Chapter 8: Puzzle Pieces
The Dicappriccio Opera House was a beautiful edifice, constructed of aged teak and marble stone. The building rose several stories above street level, and had its own plaza. There was a fountain at its center, with a pair of ballerinas as the centerpiece. Both were holding urns, water jetting out of it and out into the main mechanism of the fountain. Large, single-paned windows spanned most of the building's face, giving a brief look at the wonders held within. Marble Steps rose from the plaza, leading to a series of large and thick wooden doors, bearing carvings of various animals.
Just beyond those doors was a wondrous corridor, lined with plush red carpeting and felt ropes, blocking off access to private areas. There was a set of stairs leading upstairs, toward the balcony section of the main stage. There was a restaurant off to the right, while the restrooms were located to the left. This was also where the ticket counter was located, but at the moment, the vendor was not in. Lovely wooden paneling lined the walls, decorated with various pictures of the performers who had been on that stage. As Levi walked, he locked eyes with a large painting, featuring a familiar ballerina at the forefront. A small shrine had been erected below it, with rose scented incense sticks being lit.
He stared at it longingly, eyeing the young woman's features. Her dainty face was lit up by the stage light, her eyes being closed. She was wearing a hot pink leotard, covered in thousands of little sequins. Thin fabric covered her lengthy legs, white booties decorated her feet. She was in a trance, perfectly balanced as she held her signature move, one he had seen her make countless times when she practiced.
"Levi?"
He looked away from the painting, locking eyes with Weiss. She didn't say anything, rather she gestured for him to keep up. He gave the painting another long look before following after her, ears drooping slightly. His tail did the same, trailing after him reflecting his current mood. The former heiress forced a smile onto her face as she walked.
"The last time I was in Atlas, this was where I performed. Of course, Schnee Manor has its own miniature stage. It was hardly suitable for someone of my talents, or so my father said. The concert happened here and then all of the guests moved to Atlas for the afterparty…" she said, her mood souring when she remembered that day. "And it was swiftly ruined."
"Why's that, I don't think you told me."
"There was this… gentleman well, no. Quite frankly he was a pompous ass, who was only at the party for the free food and drinks. I had managed to get away from Father and walked to a painting, it was being auctioned off to raise money for Beacon Academy," she said, closing her eyes for a moment. She could picture that beautiful portrait in her mind as if she had just seen it. "While looking at it, I spoke with Sonata."
"Sona? Wasn't she in a coma at that time?"
Weiss shook her head. "After being taken to Atlas, emergency surgery was performed on her. I have no idea how many. She was in a wheelchair, missing both legs, with a prosthetic arm and a cybernetic eye straight out of a Sci-Fi movie."
Levi tore his gaze away from his friend, glancing at his own prosthetic arm. He opened and closed his hand for a moment, imagining what Sonata's reaction must have been. He had come to terms with it because he knew his fate. But someone whose last memory was defending their friend, waking up with missing parts… It must have been awful. He shook his head, ears flattening against his head as he walked.
"What happened afterward?"
"That pompous ass I mentioned started hitting on me. I got angry and had a bit of a meltdown, scaring the daylights out of a few rich folks. That ended with me getting house arrest, courtesy of my Father. My mom helped me escape, and my ship went down in Mistral, that's about the time you and I met up."
"Haha… yeah, good times."
"No, not good times!" she snapped, glaring at him. She opened her mouth to say something, but when she heard voices, she immediately calmed down. "Forget it, remember why we are here."
Hastily composing himself, they entered the main showroom. Levi's eyes grew wide as he took in his surroundings. The lights were glowing a brilliant gold, serving to light the plush red seats. Hundreds of seats were divided by section, forming a curve around the main floor. There was a single path leading forward toward the main stage, an elevated construction made entirely out of hardwood. Above the stage was a Pipe Organ, the instrument glowing brilliantly in the light.
His eyes fell down to the stage, to the lone person who was currently on it. A young woman, with lengthy coral-pink hair, cascading down her back. She had soft ivory skin, which glowed brightly under the golden lights. She was wearing a violet leotard, with thin fishnet stockings and ballet shoes. She wore a lavender-colored tutu around her waist, which shook and moved with her every delicate movement. She was fairly tall for her age, yet despite that, she had poise and control beyond what the young man thought her capable of. It was a true testament to her skill, he had been completely entranced by her movements, at least until she opened her eyes.
She let out a scream, almost falling back. "Who the hell are you?"
"It hasn't been that long, has it, Octavia?" Weiss asked, arms crossed as she addressed the young woman. She gave her a once over, eyes widening in shock.
"Weiss Schnee?"
"The one and only, though these days I go by Detective."
Levi gave her a curious look. "Detective, huh? Trying to look cool in front of others, Why Miss Schnee, I didn't think you'd stoop so low."
"Detective? Huh… here I thought you wanted to be a Huntress," she replied, her eyes shifting onto Levi. "Oh um… who's the boy?"
"Levi Athan, I'm a Huntsman, the both of us are. We've been given temporary Detective titles because we're working on a case. Miss DiCappriccio, if you don't mind, we have a few questions we'd like for you to answer." the young man said, trying to sound professional. Of course, he ended up coming out stiffer than intended.
To her testament, Octavia didn't seem to notice. She merely nodded, moving toward the edge of the stage, she carefully hopped down, closing the distance between them. She was a few inches taller than Levi, her eyes were the same color as Cadence's, in fact, they seemed to share a lot of traits. He looked away for a brief moment, formulating what he wanted to say.
"Right, well… earlier today, three young adults were horribly murdered, not far from here in fact. They possessed tickets from your family's Opera House, meaning the last place they had been was here. We haven't been able to identify the two young men, but we did identify the young woman. All three of them were supporters of Miss Ivy Brown, we wish to know if there was anyone behaving strangely during the rally last night."
"Define strangely?"
"You know, standing out. Several people have turned up dead and all of them happen to be supporters of Ivy Brown. The young woman that was identified was arrested not long ago for throwing rocks at Atlas Military vehicles. She protested General Ironwood, and we believe that may have led to her death," Weiss replied.
