AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter here. Thank you for all the support this series has gotten here and on Tv Tropes. We go into the second half of this season with a nice primer. In getting some cool dialogue and interaction, we are seeing the setup towards something big. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.

Chapter 46 – Growing Concern

Reines.

In one of the tents at the White Fang base, Reines sat across Sienna and Caenis. The White Fang Champion whispered to her leader, "So, you're saying I would be the Brigadier General in this new military?" she said before asking a follow-up question, "And this kid would outrank me?"

"I can hear you," Reines responded while sifting through images on a tablet, "And yes to both."

"Tsk, I like my title as White Fang Champion more," Caenis said while crossing her arms.

"You can call yourself whatever you like." Reines said before looking over to Sienna, "Now, is this one the White Fang Killers you fought?" she said before showing the image of the raging paladin on the tablet.

"He is," Sienna said with a glint of rage in her eyes, "That was also the man who nearly killed Sheba." She said before gritting her teeth, "That psychopath made a game out of slaughtering our brethren."

"Mori Nagayoshi, he worked for the Atlas military in their first Paladin Program." Reines informed as she read his file, "Apparently, he had a temper that led to many of his colleagues to call him insane. He asked for smaller mechs to pilot, so he could make his actions feel more…personal." She then gritted her teeth as she came to the abrupt conclusion of the report, "Apparently, he was presumed dead during a Grimm elimination mission with a set of prototype armor."

"Well, he isn't dead." Sienna said before looking back to Caenis, "He must have been the one who reworked those paladin mechs that lead the attack here." The Leader of the White Fang turned back to Reines, "What about the other man, that Faunus-Slayer."

"Okada Izou, he is from Apocrypha." Reines responded, "Years ago, we were assigned as a heroic spirit to a small town. The report says that they wanted a saber class as the protector, not an assassin class like he was." She said before putting the tablet down, "He then killed everyone in the town and masquerade distress calls to Chaldea, asking for saber classes to provide help to the town. However, the saber classes were then challenged and then killed by Izou." She then crossed her arms, "When the King of Knights was sent to eliminate this killer, Izou was gone."

"Looks like he was too chicken for a real challenge." Caenis responded, cracking her knuckles, "I may not be a saber, but I can stab that bastard through the heart no problem." She then looked at Reines, who stared down with her right hand on her chin, "What are you thinking?"

"Unlike Columbus, these two do not have a direct hatred towards faunus." Reines commented, "However, all three seem to drive a sick pleasure out of the murdering of others."

"You're point?" Caenis asked.

Sienna answered Caenis with another question. "Why then are all three attacking the White Fang?" The Leader of the White Fang said, "Four, counting the one that attacked the other base and killed Atalante."

"Yes," Reines responded, "However, there may be even more than that now." She then looked back to the Leader of the White Fang, "Did either of these Killers mention a Woman in Black to you?"

"No," Sienna said before her mind flashed back to Izou's last words before leaving, "But I did hear one mentioned a 'she' regarding a new armor."

"That does not bode well, Columbus said something similar regarding 'It'." Reines responded, "It turned out to be a mutated near-invincible heroic spirit of legend that was close to destroying Menagerie."

"Yikes," Caenis commented.

"So, this Woman in Black is another White Fang Killer?" Sienna asked.

"At the very least, she is an associate." Reines commented, "She seems to have multiple goals, yet all are involved in eliminating those she sees as threats." The Princess of El-Melloi said while her mind flashed back to Vitch and Yu's assault on the airship.

"Our goal is to take out these White Fang Killers." Caenis responded with Sienna slightly turning to her, "…And to go and protect Apocrypha or whatever." The White Fang Champion said while crossing her arms.

Sienna then turned back to Reines, "If we can eliminate these at least these two, and the one that killed Atalante, I will contact our other bases to start the formation of the Apocrypha army."

"Yes, we will deal with the Woman in Black when we have more resources and equipment." Reines said before picking up the tablet again, "Which reminds me, do you know what each base had in stock weapons?"

"Sheba kept closer track of those items than I did," Sienna said, "But anything we acquired was reported in by our Admins."

"Does that include Dust?" Reines said with Sienna nodding, "In that case, we may have a bigger problem on our hands."

