Ghira groaned as he sat down, Blake and Kali immediately at his side.
"Dad, what's going on?"
"Nothing egregiously terrible," Ghira rubbed his forehead. "It's just, the hospital is nearly at full capacity. Regular patients are waiting while doctors treat our miners. No dead aside from those in cave-in."
"It is an undesirable situation indeed," Kali handed a teacup to her husband from her tray. "But not unbeatable."
Blake sighed and looked out the window. It was late in the evening and the night lights of Menagerie would've looked beautiful if it wasn't for the mining incident now casting a looming atmosphere.
"Where are our guests?"
"Still in their rooms," Blake shrugged. "Seems like the incident affected them more than us. Especially Weiss Schnee."
"I'm not so sure about that," Kali muttered, both Ghira and Blake now eyeing her.
Guiltily lowering her ears, the woman admitted, "I may have overheard conversation between them, while Ruby was in miss Schnee's room."
"Kali...!" Ghira sighed in exasperation.
"What were they talking about?" Blake had a very different reaction from her father's. No doubt looking for clues or maybe ammo to use against SDC?
"Well, it's really not my place to talk about that..."
"Come on, mom," Blake urged.
"Blake, no need for that."
The girl threw a questioning look to her father who gazed forward and nodded to the door. Following the gesture, Blake saw Weiss Schnee closing the door behind her. The CEO now sported much simpler hairstyle, or rather, none. Just a let down hair.
"We will discuss your affinity for listening in later, mrs. Belladonna," Weiss grounded out, eyeing the three. "Chieftain, a word please?"
"Of course," Ghira tried his best to keep exhaustion out of his voice. "Kali, Blake, could you give us the room, please?"
"Why would we need to leave now?" Blake crossed her arms, shooting Weiss a glance. "The whole thing affected all of us, princess."
"I don't remember you being there the moment the mines went up in flames," Weiss raised an eyebrow, jerking her head to the door. Ghira also gave them a silent command with a shake of his head. Cursing under her breath, Blake followed her mother out of the room, giving Weiss a stink eye before closing the door.
"What can I do for you?"
Weiss approached the table Ghira sat at and put down a small piece of paper, folded in two. "Take a look at this."
Unfolding the paper, Ghira raised an eyebrow, "What's this?"
"Powdered Dust," Weiss sat down on the guest chair. "I believe it was used to power an IED."
"IED!?" Ghira stared at the CEO who played with her hair. "That's a little far-fetched, if I'm being honest."
"Is it?" Weiss's nice persona was nowhere to be found, now replaced with a mask of indifference and cold calculus. "Your mines don't have fine grinders of such small scale. It couldn't have come from the mines as all Dust is found in its natural crystalized state. Meaning someone had to manufacture this."
"Who would do such a thing?" Ghira leaned back, staring at the far side wall. "And why?"
"The answer is obvious," the CEO leaned back as well, her eyes drilling holes in Ghira's face. "Either an attempt of assassination or regime change. Rumors spread quickly in this day and age. Jacques Schnee has been here only once, almost two decades ago, and I doubt many people would connect the dots between him and me. The only people aware of my trip to here are you, your family and chosen individuals such as mines overseers."
Ghira had to inhale and exhale, nodding, conceding the point.
"Furthermore," Weiss's features gained an edge. "I believe that the rumor of a good arrangement between us might not be enough to quench some people's thirst for revenge against my company."
The Chieftain looked away, "Are you- are you suggesting to launch full on criminal investigation?"
"I am and nothing you say will dissuade me," Weiss's mouth twitched and Ghira could swear he saw the CEO's frown turn into a grin for a brief moment. "Besides I already have some hunches."
"And what would those hunches be?"
"I will do my own investigation while you start yours."
"So you won't tell me."
"No," Weiss shook her head. "Too many slip-ups and the bastards will slip through my fingers."
"Would you please tell me at least that my family is not on the suspect list?"
"Fret not, mr. Belladonna. They are not."
"Good… good."
"In the meantime I suggest you start searching," the CEO stood up and headed out of the office.
"Forgive me for pointing out the obvious, miss Schnee but your demeanor changed drastically," her hand rest of the door handle.
"Of course it did. I don't particularly care if my life was at risk but that incident could've gotten Ruby Rose injured or worse and I'm not going to simply take that."
The young woman left the Chieftain to ponder on the events of today, alone in silence.
Closing the door and heading down the hall, Weiss rolled her eyes.
"I know you're there, might as well come out."
Blake walked our around the corner leading to the staircase, "How did you…?"
"Being an heiress to one of the largest companies in the world brought with it a list of bonuses. Sharpening of the awareness included."
"Must've been nice, huh?"
"Well it certainly wasn't all it was cracked out to be, let me tell you," the CEO walked past the Faunus and beckoned to join her which Blake reluctantly did. The pace of the walk was slow and lazy but the constant twitching of Blake's cat ears gave her away.
"What's on your mind?" Weiss decided to play a diplomat for a bit.
