end up a pawn in another person's game." Hazel warned. The masked man may unnerve Hazel, but that doesn't mean he deserves to be used by others.

"A pawn?" The masked man asked, as if Hazel's words were a foreign concept to him. "You mean like Gretchen?" The masked man's question had Hazel glaring at him with surprise and rage.

"Don't act so surprised." The masked man said calmly, completely unaffected by Hazel's glare. "I did ample research before I decided to confront you. I learned about your twin sister's fate and it's clear here you blame Ozpin for it, misguided as your hatred is."

"You…" Hazel was close to losing his temper now, and was about to lash out before the man spoke again.

"Do you truly believe Ozpin was the sole reason for your sister's death?" He asked, cutting of Hazel's possible threat.

"Yes." Hazel replied angrily without missing a beat. Ozpin started the Huntsman system when he reincarnated into the last King of Vale, he was the one who sent her out on that training mission, he was the one who got her killed!

"I see." He said in amusement, trying to hold back his chuckles. "It seems I was right; it is easier to blame a single individual with a name than it is to blame a system." It seems his words were directed more at himself than anything else.

Hazel raised an eyebrow at the masked man's words. What was he talking about?

The masked man sighed in amusement, before returning his attention to Hazel. "I won't try to convince you that your vengeance is meaningless. It would be futile and even hypocritical for me to try. Instead, let me tell you that your vengeance is simply misplaced."

"What are you talking about? Ozpin is the reason Gretchen, my sister, is dead! Everything is because of Ozpin!" Hazel shouted.

"Oh, so then it was Ozpin who sent the Grimm that killed your sister?" The masked man's question sent Hazel reeling. That question had left a far bigger impact than it would have for anyone else.

The masked man continued. "Was it Ozpin's fault that your sister accepted the mission? Was it Ozpin's fault that she decided to enroll at Beacon? Was it truly Ozpin's fault that she died?"

"What are you getting at?" Hazel asked, having a hard time keeping up with the masked man's questions.

"The circumstances behind Gretchen's demise makes blaming a single individual meaningless. If you wish to blame something, blame the system you sister tried to uphold. Ozpin's sin was not being the cause of your sister's death, but rather his complacency with the system that caused it. It is the current system, both the Council and the Huntsmen, that we all live under to this day, that failed your sister and thousands of others." The masked man explained.

"Be quiet, you don't know what you're talking about!" Hazel rebuked angrily. Ozpin helped make the system. Ozpin helped support the system. Ozpin was to blame, not the system!

"Perhaps." The masked man admitted nonchalantly. "Regardless, it's clear that you consider Ozpin the sole reason for your sister's demise, in spite of the fact that there is another party who you should hold responsible."

"What are you talking about?" Hazel asked suspiciously.

"The Creatures of Grimm of course." The masked man said, shocking Hazel.

"Honestly, is the idea really that surprising?" The mysterious man asked. "It's quite disappointing really, how little mankind seems to care about the Grimm despite the obvious threat they pose."

"Regardless, the point is that the Grimm should be the source of your ire." The man said as it was the most obvious thing in the world. Then, his presence changed. "Or rather, you should blame the person who controls the Grimm."

"What are you…" Hazel tried to ask, completely in shock. How did he know?

"Talking about?" The masked man said rhetorically, before sighing and shaking his head in disappoint. "Truly, mankind has grown complacent if something so obvious can elude even the smartest of minds." The man said condescendingly.

"Regardless, the Grimm have a leader, one who helps maintain their numbers and strength." The masked man said. "Perhaps if you spent more time thinking about it, rather than drowning in your vengeance and self-pity, you would not be here disrespecting your sister by going against what she died to uphold."

Lelouch had no qualms with revenge, but rather allowing oneself to be consumed by it. Lelouch may have indulged in his vengeance upon Britannia, but he never lost sight of what was most important to him, Nunally.

Hazel screamed in blind fury, unable or unwilling to think. He charged the masked man and slammed him to a wall, holding him up by his throat. He didn't care anymore, not after what this masked man just said!

"Give me one good reason I shouldn't crush your windpipe right now." Hazel growled out; his sense of reason lost in his anger. How dare he! He was but a child, ignorant of the forces at play that predate Human history! What right did he have to lecture Hazel?!

"Go ahead." The masked man responded calmly, despite the growing lack of oxygen. "I knew this was a possibility when I decided to confront you, but I took the risk regardless. After all, the only ones who should kill are those who are prepared to be killed."

Zero expected several things once he said his piece. Hazel silently crushing his throat. Be strangled to death. Getting ripped into pieces. But none of that happened. Instead, Hazel's grip slackened as a look of scared familiarization adorned his face. Had he heard these words before? If so how?

"What are you?" Hazel asked fearfully, releasing his grip on the masked revolutionary. The masked man got up, seemingly unphased by his earlier situation.

"I am the avatar of Justice! The symbol who will destroy Remnant and create it anew! I am, Zero!" Zero announced himself with his usual sense of dramatic flair.

