Chapter 10: Oppression
"So, then. Everything is going well?"
Roman smirked. "Even better than well. Things here are going swimmingly, boss. You remember our good friend Junior?"
Sorrell sighed. "Of course I do. Last I checked, he had been getting quite confident as a mob boss."
"Oh, well that's just perfect, then! Me and the boys went and brought him down a notch."
"Hmm..."
Roman's recent high from his battle vanished with Sorrell considering the news. He had returned to their camp in the Forever Falls, away from prying eyes of citizens. He had earned the Faunus' respect, but they kept their distance. Whether they were preoccupied and exhausted or apathetic remained to be seen. Even though the hairs stood on the back of his neck like he was being watched, Roman spared no detail in his report.
Slouched back in a chair balancing on it's back legs, the crime lord waited for a response. Good or bad? I gotta know. Under normal circumstances, Roman acted on his own, left to his own devices. But whether or not they interfered with any of Sorrell's schemes was vital. He began to hold his breath.
At last, Sorrell answered. "Good, good. He needed another reminder of who's really in charge. Even though I may reside in Atlas, my reach is global."
Approval. Roman released his bated breath, chuckling. "You shoulda seen the look on his face when I threatened to incinerate him."
"Hah, I can almost imagine it. There's nothing quite as splendid as the twisted expression of someone having their pride destroyed."
"Best part is, it was a two Nevermores, one stone kinda deal." Now that the anxiety was gone, Roman playfully swirled his cane around. "I'm down here helpin' out training the White Fang fanatics. There's a plan to destroy Beacon once and for all."
"Oh ho... That's big news. And one hell of a heist to pull off." Roman nodded, reveling in the praise. "I doubt you would tell me of such a plan if you didn't think it had any chance of succeeding."
The crime lord stopped swinging his cane, his expression growing dour. "I couldn't tell you how many times some radical group has claimed they're gonna tear down Beacon, brick by brick. But this time... The White Fang are getting some help."
"Is this... the interlopers?"
"It is." Roman answered, his tone grave.
"You idiot. I hope you don't plan on rambling about this while being eavesdropped."
"Hah! Knowing them, they've already heard every single word I've said and are right outside, waiting to tear me apart. Hold on a moment, I have guests to entertain." He shouted. Roman's gaze fell to Neo. She glanced around, before shaking her head. Even though she was his trusted partner, the crime lord couldn't trust her intuition alone.
He lowered his Scroll and thrust open the flap to his tent, a most welcoming grin on his face. But there was nothing waiting for him outside. No Faunus, no spies, no Cinder. Roman stood there for several seconds, half inside his tent. Waiting. But alas, nothing. No response from the empty air, not even the wind. Glaring at the emptiness, he returned inside.
"All clear." He muttered into his Scroll in a low tone.
"What keen senses you possess." Sorrell replied.
"Was it not you that beat it into my skull to always prepare for anything? Even a one percent risk is too high a risk."
Sorrell laughed. "You remembered. Still a very crass way of going about it. Then again, you were never one for elegance. Explosions were more your thing."
Roman had taken the time during Sorrell's little lecture to light a cigar. "Emerald Sustrai. Mercury Black. Cinder Fall." Upon uttering the last name, he felt a chill run up his spine. Even just mentioning the name, Cinder had quite the effect on people. Only Sorrell's name held that kind of power upon speaking it aloud. And that was after years of understanding his impact on the world. His legacy. And the extent of his wrath.
The aristocrat was silent. Roman gave him the time he needed to research the three targets through whatever sources he may need. There were many files he held on notable individuals. The Peacock of Mistral, Junior, Jacques Schnee, even Roman himself. There was very little in this world that escaped the greedy, vigilant eye of the Alaric family. And yet-
"Mercury Black. Only son of Marcus Black, the Black family has made a name for themselves as exceptional assassins. I trust you recall the name Coby Black? Same ilk. As assassins, they keep a low profile, but since a decade or so ago, Marcus went dark. Complete radio silence. Nothing ever since."
Roman exhaled a puff of smoke. "And the other two?"
"Absolutely nothing." Sorrell grumbled to himself, though the crime lord couldn't be certain if it was frustration or fear. Sorrell was a cautious man, and the unknown terrified him. But in this day and age, it was hard to go dark and stay alive. People and technology were everywhere.
"What about Qrow Branwen?"
"Him? That's a very well known individual among the underworld. Qrow's a spy of sorts. To Ozpin of Beacon, so they say. I take it by your tone he is involved too?"
"In a way. Those three ran into Qrow and have been paranoid ever since. Those three are the ones giving the White Fang a little push in the direction to Beacon's downfall."