"What's it to you, boss-lady?"
Well that failed spectacularly, "I know you think it's very unjust of me to be even in the same city as the people who were actually affected by what happened."
Blake shrugged, "You got the base message right."
"If you must know," Weiss gave the Faunus unamused look. "I do intend to mitigate the consequences."
"How?" Blake's doubt was very evident in her eyes.
"I have my ways but rest assured, these people won't be abandoned."
"Ever since we've met all I got from you is words," Blake narrowed her eyes as they got to their rooms. "It's high time you started taking action."
"Don't worry, I will."
"And where's your friend?" Blake saw the dial on the handle to the room of the CEO's bodyguard glare 'Locked' at her. "I assumed she'd stick to you like a bad smell."
"I've sent her out to gather some information."
"Not an easy task in our city."
"Perhaps. Good night."
The CEO nodded in farewell and went to her room, leaving Blake somewhat frustrated. One moment the Schnee girl was all open and whatnot and another she had an empathy level of a brick wall.
"Blake?"
Hearing her mother's voice, the girl sighed but did not turn around, "Yeah, mom?"
"Give it time," Kali assured. "She has a serious reason to be careful with who she divulges information to."
"Mom, dad could've been buried under a rubble in there. I think she owes us at least a bit of information. If she has any, that is."
"She does," the older cat-Faunus approached her daughter.
"Why are you so hellbent on protecting her privacy anyways?"
"Because it's a fundamental right," Kali stated and Blake grunted in response. "Go to sleep, today's been harsh on everyone."
Silently nodding the girl went to her room where the late dinner tray waited for her on the desk. Nothing fancy, just fried potatoes and chicken legs. Munching the food, Blake just couldn't get the gears in her head to stop. Everything started out so well, she thought. Well, mostly. Then the whole mines thing went off and now it felt like she's been in a fight for the rest of the day. Which she wasn't and she knew it was stupid.
Hearing a quite squeak of the windowsill, she heard someone open the window and quietly climb inside. Turning to see who it was, Blake blinked as saw Ilia dust herself off, dressed in black t-shirt and shorts with grey snickers.
"Ilia, what are you doing here?"
"Heard about the mines," Ilia quietly answered. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"And your dad?"
"He's fine too. Why?"
"No reason, hearing about the mines was just- you know," Ilia mumbled, playing with her ponytail. "Brought some memories."
"I see."
Ilia's parents were victims of cave-in in the mines of Mantle so to hear of such incident happening here? Must've been universe's cruel joke.
"Well, if you've checked up on me, I think you should go, it's pretty late."
"Can't I stay with you guys?"
"I-" Blake glanced at the wall, in the direction of the CEO's room. "Listen, the Schnee girl sorta popped off after the whole thing went down."
Ilia frowned, "Did she do something? I swear-"
"She did not," Blake hastily calmed her friend down. "She's just, well, she became very unfathomable in her behavior."
"Unfathomable?"
"Yeah, doesn't share any info she might have even though her life was also in peril and such," the cat-Faunus sighed. "You know what, screw it. You can stay in this room, okay? No wandering around like you usually do."
"Not a fan of my personal freedom being restricted to this room," Ilia snickered.
"Well, take it or leave it," Blake answered lightly in return, happy for some mood shifts.
"Okay," Ilia immediately jumped on Blake's bed, taking off her footwear. "I'm not the one to turn down some cuddling."
"Hardass act certainly did not convey that," Blake dryly said.
Weiss couldn't sleep. At all. She may have put up a brave face for Ruby and the Belladonnas but truth be told, it may have been her own version or "Fight, freeze or flight" response. Using stress from various situations to fuel herself was nothing new to the CEO but this certainly took the cake as the biggest stress-inducing mess she had to deal with so far.
So now, here she laid, hardly undressed, staring at the ceiling. Ruby came back with some tidbits of information from her scouting and now rested in her room. She thought out as much as she could, the rest would be up to Ruby once she wakes up.
"What a drag..." Weiss groused and rolled onto her side, facing the wall and closing her eyes. "Winter's or mom's resistance to taking over as CEO makes much more sense now."
The house was dead silent and the one only occasional noises were people passing by under her window. So imagine her surprise when Weiss heard floorboards creaking in the hallway outside. Just when she was about to slowly drift off… Weiss quietly grunted and rolled again, sliding out of the bed. The creaking stopped. Judging by the abruption, whoever was outside was acutely aware of their screwup. Weiss stood still as a statue, waiting if they would move again.
When they didn't, Weiss scoffed and devised an admittedly moronic plan, remembering one of Ruby's stories of how she and Yang would trick their father into thinking they were asleep. Bending down and sliding her hands into her platforms, the CEO applied just enough pressure and started "walking" towards the bed. Grabbing her previous suit she wore in afternoon, Weiss put them in the bed and turned the pillow parallel to the wall, covering them with the blanket. Slapping the blanket and the pillow for most effect and noise, Weiss reached to the case by the bed and felt for something metallic inside, taking it with and quietly moving back to the chair by the desk, turning it to the door. Slowly seating herself, Weiss waited, crossing her arms to conceal the tremors in her fingers.
