Comprehension

Robyn Hill returned to her home base which was a warehouse that her Happy Huntresses used as their official headquarters. When she made it to her office she began to think and reflect on what the CEO of the SDC said to her. Ansem had said many things but his words about how if she did the same thing what Atlas has been doing to the city of Mantle then she be no better than them, really struck a chord with her.

She sat down at her desk and began to think about Ansem Schnee's choices and his actions.

He not only helps Atlas, he also helps Mantle in his process of work even also having his main base of operations here in the city of Mantle too, granting new businesses and homes that makes them more prosperous.

He also let one of his new machines in Mantle be tested, a reactor that provided power without using Dust. Instead, it used water as a power source to help Mantle to proceed on further. Ansem was also letting her and her team of Happy Huntresses to take on a lot of missions that were connected to the SDC. She took on these jobs to know the truth of his actions from the inside, to see what angle he was possibly working. Quite honestly her and her team didn't find anything wrong at all. All of it was just more helping with both sides.

He also maintained the end of the deal for helping the kingdoms become united for a good cause even helping Vacuo to reclaim what they had lost due to years of mining.

'It's like not only he's become the champion of Mantle but he'salso the champion throughout the whole kingdoms.' Robyn thought to herself. 'And a lot of other people, especially the Faunus people have the most respects for him.'

Ansem had helped in the development of Menagerie, even if he hadn't been leading the SDC back then. Since it's been more in development than ever before and she thinks it's more than the official fifth kingdom. She remembered visiting a lot of times for her missions for the SDC.

To be quite honest she would like to go over there for vacation sometimes.

The city of Kuo Kuana had a full beach and within the rest of the land lots of fresh water because of that great ice storm that happened in the middle of that land.

Robyn continued on thinking this concept more and more, about the elections of the council and the SDC supporting her.

Not only that he also offered a semblance theory test about for anyone that wished to proceed or take about this limit break theory that could help her and many huntsmen and huntresses become greater than they are before.

"Fiona!" She called out, knowing her Faunus friend would hear her. "Could you come up here for a sec?"

A moment later, Fiona stepped through the open door. "You wanted to speak with me?"

"Yeah." Robyn gestured for Fiona to sit down. "I've been thinking a lot about that talk with Ansem."

"You mean how he offered to support you for councilor?" Fiona asked as she sat down.

"Yep." Robyn folded her arms on her desk. "Tell me, what do you think of what he said? Do you agree that if I push for better treatment of Mantle, I might end up doing to Atlas the same that they've been doing to us?"

"Absolutely not!" Fiona shook her head. "You fight for equal rights for everyone, Robyn! That includes people in Atlas!"

Robyn was surprised to hear that from her friend. "I would have thought that you would be happy to consider Atlas being left in the dusk for once."

"If you did the same to Atlas, you wouldn't be you, Robyn. What makes everyone here look up to you is that it doesn't matter if we're from Mantle or Atlas, you would support and protect us all the same. Ansem is wrong about that." Fiona said empathetically.

Robyn smiled at that. "Thanks, Fiona. But while we're on the subject of Ansem, what do you think of the man? Do you think he's really just another stuck up Atlesian elite…or is he somehow different from all the others?"

Fiona was a bit surprised on this. She would gladly give her trust and loyalty towards Robyn, even offering support for Robyn Hill in becoming the next council member in Atlas. It was still a bit surprising to hear Robyn asking this of her.

Fiona had give it a lot of thought before she answered. "Well, we've only met him a handful of times, even when we started excepting missions from him, but honestly to me, Ansem doesn't seem like a suspicious character. He does more good than bad and even my own kind admires Ansem for the good he does. I told you about my uncle, right? The one with bear claws?"

Robyn nodded.

