Chapter 15

Cardin groaned as he pulled himself off of the arena and towards the audience, his head was hung in shame at the vicious cheers celebrating his biggest loss yet.

His entire team was crushed by Pyrrha Nikos, she didn't even have the manners to look winded before she fought another student. Damn Mistral students. Making us look even worse! He clenched his fists in rage.

But he soon let it go. Unlike his team, he wasn't really in the mood to hold a grudge. Their complaints about how humiliated they felt grated. Cardin felt the same way but it was distant.

We were more out of sync than ever before. Is it just because we were facing such a difficult opponent? No. I can't lie to myself. It's my own fault after all. He hadn't talked much to his team about his fight with Taurus.

They knew he lost of course. Taurus was still around to show that much at least. He'd kept his end of the deal and stopped spreading what he knew around the school. But what Taurus had said resonated with him, at least somewhat.

Attacking Faunus proved the White Fang right, as that same organisation had proved his father right. The best thing for Cardin to do now was to be the better man, to show them that he and humanity are above their petty violence.

His team didn't agree. They really hadn't agreed when he had ignored their desire to go after Velvet. They wanted to do their usual, but he just felt tired. He no longer saw any reason for it, it was just so… petty compared to everything else. Unfortunately, his team disagreed and as a result, their teamwork was completely shot.

Pyrrha had crushed them because of it and now Cardin was left to figure out how to fix it.

Life used to be so much simpler.

"So where are we going this time?" Yang asked as they sat down back in their dorm. The day had felt like it was never going to end but now that it had, she was raring to go!

"There's an old place in a more rundown part of the city. It's mainly used as a safe house for members transferring to other cells. However with how things have gone, it's probably become more of a storage unit and that's even assuming it's still there, with the way we've been hitting their bases recently it wouldn't surprise me if it was completely abandoned by now." Adam responded, placing a map on their desk and pointing at an area of the residential district. "If it is still there, it's likely being used for transporting Dust. If anywhere has information on any remaining bases, it'll be here."

"Alright! Then we go tomorrow night!" Ruby said with a wide smile, already exuding her to excitement all around her.

Weiss shook her head. "What can we expect?"

"Nothing special. Probably more grunts than usual but they wouldn't be able to fit any heavy weapons inside nor risk using them."

"So how do we wanna get 'em?" Yang stretched as she spoke.

"It's a five-story apartment building. Lots of entrances and exits." Yang's scroll pinged as Adam sent the information through. Just an old apartment in the middle of the poor part of town. As good a place as any.

Ruby tapped her chin for a moment as she thought before she clicked her fingers. "I know how we'll do this! We'll make some stairs!"

"I'm going to be doing most of the work, aren't I?" Weiss responded with a sigh. Ruby just giggled.

"We'll hit them from all directions and then grab whatever we need! How does that sound?"

"Pretty good sis."

"Adequate." Weiss said.

"As long as they don't see us coming we shouldn't have much trouble at all." Adam nodded.

"Then tomorrow we execute Operation: Stairway!"

"Do we all agree that Ruby shouldn't come up with names for these?" Weiss asked.

"Yup." Yang gave a thumbs up.

Adam nodded solemnly.

"Guuuuuuuys!"

"Die, traitor!" Another grunt screamed as he charged. Adam sighed and blocked the incoming blade and struck the man's throat which sent him to the ground. Adam kept walking through the dilapidated apartment building. Ruby dashed by him as she charged down an escaping foe.

Adam drew Wilt and slashed down, severing a door from its hinges. The three men inside screamed in terror. They barely resisted as he took them down. "Now then, let's have a look at what you're planning." He mumbled as he accessed the computer system they had set up within.

Yang was tearing through the lower levels and Weiss the upper with Ruby rushing wherever she was needed. The attack had gone just as expected, the enemy were completely unaware of them until it was too late.

Adam sighed when he realised they hadn't even locked it. They heard all that fighting and didn't even think to secure their secrets? Had they always been this pathetic? Maybe it was best if he didn't know the answer. He plugged in his scroll and started downloading everything.