The creaking resumed, moving from right to left, from Blake's room towards her own, it seemed. Slow, deliberate steps. While waiting, Weiss took time to think. Who would be wandering in the house this deep into the night? She did not know the habits of the Belladonnas, so all her concern could be unfounded. But if it wasn't them or Ruby, who was a deep sleeper by nature, then it left only one other option. Calling the mysterious person right now would either spook them or force them to come out and face her. If they do get spooked, it would lead to them changing their strategy later on.
"Potential trouble should be nipped in the bud," her father's words echoed in her head. So she kept waiting.
The noises stopped right beside her door, "No doubt checking if the lights are on in here."
The jitters flown through her in force and Weiss found it hard to keep her eyes on anything other than the door.
One slow knock, then another. CEO's eye twitched, all this patience game was starting to run her nerves into the ground. Staying still, Weiss waited until the door handle turned and jerked slightly. The door was locked so the CEO assumed she would be fine but could not afford to be careless, for all she knew, the intruder would lockpick the door. The creaking returned, now slowly drifting away back where it came from. Weiss released the breath she hadn't noticed she held in. The noises subsided until they were gone completely.
"Well, now I won't be able to sleep for sure," Weiss muttered, uncrossing her arms. "Thanks Menagerie."
"Mornin'," Ruby mumbled, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
"Good morning," Ghira nodded, drinking his tea and reading a newspaper.
"Good morning Ruby," Kali gently grabbed Ruby's shoulders and led her to the table, sitting her down. "Where's miss Schnee?"
"She said she'll sleep in for a bit more," Ruby did not voice her friend's appearance when she told her that. "Where's Blake?"
"Blake is out in the city already," Kali smiled. "She's such an owl usually. Maybe we'll need to invite more people of your standing if it gets her to wake up so early."
The Chieftain laughed and Ruby awkwardly grinned. The levity was strange though.
"How's the hospital doing?" the bodyguard inquired as Kali set down a plate with salad in front of her.
"Most injured workers are already at homes with their families," Ghira's smiled vanished. "Very few dead. Less than a dozen."
"That's good, isn't it?"
"Would've been great if there were none," Ghira said morosely. "But we can't ask for anything more, really."
"So, what happens now?"
"Can't say. Some of the miners are still working on the cave-in."
Ruby poked her salad with antique fork, her thoughts wandering back to yesterday, her checking in on Weiss after they came back from the mines. Even though CEO told everyone not to disturb her, she knew Ruby would come by sooner or later so she did not react sharply when she did. The girl did not even need all of her fingers on one hand to count how many times she saw her friend angry and yesterday was one of these times. The slight narrowing of those blue eyes, small crease of her brows and frowning lips.
"Not to be even bigger stick in the mud," Kali sat beside Ruby. "But how's that going to affect our new deal with SDC? That's a big hit to the bottom line."
"Most of our officials have agreed to the terms but now that the mines are closed for the foreseeable future," Ghira rubbed his brows. "We've lost one of the biggest export incomes for the island. Now we have to rely solely on the fishing and the greenhouses."
That was bad but Ruby felt that Weiss would not leave the things as they are right now. The calls that she made yesterday were probably her trying to figure out how to get the mines operational ASAP. That's going to cause even bigger ripple through Atlas's economy, Ruby figured, seeing that Weiss came here without consulting with most financial advisers and ever her brother. Yang would've been impressed with the level to which Weiss winged this whole thing.
"Don't worry, mr. Belladonna," Ruby offered a smirk. "I have a feeling our boss won't let you fend for yourselves."
"She has no obligation to us," Ghira raised an eyebrow.
The girl smiled, "Actually she does have an obligation, your mines are contracted by SDC so she would not skirt the responsibility."
"That's a lot of deal with for such a young soul," Kali said, Ghira nodding along. Ruby had to concur, Weiss had moved to take the place of her father right after finishing business and law classes without much time to rest. She's been CEO only for few months, maybe even less. Ruby could only hope her white-haired friend would learn as quickly as possible to mitigate any unnecessary stress that come with the job.
"Anyways," Kali interrupted her musings. "Let's finish the food."
Quickly consuming the salad, which wasn't her favorite food by any means but slighting the hospitality would be just plain wrong, Ruby bowed lightly. The married Faunus bowed in return and proceeded to finish their breakfast. Quickly washing the plate, Ruby again bid farewell and returned to her room, thinking to go and wake Weiss up but decided against it.
Blake sat on the beach-side bench, dressed in simple top with long shorts and sandals, looking over the laguna. She did not get to sleep much. Ilia liked to kick in her sleep. Grunting from feeling useless, Blake stood up and started pacing on the beach sands. So, what they have now: SDC big wig comes to update the contract, then the mines blow up but the CEO and her little guardian were unscaithed. Then the Schnee goes and holes up in 'her' room and spends few hours speaking with someone, refuses to spill the beans of any kind. Blake's father also kept his mouth zipped. Could she have intimidated him? Maybe, but her father was not the one to bend the knee easily so it had to be substantial.