The pink-haired ballerina leaned back against the stage, crossing her arms. She looked up at the ceiling for a moment, sighing. "Look, I don't have an answer to your question. More than 500 people were here last night. Any one of them could have been acting strangely. The definition is too vague."
"Fair enough. What about Miss Brown, how was she behaving?" Levi asked, moving on to the topic he wanted to tackle. "Was she displaying odd behavior?"
"Not at all. Ivy was acting normally, she was boisterous, jovial, and cordial. She gave a particularly moving speech, highlighting a lot of issues in Mantle. She reiterated her promises, that she would tax the rich, lower taxes on the poor, do away with the closure of borders and the embargo. She even laid out a plan to restart Mantle and Atlas's economy on the world stage. She was passionate and moving, and certainly deserves the Seat, much more than Jacques Schnee."
Octavia cringed a bit when she realized who was standing in front of her. She held her hands up in mock defense, her face contorted into an apologetic expression. "No offense."
"None taken, I don't particularly agree with my Father's political views. Personally speaking, if he loses the election, it would be beneficial for all of us." Weiss said, not at all bothered by her words. She looked up from her scroll. "Now then, your father, Antonio DiCappriccio, is the one that's funding her campaign, correct?"
"Yes, he's one of her contributors… What does that have to do with the murders?" she asked curiously. She narrowed her eyes, looking between the two. "You don't suspect my father, do you?"
"Of course not, it's just that your father is a high-profile contributor, meaning he could find himself in the gaze of the wrong person. This person is targeting Miss Brown's supporters. That would put him in danger." Levi hastily said. Octavia looked relieved, a frown flashing on her face.
"That makes sense. Yes, he's likely being targeted, but Daddy doesn't travel alone. Not after losing Cadence." she said, making Levi straighten up a bit. She shook her head, looking back to the two Huntsmen. "You can rest assured, even if someone is targeting him, he'll be safe and sound. His entourage is a PMC that once worked for the Atlas Military, they've got the latest firearms, they'll be fine."
"That's good to hear. Incidentally, would your father happen to be home? We have a few questions for him as well. Since these three victims left the Opera House, we want to know if he saw anything out of the ordinary. I assume he oversees all of his performances, correct?" Weiss asked.
"Normally he would, but Daddy has been busy lately. He has been in talks with a few businessmen from Atlas. He's been closing deals with performers from other Kingdoms as well. Since Ivy Brown plans to open up the borders, he wants to try and recruit new members for the Opera, talents from around the world! It's part of a series of plans in order to bring some much-needed tourism to Mantle." the pinkette replied.
"Tourism would be good for Mantle, of course, you'd have to consider cleaning up the streets first. Especially with this murderer going around, you can't have a random assortment of body parts next to a public park." Levi said, a shadow over his eyes as he looked away from the ballerina.
"Well… we don't have any more questions. I'm afraid the ones we do have are mostly for your father, and if he's not present then there's no use in asking. Like I said before, he isn't in any trouble, we just want to know if he's noticed anything regarding Ivy Brown's supporters. We might return at a later date, but for now, that's all the questions we have for you."
"Um… I'll make sure to let him know you came by. He's been a bit depressed since… since the Fall of Beacon." Octavia said, sighing. "He used to be a happy man, a family man who loved nothing more than his Opera. He used to tell the most amazing stories and wrote the most enjoyable plays. At the center of it all was my sister, she had a gift, perfectly balanced, lithe catlike movements, the very definition of the White Swan. But then she decided to become a Huntress."
The woman flexed her fingers, tightening them into a fist. "I tried talking her out of it, but she wanted to go anyway. She wanted to help those that couldn't defend themselves. Mantle was going through hard times, breaches in the wall were common and several people had been killed. She wanted to at least be able to defend them from Sabyr attacks… and look at what happened, carried off by a Nevermore."
Octavia chuckled, looking up at the pair. "And that partner of hers? He wasn't even there. While she was off fighting Grimm, he wasn't there. I thought people were split into Teams to cover their weaknesses, where the fuck was he?"
"You can't possibly blame him for all of this. Things were tense, people were stuck in Amity Arena trying to evacuate. The whole school was overrun with Grimm and no one knew what to do. Not only that but the Atlas Mechs were hijacked, used to attack fellow Huntsman, it was a bloodbath." Weiss said, briefly glancing at Levi who remained silent.
"Tch… that's the same tired excuse the Atlas Military has been peddling for almost two years now. General Ironwood's show of power was turned against the city of Vale. His arrogance on the world stage put everyone in danger, put my sister in danger. He doesn't deserve to be in the Council nor does he deserve to be the Headmaster of Atlas Academy. Ivy Brown is what we need for this Kingdom to thrive, and it's a shame the people who support her are being killed for it."
She turned to leave, glancing over her shoulder. "I'll let my Daddy know you came to see him, but I doubt he'll answer anything."
Swallowing the lump in his throat, Levi finally spoke up, ears folded against his head. "Miss DiCappriccio?"
Octavia glanced at him, her frown only growing. He rubbed his arm for a moment, sighing softly under his breath. "About your sister, she… she fought admirably that night. She did whatever she could in order to not only defend the people but protect her teammates. She died a hero, and it's a shame that she was extinguished far before her time."
"Right, that's the same drivel the General fed our father. Here are some medals and a flag of Vale for your shrine. Sorry we couldn't find her body, or what was left of it. Whatever, just leave, would you? I don't wanna see anyone anymore."
The silver-haired faunus didn't say anything, he just swiveled on his heel and started heading for the exit. Weiss was going to say something, but she held her tongue. The last time she had said something had been bad. She wasn't going to cause any problems for herself and her friend. She hung her head and left after her friend. Just as she reached the door she got a message on her scroll, causing her to examine it.
"New Message from Chief Roth."
Her shoulders drooped a bit. "Never a dull day in Mantle, huh?"
xxx
"Gangsters, you say?"
Chief Roth nodded, looking away from the former heiress. He puffed on his cigarette, letting the smoke sit in his lungs for a moment before exhaling. "Cyan Pyle, age 23, and Russell Franklin, age 21. Both of them were members of a Gang known only as the 5th Street Cobras. They used to be nothing to fear, just another average group of directionless kids. But ever since your buddy, Ironwood, closed the borders well… they've started becoming more active."
