Chapter 23: Schwarz

A/N: If there is one thing I can confirm. AgK Akame would hate Remnant Akame. And I lost the motivation to write due to the holidays. It was impossible to find time to write.

"I trust them," I answered.

My uncle stood flabbergasted.

"What?" He uttered," Can you repeat that?"

I shook my head and sighed.

"I know this isn't how I normally operate," I explained," But I decided to trust the limited intel and your judgment. The fact you brought up the meeting in the hotel room, on their property, could only mean one thing, They are legitimate."

"The room is debugged," he motioned to a small sack in the corner.

"Isn't that illegal?"

"They agreed to disable the cameras but allowed me to manually 'check'," He answered and sat down on some crates," I was going to give a heartfelt speech about trust and why you should face your mistakes."

"Save the essay for school, Uncle," I joked," I don't need life lessons on my vacation. When am I meeting them?"

"At the end of your vacation," he answered.

"How about as soon as possible?" I asked," Before Dad and Umber get here."

"Are you sure?" He asked," I wanted the serious stuff to be resolved later. I didn't want to burden you. Besides, I need Tai to watch your sisters."

"Thanks but you should have told me near the end," I countered," Does dad know about this?"

"Yep," he said," And agreed to it. You need to tell him in private about it afterward."

"Let's start then."

Uncle Qrow nodded in agreement and bought out his scroll and dialed.

"Hey, Mr. Schwarz," He said," Sorry for calling a bit late, but Akame wants the meeting now...On speaker? Alright."

He pressed a single button on his scroll and turned it toward me. The caller ID reads, Client JS.

"Hello, Ms. Kurono," The man welcomed. He sounded old with a formal, yet relaxed tone," How has your vacation been so far?"

I look at my uncle and he motioned for me to talk.

"It's going well," I answered," I assume you made sure of it?"

"Yes," he said joyously," You and your family are the guests of honor. This is a thank you for the good you have done and for saving my grandson. We'll continue this conversation at our lovely all-you-can-eat restaurant recommended by your uncle. Please, Give us 30 minutes to prepare."

"Thank you," I answered and he hung up.

I stared at my uncle and sighed.

"I'm taking a gamble," I lowered my head," I would never accept this without proper recon."

I'm questioning why I'm taking these risks.

"I met Joyce Schwarz in person," Qrow confirmed," He's honest but is a family man first and foremost."

I noticed he said the last part with a slightly negative tone.

"I suspect all the charity and kindness is to keep his family going in the long term," I thought about it," And he is willing to meet with me despite the danger it can bring to his family name? Charity and kindness could be a cover-up."

"They are good people," he said," I don't want you to ruin your best chance to get your life straight over some implications."

"If they are good people," I countered," Should we tell them about Mercury? Aren't they trustworthy?"

I lean forward and cross my arm behind my back.

My uncle looked at me in astonishment.

"You are frightening," he shook his head," Look, I'll tell you after but they're good people now."

Good people 'now' is the keyword.

I expected the Schwarz to have their dark secrets; we all do. It could relate to them leaving Atlas and Martha to become assassins. I'll ignore it for now but will keep an eye out for suspicious behaviors.

"Fine, Let's go meet them." I nodded," Ruby and Yang are still in their rooms?"

"I would be notified," he checked his scroll," Besides, those two are too clumsy to be sneaky."

"I can fix that," I walked.

"Hey," he patted my head as he moved past me," Leave some teaching for your dad and me. You still got much to learn yourself, Aka."

I thought it was a stupid idea to have the meeting in a buffet restaurant inside the hotel. But the food smells delicious. I would've preferred an empty warehouse or a long alleyway for a meeting area. I would notice a trap or ambush in the limited space.

I took a bite out of a seasoned streak. It's not healthy to eat late at night yet here I am enjoying a 5-star meal. Now I understand why they wanted 30 mins to get everything ready.

"Not hungry?" I wipe my mouth.

"I'm good," he shrugged.

I continue to devour the meal while the staff removes the plates as quickly as I finish it.

A pair of servers walked to the front entrance and opened it. They bowed to the two men that walked in. I set my utensils down, took a sip of water, and wiped my mouth. From across the room, I can see the two men coming closer.