Hazel said nothing, as stared at the masked man in fear. He then grabbed his bag and ran out without looking back once.

After a few moments, Lelouch mentally sighed. Well, that didn't go the way he expected. Regardless, even if the masked revolutionary didn't learn anything about Hazel's target, he still managed to glean a plethora of valuable information from Mr. Rainart, nonetheless.

First off, it seems there is a war of some sorts being waged in the shadows, and it seems Ozpin is leading one of the factions. Secondly, the faction Hazel is a part of is involved with the Grimm, their leader either being an ancient Grimm or a human who learned to control the Grimm. Either option was plausible. Third, Ozpin may also possess a form of immortality, as Hazel's reactions implied that he had a hand in the creation of the Huntsmen, either as the last King of Vale or one of his retainers. Finally, whatever this war entails, it involves whoever Hazel was looking for.

Looks like Remnant just got a bit more interesting for Lelouch. Hopefully, these factions can give him a proper challenge. As much as he hates variables that interfere with his plans, Lelouch will not deny that conquering Remnant will not be as fun if he didn't have some challenge.

It was then Lelouch looked down, and noticed multiple black tendrils with purple highlights erupting from his shadow. As they retracted, Lelouch couldn't hide the sadistic grin as he realized what these things were.

Lelouch would most certainly call this a good day.

---

Vacuo: Black Paladin HQ

---

The Black Paladins had returned to the warehouse, their heads held high and full of pride. And for good reason too, as they just came back from their first raid and was successful too!

Kaigun himself was surprised with how well everything went. The Scorpion's Tail were considered dangerous and for good reason. Yet in one night, he and a random group of people brought together by circumstance, all under the leadership of a masked revolutionary, had just taken out the leaders of the biggest crime cartel in Vacuo and made sure any attempts to recover was futile.

Most likely, the remnants of the Scorpion's Tail are going to break off into smaller groups or be absorbed by rival gangs. All the while, every other gang will be fighting over the new power vacuum. Thus, giving Zero ample time to remove the more troublesome gangs at his leisure.

He then glanced at their spoils. Blackmail, Dust, Lien, and more, and since they burned down what Zero said was the Scorpion's Tail's main hideout, they essentially just made filling in that vacuum a lot more difficult. This was no less than an absolute victory on their end. Any previous doubts the former Huntsmen had about his leader were now gone.

Right now, the rest of his new comrades were chatting it up, talking about plans to celebrate their first mission. In the back was Zero, who met up with them at the rendezvous later than everyone else. Emily said he had something important to attend to.

Kaigun won't pry. It was their first day on the job and Zero was clearly a man of secrets. Maybe after a few months he'll nudge, but for now the former Huntsman will respect his leader's privacy.

"Well, what next Zero?" Kaigun asked his leader. "We just took out the most powerful gang in Vacuo, what's our next move?"

"For now, we're done for the night. We've completed our primary objectives and any further action can lead to unnecessary complications. Meet me back here in three days. I need to access the aftermath of our raid and determine our next course of action." Zero instructed.

They all nodded in agreement and confidence. If tonight was any indication, this was only the beginning.

"Hey, what do we even call ourselves anyway?" A man asked abruptly, as he took off his helmet and walked over to the changing room.

The instigated a large debate among the crowd. Ideas were being tossed left and right. Some ridiculous, others simple. If they were going to make Vacuo a better place like Zero said, they would need a way to be identified as a group. However, before anything could be decided, one voice called out over all others.

"We shall be known as the Black Paladins." Zero declared, leaving no room for argument.

"Uh, Zero, I know you're our leader and all, but why the Black Paladins?" Emily asked confused. "Shouldn't we be called something, I don't know, a little more intimidating and fearful?" This electing nods from many people.

"Fear? You speak of fear?" Zero asked incredulously. "Fear is why Remnant is unable to seek a brighter future!" Zero declared loudly.

"Fear of the Grimm has us trapped within walls like livestock. Fear of the Faunus is what created the White Fang and started a war. Fear of change is why we live under stagnation! Fear is not what Remnant needs. What Remnant needs is hope! Hope of equality, hope of freedom, hope of a better future!" As Zero said this, a light began to glow around him. It was pitch black, yet it shined with a light brighter than the sun itself.

"Humanity will always pine for happiness and for the future. We shall be the ones who help guide them! However, to accomplish that, we cannot be monsters of the shadows, but rather warriors of justice!" No one had anything to say, Zero's words had captivated them completely.

"That is why we shall be known to all as the Black Paladins. While we are not monsters, we shall be the necessary evil that destroys evil. We shall be the ones who will enact justice upon those who use their power unjustly. However, justice is not just punishing the wicked, it is also protecting the innocent. How can we call our actions justice if those who are not deserving suffer from our actions? Simple, we cannot, otherwise we will be no better than the White Fang. So, tell me, why should we be feared, when our goal is to bring justice and hope to this broken world?" Zero's question made the newly christened Black Paladins realize their folly.