"People were always scared of him for that, but Ansem granted him a great position in the SDC as a Manager in one of the newest buildings and forges. A lot of people that were once homeless now have a place to call home in a warm bed. Even the slums that were many Faunus had used to live are no longer needed since they are living like legitimate homes like humans do." Fiona continued. "Honestly, I thought he was just another Atlesian who would exploit us because we're from Mantle and because of me being a Faunus but to be honest when I think about him now, I can't help but see how similar the two of you both are."

Now that was a surprise.

She was similar to Ansem?

"I know it sounds crazy but on the one hand, we have you, Robyn Hill, leader of the Happy Huntresses and Mantle's Hometown Hero. And on the other hand, there is Ansem Schnee, the CEO of Schnee Dust Company who has taken it in a very great direction that allows a lot of people to not only have better lives but have a good purpose for everyone to participate in."

Fiona had said everything to her leader about her perspective about Ansem's actions and choices were all great, even though she honestly tried to be as impartial as possible and didn't want to give the impression she respected Ansem more than Robyn.

Even Robyn surprisingly was beginning to accept her opinion in the perspective as well.

Unknown to them, they had a guest who had entered the warehouse rather easily.

Joanna and May had quickly spotted the intruder as they entered and reached for their weapons. "Hey!"

Only for snow themed glyphs to appear under their feet, causing their own personal gravity to become so heavy they fell to their knees.

Robyn and Fiona jumped when they heard Joanna shouting and moved for their weapons…

Only to be surprised when they saw none other than Willow Schnee walk through the doorway, wearing a blue winter coat with a white furry collar. "Hello there."

"Schnee?" Robyn lowered her crossbow slightly. "What are you doing here?"

"I had something I wanted to speak with you about in private." Willow said as Joanna and May followed in after her, glaring at her. "Regarding my husband's actions and his offer."

Robyn raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

"Would you fancy a little trip?" Willow asked suddenly.

Robyn looked confused, sharing a look with her fellow Huntresses before looking back at the Schnee Matriarch. "To where?"

"A place in Mantle that you need to know about." Willow answered, looking to Robyn. "If you want to better understand my husband."

The Happy Huntresses were confused about this. Willow Schnee, the Matriarch of the Schnee company wanted them to follow her.

Seeing no reason to refuse, the Happy Huntresses allowed Willow to lead them down the streets of Mantle.

And as they walked, she spoke. "When I was a little girl, my mother wanted to show me Mantle. She brought me down here, to this very street and showed me how different things were compared to the happy home I had with her and father. It was much different back then…It was heartbreaking."

Robyn looked to Willow who seemed almost lost in her memories as she spoke.

"People were struggling to survive; many were homeless without a job. My mother was an advocate for equality between the lower and higher classes of this kingdom, especially the Faunus. My mother wanted me to realize that not everyone in Mantle were living like we were in Atlas and it wasn't just limited to Mantle. It was the rest of the world, so many people unable to live in luxury for many reasons while I was lucky to be born in a family with more privileges." Willow continued. "This was a really hard lesson for me to take in including seeing all the children not having as much what I had. Children do not understand the rights and wrongs yet, but they were not truly happy for what they were living. As I said, it was heartbreaking seeing the city in such a state. My mother told me, that even the children would be forced to try to make a living, having to work at such a young age when they should be living their first years in blessed innocence."

Willow stopped at a corner of the street and looked ahead, staring seemingly at nothing.

"What is it?" Robyn asked, now curious about where this was all headed.

"This was where everything changed for me." She pointed down the street. "I met a boy here, tying to make a living by selling a different type of ice cream, one that actually had a salt flavor."

Robyn and the Happy Huntresses then remembered the Sea-Salt Ice Cream Ansem liked to offer out to anyone visiting him.

"My mother bought some for me, her husband and for herself and gave the boy a generous amount of money for his creativity and hardship." Willow had a small smile on her face now. "When I first tried this peculiar frozen blue treat, I was amazed by how wonderful it tasted. Even my father enjoyed the ice cream too…Especially my mother. It was then I inspired by what my mother was trying to show me in trying to help Mantle, the original kingdom. My father took in the boy that sold the ice cream believing he possessed great potential to help the kingdoms if he was creative enough to make such a delicious treat. And he was right about that about that boy potential was greater than ever."