"Reports say that they've started taking control of several city blocks. Eastern Mantle has become more dangerous because of it. Frequent gunfights, drug trafficking, and petty thievery have been on the rise. Not even the Atlas Military can handle the rising surge of activity." Levi said, reading off of his scroll. He looked up at the Chief, a look of concern on his face. "If those two were high-profile members then… I expect there'll be some sort of retaliation."
"Against who? The alleyway? No one knows who killed them, who would they fight against?"
"Atlas Military personnel of course. They were supporters of Ivy Brown who opposed General Ironwood. They will probably start attacking random soldiers because their gang members openly oppose him. That will make things much more dire for everyone involved," Weiss said, pinching her eyes as she looked at the files before her. "This is becoming much harder than I thought it would be."
"Heh… you are telling me. We've been dealing with this shit much longer than you have, and we haven't gotten any closer to finding the killer. At this rate we may as well hang our hats up and call it quits," Chief Roth said, crushing his cigarette in his hand.
"Something doesn't add up here though. Octavia said no one was acting strangely at the rally, and no one stuck out to her. Why, if that's the case, would this killer go after these three?" Levi questioned, hand on his chin as he looked at the pictures before him. "We can disregard Monica Rouge at the moment, but the Gangsters… they seem like far more than just random targets."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well I mean… if these two are as notorious as the Chief is saying, that means someone knew about them. If that's the case, then they were killed in order to piss off their Gang, maybe rile them up so they start attacking the Military. It's all a ploy, piss off Ivy Brown's supporters and they start attacking General Ironwood's supporters, that in and of itself, brings more bad press down on him." the miqo'te said, looking up at the two. "That's my thought process, anyway."
"There's the Supply Thieves to consider as well. Any chance the 5th Street Cobras are responsible for that?"
Chief Roth shrugged, sitting down at his desk. He reached for a bottle of whiskey, pouring himself a glass. "Can't say, the Cobras do a lot of shit, so much shit that we can't keep track of it. Just last week they broke into a Dust Shop and stole most of its inventory. With Dust being so heavily regulated in Mantle, it's become hard for the average Joe to get his hands on some. You are either police or military if you want some Dust."
"Well, this person killed two of their high-profile members, so they must be planning something. Regardless, we are no closer to figuring this out than we were when we started. Not only that, but we were unable to interview Antonio DiCappriccio, the only thing we know is that he is contributing to Ivy Brown's campaign." Weiss said, leaning back in her chair.
"I do have to wonder, if the money from the stolen materials is being laundered, then what the hell is that money being used for?" Levi questioned, ears twitching a bit. "It can't be for Ivy's campaign. The money has to be coming from somewhere, I doubt the Happy Huntresses are the only ones buying from them."
"You bring up a good point. When you launder money, you are using money obtained from illegal means, injecting it into a business and claiming it as legitimate earnings." the Chief said, glancing at the ceiling. "The ones selling all that stuff must be underselling it just to get rid of it. There's no way Robyn Hill has that much extra money lying around unless she's doing a bit of crime herself."
"Nah, I doubt she is. She seemed like a very no-nonsense type of woman, the kind that is driven to desperation to do things. She's only dealing with those men in order to get what she needs. However, that money has to be going somewhere…" Weiss said. Levi suddenly sat up, his ears standing straight.
"What if… what if that money is going somewhere else. Instead of it going to the Mattress Business owned by Quintus Piccolo, it's going somewhere else. That money funds an illegal act, then is sent to Piccolo to have it laundered. Then that money is sent to another person… someone running a campaign, perhaps?"
The Chief let out a chuckle, reaching for his drink. "Now that would make a lot of sense. It would explain why Quintus Piccolo is even involved in this. As a businessman, he deals not just in Crypto Currency, but also in hardware. He does indeed sell mattresses and other equipment to the rest of Remnant. But he has another well-known company that produces microchips, microchips used in anything from your stove to military weapons. Now, what would happen to a business like that under an Embargo that is threatening your main way of making money?"
"It would cause the owner a lot of strife. I would now, given the fact my Father wouldn't stop complaining about it. Being unable to check his overseas mines has made him bleed money, and the fact he has to sell things at a higher price just to break even drove him nuts. If this is what is happening with Mr. Piccolo then that would probably drive him to act." Weiss said, making Levi nod.
"Exactly. So in essence, the scheme is simple. Steal from the Military, and offload that stuff to anyone who wants to buy it. Then take that money and use it to buy more materials, say for drugs and weapons. You sell those weapons to a high-profile gang then you launder that money and donate it to someone running a campaign." Levi said with a grin. His smile dropped, causing him to tilt his head. "But that wouldn't make sense… have drug rates increased in Mantle lately?"
"They've been rather steady, but that doesn't mean people aren't cooking. Methamphetamines seem to be a favorite among sellers out on the streets. The people are on edge, so some might want to take the edge off. But you did point something out, the purchase of weapons. At first, buying weapons wouldn't do much, especially if you don't have a war to fight, but what if two of your members get brutally murdered? Well, you didn't have a reason before, but now you do."
Weiss let out a small gasp, covering her mouth with her hand. "The murderer just gave the leader of the Cobras a reason to attack!"
"Exactly. That killer just lit the fuse, and it won't be long before the keg explodes. Given the fact that the Dust shop was attacked not long ago, they have more than enough for their weapons." the Chief added, reaching for his pack of cigarettes. "These mooks have been stealing military supplies for a while, it wouldn't put it past me if some of that was also weaponry."
Levi rose to his feet, looking back at his friend with concern. "Weiss, we need to head back to Atlas. General Ironwood has to have some information about this. He must know Military supplies are being intercepted."
"Yes, but what will he do about it? His focus is on another project, you know that as well as I do," she said, crossing her arms. "Like it or not, we might not be able to get Military aid here."
"And that is why I dislike the military. They claim to be doing things for our safety, yet people are dying left and right and they do shit. I hate to say it, Princess, but your General and more importantly, your sister, don't give a fuck about Mantle. If they did, they'd be here, searching for that killer. Instead, they're sitting high and dry in Atlas, with their hands up their asses doing shit." the Chief said, lighting his cigarette. "I suggest you get yourself a good raincoat, the bloodbath is about to begin. The last thing you need is blood on your skin."