"How long have they been interfering?" Sorrell demanded. The anxiety in his voice was crystal clear.
"A couple months back. Which doesn't exactly match with your initial data. You told me it had been two years ago. A little snooping has told me Adam was the one calling the shots since then. And he's coming to terms with a little rejection from his own kind."
"Ugh..." The crime lord could tell Sorrell was cringing over the stupidity of it all. And yet, Sorrell's intuition told him there was something else afoot with the White Fang. And, as usual, it was spot on. "What is it that Mercury and his friends bring to the table?"
"Cinder is the one in charge. The White Fang takes orders from Adam, but Adam takes counsel from Cinder. The three on their own are a force to be reckoned with. Even Cinder herself. I haven't seen any one individual with that much strength since Sylvia."
"Hmmm... Stronger?"
"Big time." Roman's answer was immediate and appropriate. Until recently, the crime lord had feared only one thing; Sorrell. Now Cinder was added to that list. That was a woman nobody would want to cross.
An exasperated sigh from the other end. "I'll see if I can find anything more on this Cinder girl. You stay on her good side and try to get her to contact me. Once communications can be established, then negotiations and collaboration may begin."
Roman almost choked. After sputtering, he shrieked "You wanna make her one of your underlings?"
"War is our trade, Mr. Torchwick. And those who incite it are our business competitors. It's best if we stay on good terms with them."
(-)
It wasn't easy being the voice of reason for Adam Taurus. Cinder's patience was tested every time she spoke with him. To try and quell his mindless rage and petty vendettas, it was no wonder the White Fang had wrought such destruction since he came to power. And how the White Fang had earned it's reputation as a terrorist organization. It wasn't just the humans that Adam, and by extension, the White Fang despised. It was other Faunus who didn't agree to their methods.
"I don't care what that scum wants, we should be out there fighting against oppression!" He bellowed at his council. Although witnesses seemed a better word for it. The supposed council, composed of key White Fang officials and Cinder and Roman as guests, had to listen to Adam's rants and lectures. Which reminded her; Roman was nowhere to be seen. Given the current argument, she envied the crime lord.
"And we will." The Lieutenant remarked. "In due time. Patience is a virtue, Adam. If we charge in recklessly, we'll be captured and have accomplished nothing."
"We're accomplishing nothing now!" Adam's fist pounded against the table.
"Reconnaissance is key to any infiltration." A Faunus with antlers reminded. "Without the necessary information, defeat is the only outcome of any battle. Warfare is not only a test of might, but of foresight as well."
Adam's fingers burrowed into the table. "I would kill a hundred leagues before I allow myself to fall to their armies. Every soldier we have should be honored to die for our cause!"
"But not if it's in vain! We all share your ambition, Adam, but we don't have the strength." Cinder watched as Adam turned away, almost swearing she saw him bite his tongue. A smirk spread across her face. No doubt he was thinking that any soldier who wouldn't do as he does is worthless and a traitor. But that zeal is what makes him easy to control. It's just a matter of guiding it.
"Our numbers may be something that needs addressing as well." The Lieutenant admitted. "We have resources to feed and arm thousands, potentially even a million. But our numbers are lacking, and those with practice are even rarer."
"So then another initiation rally is in order."
"No," It was Cinder's turn to speak up. "It's too soon for that. The opinion of the White Fang needs to improve, first. Otherwise, we would only draw in a dozen or so. The Faunus of Vale need to be convinced that the White Fang is either a righteous faction, or the only way."
"The only way?" The horned Faunus asked.
"If the Faunus are forced into an even worse situation, they cling onto whatever promises them a brighter tomorrow."
Adam growled at her suggestion. "You would see the innocent Faunus suffer further?"
Cinder smirked at him. "It's a harsh truth that they need to be persuaded towards."
"Sorry I'm late, folks," Roman declared, proudly entering the tent. The sheer haughtiness he displayed at any given time was incredible, given his circumstances and the threats that loomed over him. Neo followed, joining Emerald and Mercury at the sides. "Had a little side project to attend to. I trust I didn't miss anything important?"
"This is a war room. Everything is important." The Lieutenant chided with a sigh. The maiden was impressed by the Lieutenant's patience with Roman. But considering they arrived together from Atlas, she didn't find it too strange. Be that as it may, it is still something she will have to find out. Roman has been inquisitive of late, and that level of nosiness may be the death of him. "And I disagree. An initiation rally is just what we need. It's been ages since the last reminder of the White Fang presence."
"And it's been a blessing in disguise." Roman added. "We can operate without as much scrutiny and trouble as we used to. What's the problem with that?"
"Manpower." Cinder replied, to which Roman nodded in understanding. But then, he looked puzzled.