What if the events of SDC coming here and the incident directly linked? What if the CEO wanted to create a new leverage and perhaps keep Menagerie down even further? No, no no. But… maybe?
Biting her lip Blake stopped and glared at the sunrise as if it would provide the answers if she stared at it long enough.
"What are you doing up so early?"
Blake's whole body jolted from the sudden voice behind her back. The sound of waves and muffling nature of the soft sand of Menagerie beaches masked any kind noise from the footsteps.
Whirring around Blake saw Ilia quietly strutting towards her, "Lord, Ilia!"
"Did I get ya?"
"No, I just decided to play a schizophrenic," Blake snorted. "What are you doing here?"
"Well when I woke up you were nowhere to be found," Ilia shrugged. "Thus began my quest of finding you."
"Lovely," the cat-Faunus drawled. "Where's Adam?"
"I dunno, I'm not his secretary, dude."
Shoving her friend back, Blake smirked, "You've ruined my musings and now you're going to pay."
"In what way?" Ilia cackled and turned around, letting Blake push her from the back.
"By going to the market and visiting the families of the workers."
"Oh?"
Blake noticed a small break in the chameleon's voice but did not call it out, "Yes. We're still in damage control mode."
"… Lead the way then."
After visiting two families which was somewhat exhausting, Ilia and Blake made their way to the market where one more family member of one of the miners worked.
"Hello?" Blake knocked on the stand's counter with built-in room entrance to which was covered by a big cloth with Ilia at her side. "Anyone here?"
"Yes! Excuse me," older lady, a reptile-Faunus with slits for pupils, walked out of the back, dropping the cloth behind her and stopped in her tracks, surprise in her tired eyes. "Oh. What would the Chieftain's daughter need from an old hag like me?"
"We," Blake nudged Ilia. "Are going around and surveying the families of the injured miners. I believe you have a son that worked in the main-branch mines?"
"Yes… yes, Cadmium was on shift when the mines came down," the old trader solemnly nodded.
"How is he?"
"At home, recovering. Broken arm and three cracked ribs," the woman recalled. "Not the worst, all things considered."
"Did he-," Blake hesitated, noticing symphathetic wince from Ilia. "Did he tell you if there were any suspicious activity before the collapse?"
The woman tapped her finger on the counter, "No, I wouldn't say so. But maybe his co-worker and girlfriend, Azure might've. Said she told him she saw something happening deeper in the tunnels so she went to investigate it."
"And where does she live?" Blake questioned. "Was she hurt in the collapse as well?"
"She was but from what Cad said, it wasn't too serious. She lives in northern Nocturnal District, if I recall," the vendor chuckled. "Good kid, maybe a little bit audacious."
"Thank you," Blake jerked her head to Ilia, signaling her it was time to leave. "I wish your son fast recovery."
"Thanks, dear. Be safe out there."
Most Faunus in Nocturnal District usually were asleep from late morning to deep evening so it was sort of awkward to bang on people's doors even though it was broad daylight.
"Do we even know if she's awake at this time?" Ilia asked, walking in tow with Blake.
"One way to find out."
Locating the house of their person of interest, the two girls walked up the stairs to a two-story high building, colored in dark-blue colors like many buildings in Nocturnal District were. Knocking twice on the door, Blake and Ilia waited. No answer.
"Maybe she's not home?" Ilia shrugged.
"In daytime?" Blake stared at her friend. "In Nocturnal District?"
"… Yeah, fair enough."
Their talk was interrupted by the muffled voice coming from the other side of the door.
"… Yeah...?"
Blake straight away heard notes of nervousness in the voice, "Hello, Azure?"
"That's me," Azure confirmed. "And you are?"
"Blake Belladonna, me and my friend are investigating the circumstances around the mines incident," Blake explained, glancing at the unsure Ilia. "We've come from mother of your boyfriend, Cadmium. She said you might have some idea of what went down."
"Hm… I do… maybe..."
"Can we come in, please?" Blake asked. "It's not exactly the type of conversation to have on different sides of the front door."
"… Sure…" Azure opened the door. "Just be aware, I have some guests..."
Azure was a short-haired schatten fox-Faunus, not much older than Blake herself, with the dark-brown fluffy tail, dressed in a simple dark-red summer dress with flip-flops on. Several light cuts dotted her face but otherwise she looked fine.
"We won't cause any trouble," Blake promised and the two entered the house. The house was nicely decorated, wooden panels on the walls, stone floor, all autumn-colored with furniture colored opposite. Light-grey, to be exact. The woman led the pair into the living room.
"Oh, hello Blake and… Ilia, was it?"
The two stopped dead in their tracks, their eyes falling upon Weiss Schnee and Ruby Rose sitting in the guest chairs around small coffee table. Rose was quietly drinking what seemed to be milk and mock-saluted. Schnee did not drink anything, instead keeping her hands on her thighs. Both dressed pretty much the same they were yesterday.