Levi didn't say anything, instead, he gestured for Weiss to follow him. He didn't speak until after they left the police station, having taken the time to gather his thoughts. "Listen, I need you to head to Quintus Piccolo's company and ask him some questions. Ask for business reports, buying history, and his crypto wallet. He might be using his business to launder that money, especially if he uses it to buy crypto with it."
"And you expect me to do that on my own?"
"For the time being. I have to get the rest of the Team on board. If we're dealing with a potential attack against the Atlas Military, we'll have to be there to stop it. Ruby, Yang, and Blake finished their first missions already, and Neo should be back too. With Alto busy retraining and Team ORNJ on their own missions, we don't have enough fighters. But we should be enough." Levi said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Weiss, I trust you'll be able to get the information you need, I know you have what it takes. Besides, you know business more than I do."
She sighed, rolling her eyes as she took a hold of his hand with her own. "You are the single most annoying man I've met, you know? Making me handle the dirty work on my own."
"Hey, you didn't listen to the "I trust you" bit, did you?"
She let out a laugh, reaching for her scroll. "Go, I'll be fine on my own. Be sure to speak with General Ironwood about all this, alright?"
"Don't worry, I will," he said, giving her a brief hug before departing. He stuffed his hands in his pockets as he walked, glancing up at the bottom of Atlas, smirking to himself. "After I make a pitstop."
xxx
"Keep your nose out of their business, that is my honest suggestion,"
The look Junior gave him made Levi realize he was absolutely serious. The few times he had bought information from him, he had hardly cared. But this time around, his expression was hard and stern. He could tell that he meant every word he had said. Despite that, Levi had no choice. He pressed onward, a serious look on his own face.
"We're past suggestions, I'm afraid. The 5th Street Cobras are involved in the case I am investigating and I need information. I want to know if they're doing weapons deals, selling drugs, anything. I know you have your ear on the ground, I wouldn't be here if I didn't need information." the miqo'te said, and to prove his point, he placed 5,000 Lien on the bar.
The barman stared at the cards for a moment, sighing audibly. "Don't say I didn't warn ya, kid. The leader of the Cobras is one of Ivy Brown's largest contributors. Ever since Ironwood closed the borders, business has been hard on anyone, including those in the underground. You can't export stolen goods and street-made pharmaceuticals if you can't leave the Kingdom."
"What's the name of their leader?"
"No one knows, he goes by King, King Cobra to everyone who knows him, for obvious reasons. He used to be a gangbanger in Vale, but after the Fall of Beacon, he tried his luck elsewhere. He found it easier here in Mantle. You could easily steal weapons from the military and with all the abandoned houses on the east side, finding a place to cook wasn't hard. Lately, he's been pushing his sales onto the much more stable north end, but a rival gang has kept him out of that territory." Junior said.
"The North End was all but abandoned, but they've been pushing their wares into the Crater," Melanie said, causing Levi to look at her. She picked at her nails, shifting her gaze toward him, a frown on her face. "If you thought this area looked like shit then the Crater will make this place look like a high-class Atlas neighborhood."
"What's the Crater?"
"The area left behind after Atlas rose to the sky. The place was once an industrial sector and have several mines rich in ore and Dust. The S.D.C.'s biggest operation was held here, but once the resources were gone, it was abandoned. Mantle's lowest class along with several thousand faunus live there. A lot of deaths happen there, overdoses and the like, but it's unlikely it's reported, after all, why bother? No one gives a shit about the Crater." the barman said, making Levi sigh.
"Of course… seems no matter where I go my brethren are treated like shit,"
"Not everyone is like that you know," Miltia added, setting her glass down. "I respect the faunus and their struggles. I don't exactly agree with what Atlas is doing to them, but it's Atlas, what can you do?"
"Going back on topic, King Cobra hit a Dust store not long ago, everything was taken, even the refining equipment. Rumors have been circulating about them finding a Dust vain near the edge of Mantle. If that's true, then they've probably been refining Dust and making a profit that way. In the way of weapons, an Atlas Armory vehicle was intercepted two days ago. Its robot soldiers were remotely hacked and destroyed. All signs point to the 5th Street Cobras being responsible," Junior said firmly.
"I see… you got any idea what this guy looks like?" the miqo'te asked, causing the man to shake his head.
"No one has ever seen his face, not even his own gangbangers. He usually issues orders using a holographic screen, or so the rumor goes. Now, to answer your question about Antonio DiCappriccio, aside from hosting extravagant rally parties for Ivy Brown as well as putting on fancy operas, he hardly leaves home. He's been rather secretive since his daughter was killed," he said, pausing for a moment to look at the faunus. "I'm sure you know all about that, right?"
Levi clicked his tongue, glaring at the man. "I don't appreciate that comment, Junior."
"My mistake didn't mean to rustle any feathers or anything. Regardless, if you plan on making contact with this gang, be careful. The last thing I need to hear is one of my customers being found like those 3 were this morning,"
"Don't remind me, I'm still reeling from that crime scene," he said with a shudder, swiveling on his heel. "Thanks for the information, Junior. I might be back if I need something else."
The trio watched him go, sporting similar expressions. Melanie was the first to speak, leaning back against the bar. "He's different from the last time we saw him. Back in Vale, he looked completely dead, now he just looks broken."
"Makes me wonder what happened to him in Mistral. Must have been awful if he came back with mechanical prosthetics," Miltia added.
"Nevermind that, the kid is clearly way in over his head. Huntsman or not, he's messing with the wrong people. I really hope nothing bad happens to him. He's a good kid, much better than certain blonde-haired huntresses," Junior said, shuddering at the thought of Yang finding out he's in Mantle. "Get ready for the afternoon rush, Girls. I'll need you on high alert, in case anyone important shows up."
The twins nodded, leaving the bar. Junior continued washing the glass in his hands, wondering when Mantle would finally hit its breaking point.
Location: Atlas Academy, Atlas
"That's everything we've gathered so far, General. Whoever is killing these people is not the same person who killed those journalists. What's worse is that they've been stealing supplies from the Atlas Military. I'm almost certain something is going to happen soon, especially because the 5th Street Cobras have been gearing up for a while." Levi said firmly.
