AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter here. Thank you for all the support you have shown this story so far. It makes me happy that people are enjoying this sequel. This is a chapter I really liked writing for the emotional and character drama. Also, I should note now that Adam may act a little OOC to what the show portrayed him as. For this series, he has been imprisoned for almost a year and had time to reflect. In short, he is a bit humbler here, not having gone through the series of events in volume three and onward. If I had to say who is a frame of reference for the Adam of this story, it's Kratos from the PS4 God of War, following a similar character arc and personality. That may be a bit distracting for some, so I wanted to point it out now, as I do want to give Adam a chance is this series to be a better character. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.

Chapter 4 – Stranger I Remain

Adam.

Aboard the Atlas airship, three occupants sat in an oval conference room of a dozen seats. In one of those seats was Adam, his arms crossed and weapon to his side. He raised his head to look directly across his position, seeing Weiss glaring at him as Nobu sat next to her. The White Fang swordsman glared back through his Grimm mask.

"…Well, this is awkward," Nobu spoke up, but neither of the two responded, "How about something to break the ice? An easy question." She said with Weiss now glaring at her. The Grimm Archer then turned to Adam, "Like, how do you use a comb when you have those horns?"

"I don't," Adam responded, not continuing the conversation any further.

"Okay, just curious." Nobu said before leaning back in her chair, "You two can just go back to glaring at each other, I give up."

"That was short lived." Weiss commented, "Of all the questions you could ask, why that one?"

"What, I wanted to know." Nobu responded, "Atalanta doesn't comb the top of her head because of her ears, that's why it looks like a mess with that one bang. But how does your cat friend do it?"

"I don't know, I never asked Blake," Weiss said with Adam looking back to her in confusion.

"Did you say, Blake?" He spoke with the white heiress looking back at him, "As in Blake Belladonna?"

"Yes," Weiss said as her eyes narrowed, "I assume you two were acquaintances during her time with the White Fang."

Adam then looked towards the windows as he answered, "You could say that."

Nobu turned back to Weiss, "Wait you're already friends with someone from the White Fang?" She said before pointing to Adam, "Then, why are you being so difficult with him?"

"You want to know what the difference is between this guy and Blake!?" Weiss said before glaring at the White Fang swordsman harsher than before, "She knew when to take the mask off."

Adam then sighed as Weiss continue the glare at him. Suddenly she had a look of confusion as Adam placed his right hand on his mask. Nobu and Weiss watched as it slowly moved off his face an inch. In the corner of her eyes, the white heiress saw what looked like scar-tissue on the left side of his face. However, Adam smirked as he placed his mask back on, "If that's all it takes to earn your trust," The White Fang swordsman said as he crossed his arms, "Then it must not be worth much." He commented before looking down.

"You-" Weiss was saying but was cut off by Adam.

"You're wrong about one thing." Adam spoke as Weiss had a look of irritation at the remark, "It's not that Blake took the mask off. She never put it on in the first place." He said with his tone less crass now, "…Is she well?"

Weiss had a look of confusion before answering, "Yes, she's doing well." She said before crossing her arms. Adam did not respond but did give a slight nod.

"Oh, I get it now." Nobu said as she crossed her arms, leaning over to Weiss, "Probably shouldn't mention that Blake has a new boyfriend." She whispered with the white heiress nodding.

"I can still hear you," Adam responded with the two girls' looking back to him, seeing his grip on his arms tightening, "However, that is a fact I learned a while ago."

"Who told you-" Nobu was saying until the door to the conference room opened. At the doorway was a girl in a red and blue gi. Her pinkish hair was tied with a large spiral accessory. At sides were four katanas, two on each hip. A black eyepatch was over her right eye, but a smile was on her face as she ate from a bowl of noodles, "Musashi!?"

"Sup Nobu," Musashi responded, her mouth half full of noodles.

"When did you get here?" Grimm archer asked.