Sky Schwarz looks different compared to the last time. There was now a tired yet determined look on his face with paler, blue eyes. While his body seems to gain some muscles. As if he has done nothing but train in the months since I have seen him. He wore a light blue suit vest over a white button-up and a silver sport jacket. Sky's black hair is styled into a comb-over instead of the wild spikes.

Overall, he's more refined than rugged when we first met.

The older man had a fedora and wore all black. A smile stretched across his wrinkled face with eyes that shines a bright, lively light blue. I cautiously observe the man and notice a few abnormalities. It isn't immediately obvious nor does it hint at hidden malice. No, it hints at someone who became benign after countless hardships. It is hard for me to distinguish his age. He looked like he could be in his 90s and over, yet his movements are still youthful and energetic.

The collar of his dress shirt and fedora failed to hide the tattoos around his neck and head. I looked at his hands, and the right hand is missing a few fingers. While the left hand has a large scar on the back of the hand.

"Thank you for coming, Aka Kurono. I am the head of the Schwarz family, Joyce Schwarz," he sat down across from us with Sky standing behind him.

"Enjoying your food?" He asked," I notice you took an interest in my ink and battle scars. That past is behind me like what I'm willing to offer and forgive."

I put the fork and spoon down.

"Are there strings attached?" I inquired," I could be a liability in the future."

"But you want to change," he answered," It is not easy. People tend to slip, and sometimes they fall."

"Just like her?" I asked.

"Akame!" My uncle raised his voice in shock.

"It's fine," he motioned," My daughter made mistakes and I pushed her away for it. When I realized my mistake, She was long gone and we could never reach her until that night."

"I see," I closed my eyes," I understand completely. It's a family issue I shouldn't have touched on."

"I understand she's important to both of you, too," he smiled," Now to make you feel better, Do you want to know what people think of your heroism?"

"Divisive?"

"You are a hero," he explained, "20,000 Alpha Grimm in four hours is an impossible feat. Future retelling would have to downplay it to be believable."

"It's only possible because of that semblance of yours," Sky added," A Grimm camouflage with a massive boost to your base ability while making you a glass cannon. A powerful semblance, but there are now countermeasures against it."

I raised my brow.

"It's true icey," my uncle shrugged," It is best used to catch people off guard, a 1v1, and against Grimm. The worst matchup is against a well-prepared group. Prolong use would kill you."

I thought about it and nodded. It isn't easy to activate it either. I can't use it for myself but for the sake of others. I came to learn it's reactionary and almost…alive. Semblance is a part of you yet this one feels like it's hurting me.

"I don't think you can dodge an overwhelming hail of bullets or a wide area attack," Sky continued speaking," Encirclement will be your downfall if your opponents are competent and skilled."

"Also true," my uncle agreed," And she can still be affected by other semblances."

"Can we stop discussing how to defeat me?"

"Everyone does it," Joyce added," It is talked about by people who are interested in you."

"How? My semblance boosts my reaction time and speed, too."

"Yep," he placed a hand on my shoulder," But have you considered what would happen if you trip without aura and at high speed?"

"I wouldn't-"I stopped and thought about it. I would like to believe I'm unlikely to fall for beginner errors until I train with my uncle.

I remember the misfortune of fighting my uncle a few weeks back. It started with tree sap covering my head and having to fend off bees. Finally ending up nearly setting the forest on fire from the sparks on our blades.

Plus, I can heal myself but that requires me to hold still and focus on the injury. That's harder to do because my semblance wouldn't let me know what's hurting because of the pain nullification. I could escape and heal but this semblance won't let me. It screams at me to kill. It's a powerful semblance with a massive downside.

"Back on topic," Joyce said," This family is thankful for what you have done. You save Mistral and my grandson's life. And I can tell you are nothing like the rumor and fake news suggest."

"Thank you, Mr. Schwarz," I nodded.

"And thus, We forgive you and support you in your endeavor to become a better person," he paused," Only under one condition."

"What is it?"I lean forward.

"In private, We forgive you but our support can't be in the open yet," he explained," You're still a controversial girl and openly supporting you now will backfire on my family and its businesses. I can't take that risk, understand?"

"Family first?" I asked.

"Yes, but if you prove yourself to the world and keep your word," he expressed," This Enterprise will offer its service and ask for yours in return."

"Those are acceptable," I understand his reasoning," I will get my huntress license and prove to the world I'm a better person."

Joyce's eyes light up.