"If we don't do anything soon, more people will get hurt. Mantle is already suffering from the Embargo and the closure of borders. We can't let gangsters start shooting people up as well. It's more than certain this is what it'll lead to, and Ivy Brown is involved in all of this. We haven't figured out how yet, but we just know it."
The General remained silent as he processed what he was told. Levi stood straight, briefly staring at his teammates, who had hopeful looks on their faces. Upon being told of what was going on, Yang, Blake, and Ruby were instantly onboard. Even Neo had joined them, the ice cream-themed girl dying for something to do that wasn't centered around the military. They had expected the General to agree with them, however…
"As much as it pains me to say this, we do not have the resources nor the manpower to focus on this," he said, sitting up in his seat. "It is admirable that you and Miss Schnee have done so much for this case. But sadly, we cannot take time away from our main project in order to stop some wayward politicians and some gangsters."
"Wayward politicians? Sir, this is much more than just Ivy Brown. They are stealing from the Military, selling it for profit, and funneling it to her campaign. Not only that but an entire store's worth of dust was stolen by these Gangsters as well as Arms, powerful arms that will no doubt be used against us. We need to act before blood starts spilling in the streets." Weiss said firmly.
"I have to agree with Weiss, General. People are on edge thanks to that Serial Killer. Levi and Weiss believe they are close to figuring this out. We should support them. I understand that Project Amity is our priority but-"
"There is no but, Miss Rose. You said it yourself, Project Amity is your priority. We have allowed you to take missions in order to settle into your routines here in Atlas. However, I must reiterate that your focus should be on the Amity Communication Tower. Which is why I have taken the liberty of assigning you to your first Team Mission…"
He stood from his seat, circling around his desk. "There have been reports of a small gathering of Creatures of Grimm near Fort Arrowfall. The Fort was once one of our largest but it was overrun a little over a year ago. Due to its proximity to Schnee Dust Mine #2, we need you to defend it while the Grimm are taken care of. This order is effective immediately, so make preparations as you will be away from Atlas for quite a while."
"But… What about our current mission? We can't just abandon the Chief!" Levi said, causing the General to look at him. "You have a duty to the people, General. This person is out there killing-"
"Salem will kill many more, and we cannot let that happen. You said it yourself, didn't you? We must not let Salem touch Atlas soil. That is what we are doing, Mr. Athan. Yes, it pains me to have to do this, but the people will be fine. The Chief of Police has been keeping the streets safe as best he can, he will continue doing so even in your absence."
His ears flattened against his head, a frown flashing across his face. "This isn't right."
"Of course, it isn't, but in order to ensure the safety of Mantle, Atlas, and the rest of Remnant, sacrifices must be made. You knew that when you agreed to join the Atlas Military." The General said, giving the man a firm look. His face softened a bit as he adjusted his tie. "However, I am not at all heartless. Miss Brunswick, would you be opposed to staying here in Atlas?"
She shook her head.
"Excellent. Mr. Athan, Miss Schnee, swiftly catch your friend up on your case, she shall take care of it while you are absent. Professor Ozpin once trusted her as one of his informants, correct? Then I am certain she will be able to gather the information you are lacking. Upon your return, you will retake this mission and see it through to the end, understood?"
Levi nodded, a genuine smile appearing on his face. "Thanks, General. I appreciate it, I just didn't want to abandon the Chief after all we've done."
"Never you fret, the people of Mantle cannot be abandoned. I may look heartless but I do not try to be. Things are just… difficult."
"We understand, General. We want nothing more than for this plan to succeed. We'll start packing what we need and be ready to head out at your command," Ruby said, giving the man a salute. He merely nodded, silently dismissing them. It wasn't until they had left the office that they finally breathed, deflating a bit.
"I can't believe after all of that hard work you've done, you get reassigned. It doesn't seem fair to you or the people of Mantle." Yang said.
"Sadly we don't have a choice. We did agree to this when we became Huntsmen and Huntresses. We have to make sure that tower launches safely, or as safe as it can." Blake added, crossing her arms. "At least it is easier to deal with Grimm than it is dealing with Cinder and her Cronies."
"Speaking of that bitch, any word on her arrival in Mantle yet, Neo?" Weiss asked, causing the mute girl to shake her head. She signed a few words, causing Weiss to sigh. "Of course… just keep an eye out just in case."
"Can you really understand all of those funny signs? I always watch her hands whenever she uses them but it's hard to track." Yang said, causing Weiss and Levi to nod.
"She taught us a bit of it. I can only sign a few words but I can read it fairly easily. There is one universal sign that she taught us that all of you will understand," Levi said, giving Neo a wink. She hid a laugh behind her glove, causing the blonde brawler to quirk a brow.
"Oh? Mind teaching me? I might be able to make use of it."
Neo adopted a look of seriousness, raising a single hand up, middle finger raised. Yang's eyes widened, her eyes glowing crimson. "Okay that's it, I'm kicking your ass you smarmy little shit!"
The ice cream-themed girl burst into a sprint, silently laughing as Yang raced after her. Levi held back his chuckles while Blake and Ruby grinned. Weiss was the only one that wasn't amused by their antics, but it was a welcome change, at least compared to the seriousness they experienced not long ago.
Not long after arriving at his dorm, Levi was allowed to decompress for a bit. He had been up since three thirty in the morning, with hardly a break. He was tired, yet despite that he still had a mission to do. He let out a sigh, looking at his reflection in the mirror as he packed his things. He didn't look like the young faunus that had left Vale all those months ago. Now, he looked like a different person, hardly recognizing himself. He shook his head, focusing on his packing.
"We were so close to getting somewhere, and now we have to leave it behind in order to focus on Amity. I understand that it's a serious project but the people have to be protected too. What's the point of being a Huntsman if I can't find a single serial killer?" he thought to himself.
Though his focus was on Ivy Brown and the money laundering scheme, he was hoping to at least find some clue. Anything that could lead to the person that had killed those journalists. Alas, it seemed as if he wouldn't be able to do that. Just when the puzzle pieces were beginning to line themselves up, he had to leave them behind for a different puzzle altogether.