The Happy Huntresses were quite interested in the Matriarch's story about meeting her husband, but they were curious about something else.

"That's all well and good but what about Ansem's parents?" May asked. "Didn't he know he would be leaving them behind when he was taken up to Atlas?"

Willow smiled and took them down the street, coming upon one of the city's orphanages. The Happy Huntresses were beyond confused and yet curious of why Willow took them all the way here seeing a lot of children that are happily in such a place and there were even a few classes with children learning a lot of new things. Willow brought them into a hallway where pictures could be seen along the walls, pointing picture before the orphanage was supported by her father and mother. When they took a good look in the picture and saw the names that been also placed on it and one of the names shocked them.

Ansem

The name of the Schnee Patriarch was in this picture and not only that a younger version of him was in the group.

"Ansem is an orphan?" Fiona gasped, covering her mouth.

"Yes." Willow nodded with a soft and yet smile. "Ansem was an orphan. He had no family for his parents died in poverty and he was placed here as an infant. Even though this place now had better living standards this was the home he originated from. It different back then as the orphanage struggled to support the children here and if not for meeting my mother and I, things would have likely been very different.

The Happy Huntresses were not only shocked they were also ashamed to jump with conclusions that when a person been raised in Atlas they were part of Atlas. Instead Ansem was a child of Mantle struggling to help the place that he lived in and others with him. Then in the hand of fate came when the previous Matriarch of the Schnee had a heart of gold and steel willing to aid the city of Mantle. Now her daughter Willow was helping the people in Mantle and her husband Ansem was helping, doing his hardest for everyone.

Which also meant Willow and Ansem's children are both parts of Atlas and Mantle….

Leaving Robyn Hill sick at herself now for her behavior around the Schnee family.

Willow noticed the expression and body language of the Happy Huntresses. They're not only showing realization they are feeling little bit guilty for what they had done to Ansem, believing him to be just another Atlas elite.

"Willow, I-"

"I have no need for your apologies, Miss Hill." Willow cut Robyn off, surprising her. "I only came to make sure you now understand the kind of man my husband is. And there is something else."

Robyn and other Huntresses looked to her.

"You recall my husband's limit break theory?" Willow asked to which the Huntresses in affirmation. "It has been turned into a fact, following a successful test by one of the Ace-Ops under the command of General Ironwood."

The Happy Huntresses were now out of their stupor into shock that Ansem's Limit Break was now a fact to help huntsmen and huntresses to acquire more than one ability within their semblance.

"I thought saw one of them running around the city." Joanna recalled. "I thought it was a new training exercise after your bodyguards beat them."

"One could say it was that." Willow shrugged. "It was part of a training program my husband devised to see if it was possible to transform their semblance into something new."

If the Ace-Ops are getting stronger than them, they needed to take this course to enhance their skills and abilities to be more prepared against the worst scenario.

They had to make sure the Ace-Ops don't get an upper hand on them.

"Willow, I don't suppose your husband is open to anyone asking him for this kind of training?" Robyn asked. "To make sure all Huntsmen and Huntresses can better protect Remnant?"

Willow smiled. "I am sure something can be arranged. In fact, I was on my way to see him after I was done speaking to you. Care for a visit to SDC headquarters?"

"Lead the way." Robyn gestured with a smile.

Without any hesitation they followed the Willow Schnee to the meeting place in Mantle Castle that been built for the city to remind everyone that Mantle is still a kingdom, to discuss the plans to acquire Limit Breaks of their own.

Jacques Gele didn't have much of a strong foothold to acquire the position of councilor nor the supporters he needed. He would definitely do any under-minded technique to acquire that position as a council member.