"Same time he did, I just went to bed right away," The swordswoman said, pointing at Adam with her chopsticks, "I was hired by the military to keep Adam from running off." She said as he scoffed, looking away from her, "Well, I wouldn't say hire, more like forced into the position to get out of all the laws I broke when I got to Vale; tax evasion, working without a permit, destroying part of a ruined city, the list goes on." She said before sitting next to Adam, "But hey, they give me noodles." She said before slurping the bowl, "Not as good as the shop's, that's my one complaint." She then offered the bowl to the White Fang swordsman, "Want some?"

"No, I ate already." Adam said with a sigh as Musashi pouted, "…Though, thank you." He said with her then smiling, continuing her meal.

"…What is-" Nobu was saying, until the white heiress spoke.

"What is going on!?" Weiss said as she stood up out of her seat, pointing at both Adam and Musashi, the swordswoman still has a noodle hanging out her mouth, "How can you be friends with this murderer!" the white heiress asked Musashi before turning to Adam, "And you, I thought the White Fang hated all humans?"

"Rest assured, I hold nothing but hate towards your kind. Especially your family, Schnee." Adam responded before he glanced towards the swordswoman, "She is the exception that proves the rule." He said with Musashi smiling, eating the rest of her noddle, causing him to turn away.

"Still Musashi," Nobu spoke up, "I remember Cleo talking about how you lost your eye." She said before glaring at Adam, "Is he-"

"Yep," Musashi cut her off.

"And you're-" Nobu responded, looking back at the swordswoman in confusion.

"Yeah," Musashi cut her off again.

"But-" Nobu spoke up.

"Sure." Musashi cut her off for the third time.

"…" Nobu remained silent for a moment, then sighed "You're as hopeless as ever."

"It's just hard for me to hold a grudge," Musashi said before finishing her noodles. She then sighed she glanced at Adam, "It's true, I cannot agree with a lot of what he has done in the past." Her gaze grew dry and slightly enraged at the White Fang swordsman, "Especially, in regard to his actions against her."

"I am fully aware," Adam coldly responded, "I do not expect to be forgiven. You know by now, do not I wish for that kind of pity from others." He said as Musashi's gaze remained focused on him, "... However, there are things I regret." He said as Weiss saw his grip on his arms tighten, "Of those transgressions, I cannot forgive myself." Adam said as Weiss noticed a small smile form on Musashi's face.

Suddenly, the door to the room opened with Winter stepping in, "Good, everyone is here." The Atlas Military Specialist said before sitting at the head seat of the table, "We can now begin the debriefing." She said before typing on a holographic touchpad, causing a blue map of Remnant to show, "As you know, Atlas provides military sanction to the four primary kingdoms." She said before Apocrypha was highlighted in red, "However, they cannot expand its resources to cover the fifth kingdom." Winter said before looking to the group, "Which is why I was given the mission to create an army for Apocrypha. The Headmaster of Chaldea agreed this was the best course of action when this plan was conceived six months ago."

"If you knew about this half a year ago," Nobu commented, "Why are we only now meeting?"

"In order to make an army, five things are needed." Winter said as she counted down with her right hand, "Funding, leaders, soldiers, training, and a common purpose." She said before only having two fingers up, "In this last six months, the first two items have been acquired." Winter said as she crossed her arms, "In Apocrypha, there are many wealthy families. However, we only found one with the willingness to fund this project. On the conditions that she would lead the army at the rank of Major General. She will be arriving later today."

"Which brings us to leaders." Weiss transitioned for her sister.

"Chaldea's Headmaster has picked two heroic spirits from outside his academy to lead this army as General and Brigadier General. Both are heading to our location as well." Winter said before looking to her sister and Nobu, "As of now, I will be acting as Lieutenant General with you two as my direct subordinates."

Weiss nodded before looking over to Adam and Musashi, "What about them?"

"Adam will be assuming the role of colonel with Musashi as a lieutenant colonel." Winter said with Weiss turning back to her in shock, "Something wrong with that?"

"Yes, why are you putting him in such a high role in the military?" Weiss asked.