"And what are you two doing here?" Blake couldn't quite keep her tone leveled. Azure took the empty mug from Ruby who thanked her, going to the kitchen to put it on the sink.
"We were having a conversation before you two came in," Weiss tilted her head. "You?"
"We-," Blake felt Ilia come closer to her, casting a sideways glance, she saw the chameleon not taking her narrowed eyes off the CEO. "We were also looking to have a talk with Azure."
"What a coincidence," Weiss flippantly stated. "Feel free to join us."
"Shouldn't Azure decide with whom she wants to talk to?" Ilia crossed her eyes.
The SDC director looked at the fox-Faunus in question who shrugged a little. Azure pointed to the empty couch on the other side of the coffee table, "You two can sit yourselves there."
"And please sit yourself as well, ms. Arashi," Weiss watched the pair stiffly take their seats. "Now, where were we?"
Azure took the seat on the far-side chair, fidgeting with the ends of her dress and heaving a heavy sigh, "Well it wasn't my shift that day so I came to check up on Cad, my boyfriend. I bring him lunch whenever I have days off and he has work to do."
Weiss nodded, "Go on."
"He was working in the second zone yesterday so I came by and noticed some guy wearing far cleaner uniform," Azure scratched her cheek. "Plus he had way more padding under it all and wore what looked like blast shields over his face along with the hardhat."
Blake tried to keep an eye on both Azure and Schnee at the same time but seeing that Ilia's eyes were trained on the CEO the whole time, she diverted her gaze back to the fox-Faunus. She would ask Ilia later if she noticed anything off about the Schnee.
"But that's not what was most surprising," Azure's eyes trailed to the wall behind Weiss as she reminisced. "It was a small container that he was carrying deeper into the mines, also way too clean for it come from the mines."
"Was he a Faunus as well?"
Blake's arm automatically twitched towards Ilia who was about to say something. Feeling the touch, Ilia looked back at the cat-Faunus with somewhat annoyed stare. Blake's eyes conveyed a simple message: 'Shut up and don't do anything stupid.' Ilia quitely huffed and complied.
"Yes, I think so," the worker replied to Weiss's question. "He did not have any extra appendages so I think his traits were hidden by the clothes. But he did have tiger ears under the hardhat if memory serves me right."
"Hold on," Blake cut in. "Tiger ears? Yellow-ish?"
Azure looked at her in surprise, "Uh, ye- yes."
Weiss looked at the cat-Faunus with an inquisitive eyebrow. Blake did not intend to reveal her hunches but… maybe she was wrong? Could she afford to to be looked at in that light by the SDC? On the other hand, who cares? But if her intuition is wrong, then she'd put an innocent soul to an axe.
"There was a tiger-Faunus," Blake started, not locking eyes with the CEO's and earning a surprised stare from Ilia. "At the Beachside District. He and his buddy were discussing the visit from SDC and-"
"We need to go to him," Weiss interjected and literally everyone's heads snapped to ogle at the CEO. "What? He's our next possible lead."
"Who do you think you-" Blake shoved Ilia before she could run her mouth any more.
"What's your reasoning?"
"With the two of you, ms Arashi here and me along with Ruby, the guy will crack rather quickly," Weiss reasoned and added just before Blake protested. "If he is involved."
God damn it, this Schnee girl is all over the place. One moment she's passive and the next she's prancing through houses of suspects. Blake internally screamed. Noticing that Ruby idly cracked her knuckles and neck, Blake actually felt a wave of panic shoot through her. Whether Blake liked it or not, these two were now directly associated with the Belladonnas, courtesy of rumors. If this girl starts aggressively interrogating people it would only cause harm.
"Okay, but no violence," Blake pointedly looked at the bodyguard who just smirked.
"It's not me you have to worry about."
"Pardon?"
"Let's get a move on, shall we?" Weiss quietly tapped her foot.
"Um," Azure chimed in, tail twitching. "Do I really have to go with you?"
Weiss's brows shot up as if it was a dumbest question she had ever heard and already opened her mouth to respond.
"No you don't have to," Ilia replied, glaring at the Schnee girl.
"It's a choice," Blake added, discretely shaking her head to the CEO. Looking back to the fox-Faunus, Weiss remained silent before reluctantly nodding.
"It's a choice," the CEO amended. "We won't force you to. Tell me on thing, ms Arashi."
"Yeah?"
"Do you wish for me to deliver the full punishment to those who hurt your loved one?"
"What kind of question even is that?" Azure frowned, tail shooting upright. "Of course I do. But it's more than just me. There are many more out there like me."
"Then I shall."
Weiss jerked her head to Ruby and lightly clapped Blake on the back which was very out of character. They made their way to the front door, leaving somewhat shocked Ilia and Blake behind, "Good day to you."
Azure only nodded and turned to the two Faunus girls, "Well, aren't you two going with them? I doubt they'll find that guy without you, Blake Belladonna."