Zero wasn't planning to conquer Remnant, his plan was to protect it. He wished to protect their world from the evils that lurked in the shadows, and make Remnant a better place. That made the Black Paladin's remember Emily's words, and how right they were. Zero saw Remnant for what it was, a world that hid and ignored all of its problems, while giving off the illusion of peace.

They now truly understood what they had just signed up for.

"Hey Zero, I've been wondering, what are those crates for?" Kaigun asked abruptly with a raised eyebrow. He was gesturing over to the crates behind him with his thumb.

"That is for a future project of mine. However, we currently lack the means to complete it." Zero explained.

"So, we're lacking the resources or something?" The bluenette asked, confused. Considering what he's seen Zero accomplish this far, he found it pretty unlikely for that to be the case.

"Allow me to clarify." Zero replied without missing a beat. "We already have everything we need to begin the project; we simply lack the tools needed to complete it within the timetable I have. Something I plan to rectify within the coming weeks if everything proceeds accordingly."

Kaigun shrugged in acceptance at Zero's reason as he turned to leave. With Grimm out and about, time was an enemy for almost any project. It's why so many settlements resemble villages when cities have concrete buildings and construction vehicles. You gotta work with what you have, not with what you want.

"Ms. Suisen, before you go, there is something I wish to talk to you about." Zero called out, as Emily had just finished changing out of her uniform and was moving to leave. Perking up, she looked to her leader with worry.

"Yes Zero?" She asked meekly, as if preparing to be scolded. By now, everyone else had left and it was only the two of them.

"Don't worry, you are not in any trouble, there is simply something I wish to speak with you about." Zero explained, as the blonde let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

"Oh, thank the Brothers." She mumbled in relief.

"Back at the Scorpion's Tail's hideout, I couldn't help but notice that you used a military term during our conversation. On top of that, you seemed completely unfazed by the corpses and even relayed the body count to me even though I asked Kaigun to do it. You mind explaining that to me?" Zero inquired.

Right now, Emily was back to fidgeting nervously, unsure of how to respond. After a few moments, she said, "If you don't mind, if I answer your question, will you be willing to answer one of mine?"

"If I don't find your question unreasonable, I see no reason not to." Zero acknowledged. Lelouch knew that he was going to need the Black Paladin's trust if he was going to get anything done, this seemed like the best way to start.

"Well, I have a family friend who served in the Atlas Military. He taught me a few things whenever he came to visit when I was young. As for the bodies… Well, as you know, Vacuo is a Kingdom that firmly believes in the philosophy of "the strong live, the weak perish" so corpses are not exactly the most uncommon sight here. You could probably come across a corpse or two every week, every day if you hang around the allies often. Despite the police and Huntsmen's best efforts, these murders still happen, and most people eventually just get used to such sights after a while." Emily explained as she rubbed her shoulder awkwardly.

"I see." Zero nodded in understanding. He knew Emily was lying about the corpses. Headmaster Theodore ironically had the highest approval ratings among the Academy Headmasters, and had entire teams of Huntsmen sent out to assist local law enforcement. However, Lelouch saw that the topic was uncomfortable to the blonde, so he didn't pry.

"So, Ms. Suisen, what did you wish to ask me?" The masked man asked.

That snapped Emily out of her funk as she stumbled to answer. "W-well, I just want to know, why the mask? I mean, I understand why you don't trust us quite yet, but are you that worried, we'll betray you?"

Zero chuckled at Emily's question. Had he been asked this when he first started out, Lelouch would've surely dodged the issue or lied outright. Now, after everything he's been through, the mask of Zero had become more than just a means to hide his face.

"I will not deny, your betrayal is something I have considered." Zero admitted, making Emily look downtrodden yet understanding. "However, there is another reason I wear the mask."

Emily looked up in confusion as the masked revolutionary continued. "Zero is the avatar of justice. The person who wears the mask and uniform is merely a vessel he uses to enact that very justice upon the wicked and cruel. Once I have served my purpose, a new Zero will rise to take my place, and once that Zero is gone, a new one will replace them, and so on and so forth." Lelouch explained.

"So, what you're saying is that Zero is not a person, but rather a mantle?" Emily said in realization.

"No, Zero is a symbol." Lelouch refuted. "One that anyone can embody, regardless of birth or race. They merely need to have the will to act out against the injustice of the world." Zero nodded. "Do you understand now Ms. Suisen?"

"Yes." Emily nodded happily. That explanation only made the blonde admire Zero even more. How he was thinking so far ahead, even beyond his own death. He understood his own mortality and took that into account of his plans rather than simply ignoring it like most people tend to.

"Is that all, Ms. Suisen?" Zero asked.

"Yes sir." Emily saluted as she moved to leave.

Zero smiled beneath his mask in content. He was glad the Black Paladin's were at least willing to trust him. His time with the Black Knights had shown him how brittle and weak trust was when built solely upon one's achievements.

In hindsight, Lelouch realized that many of his early actions were mostly paranoia and fear and that only made him more enemies in the long run. He knew that any deviation would've allowed his bastard of a father to accomplish his goals, but he still couldn't help but wonder, what if.