He jolted a bit when he heard a buzz in his ear, his hand flying to his communicator. "Hello?"
"Sorry to bother you, Levi, it's Valentine."
"Oh, hey Val, what's up?"
"Not good news I'm afraid. Where are you? Atlas?"
"Yeah, I got reassigned so I'm packing up my stuff. I likely won't be back for a while," he said. Valentine sighed audibly, causing him to frown. "I know, I know. Me and Weiss have been up since 3:30 am working on this case. We've made significant headway, but the General has other plans, plans we sadly can't opt out of."
"I understand. Your first priority is to the General, me and Metera understood that the second we joined this mission. Listen, do you have a holo-vision in your dorm? If so, turn it onto Channel 5."
Brows furrowing, Levi set his bag down on his bed, moving toward his hardly used holo-vision. He took the remote and flicked it on, quickly dialing CH. 5. The image cleared, showing what looked to be a riot. Hundreds of people were out on the streets of Mantle, holding up signs with various insults and messages directed at General Ironwood. One had a picture of him with a red X over his image, while another said "The General has to Resign!" and various other things. He sat down on his bed, staring at the screen.
"What am I looking at, Val?"
"A protest. Seems like everyone found out about the murders of those three young adults. The Chief had a press release earlier identifying those three victims and the people went apeshit. Not only that, but Teri told me some well-known Gangbangers were spotted among the crowd. Something bad is brewing in Mantle."
Levi sighed, laying back in his bed. The reporter had returned, going over what was currently happening in downtown Mantle, but he tuned it out, pressing his finger to his communicator. "Please tell me you got a lead, something… anything substantial?"
"I'm afraid I don't. But after looking at what Weiss added earlier, I might have a theory. The people who are stealing Atlas Military materials are 5th Street Cobras hired by one of our suspects, I'm willing to bet it's DiCappriccio. After those materials are sold, he gives the money to Piccolo, who turns it into Crypto and uses his Mattress Business to report it as legitimate sales revenue. Once it's cleaned, he transfers it back to DiCappriccio who then gives it to Ivy as a 'donation' for her campaign."
"It's a solid theory, but where does the 5th Street Cobras fit into this? Have they been sitting in the background, lying in wait?"
"Perhaps, but it seems to me like the leader of that gang might be some rich Atlas bigwig. Haven't figured out who, but it's someone. After all, the Gangsters themselves have never seen their face, all they get is orders to follow. It would make sense if the leader was some Businessman in Atlas. If he gets found out, he can easily deny it. Plausible Deniability is a hell of a plea after all."
Levi nodded to himself, a frown on his face. "You're right… if they can't identify them, then there's no way to tie them to this. If the gang goes down, they walk away scot-free. An ingenious plan if I do say so myself. It would make sense given the fact they robbed that dust store and stole an armory truck as well."
"Mhmm… and the person killing people down here lit the fuse by killing those two gangsters. Now, the 5th Street Cobras, who had no reason to get involved, suddenly have one. Their target? The Atlas Military, because the closure of borders has made their drug and arms trafficking practically impossible." Valentine said, clearing his throat. "There's just a couple of things I'm missing. Who the killer is and why Ivy Brown would choose to involve herself in something that could very well land her in prison for treason."
"I can't answer the first one, but the second one is simple. When your campaign opponents are Jacques Schnee, an evil bastard of a businessman, and Robyn Hill, a hometown hero who can't do shit for Mantle, there's no choice but to do it yourself. Ivy Brown's family name is the only card she has to play here, it's a big risk to even involve herself this deep. And given she's got contributors doing underground dealings, plausible deniability won't work for her." he said.
They remained silent, Levi finally standing up from his bed. He finished packing the last of his clothing, turning to his cabinet. He grabbed his cleaning kit, along with all of his ammunition and extra magazines for Shiva, placing them in his pack. The last thing he grabbed was a case filled with dust vials, which Weiss had given him not long ago. Turning back to the holovision, he saw several protesters throwing bricks at Atlas Military personnel, who were forced to use their shields to block them. His frown deepened, hand moving to his communicator.
"Hey, Val?"
"What's up?"
"I'm gonna be leaving one of my best friends as my replacement. She's not only a fantastic fighter but she's a great information gatherer as well. I trust her with my life so I hope you'll do that too." he said, glancing at his night table. There was a photograph there, which he had taken not long ago. Teams RWBY and ORNJ were there, along with Alto, Neo and of course himself, all of them were smiling, holding their Huntsman and Huntress licenses to the camera. He turned away from it, grabbing his backpack. "There's only one problem."
"Oh? And that is?"
"Well… she's not that easy to get along with. Not only that but she can't speak, so it might be hard to communicate with her at first. She's extremely loyal though, so she'll have your back. Just don't get too hard on her or question her methods, they usually yield favorable results."
He was met with silence for a mere moment before the tired-sounding man spoke. "I'm in for a rough time, aren't I?"
"Oh yeah. Gotta go, man, give your girlfriend my regards… oh, and Val?"
"Hm?"
"Don't be too rough on yourself. I know you've been struggling to find leads, and this case means a lot to you because of your friend. But we'll get them soon, trust me. We've found out a lot of things and have a solid theory. We just need the evidence against all our suspects and we'll be golden." Levi said, trying to sound cheerful. He only got a grunt in reply before the line went dead.
He looked back to the holovision screen, seeing the angry protesters on it. Without another word, he grabbed the remote, shutting it off.
Location: Unknown
Her grip tightened on her umbrella as she walked the tired streets of Mantle. She adjusted her hood as she walked, the wind blowing on it slightly. It had begun to rain not long after her arrival. It had been rather hard getting into Solitas, but thankfully, she had managed to get in unannounced. She had expected her home to be the same as the last time she had seen it. Sadly, it was much, much worse than she imagined.
Surveillance bots patrolled the streets, along with ID Drones taking pictures of the citizens in order to ensure they were citizens. General Ironwood had a message on loop on several buildings, reminding the citizens of who was truly in charge. Yet despite that, the streets were crawling with protesters, none of them bothered by the cold rain falling over them.