"Uh, yes, yeah we're coming with them," Blake dragged Ilia along. "Have a nice day, Azure."
"Same to you."
Walking just few meters behind the CEO and her friend, Blake and Ilia kept their eyes on the citizens passing by who kept glancing their way.
"If we are this grouped up, the tiger guy might slip if he has anyone watching the streets near Beachside District," Blake thought out loud. "Plus the fact that I was the one who scolded him just before the mines collapsed."
"Then maybe we should split up from these two," Ilia proposed, pointing at the pair ahead. "We go ahead and question him without fuss."
"Hm, maybe."
"Come on, Blake," Ilia urged. "We two aren't nearly as sus as this boss-bitch and her friend."
"Yeah," Blake agreed. "Okay."
Falling back a few more meters, the pair dashed to the right sliding between two houses. Ruby glanced behind her back and stopped.
"Uh, Weiss?"
Looking at her Scroll, Weiss absentmindedly replied without stopping, "Yes?"
"Our two guides are gone."
"Let them be."
Ruby looked at her boss, flabbergasted, "What…?"
"They told us where to find our target anyways," Weiss showed her Scroll, with navigator app and map of Kuo Kuana city.
"That is awfully irresponsible, especially for you," Ruby noted, catching up.
"Is it?" Weiss chuckled lightly. "We'll see."
"The fishing huts at the port are around the right corner, two buildings ahead," Blake panted, running full-throttle with Ilia trailing her.
"Let's hope the guy is at work, yeah?" Ilia joked, also slowly losing her breath.
Nodding, Blake accelerated her sprint which caused Ilia to curse outwardly, "Oh are you kidding me with that shit!? Blake! We're way ahead, don't rush ahead like your life depends on it!"
"Can't let the guy slip if he is involved!" Blake replied. "Let alone let Schnee get her hands on him! This would even set worse precedent!"
"Lynch him ourselves?"
"What!? No!" Blake cast an outraged stare at her friend. "We have police force, you know!"
"Yeah yeah! I get it!" Ilia defensively flailed her arms. "Can't even make jokes around you!"
"Well this topic is not the base of jokes!"
"Blake chill!"
In their back-and-fourth the pair almost missed a corner and bee-lined to the huts. The port kept working as usual so Blake had hope. Approaching the needed hut, the two did not see the tiger-Faunus anywhere around.
"Maybe get inside the hut?" Ilia suggested.
Blake stepped to the door and knocked. No response. Knocked once more. No response again.
"Oh for fu-!" Ilia pushed Blake aside and kicked the door down.
The hut was a workplace, Blake surmised. Different tables were littered with fish bodies, both gutted and not. Various blades, saws and towels hung from walls.
"What's the big idea!?"
The voice glowered behind them. Turning around they saw a shark-Faunus, the Faunus that Blake saw yesterday with the tiger-Faunus. Man was dressed in light clothes with industrial apron over them. Dirty-white short hair and a small goatee.
"Oh!" the man shrunk slightly at the sight of Blake. "Uh. How- how can I help you?"
"Sorry about the door," Ilia lightly apologized.
"We're here to talk."
"A- about what?"
"We were hoping to speak to your colleague, from yesterday?"
"Krov? He did not come to work today," the shark-Faunus huffed, his nervousness forgotten at the mention of the man. "Had to do his fish for him."
"Any idea where he is?"
"Probably home. Uh, I'm on my break right now," the man scratched his temple. "Would you like some tea?"
"No, I think we should be on our-"
"If you're offering," Ilia cut Blake off and threw her a meaningful look. "What is your name?"
"Nikko," the man bowed, flashing his sharp teeth in uncertain smile. "At your service."
"Lead the way, Nikko."
The man took off his gloves and apron, throwing them onto nearby barrel and leading the two to a summer table with chairs beside the hut with electric kettle and a decanter. Hopping onto one of the chairs, the man poured out scalding hot drink out of the kettle into three mugs.
"Help yourselves," the man nodded. "So, what exactly do you need from Krov?"
"We are investigating the events and people with possible connections to the events of yesterday," Ilia decided to be blunt, taking the mug and offering another to Blake.
"Wait," Nikko stopped mid-drink. "You're telling me Krov might've been involved?"
"It's a theory worth testing out."
"I knew he was a bit of a hot-head but damn-"
"Let's," Blake stopped the man from spiraling. "Let's not get too carried away here. Like my friend here said, just a theory."
Nikko hummed and took a sip of tea, "What makes you think he was involved?"
"Your conversation the other day."
"Really? That's not really solid basis for such suspicion," Nikko tilted his head from side to side. "If you don't mind me saying."
"I realize that."
Ilia drank her tea, keeping an eye on their surroundings.
"Let's think back," Blake crossed her legs. "Did Krov leave yesterday after I left?"
"Uh, no, actually he came back from his break just ten minutes before you came," Nikko shrugged. "We were on break and he said he had to take a leak or something."