---

Atlas: The Next Day

---

Weiss Schnee had finished her lessons for the day and was currently trying to unwind by reading a book from her vast collection.

Her lessons had only seemed to increase in difficulty after the Schnee Heiress announced that she planned to enroll at Beacon next year, something her father was vehemently against and had vocalized it many times.

Weiss rubbed the new scar at the thought of her father. He had tried to dissuade her from attending Beacon by forcing her to fight an Arma Gigas, under the terms that if she won, she'd be allowed to move to Vale to attend. While she obviously won, the Arma Gigas left her with a scar that her Aura could not heal.

Now it seems like her father wasn't even going to respect their deal and was trying to make any excuse to prevent her from leaving. However, he seems to forget Weiss was a true Schnee, and Schnees were not ones to buckle under pressure.

Her inner monologue was interrupted, as her Scroll went off. Someone was calling her. With a roll of her eyes, Weiss picked up her Scroll, expecting it to be one of the suitors her father tried setting up with her. That is why her face contorted into confusion at what she saw. There was no image and the caller I.D. only said "Zero."

Weiss narrowed her eyes. If someone thinks they can pull one over on her, they have another thing coming.

Answer it, the Schnee Heiress said. "I don't know who you are, but you better have a good reason for doing this and an even better lawyer."

Her response was a chuckle on the other end. Was this a joke to them?

"My, how unexpected. I'm pleased to hear that the Heiress to the Schnee Dust Company is more than her father's puppet." The voice said.

Oh, the nerve! "I am no one's puppet! Who are you and how did you get this number?" Weiss demanded.

"The how is irrelevant." The voice dismissed, annoying Weiss even more. "As for who, considering your initial response, I can assume you looked at the caller I.D. before responding."

"Well, then "Zero" what do you want?" The Schnee heiress asked.

"Simple Ms. Schnee, I wish to offer a business deal with you." Zero responded.

"A business deal?" Weiss asked.

"Yes, I wish to make an investment of sorts into your future when you take over the company, and I wanted to get a head start over any future competition." Zero responded.

"And why should I even accept your "business deal?"" Weiss questioned. Just as she did, she got a ping from her scroll.

"I believe that is your answer." Zero answered vaguely.

Rolling her eyes, Weiss moved to see what she just got. Only for those eyes to widen in disbelief at what she was seeing.

"What… is this?" Weiss asked in disbelief at the list of documents and photos that suddenly appeared on her scroll. Each of them were connected to the SDC or her father in some way.

"Evidence." Zero explained as if it was obvious. "Enough to get Jacques Schnee arrested and sentenced to prison. In fact, by my count, the best your father's lawyers could do is give him a life term if this was released to the public domain." Zero finished.

"Why are you showing this to me?" Weiss asked seriously as she scrolled through her, Scroll. Whoever this Zero was, Weiss could no longer take him lightly. She had seen several of her father's documents and was easily able identify his signature in most of these papers. Any one of father's competitors would kill to even get one of these documents Weiss had, and Zero had practically given her hundreds on a silver platter!

"I wish to extend an olive branch of sorts." Zero explained. "Now what I've shown you is merely the tip of the iceberg. If I wanted, I could easily have the Schnee Dust Company signed over to me by the end of the month."

"You're bluffing." Weiss accused. Even if her father was arrested, the board of directors would get the company and would eventually be given to Weiss herself when she turns eighteen.

"Is that a risk you're willing to take?" Zero inquired. Weiss had no response to that.

"What do you want?" Weiss asked in begrudging defeat.

"Like I said, I want to conduct a business deal. Once you take over the Schnee Dust Company, I wish to make this deal official. The details will be flushed out upon the final contract." Zero explained.

"And why should I accept?" Weiss was far from stupid. Even if he wasn't bluffing about taking over the SDC, there was no way she would accept a deal that she didn't even know the terms of.

"Because I am your best bet in restoring your family's legacy." Zero answered.

Weiss tensed at the mention of the Schnee family legacy. Where was he going with this?

"Jacques Schnee is an outsider, someone who obtained your grandfather's company through political marriage." Zero explained as Weiss winced at the reminder. "If nothing is done soon, the company your grandfather, Nicholas Schnee, started will end with someone who had no right to lead it in the first place. I am simply offering you that chance."

"And if I refuse this deal?" Weiss asked hesitantly. On one hand, Zero was absolutely right. Her father had no right to taint the legacy of her grandfather, and something needed to be done. On the other hand, Zero clearly had ulterior motives for approaching the Schnee Heiress. Using an alias and using her family legacy proved that much.

"Then I will simply move on and use more direct methods in obtaining the company. This maybe your family legacy, but no one will care if the Schnee's are usurped, and improvements are made anyway." The mysterious voice explained.

Weiss gulped nervously as she weighed her options. She either risks making a deal with the devil, or dooming her family name with no means of redemption! Zero had the upper hand while the Schnee heiress didn't even know her own!