"What are you saying?" Caenis said before noticing Sienna gasp, "Khan?"

"Remember when I said they stole those Paladin Mechs from our bases." Sienna commented, causing Caenis to realize it as well, "What else could they have taken?"

"You have to tell us the truth," Reines said with a cold gaze towards "How much Dust could they have from all the bases that were attacked so far?"

"…Too much." Caenis commented, "Enough to load up a small airship."

"And drop it over Menagerie." Sienna said before putting her right hand on her forehead, "How could I have not seen this until now?"

"This was most likely their backup plan after Columbus's mission failed." Reines responded, "I would warn the Chieftain, but in just doing the math of how large a blast like that could be." She said before putting the tablet down, "There is nowhere safe on that island now."

"M-maybe he could send all the faunus citizens on boats out to sea until we-" Caenis offered, but Reines cut her off.

"At which point, they would be at the mercy of all sorts of watery Grimm preying on the panicking faunus." Reines said, "We need to stop the Killers and stop them now." She said before sighing, "At the moment, we need to wait for Sigurd to return from his scout, and hope he found the Killers' trail." The Princess of El-Melloi then looked down with slight worry, "And I hope the other half of our group comes back soon."

Yang.

Achilles, Weiss, and Musashi continued to run until reaching what they assumed was the base. The swift hero quickly scanned the area while the other two tried to catch their breath. However, all three looked back to see a panting Yang propped against a tree, "I really wish I brought my bike with me." She said before wiping the sweat off her forehead.

"In retrospect, maybe we should have flown an airship here." Musashi commented as Yang started to walk over, "Are you going to be okay?"

"I'll be fine." Yang said while scanning the area, "We need to find Blake, or any clues for where she went."

Weiss nodded before she looked around as well, seeing the scorched ground, "What could have done this type of damage?"

"Atalante." Achilles said before his mind flashed to the flaming arrow that hit his heel, "This must have been the aftermath of her Noble Phantasm." However, a line of sweat ran down his face, "If she used it, where is she now?"

"Who's Atalante?" Musashi asked, "Do you mean your teammate back at Chaldea?"

"No, she's-" Achilles was saying until someone shouted.

"Look!" Weiss called out, causing the others to run to her location. They looked down at a pool of still wet blood on the soil. Her eyes then focused on something on the edge of the pool. She reached down and pulled out a pistol. While covered in mud and blood, the white heiress recognized the weapon, "This is part of Gambol Shroud." She said before looking back at the pool with dread, "Which means all this blood is…" She said before tears started to form in her eyes.

Yang gritted her teeth before noticing something else at the other edge of the pool, "There!" she pointed, "Those scuffs marks, she got back up!" the blond brawler pointed out before seeing a set of tracks, "Quick, we need to hurry!" Yang said before running after the tracks.

The others followed before entering the forest again. Each started to search the ground for any sign of the black cat faunus. Suddenly, Achilles heard a rustling in a nearby bush, "Blake!?" the swift hero said as he ran off and pushed the leaves aside.

Suddenly, a right hand with a white glove grabbed Achilles's face. While his eyes widen, the swift hero was tossed into a nearby tree. Musashi rushed in with her sword drawn, swinging at the hand. In response, the hidden attacker pulled out a multi-barrel revolver to block the blade. Weiss and Yang turned to abrupt sound, but each saw a weapon aimed at their heads. The white heiress blocked a crimson claw with her gun blades. While the blond brawler spawned her gauntlet to block an assailant's axel kick with bladed heels. However, Yang gasped recognizing these twin attackers. At the same time, as Musashi was pushed back by the multi-barrel revolver, the person in the bushes stood up, "N-Nurse Nightingale!?"

Nightingale then turned to the assailants to Yang and Weiss, "You two can stand down. I know these students."

"So do we." Melanie commented as she and Miltia withdrew from their attack, "Didn't expect to see you here, Blondie."

"Wait, you know each other!?" Weiss responded while Achilles was up from his toss.

"Yeah, uh, it's a bit complicated." Yang responded, "They work for-"

"The Club, these are the Malachite Twins." Musashi said with the others looking at her in confusion, "What? I made a couple of noodles delivers there from time to time." She then crossed her arms, "I can know people."