"I see," Blake swirled her tea. "How long have you known him?"
"For almost five years now," Nikko smiled at the memory. "He was my senior here. Would joke that he'd eat me if I slacked off."
"Did he seem particularly interested in economics of the island?"
"Why of course he was," Nikko answered as if it were obvious. "I don't remember anyone who wasn't at that time."
"Why do you think he was interested in such topics?"
"His family lived abroad, in Mistral," Nikko explained. "He needed to make enough money for himself and some to send back to them. You see, when Ghira Belladonna stepped as a Chieftain, he forwarded a bill that would equalize the prices of export of different goods."
"To lay foundation for more diverse and stable economy," Blake added.
"Yeah but that also meant that the export rate of say, fish, canned and otherwise would thin out even if slightly," Nikko made a point. "Krow did not like that idea."
"His own income would suffer," Blake concluded. "How did he react to that?"
"Poorly," Nikko sighed. "I had to calm him down and dissuade him from leaving, seeing that finding a suitable job takes time."
"He stayed, and…?"
"The income stabilized about half-a-year later and he seemed to simmer down a bit."
"That alone doesn't explain his obvious distaste of my father."
"Sometime after, his mother died from lung cancer," Nikko shook his head. "That messed him up. It was possible to remove the tumors on infancy stages but the surgery cost was through the roof."
"He couldn't provide enough by that time," Ilia finished the thought. Tea long abandoned.
"Yeah..." Nikko silently prayed. "It was inevitable and just plain unfortunate in my opinion. Sometimes bad things just happen... and he simply couldn't move on."
Blake had to think everything over, her own drink also resting on the table. Could it be…?
"Does he..." Blake had to push the rest of the sentence out. "Does he hold my father responsible?"
"It would seem that way," Nikko confirmed. For Blake it was like something out of sci-fi novel where main character's perception of known reality just breaks from being presented evidence of alternate versions of himself or maybe the concept of deterministic universe where no matter what they would do, the events will happen one way or the other.
"Hey."
Blake jumped out of her skin at Ilia's voice, "Y- yeah?"
"We should go," Ilia offered and turned to Nikko. "Where's Krov's house located?"
"In the main Residential District. 2nd Khan Street."
"Thanks, and sorry again for the door, man."
"No worries, I'll set it right in and it'll be like new."
Ilia helped Blake get off her seat and gently ushered her away, "Well, good luck to ya."
Blake remained silent and kept steady pace with Ilia on her left, keeping an eye on her.
The two stood in front of a one-stories house. Blake's eyes were unfocused, still deeply swimming in thoughts so Ilia had to take it from here. It was likely that Blake was hesitant to talk to anyone who hated her father this much. Stepping up to the door, she opted to kick it instead of knocking.
"Hello?" Ilia crossed her arms. "Anyone in there?"
Thud.
Ilia's eyes widened and Blake's head snapped in the direction of the sudden sound as if someone fell from the stairs.
"Hey! You okay in there?"
"Who is that!?" muffled voice flew through the door.
"It would be cool if you opened the door first, dude," Ilia stared crossly at the wooden obstacle, arms still crossed. "You know, like normal people?"
"That's not good enough reason, ya dumbass!"
"Okay, man we just want to talk," Ilia tried to sound sincere. "Really."
"That's even more suspicious!"
Rolling her eyes, conflict now replaced with anger, Blake ran up and kicked the door, opening it wide open with a loud crash, "I'm sick of this…!"
"Blake!" Ilia's jaw dropped. "Dude!"
"What…!?"
"That's break-in and entry right there."
"I'm kind of over the laws at the moment."
Letting it go, Ilia took in the surroundings. Insides of house were… leaving a lot to be desired, honestly. Cracked wall tiles and scratched up floorboards.
"Krov!" Ilia called out, seeing that the owner of the voice was nowhere to be found. "Come out! We don't want to hurt you, if that's what scares you!"
Silence. Huffing, Blake stomped into the house, checking the kitchen to the left of front door and living room to the right. Ilia treaded lightly, using the loud noises from Blake to mask her own. Checking the bathroom she found nothing. Only one place to search then. Locked bedroom door.
Beckoning and showing index finger on her lips, Ilia ordered Blake to follow her. Gathering her strength, the chameleon-Faunus synced her stance with Blake's and both rammed the door, almost tearing it off the hinges. Steadying themselves, the two found no-one inside. Half-packed suitcase full of clothes… and open window.
"Well shit!" Ilia slapped her forehead, glancing at the closet. "And he has the hardhat and uniform!"
Blake wordlessly dove out of the window and Ilia ran back and out through the front door. Skirting the house she saw a certain tiger-Faunus legging it through the bushes of small park near the line of houses and Blake tailing him. Sprinting, Ilia caught to Blake who was was laser-focused on Krov's back.
"Krov! Would you stop please!?" Ilia yelled out. The man was not faster than them but he was further away.
"It's useless Ilia…!" Blake raised her voice. "We just have to catch him!"