"I can tell you are conflicted about this Ms. Schnee. Luckily, I don't need your answer at this moment." Zero said calmly after a few moments of silence.

"Taking over the Schnee Dust Company now would only cause more trouble than it's worth. Even if you did agree to help me, the board will control the company until you are of age, and a lot can happen in two years. So, I propose a compromise." Zero offered.

"Continue." Weiss said softly. Any chance she has to think about this, the better.

"If I'm correct, you are currently sixteen years old and have no legal rights to the company until you turn eighteen. So, I will give you two years until your eighteenth birthday for you to decide whether or not to accept my deal. I will leave my contact number on your Scroll when you have made your decision. If I do not receive an answer by the deadline, then I will assume you have no interest in making a deal, and proceed without you. Does that seem fair?" Zero offered.

"Yes." Was all Weiss could say. Despite Zero talking as if this was a negotiation, the Schnee Heiress was feeling as if it was more of a surrender.

"Good, contact me when you've made your decision, or don't I'm fine with it either way." Zero said before he cut the connection.

Weiss sighed, mentally exhausted by what was probably the politest threat she will ever receive. She doesn't even know where to begin.

Part of Weiss just wanted to defy Zero and do as she saw fit, either telling her father about the blackmail, or use it herself. However, she didn't. She couldn't. As much as Weiss detested being someone's pawn, the Schnee Heiress also knew that Zero was right and acting now will only cause more trouble down the line. The Board of Directors weren't nearly as prideful or stubborn as her father, and would surely sell the company to any competitor if enough Lien was offered.

Regardless, that had been a long phone call and an even longer day. For now, she'll just take a nap and ask Klein about what she should do when she gets the chance.

As she closed her eyes, Weiss couldn't help but wonder what kind of hell she was just dragged into.

---

Mantle

---

Mantle, once the capital of the Kingdom now known as Atlas, has been reduced to a place for the less fortunate to live.

In a random bar, a young woman is shown working on some documents on her computer. She had purple hair and eyes with a pair of fox ears lying flat on her head.

This was Violet Radees, once a promising young researcher and scientist, now forced to live in the slums because her invention was overshadowed by a superior model.

She glared at the monitor trying to finish the company's finance reports. Her field of study didn't involve accounting, but it was all she could find to help her get ends meet. At least her boss was capable, even if he wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Suddenly, her Scroll went off as she received a call. Taking out her scroll, she saw that there was no image and the caller I.D. simply said "Zero." Eyes narrowing in suspicion Violet simply ignored the call and got back to work.

A minute later her Scroll started ringing again, the same person. She ignored it once more, only for her Scroll to start ringing again not a moment later. Angrily, Violet saw that it was still the same person.

Once was happenstance, twice was coincidence, but three times, someone was calling her intentionally, and it seems whoever it was wouldn't stop until she answered. So, she did.

"Hello?" Violet greeted suspiciously, with barely contained annoyance.

"Hello Professor Radees, I must say, you are quite the difficult person to get a hold of." The voice greeted her pleasantly, which didn't help her mood in the slightest.

"Who are you? The Faunus asked, still suspicious.

"Come now, you're a smart woman, I wouldn't try to contact you if you weren't." The voice replied playfully.

"Okay, "Zero," cut the bullshit, what do you want from me?" The scientist asked bluntly having had enough of this man's games.

"My, how straightforward." Zero replied nonchalantly. "Very well, you see Professor, I seek your expertise in engineering and programming for a very… special project."

"Why should I help you?" Violet asked.

"Revenge." Zero replied as if the answer was obvious. "Revenge against the Atlesian elitists who wrongfully rejected you and your invention simply because they cannot see the big picture."

"What are you talking about?" Violet asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Your Radees Algorithm." Zero clarified, making the fox Faunus frown at the reminder of her failed invention. "A brilliant device, programmed to track and even predict Grimm movements and positions. However, it was laughed off and discarded when compared to the Grimm Radar, which is still currently utilized by every vehicle fielded by the Atlas Military. At least, that is the official story."

"What do you mean "official story?"" Violet asked with a growl. What was he implying? Just then, a file suddenly popped up on her monitor, grabbing the Faunus' attention.

"What you see before you is the coding used for the Grimm Radar. I'm sure someone of your skill can easily notice the discrepancy I found." Zero explained as Violet read the programming.

"This is…" Violet trailed off, unable to truly comprehend what she was seeing.

"Your handiwork, Professor Radees, modified to appear different to the untrained eye, and significantly inferior to the original program you created." Zero finished smugly.

"But, why?" Violet asked, anger and disbelief welling up inside her.

"I believe your answer lies upon your head." Zero said, his tone holding a hint of disappointment.

"You're kidding." Violet accused. Was he seriously implying that her program was rejected due to her being a Faunus?!

"Do you have a better explanation? Some people simply cannot look beyond their biases for the sake of progress." Zero said with a pitying tone.

"So, what, you want me to show this off to the military, prove to Atlas that my work wasn't yesterday's trash?" Violet inquired aggressively.