So far, without any concrete evidence that implicated him as a supporter of the Wild Hunt, the Diamond Dust Company, and Jacques Gele were safe, but the rumors were enough to make his chances slim. Even his attempts trying to merge the Schnee Dust Company and the Diamond Dust Company turned out to be a major failure.

He even tried to use one children of the Diamond Dust Company's board members to marry one of the SDC daughters…

Which bought the wrath of two parents.

Not just the mother but the father also scared Jacques Gele and the board members of the Diamond Dust Company and the son.

(Which led to the interesting result of Jacques Gele squirming from the wrath of protective parents.)

When Jacques Gele returned to his own company he was beyond furious and at the same time depressed. All his attempts and everything he tried to do was dwindling away faster and faster.

How had it all gone so wrong?

It wasn't supposed to be this way.

He should be richest man in the world.

It all seemed to simply in the beginning.

Court Willow Schnee, the heiress of the Schnee Dust Company, charm her until she gave him her heart…

And opened her legs for him.

With his marriage into the Schnee family, his future would be all but assured as he then worked his way into the good graces of Nicholas Schnee, convincing him that he was the best option to guide the SDC into a golden future where he would take complete control of the company, gain all the vast riches it had made and become richer than anyone else on Remnant while making sure his supposed to be wife gave him a few suitable heirs.

Only it all gone so wrong…

Because that street rat Ansem.

Jacques had learned from his contacts that Ansem was a orphan from the streets of Mantle when he started working for the SDC as a business consultant. He wondered why the Schnee family would even associate with a no-name orphan and Willow told him it was because he had made a very interesting and delicious ice cream that she and her parents had loved.

He charmed them with ice cream of all things?!

Nicholas' wife had convinced him that Ansem was a bright young lad who was unfortunate enough to be living in an orphanage, but he had a remarkable potential. Jacques suspected that Nicholas' wife didn't like him but so as long as he played it safe, he could convince the father and daughter to be on his side and then he would boot the woman out onto the streets…

If she hadn't have passed away.

He had been blindsided though, when Ansem had done so first.

He knew they were childhood friends, but he hadn't realized Ansem had been practically adopted by the Schnees and having been living in their house! Ansem had been Willow's closest friend and confidant, the two practically grew up together and he was perhaps the only male friend he knew of that she socialized with.

Jacques then realized it was possible that Willow had feelings for Ansem and for his plan to succeed, Ansem needed to be dealt with.

It took some time but when Nicholas issued his challenge to the two, Jacques saw his chance.

He bribed certain people to rig Ansem's ship with a bomb when it was far enough from Atlas to make it look like an accident. Ansem had chosen Vacuo of all places and that was perfect in Jacques' mind. It would be far enough that any attempts to find any evidence of what caused the explosion would be futile. Willow would be distraught and he would offer her a shoulder to cry on, cementing his place in her heart.

Only it hadn't gone that way at all.

After Jacques was done his month of work, increasing profits by cutting the budget for safety equipment and eliminating all scheduled breaks and making sure that all essential parties were bribed into silence, Jacques returned to the Schnee mansion, ready for his moment of triumph.

Only when the doors opened, he was greeted with the surprising sight of Ansem!

Alive!

Ansem had regaled Nicholas, his wife and Willow of how someone had alerted him to a bomb being placed on his airship when he was leaving Vacuo and he immediately removed himself before the ship had even taken off. Ansem then found a way another way back to Atlas and had just arrived before Jacques had.

Jacques himself was stunned and had to work hard to keep himself from displaying any emotions that would make him a suspect. Ansem had come back from a successful trip of establishing a new line of trade with Vacuo. Despite the lands already having been ravaged, there were still pockets of Dust yet to be found and Ansem had worked to establish a trade agreement with the tribes of Vacuo by supplying them with something that Solitas had an unlimited amount of.

Ice.