"Hang on, didn't we have some of the most notorious fighters with us? What happened to them?"
"Capture." Adam answered. "While on the lines, many of our strongest were detained."
"On the lines, or on their own?" Cinder asked. The White Fanger leader glared at her. "All I'm asking is some clarification. Were they captured because you sent them on a suicide mission, or because you didn't have a tight enough hold on them?"
"What are you implying? That I sent them to their prisons?!"
"If it needs to be addressed, then yes. Naivety costs us, Adam."
Before Adam could lash back, Roman interrupted. "If they're imprisoned, we could go set them free." The idea brought the bickering to a standstill. Cinder herself found it was too obvious a solution. If the zealots were imprisoned so easily, who can say if they would stay out of prison longer than a week?
The Lieutenant was the first to reject the suggestion. "A full on raid would bring an unwanted amount of attention onto us. The girl is right; we don't need that kind of heat. And if you were here earlier, you'd learn that we don't have the numbers to spare for a siege like that."
"Who's saying anything about a siege?" Roman smirked. "My dear Lieutenant, do you recall my friend Conway?" The maiden's ears twitched at the mention of another colleague. Whatever group Roman belonged to, it was secretive, indeed.
"The sneaky human kid? That could walk through walls?" What?! She had never heard of such a power before. Emerald was invaluable because of how potent her Semblance was; if she found someone that could walk through walls, then the Relics-
"Precisely. This doesn't need to be a parade of numbers or anything so extravagant. Just an infiltration and retrieval." Roman's words went mostly unheard by Cinder. She was still captivated by the thought of such a Semblance. She wanted to know more, to interrogate Roman right here and now, but she can't be hasty. Better to let the others ask the questions.
"Conway is here?" The Lieutenant asked. "In Vale?"
"No, no, no. We don't need Conway this time around. Why, me and Neo have been through the prison here in Vale a couple times. What's one more, with a bit of added baggage?"
"A challenge." The maiden declared. "The smaller the group that enters, the easier it is to move and function. Too small, however, and you risk capture yourselves."
Roman shared in her smile, his eyes meeting hers. "Quite right." He announced. "Care to join me for a date in the Vale prison, doll?"
"It would be my pleasure."
(-)
"Why do you continue to let him run rampant like this?"
The question Emerald posed brought a glare out of the maiden. She turned to see the thief looking disappointed and sad. The insecurity lurking behind those crimson eyes made her loyal and obedient, but left many openings for her to be annoying. Cinder growled. "You will not question me. Did you snoop through his things like I commanded?"
"Y-yes." Emerald mumbled. But in the next moment, her tone returned to normal. "We didn't find anything that seemed out of his M.O. Plenty of lockpicks, a collection of knives-"
"Enough cigars to make even my old man envious." Mercury added.
"But nothing suggesting that he's anything more than a common crook."
Cinder took into consideration their report. The lack of answers made things infuriating. Either a flawless disguise or he's only a small time criminal. "Then it sounds like you didn't do your jobs well enough. I need you to find me incriminating evidence of who he works for."
"If you're so suspicious of him, why give him so much free reign?" The thief murmured again weakly.
"I said do not question me." The maiden reminded, her eyes a burning glare.
"Why would you give him so much control? I don't understand! We don't need him! Everything was going fine!" Emerald cried out after Cinder slapped her. There was finally silence.
"Do not mistake your place." She barked. "Everything is as it should be. His meddling has disrupted things." Mercury looked like he had questions, himself. But watching Emerald punished for rashness stopped him. Cinder continued. "Vale has been affected by him. But things will go to my tune, not his. And I believe it's time we remind him of that."
Mercury finally found his voice. "So we're going through with his jailbreak idea?"
Moments earlier, in the war room, Roman proposed the idea of a jailbreak. As he explained it, people would let themselves be incarcerated and then bust themselves out. It required many particular skills, and was a gamble on how well it would go. People would pay him for jailbreaking in order to murder a prisoner, or even entertainment for rich folks. A jailbreak with many prisoners escaping wasn't impossible, so he claimed.
"Yes." Cinder answered. "A perfect opportunity that he himself has orchestrated. Some private time for us to communicate without prying eyes and ears. And if he reveals himself to be another obstacle, then we leave him in one of the cells." Cinder had already made the arrangements. Salem had sent her messenger. It would arrive after nightfall. It was time to see what Roman was made of, and if he had the senses for smart decisions.
"And if it's a trap?" Emerald meekly asked.
Embers danced in Cinder's palm, and he eyes blazed with fury. "Then we set it all aflame." She growled, smothering the flames in her clenched fist.