"If that is what you want, then yes. However, I had a different idea in mind." Zero said sadistically.

Suddenly, a second file popped up, one that showed the schematics of what appeared to be a type of mech. Looking it over, Violet Radees felt her eyes widen as she doubled checked if she was reading this right. Whatever this mech was, it was well beyond anything Atlas can produce. That alone means it should be impossible for such a thing to exist. Yet the evidence was smacking her in the face.

"I personally, am a firm believer that revenge and comeuppance is a form of justice." Zero said, his sadistic grin can practically be heard over the speaker, one the fox Faunus matched.

"Where do I sign?" Violet asked, not taking her eyes off the Sutherland Knightmare Frame schematics the entire time.

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Evernight Castle

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Evernight Castle. Once home to the God of Darkness, it now operates as Salem's base of operations. Currently, the immortal Grimm Queen was checking in with her current followers.

"Report." Salem ordered calmly looking at her three Seers Grimm. Each of them projecting the image of one of her newest pieces.

"The Spring Maiden has yet to be found, but Lionheart is remaining compliant. Ozpin doesn't suspect a thing." Arthur Watts reported, twirling his mustache.

"Good." Salem replied. Oh Ozpin, how foolish of you. Trusting a coward like Lionheart to run Haven Academy was truly a mistake on your part. "Tyrian."

"Everything is going well my Goddess. I have narrowed down Fall's location. She shall be dealt with as soon as I locate her." Tyrian answered faithfully.

"Delay that. Continue tracking her but do not make any moves against her. I have other plans for the Fall Maiden." Salem ordered. Or rather Cinder had other plans. If her plan worked, then Salem would have the Relic of Choice by the next Vytal Festival, if not, then she could still enjoy seeing Ozpin's castle crumble from within as Cinder causes mass chaos throughout Vale and Remnant as a whole.

"Understood my Goddess." Tyrian acknowledged.

"Excellent, Hazel." Salem looked towards her last subject.

"I haven't made any progress on locating the Summer Maiden. But I am also confident that Ozpin is having similar problems. However,…" Hazel trailed off as he looked away.

"However?" Salem inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"I… encountered someone." Hazel said vaguely.

"Who?" Salem ordered.

"He… calls himself Zero." Hazel replied

"One of Ozpin's?" Watts pushed.

"He claimed he wasn't but…" Hazel trailed off again.

"If he doesn't work for Ozpin, then why bring this "Zero" up in the first place?" Watts inquired. Salem mentally agreed.

"I have reason to believe he is piecing together the conflict between you and Ozpin, and may become an active participant in the future. He already has a clue about the existence of the Maidens." Hazel explained.

"Well, did you deal with him then?" Tyrian asked gleefully.

"No. He… got away before I could." Hazel said hesitantly.

"Do you believe he may inevitably align with Ozpin then?" Watts asked.

"No, he claims that he considers Ozpin an enemy. He also comes off as prideful, borderline arrogant. I doubt he would follow anyone's lead but his own." Hazel denied. Hazel's report implies that Salem couldn't coerce this person to her side either. Pity, another pawn against Ozpin could've been useful.

"What should we do about this Zero then?" Watts questioned.

"Ignore him." Salem dismissed. "If he has no interest in aligning with Ozpin nor us, then he is of little consequence. For now, focus on locating the Maidens. Contact me once you have located them." Salem ordered as she dismissed the images.

Hazel was clearly hiding something, that much was clear. Whoever this "Zero" was, Hazel considered him enough of a threat to warrant mentioning. He was most likely one of Ozpin's.

Salem mentally shrugged. Regardless of what Hazel was hiding, it mattered little. Zero was but a mere bug, one who will inevitably be squashed on way or another. If Zero becomes too big of a nuisance, Salem will just have Tyrian deal with him. The only true threat to her plans was Ozpin, and even that might change soon.

She then stood up from her throne and walked over to a nearby window. Cinder's training was nearly complete, and soon she will be ready for her mission. If Cinder succeeds then excellent, if she fails, well, Salem has all the time in the world, she could wait a few more decades for another pawn to fall into her lap.

Back in Vacuo, Hazel was sitting on a broken bed, going through an old notebook. It belonged to his sister, and it details her notes about every fairy tale she's ever read.

Gretchen was always a fanatic when it came to the children's stories. She wanted to know everything about them. Their origins, how they were altered, what events led to them being created.

Her favorite research topic was the Black King. Most people believed the story originated right after the Great War, but Gretchen dismissed these claims. The plot was completely different from the events of the war, and she claimed she found evidence that proved the story was older than that.

Hazel remembers having to pull his twin away from her computer whenever the Black King was involved. Hazel tried to convince her that the story was probably just made up by some fictional writer for children, but Gretchen was stubborn and refused to believe that was the case.

When Hazel reached the chapter about the Black King, he simply stared at it. Unlike the other sections that had several pages, filled with theories and notes, the Black King was a single page that held only had two lines.