"You are a braver person than I ever was," Joyce complimented," He took off his hat and I can see an array of tattoos blanketing his scalp," I refuse to let the public see who I once was."

We both smiled.

"We both made the right call to trust each other, almost blindly," I uttered. I'm shocked I met someone that isn't trying to use, betray or kill me. I expected a smooth-talker or a cold businessman. This is refreshing.

"Try not to cause any more trouble," Joyce chuckled, "What happened to your tattoos?"

"They're not tattoos. They're markings from my semblance," I answered.

"Interesting, I have never seen something like that before," he said and stood up," Is there anything else you would like to talk about?"

I wanted to talk about Mercury. So far, the meeting with Joyce is more courteous compared to that headmaster. I'll even offer a discount in return when I become a huntress. The way Joyce acts is legitimate. He is just like me. We are both sick of our past and want to move ahead.

No, I can't tell them about Mercury, yet. Maybe they already know about Martha's son and are hiding it from us too? That's wrong. They would have already saved him by now and Qrow would notify me.

"No, That's it," I stood up," And I can't eat anymore. Give your chef my thanks for a great meal."

"I will young lady," he put his hat back on," Be sure to enjoy the rest of your time here."

"Thank you, Mr…," I clenched my fist," There is one more thing I want to talk about. I-I need to know if Umber Karolina has any surviving relatives."

"Umber Karolina is the girl you grew up with?" He pulled out his scroll and tapped on it," Ten years ago, Her family left Atlas due to the increasingly harsh work ethics of its corporations. Same reason why we left our ancestral home."

"It's that bad?" I raised my brow and we both set back down.

"It wasn't always like that," He exhaled," It could have been regulated. But now it spirals out of control from the actions of a few people. The catalysts, toxic ingredients, made Atlas into a corpse hidden underneath a plate of white armor. Nicolas would be disgusted by it, may he Rest In Peace."

"Does this relate to what happened to my best friend?"

"Yes," he sighed," The worst commercial airline accident in history. A man-made disaster that kills 60 people. There shouldn't be a family unless it's distant relatives. And of course, the nearest Bandit group is framed and willingly accepts it. Foolish of your mother to be blunt."

The tribe is lying about causing the disaster? I recall the bragging they did back when I was still a baby. Even I was thoroughly convinced they would do it.

This means…she's walking into a trap! I need to warn them.

"Who are the suspects?" I gritted my teeth, "It sounds like the accident was on purpose."

"Aka, Please don't do anything you will regret," He expressed with worry," I think your uncle understands an optional mission I'm about to give you."

"He wants you to go after business rivals," my uncle said," The Schwarz has a clean record because they refuse to get their hands dirty."

"You're mistaken, I don't want her to get her hand dirty," he defended," I want her to bring justice to a corrupt kingdom. She can choose to ignore it and let nature take its course. Eventually, Someone else can pick up the mantle and reform Atlas. Either way, My family will prosper in the aftermath."

Is this what my uncle meant with family first?

"I'm also not asking you to do it alone," he explained further," There are many people who are on your side in Mantle and a few in Atlas. But, only after you get your license and everything must be 'legal' and within your duty as a huntress. We will immediately cut ties otherwise."

"To be clear, I won't be placed in a situation that can risk my reputation?" I narrowed my eyes," Because I can revoke this agreement and only accept the apology."

I already accepted one mission from Headmaster Hui Fang. I'm spying on a place of business and being paid for it. It will ruin me if this goes badly. Luckily, Vacuo is on my side and any crime will be buried with the right help. I wish it would turn out to be nothing but all those mercenaries point toward a greater conspiracy.

I will hike up the price depending on the severity.

And Marcus Black must die. There is no way around it. He's too dangerous to be left alive.

Follow the law and become an honorable Huntress or break it as I see fit.

"Yes, Our deal is for you to get better instead of regressing," he repeated. Now I see where this is going.

The PR for my reform is much better than staying enemies. This is far less bad than what Ironwood or Lil Ms. Malachite sees me as; an asset and loose-end respectively. Meanwhile, Salem wants to use me as a pawn and Fang is already offering missions. And I hope he's telling the truth about Mercury's location.

Because I know lots of people want him dead. I'm not going to be the one to kill him over false intel, but someone else will. I don't need to save him if I happen to be in the area. I eliminated enforcers like him back in my old life. He better has a reason why he only goes after those in the lower class but not his wealthy backers.

