Being a General was not something anyone can do.
It might have seemed like a given and an obvious thing to say, but most people did not seem to actually grasp that. Being a General actually had very little to do with power or military tactics.
The position of General of the Atlesian Military, at the heart of it, was not actually dissimilar to that of a politician. As such, this position demanded James possess a myriad of skills that one cannot acquire in a Combat school or a Huntsmen Academy, but through dealing with the dishonorable and self-absorbed bastard that was Jacques.
That is not to say that James hated Jacques. On the contrary, Jacques was actually one of the few Atlesian Elites that seems to realize that they don't actually live in a bubble. Moreover, on numerous occasions, the SDC has been vital in keeping the military well-supplied.
However, he was not a good person. He wasn't necessarily evil. That would have been simple enough. What made Jacques annoying was his lack of empathy for others. He had very little love for his fellow men.
Nevertheless, James knew how to deal with Jacques. So even as his mind was going hundreds of miles per hour factoring all the possibilities on how Jacques was aware of Salem, he kept his cool. His inner self was in turmoil, but to the outside world, General Ironwood stood unfazed.
"How do you know about her," Ironwood asked calmly. The man in front of him sitting in a crudely make-shift chair of what was before a steel door. James did not actually understand why he had done it. He could have easily asked for a chair. Either he was trying to piss him off, or he was just weird like that. Both were equally likely to be true.
Jacques seized him with disinterest as he leaned back. "Does it matter?"
"It does."
"Not really.' How I know' is something that concerns me. The only thing that matters now is what I know?" The white-haired man countered, leaning back into his seat.
The General regarded him for a second, before sighing. " I supposed you're correct. Let's say that I am willing to believe you're actually saying the truth. You have mentioned that you seek a partnership. What do you mean by that?"
"Though I can't blame your skepticism, have you known me to be the kind of man to bother coming here and risk getting arrested for shits and giggles?" Jacques said with an annoyed look.
"I don't know. After the latest event, I'm starting to think that I don't know what kind of man you are. You still haven't answered my question." Replied Ironwood.
Jacques crossed his legs. "It is exactly what it means, a joint effort where both of our respective organizations would devout resources towards realizing a common goal, in this case dealing with Salem and her group of misfits. What do you say?"
The General mulled over it for a while. Dealing with the SDC has always been a hassle. Having the Dust trading Behemoth on his side would undoubtedly be a great boon. "I am not against it. Atlas wouldn't say no to a possible ally."
"Great!" Jacques exclaimed with spread arms and a smile. "But before we make it official, it would be best to establish some terms. The most important one is that this is to be a relationship of equals. That means while I wouldn't meddle in the affairs in the military, I expect the Atlesian government not to interfere with the way I run my company."
"That is understandable," Ironwood said. It was not an odd request. He felt that it was somewhat of a given, but he could not fault the other man for making sure.
"That also means that neither of us can proceed with anything that may jeopardize the other's work." Jacques finished with a pointed look.
"… You're talking about the embargo." Ironwood summarized. He would have been a fool to think that Jacques would go along with it. "It is absolutely necessary in order to make sure that the other kingdoms do not take action in retaliation to our involvement in the fall of Beacon."
"But as a result of your fuck up. Atlas should not have to pay price for your mistakes!" Jacques retaliated.
"Do you think I don't know that!?" Ironwood yelled back. He slammed his hands on his desk with rattling force and stood. "Not a single minute passes where I don't remember that. Ozpin told me not to bring the army, but I did it anyway. I thought I was keeping people safe. And because of that thousands have died. There is no one to blame but my arrogance and me. But I can't risk Atlas being attacked now!"
James was silent for a second, the only sound in the room was that of his heavy breathing. He waited for Jacques to talk, but he didn't. He merely took a tube of red liquid from the inside of his jacket and drank it.
Seeing that Jacques didn't seem keen to interrupt him, Ironwood resumed his speech in an equally heated tone. "I know that this embargo may seem like a desperate and extreme measure. I'm aware of that, and I don't plan to keep it for an extended period of time. Just long enough to clear Atlas's name. So, I know that it will damage your company, but I cannot jus…I can..I-uh...!"
Out of the blue, James was hit with an inexplicable feeling of nausea. Suddenly, he couldn't think clearly and his head felt too heavy. His sense of balance was slowly deteriorating. With a shaky step, he let himself back into his seat. He didn't know why it was happening, but he had a guess.
Lifting his eyes to see the other occupant of the office, he found Jacques looking at him with an unreadable expression. "Wha…what did you do to me?" Ironwood said groggily.
Jacques sighed. "No need to fret. It is nothing dangerous, I just had to get to calm down. Your life is in no danger, nor would there be any side effects, later on."
"Is this the work of your Semblance?" Ironwood questioned.
Jacques nodded at his question. "It was. I used it to lower your blood pressure slightly. It should stabilize soon enough. "
"Never do that again." Ironwood gritted out. True to Jacques' words, the feeling of light-headedness was already fading. However, it was replaced with a great amount of dread. It was one thing to see Winter experience it, but feeling the effects of the CEO's Semblance was an entirely different experience. It was sobering and made him see the other man in a vastly different light than before.
"I didn't plan to, but you left no choice. I shouldn't have yelled, that was my fault, but you were getting too heated. I had no patience to get into a shouting match with someone who will not listen. " Jacques replied with calm. "Now, that I have your undivided attention. Disable your Semblance."