The first was "the White King" underlined multiple times, and in all caps. The second was a quote. "The only ones who should kill are those who are prepared to be killed."

Zero said the same thing word for word. It was too eerie to be a coincidence. It flowed out of the masked man's mouth so easily, it's clear he's said it before.

Whoever Zero is, he has a connection to the Black King, and maybe even his sister.

Hazel simply continued to stare at the page, now being stained with tears as his thoughts returned to masked man and his soul crushing words.

As much as Hazel hated to admit it, the masked man had a point. As much as he blamed Ozpin, Salem held just as much blame. Both of them were at this war for centuries, yet neither side had won yet. The truth was that Gretchen was simply as casualty of their shadow war, and Hazel finally realized that is what he was going to be, a pawn to be sacrificed and replaced within a few decades.

Unable to hold it in any longer, the large man put the notebook aside and wept into his hands. For the rest of the night, that's all he did. That's all he could do; cry as his desire for vengeance crumbled before him, now replaced by a hollow emptiness.

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Chapter End

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Here it is, Chapter 5, and man you guys were worried. I got comments and PMs asking about the next update, and honestly, I find it kinda humorous. You do realize that my update rate for this story is abnormal right? I usually had the next chapter chugged out in days; most people take weeks even months to post new chapters. Honestly, some of you were overreacting. As for why, well, family. Family events that I partook in. Fanfiction is just a hobby for me, so if I don't update in a while, it's probably because something else has caught my attention.

As for the chapter itself, it was pretty meaty. Lelouch makes contact with Weiss, meets Hazel, and gets a new recruit. Honestly, I would call this chapter a criticism of RWBY's inability to do proper world and character building. It's honestly disappointing because RvB exists, and that has good writing, characters, and world building despite originally coming off as a comedy show (Honestly, the fact they can shift a story from humor driven to plot and character driven without previous preplanning is a testament to what RoosterTeeth can accomplish if they took some time to think about their stories and characters).

Honestly, looking back, I am not 100% sold on this chapter, but I feel I kept you guys waiting long enough, so here it is. Tell me what you think, and if there is any way I can improve.

Now onto the questions of the chapter!

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Emily's motivation: Honestly, originally, Emily's motivation for joining Zero was going to involve her Semblance. It was going to be similar to a death crystal like in Rick and Morty, where she can feel the emotions she will have before she dies. However, I scrapped and rewrote it several times because the scene leading up to Emily's motive was changed. I'm not sure if this is better, but it definitely seems less like plot convenience and more like actual character depth. As for her seriousness during the raid, that will be explored later.

Lelouch and Hazel: Honestly, this scene was the trickiest part. I had to rewrite the last bit several times before I found something I can at least handle. I realized midway through that Lelouch could've easily deduced the Grimm's artificial nature, and that humans were behind their existence (even if it's not entirely true). As for why he confronted Hazel, Lelouch saw Hazel as a potential source of information, and maybe even recruit, he had no idea about the shadow war until Hazel started talking. Like he said, it was a calculated risk, and he took it. Sure he didn't get what he wanted, but he did get something out of it.

Violet Radees: Lelouch needed an engineer to make Knightmares with and so I picked to introduce an OC. I actually had Professor Radees in mind for another RWBY story I tried writing before, and wanted to use her here. I chose Lelouch to use Sutherlands since in the previous chapter, I compared them to Atlesian Paladins, and considering how primitive Remnant is compared to Code Geass, using an older model as a starting point makes a lot more sense.

SDC: For anyone asking why Lelouch doesn't just take over the SDC, it's because of the aftermath. Taking over the SDC will put him on people's the radar. On top of that, he's in Vacuo. He would have to split his time between the SDC and the Black Paladins, which I don't need to explain why that is such a bad idea. There is also the fact that removing Jacques won't just solve everything, predicting a group of corrupt businessmen is more difficult than predicting just one corrupt businessman in charge of a group of them. That's why Lelouch contacted Weiss; he's playing the long con and knows that timing is important when it comes to removing powerful pieces from the board.

Salem dismissing Zero: She's immortal, why wouldn't she. She could just outlast Lelouch and wait for him to die. Personally, I believe the only reason why Salem is taking so long to win is because she wants it to be a perfect victory. Her Grimm could easily overwhelm Vacuo and maybe even Mistral if she does a blitzkrieg. However, she wants a total victory and prove Ozpin wrong for betraying her (in her eyes). That's my take anyway, what do you think?

Lelouch's thoughts towards Kallen and C.C.: Lelouch cares for both of them, he just struggles to voice it. He spent the first half of his life raised in a Social Darwinist environment and the other half constantly lying to everyone around him. Kallen and C.C. were two of the only people who knew who he was and stood by him regardless (Suzaku and Nunally became his enemy when they found out, and Jerimiah stood by him because of who Lelouch was). Remember, Lelouch has had dilemmas like this throughout Code Geass, (the anime at least) this is just another moment of that.