Shipments of Dust to and from undisclosed locations. So they could at least keep some things off the records. Seems like a lot of Dust too. They must keep it moving. Is it because of us? The records didn't say. There were a few notes from whoever was in charge of the safe house. There wasn't much to note other than his disdain for Torchwick

"I can't believe we are working for a Human! What is the boss thinking!? We could work faster and better without his constant nagging! I'll have to ask the boss to get rid of him!"

"She denied me! That damned brat says that the human is better at this! Does she really think so low of her own soldiers!?"

"Our 'boss' is just like her parents. Weak. I'm going to send a message to Khan. She'll sort this out."

"Khan isn't even aware of the change in leadership! What is this? Why aren't our leaders communicating? Somethings wrong here. Ever since Taurus left we've been in shambles. Maybe it's time for Belladonna to see she isn't made out for leadership…"

"Someone's been targeting our bases. I'm not sure who it is, but all this extra work is killing me! I haven't been able to talk to the other cells about getting rid of Belladonna. Hopefully, I'll have a chance soon."

The notes ended there. So some don't trust Blake as a leader. Well, she is a bit too antisocial to be in charge. Still, not telling Sienna? This guy was right, something is wrong…

A loud cry echoed from outside the room as a grunt was sent flying into a wall with a resounding crash. Adam poked his head out of the room. "Hey, I'm trying to read in here!"

"Sorry!" Ruby yelled in response. Adam sighed and returned to his seat. He went looking through more of the files and his eyes widened as he realised whoever was in charge were keeping detailed logs of his interactions with other cells.

The latest few have all been received. He hasn't sent one in a few weeks. The last sent was him complaining about the extra work with moving the Dust. When had he last received orders… It was yesterday?

"Two weeks from now we shall be holding a rally for new members. Send any potential recruits to the attached location. You are required to be there as well. Failure to do so will result in punishment."

Punishment? What kind of punishment would they do just for not showing up? Interesting.

Adam copied the attachment and then deleted the message entirely. While it would be good information to give to the police, they might just end up in the way. They could always send it as an anonymous tip later if they wanted.

They had made a breakthrough and it felt good. The sounds of fighting ceased outside. Adam couldn't help the smile that came to his face. He finished copying the data and unplugged his scroll.

"Adam! How'd it go?" Ruby asked with a wave, surrounded by unconscious Faunus.

"I found a lead. We'll have to chat later. Are the others still catching up?"

"They finished up on their floors and are heading here now!" Adam nodded. "Let's finish up!" Ruby said as she dashed around the room for anything else.

Soon enough the team escaped and watched from afar as the police arrived and took the White Fang members into custody.

Another successful outing and this one more so than usual. It felt good to finally have a direction to strike.

Pyrrha smiled as she rubbed Milo clean after a long day of training. The blade glistened in the light of the JNPR dorm. The monotony of it allowed her mind to wander and let her relax.

"Hey, Pyrrha I have a question." Jaune sat down across from her.

"Of course!" She responded quickly. But what if it was too quickly! She placed her blade to the side.

"I just wanted to ask if I was the only one who thought that guy from yesterday was weird."

"Yesterday?" Pyrrha blinked, a little confused.

"You know, the guy from Mistral who challenged you and then gave up a minute into the fight?"

"Oh! Yes, that was a bit strange. I've had many forfeits over the years but never someone who had challenged me first."

"Maybe he thought you were all talk, or your talent was faked." Ren proposed as he finished cleaning the chamber of one of Stormflower.

"Maybe…"

"But isn't Pyrrha, like, suuuuuper famous in Mistral?" Nora asked as she bounced on her bed. Ren shrugged in response.

"Maybe he doesn't follow the tournament scene?" Pyrrha offered.

"Not everyone is like Jaune." Nora responded. "Most people pay attention to things like an up and coming prodigy."

"Hey!" Jaune cried as he threw a pillow at Nora, knocking her back onto the bed with a laugh. Pyrrha giggled as the two started a pillow fight, even as they dragged her and Ren into it.

Being a part of this team was more fun than she expected or even than what she could have hoped for. She wouldn't give this up for anything.

A knock on the door interrupted them. Pyrrha was still smiling when she opened it. "Oh, Adam! Are we being too loud?"

"No. I have a favour to ask of you all."

"Oh?"

"Would you all like to come take down some White Fang with us?"

A/N: Just a short one this week, but we are moving towards the paladin fight! I hope you enjoyed and I'll see you next time!