It all made her want to laugh. This city was beyond its breaking point, yet like a piece of surface ice, it had yet to break apart. Several powder kegs were lit and she was beginning to wonder when the fuse would reach the powder. She twirled her umbrella, ducking into an alleyway, just in time to avoid being spotted by a regiment of soldiers. Her heels clicked loudly as she walked, avoiding all of the water-filled potholes.
"I wasn't expecting Mantle to be like this. I haven't been back in years but still…" she thought to herself, eyes narrowed as she looked up and down the street. She adjusted her cloak, checking over the long glove covering her arm. "I need to be careful, if anyone discovers I'm part Grimm, they'll put me down for good this time."
Taking a deep breath, she crossed the street, avoiding several vehicles that honked their horns loudly. She merely flipped the drivers off, not giving a damn about their shouts. She had her eyes on a target, a place she hadn't visited since she had left for Vale nearly two and a half years prior. Her hand wrapped around the door handle, and she pulled the door open, stepping inside.
She closed the umbrella, shaking it for a moment before tossing it into the umbrella holder. She grasped her hood, pulling it further over her head as she walked. Her eyes scanned her surroundings, seeing the changes that had been made. She caught the scent of something she hadn't smelled in a long time.
Fresh roses.
Roses had been her favorite flower. There was something so beautiful about a crimson-red rose. Giving them to the person you love, laying their petals on their marital bed before their first night together… even placing them on the graves of loved ones. Roses were a symbol of love, friendship, appreciation, and life. Yet despite that, the only roses on her mind were pitch blank, their beauty tarnished by a fate she wished to have escaped. As she approached the center of the corridor, her eyes locked on the portrait that had been placed there.
A beautiful young woman, dancing away on a stage. The light bouncing off of her sequins was alluring as if her body was covered by millions of little diamonds. The perfect image of a White Swan. Seeing that image filled her with anger. She wanted to do nothing more than tear it off the wall, shred it, and toss it into a fire. But she refrained from it. She couldn't do anything that would make her stand out, after all.
She balled her hand, before resting it on her hip. Her weapon was coiled around, waiting to be used if needed. It always kept her calm. It didn't take her long to make it to the main stage. It was just as beautiful as she remembered. And there on stage, was another woman, practicing her ballet.
It was too bad she was terrible at it, no matter how much she tried.
She felt genuine mirth filling her, before breaking into a full laugh. The woman on stage slipped, landing hard on the wooden stage. Her head snapped to the entrance, causing her to growl at her.
"Who the hell are you? Are you with those two Huntsmen who were here earlier? I'm not answering any more questions!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the vaulted room. The hooded woman merely clapped, slowly approaching the stage.
"Good job, Octavia, fantastic job. You've certainly improved your shoddy dancing skills," she said, earning a glare from the woman. She forced herself to her feet, glaring at the hooded woman.
"If you are here just to insult me then get the fuck out of here. I swear, I should lock those damn doors whenever no one is here. We aren't even selling tickets, dammit."
"Tavi, are you okay? We heard yelling," a soft voice asked, causing the pink-haired woman to look to her right.
An older woman stepped out onto the stage. She had long, soft pink hair tied back into a ponytail, and was wearing a long-sleeved white shirt and skirt. She had slight wrinkles on her face, her cornflower blue eyes lacking emotion. She shifted her gaze toward the aisle, jumping a bit at the hooded figure before them. "Who are you?"
"Somebody from the dark~"
"Harmony, Octavia, is someone here?" a baritone voice asked.
Stepping onto the stage from the opposite side was a tall imposing man, dressed in the finest silk suit money could buy. He was a handsome man, despite his age. He had a rather stern look on his face, his dark brown eyes locked on the hooded figure that had been standing in his opera house.
"Oh good, the family is all here, how wonderful," the hooded figure said, giggling.
"Who are you?" he asked, a firm look on his face. The woman merely chuckled, tugging on her hood.
"Like I said before, I'm someone from the dark." she cheekily replied. The man approached the end of the stage, reaching behind his pocket. He drew a pistol, taking aim at the hooded figure.
"I won't ask you again, who the fuck are you?"
The woman quirked a brow, fingers flexing as she reached for her weapon. "Have you forgotten so easily? My voice hasn't changed that much has it? Or have you already forgotten me after what happened back in Vale?"
"Honey, put that gun down, we don't need something to happen here." the woman said, only for Octavia to laugh.
"Shoot her Daddy, this bitch came in here just to laugh at me. For all we know, she could be the one killing Miss Brown's supporters. The last thing I want is for you to be murdered by that person."
"As if I would let myself be killed by some wayward serial killer, dear. I wouldn't let that happen,"
The hooded figure smirked, and with a flick of her wrist, she cracked her weapon. It wrapped around the man's gun and with a single pull, it was sent flying back. She flicked her wrist, the weapon solidifying until it turned into a sword. She stepped forward, the blade gleaming in the light of the chandelier.
"Perhaps this joke has run its course," she said, grasping her hood. She pulled it down, finally revealing her face to the trio. Octavia let out a gasp, a look of disbelief on her face.
"There's no way… but you were-"
"I survived, bitch… and let me tell you, it's been one hell of a journey just to get here. One very painful journey. But guess what? I'm back, and now that I am, I'm going to need your help with something. So be a good and loving family and welcome me back, would you?"
She gave them a smile, a sick and twisted smile. Her once beautiful face was horrifically scarred, her right eye was gone, replaced by a beady glowing red eye, the area around it was a deep obsidian color, down to her chin. Her left eye was glowing bright blue, having been replaced with a cybernetic one. Despite her ghastly appearance, her long pink hair was still the same as they had remembered. They looked shocked and horrified at her appearance.
"Oh don't look at me like that. I've been waiting for so long to hug you and all you can do is stand there? For shame, for shame." she said, shaking her head. She looked back at them, crimson eye glowing. "It doesn't matter. I have plans for our fair city, and you all will help me, and if you don't, well… there will be consequences…"
She pulled her glove off, her black hand extending a bit. Octavia shied away from it, almost bumping into her mother who just looked at the young woman in sadness. The man, Antonio, merely glared at the pinkette before him.
"What do you want?"