Ironwood felt his apprehension intensify. The Semblances of the military officers were classified information, his being the most protected. Not even his closest subordinates were aware of his ability. He offered no reply, but the narrowed look he gave was more than for Jacques to understand his thoughts.
"No need to look so alarmed, I have no intention of divulging your Mettle to others. However, my point still stands. Being hyper-focused is beneficial at times; nevertheless, you run the risk of being too focused." Jacques advised while namedropping the name of his Semblance, subtly confirming James' fears.
"…Very well." Seeing himself clearly the one in the dark, and feeling lost during the entirety of the conversation, Ironwood deemed it preferable to let Jacques have the lead, at least he got his bearings.
Centering himself, James forced his Semblance to cease its functioning temporarily. Immediately, he saw the world's colors become duller. A moment after, he felt a splitting headache manifest, and the tiredness of the past few days catch up to him.
"Are you okay?" he heard Jacques ask.
"I'm okay. Just…just give me a moment." James reassured him as he picked himself. "I'm fine."
"Good. Now listen to me. The embargo is a terrible idea. You might think that it will deter the other nations from attacking, but if anything, it will force them to attack us. The number of Dust refining the SDC has outside of Solitas is negligible when compared to those located on it. Putting the embargo in place will mean that none of the other kingdoms will be able to function properly." Jacques explained with a patient tone. "Put yourself in their place. You just saw the army of the strongest kingdom in the world carry out the biggest attack on another kingdom in recent memory. They say that it was an accident, but a few days later they cut off all of your Dust supply. What conclusion would you reach?"
Ironwood closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose, as it finally hit him. "They will think we're preparing for an invasion."
Jacques clapped his hands and pointed them in his direction. "Exactly!"
"That is your plan? Do nothing and hope for the best?" Ironwood inquired with an agitated voice.
"I am not saying that. What I mean is that you should be building up the relationship with the other kingdoms. Help clean up Vale, sign treaties, make charities, and whatever other things you politicians do." Jacques answered unhelpfully with a wave of his hand. "You're the leader of a kingdom, not me."
"And if they attack? Because up until now, you've yet to assure me that Atlas is safe!"
"Because should they attack, I will make sure that they will be eradicated. How is that for a promise?" Jacques said.
"And pray do tell, how will you achieve that?" Ironwood wondered.
"I will-! You know what, fuck it. Since I already know yours, it's only fair I show mine." Jacques stated as he stood from his seating position and head it towards the balcony of the office. "Come with me."
Following the older man, Ironwood came to a stop facing him.
"Shoot me," Jacques said.
"What? No, I'm not going to shoot you!"
"Fine, the shoot the damn wall!"
"Why?" Ironwood asked, very confused.
"Just do it!"
Ironwood sighed and brought out his gun. He aimed it at the furthest wall to make sure no one was hurt. He squeezed the trigger, and…nothing happened. Bewildered, he tried again but still nothing.
"I will do that," Jacques said. "Open your gun."
Ironwood obeyed, simultaneously looking for any defects in his gun. He found none in the pieces themselves, but rather in the Dust chamber. Instead of the bright red Dust he expected, he found the chamber filled with grey ash. 'Expired Dust,' he recognized.
"That is my Semblance, [The Dealer], the ability to manipulate the worth of matter. By lowering the worth of the Dust inside your gun, It could no longer function. I made it worthless." Jacques explained as he returned inside. "You needed a deterrent, you have it. I am the deterrent."
Ironwood's gaze remained on the Dust for several moments before he reassembled his gun. "Very well, I will trust your judgment. I will hold off the embargo. For now." He sighed as he returned inside.
"That is all I ask." Jacques nodded. A minute late, his expression changed to one of the utmost seriousness. "If that is all, I believe it's time we moved to what matters."
"Salem.."
"Yes. But before we start, I want you to remember something, James." Jacques started talking.
"No one is truly invincible."
Several hours later, Winter was called back into her superior's office.
In the few hours she had been absent, the office remained the same, with exception of the torn-off steel door that now mangled crudely into the shape of a chair. Her father was noticeably absent, to her bliss.
However, while the office was more or less in the same state she had left it, the same could not be said about General Ironwood.
To say he looked worse for wear would be an understatement, the man was unharmed, but the look in his eyes spoke of anger, tiredness, and above all panic. The meeting with her father had clearly gone badly.
"Specialist Schnee, reporti-!" Winter saluted, but the General swiftly cut her off. things were definitely bad for the General to behave that way.
"You have an important mission, Specialist. The most crucial you've ever received." He said.
Winter straightened her back further. "of course, sir."
"You are to immediately head the Schnee Manner. There, alongside Jacques Schnee, you will depart ASAP towards Beacon." The General ordered, and Winter's stomach dropped. "For the duration of the mission, your duty is to serve as a bodyguard and an assistant to your father. You will assist him in whatever manner he demands no matter how irrelevant, unorthodox, or asinine it may seem. Consider his order no different from my own. And above all, make sure that not a single hair of his is harmed. Is that clear, Specialist?"
"Sir, surely…" Winter tried to protest. The General of all people knew about her relationship with her father.
"That was a Yes or No question, Specialist Schnee." He interrupted.
"…Yes, sir," Winter responded with her head down.
"You are dismissed. Report back when you return." General Ironwood dismissed with a tired voice."
Winter Schnee simply saluted and left the office and headed outside, cursing her naivety along the way.