The Black Paladins: I have been sitting on this for a while. After TheScottishLad's first comment (the first comment of this story might I add) I have been considering it. He gave a good explanation, and I will admit, I was aiming a bit too high when it came to naming Lelouch's organization. This is not Britannia, and his objective is not the same. If anything, it's more like the Zero Requiem, uniting the world under a single banner and making it more peaceful. I looked over the other options from the original, and found that the Black Paladins was definitely the most fitting.

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Now with that out of the way, let's move on to comment acknowledgements!

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Covid69: Yeah by this point, I have decided to give Lelouch the Harem. The only problem now is putting it in without ruining the story. As for the Harem itself, yeah, it's only C.C. and Kallen that are confirmed. I'm looking into other possibilities, but still undecided. Thanks for the support about Suzaku's character, I'm glad it's receiving positive feedback. My take on Anime Lelouch was that he was a child that was forced to grow up and learn, and only when he confronted his past could he truly move forward into the future. As for the Zero Requiem, most people tend to overlook how well thought out it was. Schneizel is still the Prime Minister of Britannia and serves Zero. Britannia itself is still a military superpower, even after Lelouch's death. Kaguya is also a very competent politician in charge of the UFN, something Lelouch has experienced firsthand. Lelouch made sure to stack the deck in his favor before he died. The peace won't last forever, but the legacy of the Demon Emperor is definitely going to make several countries pause for a moment at the thought of risking another to rise to power. Lelouch knows full well that the world will never be perfect, but it will be better. He never sought a perfect world, only a better, gentler one.

KenSanders: Yeah C.C. is definitely going to be a treat soon. As for her maturity, I think C.C. was just more nihilistic than Ozpin. Remember, her goal before meeting Lelouch was to die, Ozpin's goal entailed defeating Salem and uniting humanity. It's why C.C. comes off as so apathetic, her goal is more self-serving and usually doesn't require her to involve herself in others' affairs to achieve (Ex. Mao). Ozpin's goal, however, requires allies, resources, and taking part in major events, so he has more of a reason to hold onto his humanity and empathy. C.C. calls Ozpin a child because he essentially gave up and ran away after being told killing Salem was impossible, something that would not deter Lelouch, or he would just outright ignore it.

Imperator's slave: Maybe. Neo and Sienna are definitely around Lelouch's age, and he is eighteen, so the law isn't an issue.

M2R: Do you like RWBY fics because of how they show how bad Remnant truly is, or because of how bad the Canon is? Also, I have no intention of anyone from Beacon hooking up with Lelouch. Ruby is a dumber Suzaku (somehow), Yang is too impulsive, and Blake is too naive about the White Fang to even consider Lelouch anything more than a monster. Weiss, maybe, but I have different plans for her. Same goes for Velvet. As for Coco (the stylish girl) she is a Lesbian and even if she wasn't she and Lelouch would clash more over dominance more often than not. As for Penny, yeah no.

Galeon82: Thank you for the translation, I appreciate it. As for why Raven captured C.C., that will be revealed later. As for Atlas, same thing.

TheScottishLad: Thank you for the Suzaku support, glad you like where I'm going with him. Also yes, they have met before, during R2 when Lelouch was Emperor. And Suzaku had to know that C.C. was immortal after the Ragnarök Connection, if not sooner due to being aware of Geass. As for the Suzaku, Richard thing, I did the same with Kallen, it's just more noticeable with Suzaku I guess. As for C.C. and Raven, that is for later. No need to apologize for the rant, your input is very valuable and gives me another perspective to look at.

Idk y I comment: Harems can work if the writer knows what they're doing, I simply plan to see if I do. If not, then I'll drop it.

Guest-Questioner: No, Lelouch did become more closed off during the series, but with purpose. R1 was because of Euphemia's death. He believed he had to toss aside his conscience for the sake of his goals. Still, Lelouch cared about his friends, as he ordered the Black Knight not to harm anyone at Ashford during the Black Rebellion. As for R2, he grew distant due to the Zero Requiem. Lelouch was trying to minimize how many people would actually be affected by his death, so he tried to detach himself from those he was close to, even Nunally. Regardless of that, I admit, I was probably a little overzealous in my previous replies to your comments. I just found it triggering that you would consider Cinder Fall of all people to be more human than Lelouch.

Zathol: Thank you for both explaining the reference and the Suzaku support. The chef Raven thing is funny, but sadly, I'm not doing it. As for the Bandit thing, no. The Branwen Tribe operates in Mistral, and Suzaku was in Vale when the attack happened, and Raven doesn't even know them, so using her Semblance is a no go. Also, thanks about Pietro, I have a lot to fix character wise when it comes to RWBY. BTW, Touché.

Just some no one: 1) Your logic is sound 2) That is for later 3) That makes no sense whatsoever. Lelouch holding Remnant hostage would not only have the opposite effect, it would only work until Atlas steps in and fixes it. 4) I am sorry, but the Harem will be a subplot of the story, though that may change if I cannot make it work.

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That is all for now folks. Hope you enjoyed the chapter, otherwise this story is at risk of cancellation.