"That has to do with the third item, soldiers." Winter responded as she leaned back in her chair, "The army will be the White Fang."

"Come again!?" The white heiress questioned, "You can't be serious?"

"Weiss, do I every joke while working," Winter responded in a cold gaze, "It is not as wild as you may think. The White Fang do have they grudge against humanity, but it is due to the war decades ago. However, Apocrypha did not partake in that war. That is why there is no discrimination in that kingdom."

"Still, why would they listen to us?" Weiss retorted.

"They won't," Adam interjected, "But they'll listen to me." He said before turning to Winter, "That's why you let me out of my cell."

"He's right, Weiss," Winter said as her sister gritted her teeth, "Their members are inexperienced but at least slightly qualified to be soldiers. If we convince them to join, Apocrypha would have an army at the ready in case of another invasion." She then turned back to Adam, "We would also be providing the White Fang with sanction, deeper training, and safety. As well as an example of a potentially better future." She said before looking at the four, "Humans, faunus, even those of different kingdoms. We will all be working together to protect those who cannot protect themselves. That is our common purpose."

"Well, it all makes sense to me and it avoids a lot of meaningless slaughter. Win-win." Musashi responded, "So, we just need to tell this plan to Leader of the White Fang." She said before turning to Adam, "Which I thought was you the first time we meet."

"Sienna Khan is the one who led the White Fang when I was her subordinate. From what I have heard, she is still the leader." Adam said before looking to Winter, "However, I image her followers are not happy with her inability to deal with this White Fang Killer."

"White Fang Killer?" Weiss asked, "What is he talking about?"

"Over the last three months, multiple White Fang outpost have been massacred." Winter responded, "As well as several cases of individual murders. The commonality being faunus the defected from the White Fang." She said with Weiss slightly gasping.

Adam then turned toward the white heiress, "You see why it is imperative we eliminate this White Fang Killer." He said with Weiss turning back to him. "Not only would it give us a bargaining chip with Sienna Khan, earning her trust, but you know who this would save as well." He said with her nodding once.

Weiss then turned back to her sister, "Where do we find the White Fang Killer?"

"We're tracking the movements and patterns, trying to pinpoint the next target." Winter said as the map showed six yellow dots, then three black dots, "These three seem to be the likely next targets. We have tried sending a warning signal to the camps, but they have denied all communications." She then crossed her arms and sighed, "Right now, all clues and information have been digitally sent to one of Chaldea's advisors to help identify who the White Fang Killer is. We have to work at this pace until new information comes to light."

"And wait for our new guests to show up," Nobu said before stretching, "I hope we don't have to sit here while they get this speech." She said with Weiss glaring at her.

"It will be some time until we arrive at the first outpost," Winter said as she stood up, the hologram disappearing, and then looking towards Weiss, "I suggest you make sure that you are capable of working together." She said as she started walking towards the exit, "Also, all information from this operation is confidential. If our involvement were to leak to the public, it could ruin the whole operation."

"Understood, Lieutenant General," Weiss responded as her sister exited the room.

"Well, I think it's time I get something to eat," Nobu said as she stood up, walking out of the room. Adam and Musashi did the same, but the Grimm Archer looked back to see Weiss still in her chair, "You okay?"

"Just, give me a second," Weiss responded with Nobu having a look of worry, but still leaving the white heiress alone. After a few seconds, Weiss cupped her hands, "Blake, I need to warn you." She said to herself as her hands began to shake, "But I can't disobey my sister." She said as she gritted her teeth, "What do I do?" she said before a tear started to form in the corner of her eye.

In the doorway, Adam looked at the white heiress but did not say a word. He then walked away, adjusting his mask with his right hand, while his left hand gripped his scabbard.

Blake.

In the morgue of the Vale Hospital, Black was escorted by a female nurse with a red military outfit and black skirt. The nurse's hair was a dirty pink with a breaded ponytail and red irises. The black cat faunus look around to see the many corpses on gurneys, tags placed on their right big toes that read, 'Unidentified White Fang Member.' She then saw the nurse stop in front of a table, "You came pretty quick, we just finished processing her." She said as Blake looked over, seeing Ilia's body laid on the metal table. Her eyes were closed, her skin slightly greyer, "Is this who you mentioned over the phone."