"Which doesn't seem-!"
Ilia's words died in her throat as Krov got clotheslined by an arm shooting from the bushes to the right.
"Ack!" Krov was now on the ground, coughing and gasping. "What-!? What the-!?"
The question was interrupted by more coughing. Ilia and Blake caught up and looked at the squirming man.
"I have-! I have to agree with the cat here!" Ilia had to cough too as she gasped for air.
"It's a simple tactic."
The two whirred around to see Weiss Schnee approaching, look of subdued satisfaction plastered on her face. Glancing at each other in bewilderment, the two then noticed Ruby crawling out of the hedge, mumbling 'Ow,' and shaking her hand.
"Yang made it look so easy and painless," Ruby grumbled, rubbing her wrist.
"How did you-?" Words failed Blake in that moment.
"Let's not waste our time with irrelevant questions," Weiss frowned, looking down at Krov who by now more or less recovered. "Do you know who I am?"
"Sure I do," Krov sneered. "You're spawn of that-"
The rest of the words were silenced by Weiss's foot on the man's throat. Blake and Ilia moved to interfere but were stopped by Ruby planting herself in front of them. The look on the young girl's face told them they'd have to actually fight her to get to the CEO and the fisherman. Now groaning and catching oxygen with his mouth, the man squirmed once more.
"I'm going to ask you one question," Weiss said, looking Krov straight int the eyes. "Will you talk here like a civil person or do I have to drag you to your house and resort to… less polite methods?"
Wide-eyed Faunus nodded profusely and Weiss took off her foot, deliberately slow. Ruby lightly pushed Blake and Ilia back and kept them at arm's reach.
"Now then," Weiss crouched beside the fisherman who was now on his knees, her eyes locked with his the entire time. "Where were you yesterday between 4 and 4:30PM?"
"Uh, I was at the port with my buddy..." Krov turned away from Weiss's inquisitive stare. "We were on break..."
"Really now?" Weiss's frown turned into a smirk. "Some little birds told me you were at the mines in that time. Why are you lying to me?"
"W- what!?" Krov fell back on his ass. "I swear I'm not lying!"
"Then why do you have almost sparkling new hardhat and miner uniform in your house?"
Ilia and Blake stared at each other in pure shock. How did she...?
"How do you-" Krov realized his mistake far too late, judging by the CEO's smirk growing wider and her brows lowering even further. "I mean- I don't know what you're talking about."
"Too late. Can't weasel your way out of this one," Schnee stood up. "Ruby, would you kindly go to his house and search his belongings?"
"Eh, sure," Ruby kicked the fisherman for good measure. "Be right back."
Weiss did not stop watching Krov even as Blake and Ilia called out for her.
"Hey, princess!" Blake squinted at the CEO. "How did you get all this information?"
"Yeah, we weren't even with you," Ilia put her hands on her hips.
"All in due time," Weiss waved them off. "You better keep your eyes on this scumbag."
Krov glared at her but the Schnee was like impenetrable wall, tapping her foot and waiting for Ruby. Few minutes later Ruby showed up with a duffel bag and emptied it, throwing out all contents within on the ground in front of them. And indeed there laid the hardhat and uniform.
"Oh look," Ruby put on rubber gloves and fake-cheered, picking up one more item. "A small face-shield, effective against flames and explosions in your mug!"
All four looked at the Faunus who was now just completely blanking, "It's- it's not mine, I- I swear! A friend of mine asked me to keep it safe until he returned back from the trip abroad!"
"Now that's just a plain lie," Weiss shook her head like a disappointed mother. "I'm afraid you've made your bed, sir."
"We need to get him to the precinct," Blake rubbed her eyes, cat-ears drooping.
"Of course the daughter of our o' so illustrous leader is in bed with the SDC," Krov's fear was temporarily replaced with bitter anger.
"If you mouth off again," Weiss warned and flicker her wrist to Ruby who was more interested in inspecting the hardhat and the face-shield. "She will break your legs."
"You- she- you wouldn't dare!" Krov backed up against the bushes. "That's an assault!"
"Let me remind you who I am," Weiss broadened her shoulders. "I am the director of one of the most influential companies in the whole wide world. If I want to bury you, I will. It's the least you deserve for what you did."
Krov shut his mouth, teeth clicking. Blake and Ilia were stunned and had to pick up their jaws off the ground. Weiss Schnee was so openly threatening to destroy someone's life even though this is not how the things were done nowadays.
"Blake, can you call the police?" Weiss glanced at her.
"… Yes, I can," Blake reached for her Scroll.
"Are you sure it's okay?" Ilia whispered to her in doubt.
"We don't have much choice, really," Blake cast one last look of pity before leaving the area to call the police.
"Ilia."
Ilia looked at the CEO who had a pensive look on her face, "… Yeah?"
"Thank you for your help."
"You still owe us explanation of how you got ahead of us."
"I am aware."
Ah, writing longer chapters again. Funny how it feels like it's been a lifetime since I did that.
