Ozpin wasn't waiting at the town gate as they arrived, the sky just starting to turn bronze behind them. But he was sitting on the porch of the town pub, looking in their direction, cane leaning on the banister beside him, as they passed through the gate.
"Well done," he said as they sat down at the table, cups of sake already in front of each of them. "We thought the Nevermore and the Death Stalker together would be more formidable, but..." he sighed. "Now I see they're perhaps more suited to entrance exams rather than exit exams..."
Qrow laughed. "Only if the students are as badass as us!" He moved to down his drink, but Tai caught his arm and glanced over to Ozpin, who held up his own cup expectantly. The rest of STRQ raised their own glasses, and waited for Ozpin to make the toast.
"In case there was any doubt, you have passed your final test without blemish, and your worth as Huntsmen has been proven without question. You have done your school proud, and I have no doubt you will continue to do so. Thus, the honor falls to me to provide you with these licenses, and your first bounty for a day's work well done. Salut, Team STRQ!"
"Salut!" They chorused, and drank simultaneously. The liquor was rich and warm, but not enough of a distraction to stop her from immediately reaching for the laminated ID card and the money Ozpin had just tossed her way on the table. The ID was not radically different from any other kind of official documentation - indeed, she was pretty sure they'd just taken her school ID photo for it. But the word "Huntress" was bold and unmistakable at the top of the card, and that was all that mattered.
Or so she thought, until she started to look at the cash.
"This is enough to by a car! A really GOOD car!" Qrow exclaimed, counting and recounting his pile. They all looked up at Ozpin, who stood with his cane, ready to leave the table, and smiled slightly.
"We do not make a habit of announcing this beforehand, but there is a special bonus paid out to the top team at the end of each year; not so much a flat fee as a multiplier for whatever their bounty is off of their final exam. And your recent bounty was quite high, given the number of Grimm we drew to your target area. So while the initial amount may be unexpected, I doubt it will be the last such fee your team earns... should you choose to stay together."
He turned and gestured towards the town gate, where other groups of Huntsmen were entering and heading towards the pub. "You were the last Beacon team this year to take your final exam, so we have taken the liberty of inviting the other successful teams here for a small celebration. Here are teams GRNT, AMTH and PERL; I think you will find there are one or two stragglers as well. Huntsman Xiao Long, a word, if I may?" He nodded to the rest of the team. "Enjoy your evening."