"First? Catch me up on everything going on here, and then… we'll get started on the fun." she said, flexing her fingers.
Location: Atlas Academy
"Hello, Diary… it's been quite a long time hasn't it? When was the last time I wrote to you? A lot of things have changed.
For one, I am now a Huntress. After several months of faking it, I'm actually a real one. It feels really weird. I never expected to see myself as an honest-to-goodness Huntress. It feels like a distant dream. I never wanted to be one, I saw myself as being nothing but a lowly criminal, yet here I am. I suppose I have Ruby to thank for that.
Ruby… I hated her guts last year… I genuinely wanted her to die for getting Roman killed… Now I see her as nothing but a little sister. We've been through so much shit together, fought Grimm, and made plans to try and save Remnant together. She's grown up a lot since our first meeting so long ago. Yet despite that, I can see the weight that's being put on her shoulders. She tries to be upbeat and peppy, but her eyes tell a different story.
She's tired, and I don't blame her. After all, it wasn't that long ago that we learned that Salem can't be Killed. That file evil woman who has been creating Grimm for years, and attacking humanity from the darkness, is now on the move. Atlas is her next target and all of us are getting ready for that. General Ironwood is making a ludicrous plan, to launch Amity Arena sky-high and turn it into a communication tower.
I don't know if it'll be successful or not, but it's the only shot we have left. Atlas is prepared for war, Mantle is slowly dying, and the rest of Remnant? Blissfully unaware of the darkness that is hiding beneath their feet. I hate to think what would have become of me if I had decided to keep pursuing revenge. I would have likely joined Cinder for real, and I would be just another pawn in the overall grand plan of that scary woman.
I guess I have Levi to thank for that. He's been my rock, my savior, my best friend…
I didn't intend on replacing Roman with him, but he was right about one thing. I am so damn loyal to those that mean the world to me. At one point in time, I wanted nothing but revenge, yet here I am, a hero in a grand story that is still unfolding all around me. Guess I'm a stereotypical hero now… or am I a side character? I dunno, I like being a side character, it's really fun to mess around with the protagonists.
Speaking of Levi, he's changed a lot since we met. He's no longer that young naive boy hell-bent on revenge. Despite him still wanting to kill Cinder, he's been more level-headed. There was that incident in Amity Arena, but I think that's relative to the area. He's been perfectly fine since he left. That… that episode he had was scary. I don't think I've ever seen him act like that. I know he sees Cadence from time to time, but I didn't think it was that bad.
The way he was talking, the hopeless look in his eyes. He was in a dark place and I couldn't do anything. Just stand there and comfort him. Weiss was able to do more than him… I can easily tell how in love she is with him. She kept holding his face and looking into his eyes. She probably doesn't realize it herself… or she does and is too stubborn to admit it to herself. Damn, Princess with a stick up her…
Why am I so mad all of a sudden? Oh… dear have I grown jealous? Of Weiss? But she's a close friend, a sister even… then again the way she was holding Levi's face was kind of annoying. It felt like she only wanted his attention to be on her, despite the others being there… despite me being there.
I've known Levi for longer, it should have been me holding his face and comforting him!
….
Oh goddamn it, I am jealous… but that means… Am I…
No, absolutely not! I am not even going to entertain that idea. Not at all, nope! No way!
I am absolutely 100% not attracted to Levi at all. He's not my type, he is just my friend. My very handsome, muscular, scarred, and wonderfully amazing friend. That cute face of his, those soft ears, and his silver eyes… oh I could stare into those eyes of his for hours~
Okay then… that is enough writing this for now, God I sound like a horny teenager."
Neo hastily hit save, closing her scroll. She looked up, just in time to see the people she had been sent to meet. She pushed herself away from the wall, flicking her hat a bit as she approached them. The pair stopped in front of her, giving her a once-over for a moment before finally speaking.
"So… are you the woman Levi sent for us?"
Neo adopted a pensive look, glancing up at the sky for a brief moment before shrugging her shoulders. She drew Hush from behind her back, spinning the hook around her hand before flicking it open. She held her hand out, giving the man a wink.
"I suppose I'll take that as a yes," he replied, shaking her hand. "My name is Valentine Aeterna, this is my girlfriend, Metera Roux. Am I to assume you've been caught up to speed?"
Neo gave him a nod, handing a piece of paper to Valentine. He looked at it for a moment and she gestured for him to open it. He did so, Metera leaning over his shoulder to read the words written on it.
"Never you fret, I have been caught up on everything and am ready to help. I have a particular set of skills that will assist us. Now, explain to me who we're searching for and where we may find them. Don't ask questions and don't underestimate me, those are my only requests."
Valentine looked up at Neo, who had a serious look on her face. He shared a look with Metera, who shrugged her shoulders.
"We don't have a choice, Val. She seems willing to work… but are you a H-" she was cut off by Neo opening her scroll, showing her Huntress License. Unlike her fellow teammates, her License was Class A. She still remembered when Ironwood had spoken to her the day she had gotten it.
"Qrow told us about your skills, the fact you and your team remained undetected for so long is a testament to that. Ozpin never once told us that he had a team of spies at his school, just that he had a network of trusted people. Due to that, I am going to grant you more leniency while being here in Atlas. We need someone to do the dirty work for us, if you have the skills, then we will make use of them. I would ask you to join the Ace-Ops, but something tells me you are loyal to your team…. Because of that, I am instead raising your Class to A. Do not disappoint, Miss Brunswick, and don't be afraid to use force if necessary,"
She flicked her scroll closed, flipping it around her fingertip before sliding it into her breast pocket. She leaned forward, giving the pair a wink while holding her finger to her lip.
"Okay, that is all I had to ask. I suppose we can begin, we have a lot of information we didn't get to share with Levi. We need to move quickly, we don't know when something bad will happen. The 5th Street Cobras are making moves, and with all the riots going on, there might be a bloodbath soon." Metera said, earning a nod from Neo.
"Alright then, Miss Brunswick, follow us."
She nodded, handing Valentine her Parasol for a moment, hastily typing something in her scroll. She hit speak, holding the device to the pair. "Call me Neo, only close friends call me by my real name."
A/N: Uh oh, someone's is jealous