"Yes," Blake responded in a mournful voice, "Her name was Ilia Amitola." She then looked to the nurse, seeing him read a medical chart on a metal clipboard, "Weren't you from Chaldea?"

"Yes, my name is Florence Nightingale," She said as she catalogued information on the chart, "I heard of these strings of attacks and ask Zhuge Liang to let me come here." The nurse said as sighed, "I wanted to help any wounded, but this is all I have been able to do." She then closed her chart and looked at Blake, "Dental and fingerprints matched that name. Do you know of her parents contact information?"

"She told me they're both dead," Blake responded, her eyes turned back to Ilia, "I called my Father. He said he will handle the funeral arrangement, that her body will be sent back to Menagerie." As Blake looked at the body, she saw where the slash marks were from the video last night. However, they were now stitched up and cleaned of blood. She then turned back to the diener, "Who did this to her?"

"Even if I knew, I couldn't tell you." Nightingale responded as she put her pen in her pocket. However, she fumbled her grip and dropped the pen on the ground. Blake watched as the nurse knelt pick it up, placing the medical chart on the table to his right. Once she realized, Nightingale looked back up to see Blake turned back to Ilia, "I'm sorry for your loss."

However, what Nightingale saw was not looking at Blake at that moment. Rather her semblance's shadow clone. She snuck around to get behind him, picking up the medical chart. Quickly, she opened it, took a silent photo with her scroll, and returned to the medical chart to its original position. As the nurse stood back up, Blake tapped her on the right shoulder. She turned around but saw nobody. In turning back to Blake, the black cat faunus already dispelled her shadow clone and smiled with a nod, "Thank you for respecting her body."

"When I chose this path for myself, I intended to save all life." Nightingale said before picking up the chart. "Regardless of their background, it pains me to see anyone die on a battlefield." She said with Blake nodding, a moment of silence passing between the two. The nurse then looked over and pointed to a cardboard box, "Over there were her personal belongings found at the scene. They were released by authorities, so you can take them. We will handle sending her body to its final resting place." She then looked back to the black cat faunus, "I have to go and send this information to my advisors."

"Again, thank you." Blake said before Nightingale turned around and walked to the door out the room.

"Take as much time as you need." Nightingale said before exiting.

Blake watched her fully leave before opening her scroll, seeing the autopsy she took a photo of, seeing an outline of the body with red marks and notes, "Patient suffered a large gash on her left arm down from her shoulder. Cut does not match with any Grimm claw marks, rather a sword would be the assumed weapon." Blake read before looking at the head, "Blunt force trauma to the bridge of the nose. Impact mark would suggest the butt of a rifle, but the model is unidentifiable." She then looked to the right hand, "Right hand was shot off by some high velocity incendiary dust round. Burn marks suggest it was from the front of the wrist, meaning she was facing her attacker." Blake then looked to the hole in the chest, "Cause of death was when the patient suffered a shot to the center of the chest, destroying the rib cage, heart, and a section of the spine. Dust residue suggests the shot was close range, within a few inches before firing."

"A sword and a rifle?" Blake said before she realized something. Rather, someone, she knew once who had that weapon combination, "No, that's not possible!" She said as she went to her scroll, dialing a number, and wait for a response.

"Atlas military prison center." A female Atlas soldier responded on the other line, "What is the nature of this call?"

"Yes, I would like to visit an inmate." Blake responded, "Adam Taurus is his name."

"And your connection to him." The female Atlas soldier asked, but Blake remained hesitant on what to reply with. However, the female Atlas soldier continues, "Oh, it appears he is not in our system anymore."

"What?" Blake questioned, "But he had a life sentence?"

"He seems to have been released into-" The female Atlas soldier said before cutting herself off, "Oh, I'm not allowed to say. I'm sorry, thank you for calling in."