Weiss then turned back to her teammate with a scowl, "Yang, why are you associated with people from a back-alley bar?" she said with the blond brawler trying to avoid eye contact, "Students at Beacon cannot go to such sketchy places."

"To be fair, I only started going there before I went to Beacon." Yang responded as Weiss's scowl got colder, "But, that is not the point now." She said before turning to the twins, "Why are you two here?"

"Blame your cat faunus friend," Miltia answered.

"You mean Blake, do you know where is?" Achilles said as he ran over to the twins, "We need to find her."

"Who are you?" Melanie responded before recalling something, "Wait, are you Achilles?"

"Yeah," Achilles responded, "I'm Blake's boyfriend."

"Huh, he is hot." Miltia commented, causing the other girls to turn to her in slight shock.

"Uh, thanks?" Achilles responded in confusion, then sighed, "But can you tell us where Blake is?"

"She left me and my sister after we were ambushed by some White Fang member with a bow." Miltia responded, "I think her name was Atalanta?"

"That was Atalante." Achilles said before looking to the entire group, "She is Blake's alter that reformed in Atalanta's image. She survived that invasion of Apocrypha and joined the White Fang."

"Whoever or whatever she is, screw her." Melanie said while crossing her arms, "She shot me in the back and almost cut off my sister's arm." She said with Miltia nodding with her twin.

"You don't look that banged up?" Yang questioned.

"That because I healed them." Nightingale said as walked over, focusing on Achilles, "And regarding Ms. Belladonna, I have been following her for the last few days." The steel nurse said while crossing her arms, "She's been involved in an incident with the massacre at the Club, as well as a relentless pursuit of the White Fang Killer."

"Blake had nothing to do with happened to the Club!" Yang shouted, her eyes turning red, "She would never do that!"

"We know, we were there." Melanie answered, causing Yang to turn to her.

"Yes, you told me your story," Nurse Nightingale responded with arms crossed, "While it is a ridiculous scenario, I can tell you are not lying like Blake was about the incident and are her involvement."

Yang then turned to Miltia talking to her, "We were hired by another client to keep Blake from getting killed." The red twin added on, "Can't tell you though, it's a confidentiality agreement thing."

"Oh, uh, thanks for looking out for her." Yang said as her eyes went back to lilac, but then filled with sorrow, "And, I'm sorry about Junior." She said with the twins going silent as well.

Weiss then looked back to Nightingale, "How have you been tracking Blake all this time?" She said with the steel nurse reaching into her bag, pulling out a scroll device.

"I slipped a small tracker in one of her meals when she was at the Vale Hospital," Nightingale said as the device showed a make with a blinking white light. She then turned to the twins, "When I started to close in, I found you two near dead."

Melanie nodded before looking to the group, "Just before that, Blake and that Atalante went back to the way you came, the White Fang group we were following." The white twin added on, "We heard a lot of gunshots and explosions not too long ago."

"Once we were healed, all three of us started to head back" Miltia added on, "But, we also saw someone else before that. A scary-looking guy with a gun and sword."

"The White Fang Killer," Musashi interpreted, "That must be the third member that attacked this base."

"Did you follow him?" Yang asked the twins.

"Are you insane? No!" Melanie said with her arms crossed, "He would have killed us on sight, so we just stood out of his way and let him pass." She then pointed off into the woods, "He went that way if one of you has a death wish."

"I do lament not being able to save that base in time, I arrived too late." Nightingale added on, turning to the rest of the group "I intend to deal with that man after I find Ms. Belladonna."

"And as we were leaving, we heard more people approaching." Miltia concluded, "But this time, hid for a surprise attack."

"And that puts us to right now." Musashi responded, her arms crossed, "So now, we have two people to follow." She then had an idea while turning to Weiss, "I got it, you and the others go after Blake's signal. While I follow that guy to their base of operations."

"Are you sure, that sounds incredibly dangerous?" Weiss responded.

"You going alone would not be wise." Nightingale pointed out.

"Relax, I'll keep out of sight. This is our best chance finding the root of these Killers once and for all." Musashi responded with a smile, then looked back to Achilles and Yang, "Besides, Blake needs you searching for her now more than ever."