Ansem promised in exchange for allowing SDC workers to scout out any Dust deposits still left in Vacuo, the SDC would provide the tribes with ice and water that could easily be shipped and was much, much cheaper than Dust. Vacuo had a harsh environment with so little water and Solitas was an arctic region with an unlimited amount of water that could easily be bartered with. Ansem had even provided a dozen free samples to the tribes for their cooperation and in exchange for any Dust found, he would not only provide water but much needed soil and seeds to help repair the damage Vacuo had suffered from years of mining.

Nicholas and his wife were both impressed by Ansem's hard work and his carefully outlined plan which he presented.

It was an opportunity to expand the Schnee Dust Company farther across Sanus into regions they could not properly excavate for one reason or another.

Jacques had tried to counter the ludicrous idea of setting up trade in Vacuo of all places, believing the land was useless now but kind and gentle nature of Nicholas Schnee was beyond pleased at the idea. The SDC would not only gain further trade but a chance to repair the mistakes of the past appealed greatly to the Schnee Patriarch.

And then the evidence came…

Ansem produced a file that showed certain people in the SDC being bribed to smuggle the bomb onto Ansem's airship, even labelling it as Schnee equipment. Ansem had caught on because someone had alerted him to the bomb's existence.

Jacques shuddered at the faces that Nicholas, his wife and Willow had made to him that day.

They were furious.

Beyond furious.

Nicholas fired Jacques from the SDC and had their own staff throw him out of the Schnee mansion before he could even try to get a word in.

Word had spread after that.

He was ruined.

Pride cometh before the fall.

Jacques had stood proudly as he prepared to gain everything he wanted, everything he deserved. And then it all came crashing down. His associates turned their backs on him, refusing to speak with him, refusing to even acknowledge he existed.

Atlas had judged him and found him wanting.

His reputation…

His dreams…

His future…

He could only survive by leaving Atlas and taking refuge in Anima, managing to make a name for himself in the small but manageable Diamond Dust Company. His business skills allowed him to rise up through the ranks and…replace the previous CEO, taking charge.

It was not enough.

It would never be enough.

Jacques poured in some wine to try to calm himself down, but it hardly worked as he couldn't get the expensive kind since he had to put himself on a tight budget which made him even more infuriated about his position falling apart. Trying to get on any dirt on the CEO of the SDC was impossible as any and all attempts came back clean and there was nothing for him to gain. Jacques Gele didn't have much of a leg to stand on for much longer, especially if he wanted to be a representative for one of the councils of the kingdoms.

"How pathetic."

Jacques choked and spat, turning around to see an intruder in his office.

It was a boy in a mask.

He wore a black and red organic-looking bodysuit and over his face was a silver helmet covered with dark glass.

"To think, this is what used to be a prominent man in Atlas." The boy sat on Jacques' desk, his masked face resting on a hand.

"Who are you?" Jacques wiped his face. "Get out before I call security!"

"Oh, by all means, call security. I would love to have a little fun." The boy chuckled, his voice so dark and sinister it sent a chill up Jacques' spine. "But the real question isn't who am I. It's what I can do for you, Jacky boy."

Jacques moved to call security but there was a dark blast and his Scroll was on the ground, a dark flame burning it into nothing.

"Uh-uh-uh." The boy waved a finger. "We don't do that when a guest is speaking. Especially when said guest offers you a chance to get what you want."

Jacques paused, staring at the boy. "What do you think I want?"

"Oh…Just maybe…Power, status, revenge." The boy rubbed his chin, his voice becoming casual. "Take your pick. I'm fine with any of those."

Jacques just stared. "Revenge…You mean on…the Schnees."

The boy perked up. "Oh? Interested?"

"I…I would love nothing more than to see the Schnee family crumble and die for what they have done to me!" Jacques threw his glass at the wall. "I have been banished from my own home because of them!"

"Oooooooooh." The boy leaned forward. "Tell me more because I might have a few ideas and I know a few people who would love to help. And for the record, you can call me Vanitas."