Ruby immediately headed to Weiss' mansion, Yang and Blake having arrived ahead of time as soon as they heard about what had happened.

'What the hell does she want?' Yang angrily blurted, her fists clenched tightly in frustration.

'I… I don't know… if it's about money, we can easily pay, but she hasn't made her demands yet…'

It was heartbreaking to watch Weiss, the girl who had grown much more confident and sociable over the years to be cowering like this out of anxiety. The fear of losing a sibling forever was something that no person should have to go through. Ruby knew this firsthand, having a similar experience with her mother. She felt as though she was watching herself from all those years ago, when she had lost her mother.

'Mom…' Ruby muttered to herself, a single teardrop rolling down her cheek as she tried not to cry.

'Mommy! Mommy, don't leave!'

'Ruby, stay inside the carriage! Don't come out here!'

'Mommy… I'm scared…'

The fire that swallowed her village was still fresh in her mind. A failed attempt at a settlement outside of the four major kingdoms, it was where Ruby had lived with her mother for the first 6 years of her life. When the Grimm overran the village, it was during the Vytal festival, meaning the vast majority of the Hunters and Huntresses had gone to watch it live. There were a few that stayed, and a handful of soldiers tasked with defending the village, but it was insurmountable odds they faced. An endless horde of Grimm, all ripping and tearing their way into the village whichever way they could… blood was shed, and the sound of screams filled the air. Even some of the Hunters fell in battle, most of them being eaten whilst still alive, not even given the mercy of death before the Grimm set upon them. That was when Summer decided to stay behind to allow the civilians to escape. Ruby resisted of course, but she was forced onto a carriage nonetheless. She still remembered the sight of her mother's back like that, her shoulders tensed up with her weapon in hand. She remembered the last words her mother ever spoke to her.

'I love you, Ruby. When you grow up, be happy, alright? I'll… I'll miss you, Ruby.'

'Mommy…'

'Go, now!' Summer called to the carriage driver.

And just like that Ruby was torn from her mother, forced to watch as she fought wave after wave of Grimm with no end in sight.

In the end, aside from those who had evacuated on carriages and even after an extensive search of the surrounding areas, not a single survivor was found. Not even a body. Every last person was dead. The project was called a complete failure, and no attempt had been made since to create a new settlement which brought her back to what she had been told the previous day.

That's right… Blake mentioned there was going to be a new settlement attempt soon, didn't she…?

Ruby shuddered at the thought. She hadn't thought much of it yesterday, but now with that vivid memory of her mother fresh in her mind she felt sick just thinking about it.

What if I move there? If the same thing happens… will I go the exact same way as my mother?

She was roused from her daydream by the ringing of a phone. The four girls looked at each other before Blake nodded at Weiss, prompting her to answer.

'H-hello…?'

'Five seconds,' a warped, inhuman voice answered. It was most definitely a voice changer of some kind, one that made her voice unrecognisable.

'I'm sorry?'

'That's how long it took you to pick up the phone. I sure hope you weren't communicating with the police. You see, I don't like the police all that much. I'd sure hate it if something were to happen to little Winter here, and I have a feeling she might get hurt if the police get involved.'

'U-understood… but… may I ask what it is you want?'

'I see. Straight to business, huh? Very well. It's quite simple, actually.'

The next few words sent ice down Weiss' spine.

'You want what?'

She needed confirmation that the wild request was indeed real, that it was not just a mere fabrication of her worried mind.

'You should learn to listen. I don't like repeating myself. Keep that in mind. What I want, Weiss, is for the entire Schnee Dust Company's wealth be changed into stocks. More specifically, the stocks of the Wirtschaft Corporation. Do that for me, and I promise your sister will be returned safe and sound.'

With that, Benihime hung up.

'Wait!'

But Weiss was too late. When she tried redialling, she was met with a number that was out of service.

'What did she say?' Ruby asked, keen to get more information on this 'Benihime.'

'Well, she wants all of the Schnee fortune investing into stocks at the Wirtschaft Corporation, and she said if we get the police involved my sister will get hurt. I… I don't know what to do… I can't just give up everything my parents have worked so hard to achieve, but this is my sister we're talking about! She's my only sister…'

It was clear that the stress was taking an immense toll on Weiss, the poor girl blubbering in confusion. She didn't know what Benihime hoped to gain from this, or why her family was being targeted.

'Do you guys mind if I head out for a while?' Ruby asked, the three of them giving consent to it.

There are a few things I need to check out. Think, Ruby. What do you know so far?

One: Benihime fears the police force. That much is obvious, what with her demanding them not to get involved. She knows they can catch her, so she wants them to stay out of this. It's a good thing Winter's disappearance hasn't been made public yet, or else they would be going out of their way to find her right now.

Two: Benihime is operating from somewhere that has at least some access to power. She might be using a cell phone, but it needs charging every now and then. She has to be somewhere around Vale too, as they weren't able to build a lot of radio towers across the continent due to the concentration of Grimm, so the reception wouldn't be very good.

Three: Benihime must have some knowledge of the stock market. But why invest the Schnee Corporations fortune into another company?

That third point was something Ruby intended to find out soon. Using the dustnet, she looked up the details of the Wirtschaft Corporation, and the results made everything crystal clear.