"Thank you." Achilles responded, "We'll come back for you as soon as we get Blake to safety."

"Don't do anything reckless." Yang added on, "We're all a team here." She said with the swordswoman nodding, then running off to where Melanie had pointed earlier. The blond brawler then looked to Nightingale, "How far away is Blake?"

"A fair distance away," Nightingale responded, "If she were critically injured, I doubt she would not have gotten this far."

"That's a good thing, right?" Yang responded.

"Yes," Weiss said, but looked back to the scroll, "But where is she going then?"

"We can ask her when we find her." Achilles responded, ready to sprint, "Let's get going before she gets too far." The others nodded before running after the signal of the black cat faunus.

A while later.

Adam.

At the main base came, Adam sat alone at a bench. He signed before hearing someone approach from behind, "Did you find anything?" The White Fang swordsman said to the King of Warriors.

"Negative, no direct trail to from either Killer was found yet." Sigurd responded, "But we will find them."

"I see," Adam said before sighing, "Sorry, but I would rather be alone now."

"That seems to be what you wanted all this time." Sigurd said before sitting down next to Adam, "If you have something to say, let me hear it. I hope that I can be of help to you."

"…" Adam did not respond.

"…In that case, I will interpret based on my observation." Sigurd said before looking up at the sky, "You are running away from something." He said before Adam slightly flinched, "You're past? Not exactly, rather your past self. The hate-fueled you that partnered with Blake. Belladonna and mistreated her." The King of Warriors said before looking back to Adam, "You're afraid of certain people learning that you are here because they will only see what you were."

"When did you figure it out?" Adam responded, looking at the ground.

"Back at Menagerie, I learned of it through the Chieftain." Sigurd said with Adam turning back in shock, "He had learned of your past shortly after your incarceration. In talking with other former White Fang members, the relationship you had with his daughter came to light."

"…I had hoped he would never learn what happened." Adam responded, "At least, not that way."

"You choose not to step foot on Menagerie for fear of his rage ruining our deal." Sigurd inferred, "And you choose to go back in your cell to appeal to Sienna Khan, but to also make sure nobody would suspect you had ever left." The King of Warriors now sighed, "A selfless plan for Faunus, but also a cowardly one for yourself."

"I have had these conversations before with Musashi and her visits." Adam responded, "I know this is the best course of action for everyone."

"Yet, you did not tell her that you will be returning to that cell?" Sigurd asked with Adam remaining quiet, "Do you assume she will visit you like before?"

"…" Adam still did not have a response right away, "I don't wish to die, but I am okay with being forgotten by others."

Sigurd sighed, "The Chieftain, he did not speak of you with kind words." The King of Warriors responded, "And his wife was understandably furious with your actions." He said before slightly smiling, "Yet, they both knew to not let their anger cloud how they should think of others. Both told me, that they hoped you would change for the better in time."

"…They were always optimistic about the future." Adam said with a slight smile, but it quickly faded, "But I know someone who should never forgive me."

"Blake Belladonna, she should never forgive you for the man you were. Nor are you in a position to ask for forgiveness." Sigurd responded, "But, that is not a decision for you or me to make, no matter how much you want people to forget. It is hers." He said with Adam remaining quiet, "The more you try to run away from someone, the more likely you are to run into them when you are least prepared. And when you do meet, what will you say?"

"…" Adam still did not say a word.

The King of Warriors then stood up, "That is all I wished to speak about, you may do with it what you see fit." He said before walking away.

"…" Adam remained quiet before replying, "Thank you." He said with Sigurd stopping for a second to turn around, "I think I will-" The White Fang swordsman was saying until Sigurd's scroll rang, "Go ahead." He said with the King of Warriors taking out the device, but then had a look of shock, "What is it?"

"Musashi sent out a distress beacon." Sigurd said with Adam gasping, "She's in danger."

AN: There you go, a lot of tense moments building up here. We get a little extended meeting as Reines goes over the Killers with Sienna and Caenis, leading to what might happen in the future if they do not act soon. Yang and Weiss's group gets to the base, but instead of Blake, they find Nightingale with the alive twins. Adam and Sigurd have a bro moment before learning that Musashi's solo mission did not end well. Next chapter, we flashback to her to see what she found out about the White Fang Killers. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.