"Wait!" Blake said as the called, her scroll going back to dial tone. She then had a look of horror on her face as she began to hyperventilate, "Adam, where are you?" the black cat faunus said before looking back at Ilia, "And did you do this?" she said as her eyes slightly started to fill with anger. Suddenly, she remembered something. She turned back box with Ilia's belongings, "Maybe I can find more clues in there." Blake said before walking over to the box, "She never wanted to go to Vale in the time I knew her. Why was she here?"

As she opened the box, the black cat faunus found Ilia's outfit, the remains of her weapon, a scroll with blood splatter on it. In opening the scroll, she discovered an almost dead battery, and a ten-digit passcode was needed to open the scroll. Blake sighed as she realized it would be impossible to guess. Until she realized something. She typed her last name, Belladonna, as the answer. Suddenly, the scroll unlocked. Blake looked to see the camera app was the last app opened in her history. She went to it, discovering a video had been recorded. As soon as she pressed play, Illya showed on the screen, leaning against a tree in the Forever Fall Forest at the dead of night. She took off her mask, showing a look of terror in her eyes.

"Blake, I'm leaving this in case…" The lizard faunus said before choking on her words, "…You're not safe. The White Fang, someone is killing off all our members. Even those who defected, they're hunted down." Blake watched the video as her eyes widened in fear, "The admins and lieutenants are too afraid to tell any of the lower ranked members of the situation. But it's bad, really bad." Ilia said with tears in her eyes, "Blake, I don't want to die. And I don't want you to die either." The lizard faunus then forced a smile on her face, "I want to see you again. I pulled some strings to be sent to this base. I'll come to get you, then we can run away together."

"Ilia…" Blake said as tears form in her face.

"…I-" Ilia was saying until a gunshot cut her off. She turned to the noise, soon hearing the cries of other White Fang members. She then quickly turned back the screen, speaking as she put on her mask, "Blake, I'm sorry about everything. Please, just wait for me! …I lo-" Ilia was saying until she looked to her left, her face turning white with dread. She gasped before her body was flung to the side, blood smearing on the camera lens, blocking Blake's view, "AAAAA!" Ilia screamed before Blake heard a loud crake, the assumed shattering of the mask. She then vaguely heard her old friend's weapon be drawn. However, a gunshot soon followed, accompanied by the sound of metal and flesh being ripped apart, "AAAAAAAA-!" Ilia cried before the second gunshot, then her screaming went silent.

Blake heard a thud in the grass, her eyes welling up with more tears as she fell to her knees. The video ended as the scroll's battery died out. After a few seconds, she got back up and placed the items back in the box. In carrying her personal belongs, Blake walked back to lizard faunus' body, "Ilia, I'm sorry." The black cat faunus said as she looked at her dead friend's body. Blake then knelt, kissing Ilia on the forehead. In those seconds, another tear formed in Blake's closed eyes. Standing up, her eyes opened in with determination, "I promise, I'll find him." Blake declared as she walked away, "And I'll make him pay."

AN: There you go, who is the White Fang Killer? Again, Adam is somewhat different than his original series self. Regarding him and Musashi, their relationship is somewhat comparable to Gilgamesh to Enkidu. She is the one friend to this big bully, and I'm excited to elaborate on this more as the story goes on. Winter finally explains the plan for Apocrypha's military, setting up for some awesome characters in the future. Also, I do namedrop Sienna Khan, and she will be a character in this story later. Mainly because I love her design and want to see her interaction with characters in the future. This character's fate in V5 is one of the worse aspects of that entire volume. In the second half, Ilia gets a proper conclusion to her character here. Blake is motivated to find the White Fang Killer, but thinks it's Adam, (Who, in case you are wonder, is not). And finally, you see Nightingale is here. She was one I felt should have done more with in the first story, so this one will try to fix that. That was the first binge of chapters, I will go weekly now for a while with this story. Next chapter, you see some more of the students and staff at Clockwork Academy. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.