'Oh… I get it now.'

That particular company had had a rather… predictable run in recent months. The stocks rose and fell almost exactly the same amount at the same intervals. Within the next two weeks, according to that trend, those stocks would plummet once more. Everything the Schnee family invests would be worthless afterwards.

'She isn't trying to make Wirtschaft richer. She wants to make the Schnee's poorer,' Ruby said to herself. With this new information, Benihime's goals became the tiniest bit clearer. The Schnee's are a huge dust manufacturer, so let's see… dust is mainly used for energy and…'

The answer hit her right at that moment.

'Energy and weaponry. Oh my god. Is she planning to…?'

No. Ruby pushed the thought aside, not wanting to imagine the outcome of if Ruby's statement was correct. When her phone rang, she was not surprised to see that Weiss was the caller.

'Did something happen?'

'Ruby, please come quick! It's Winter!'

Not even hearing the rest of Weiss' sentence, she immediately got up and sprinted out the door all the way to the Schnee mansion, her semblance carrying her there in no time at all.

'What happened?!' she blurted as she ran through the doors, Weiss crying and holding out a cell phone that she had in her hand.

'This… this just c-came in a text…'

Weiss looked about ready to pass out. Looking down at the photo, it was a picture of Winter's pale face, her cheeks stained with tears and her mouth duct taped shut. She was tied up, and there was a television behind her with a woman slapping a man on it.

'Turn on the TV,' Ruby told Yang as she looked the photo over again. 'Channel 5.'

There was a movie playing, a drama between two young lovers who both cheated on each other and attempt to reconcile with the help of counselling. It was the same movie as the one depicted in the photograph.

'This was taken a few minutes ago. The TV is playing the same movie that's airing right now. This is her way of saying Winter is safe, at least for now.'

Ruby contemplated the information she had found in her head, before finally deciding to speak her mind.

'Weiss, this is gonna be a bit difficult to swallow, but try to stay calm, alright?'

'What is it, Ruby?'

'You mustn't give in to Benihime. Reject her proposal.'

Weiss gave her the look Ruby had expected. It was one that read 'are you insane?'

'What…? If I reject it, then…'

'Who's to say she won't kill your sister anyway? Think about it, as soon as you invest that money Benihime's job is done. She could take a picture of your sister, send it to you to convince you she's safe and then kill her. By the time you find out it'll be too late.'

'What do you mean, 'too late?' I can just withdraw the money if she does something like that!'

'No, Weiss, you can't. I checked something out online. Wirtschaft stocks are going to plummet. That money will be worthless soon after you invest it.'

'But still,' Blake interjected, 'I've been thinking too! Benihime specifically said she didn't want police involvement! If she kills Winter, we have no reason to keep the police out of it! That would be completely against what she wanted!'

'The police aren't infallible, and we're dealing with someone who most definitely knows what they're doing here!' Ruby angrily stated, 'a person of her calibre could easily set someone else up to take the fall! The least we can do is to stop her from accomplishing her goal!'

Weiss couldn't take it anymore. Sobbing and dropping to her knees, she screamed out what she wanted to say.

'Please, stop talking like my sister is going to die! Please, I can't take it! I don't want to imagine a world without her! Ever since I was little she was so kind to me! She always played with me whenever my parents were busy, and she even took time out of her schedule to help me run the company while my parents are away! It's my fault that she's in this mess in the first place, so please, STOP TALKING AS THOUGH SHE'S ALREADY DEAD!'

She couldn't contain her emotions, and just let her tears spill out onto the floor. Ruby and Blake both looked at each other shamefully, aware that they were completely to blame for Weiss' current state. They didn't consider her feelings, and they both felt terrible for it.

'Weiss, I'm sorry…' Ruby began, her fists clenched in anger at herself. 'I didn't mean it like that. I will save your sister, even if I have to give my own life to do it. No matter what, I'll make sure she survives, alright?'

'Me too,' Blake added, 'I'll do everything I can to find her. Don't worry, Weiss. We'll bring her back safe and sound. You'll wonder why you were ever worried.'

The fragile girl looked up at the two of them, their reassuring words managing to pull some happiness out of her despair. They were right. She had three other capable Huntresses willing to help her at all costs. Why should she be worried? Everything would be fine. At least, that's what she'd like to think.

Giving her friends a hug, Weiss wiped away her tears.

'Is it OK if I have some time alone? I need to think about this on my own for a while.'

'Of course,' Yang replied. 'Give us a call if anything comes up. We'll do our best to help, we promise.'

With that, the three of them left Weiss' mansion. Turning to Blake, Ruby was the first to speak.

'Alright, we need to start searching. We'll start with the outskirts of Vale first, and then we'll work our way inwards. If Benihime would choose to hide a hostage anywhere, it would be away from people. Blake, you go search the western side. That's the most densely populated area and you have the best eyesight. I'll search the southern district, and Yang, you go look around the eastern sector. If anything happens, call me and I'll head straight over to your location. Is that OK?'

'Fine by me,' Blake replied.

'Same here,' Yang enthusiastically barked.

The three of them went their separate ways, beginning the search for Winter and by extension, the search for Benihime. And all three of them had the same thought.

I will find you, Winter!