"Those are acceptable conditions," I agreed," But what if it's the other way around? What if you're the one to betray me?"

"You have my word-"

"That isn't enough," I interrupted," I dealt with people who kept their word but went back on it. I'll ask a slightly different question. What should I do if your family turns on me without cause?"

I can tell my uncle wanted to talk. Maybe yell at me for ruining my chance to have a strong backer. He has to understand I've been burned before because they think I'm a child.

"If that happens," he breathed in," You have the right to defend yourself. But if I discard you, I would have betrayed what I believe in. I believe people can become more than whatever affliction or affiliation they are born/raised into."

The raw emotions in his voice can't be fake. I always knew it was legitimately the moment he walked in. Even Sky is ashamed of the revelation.

"I won't let it happen again even after I die," he chuckled dryly," Sky's mother is already voted in as the next head of the family. I raised my daughter to carry on a better legacy."

"I'll do my best too," I smiled. I watched my uncle gasp in surprise. Yes, Uncle Qrow, I am smiling. Please stop making it weird.

This meeting made me feel better about my future if I choose to take a righteous path. Yet, the future still requires me to make questionable decisions. They are decisions I can't be a part of with the facade of a righteous huntress.

I figured out a way around it.

I will talk to the God of Darkness.

"Is there anything else you like to talk about?"

"No, thank you," I nodded," I'm also full. Thank you for giving me this opportunity I'll humbly accept. It will be an honor working with each other."

I recited the etiquette I learned from Lil Ms. Malachite.

"No, thank you and your uncle," he nodded to both of us," I hope the two of you continue to make the right choices."

We all got up, said our final goodbyes, and left the restaurant.

"That was insane," my uncle said," You hit one too many sensitive tropics."

"Confirmation of knowledge and heart is important," I explained," I'll join you later."

There was a fork in the hallway. One leading to our room and the other to the roof.

"Akame, it's getting late," he put a hand on my shoulder.

"I just need some time to think," I brush it aside and go our separate ways. I can tell he looked back at me while I kept my eyes forward.

Northern Solitas

Within a military outpost, Arthur Watts has escaped for his final time. He knows his death is imminent no matter what he does. Even escaping and rendezvousing with his rescuers isn't going to cut it. He is going to die long before any medical help can be administered.

"My name is Arthur Watts!" He frantically yelled into the camera," I'm about to be executed without-"

The once refined man looked malnourished, bullet wound in his stomach, and beaten within an inch of his life. Yet, he has enough energy to run and shout while holding a handheld camera.

The bullets narrowly avoided hitting him. The sounds of footsteps follow closely behind Arthur as he runs down a pure white hall. He jumps into a room and closes the door behind him.

"WITHOUT A TRIAL!"

The camera panned out to show an empty all-white armory with no windows and racks of weapons locked away. He typed on a nearby console to lock himself in. Watts can easily arm himself. But he has a different plan in mind.

"Listen, I did nothing wrong and the General is insane! He will end us all!" Watts rambled on," The academies are hiding secrets! Malachite is a part of it."

Loud knocking sounds can be heard behind Watts. He pointed the camera at himself.

"People of Remnant! Don't let my death be in vain. Question and rebel against those in power," he coughed blood while nausea is slowly overtaking him.

Watts had tried escaping before but was unsuccessful each time. As a result, His treatment got worse and worse. It wasn't until recently that they moved him to a facility designed to hold one person, Akame.

"Crap! He's in the armory!"

"He's trapped!"

"Bastard's somehow holding the door shut!" An Atlesian soldier yelled," None of the passwords or code is working!"

"Shoot the door!"

Watts slowly backed himself into the back of the barrack. He pointed the camera at the thick, metal door.

"Don't fuckin shoot!" Another frantic soldier screamed," It's going to ricochet."

"Move out of the way!" Specialist Cordovin ordered.

A loud explosion rocked the room, and four soldiers rushed through the smoke and dust.

In the confusion, A soldier mistook the camera in Watts' hand as a gun.

"HE'S ARMED!" The soldier screamed and opened fire. His comrade did the same and unloaded into the scientist.

Watts stood in place and accepted his demise. He did everything he needed.

"Say hello wor-" Watts' words were cut short as bullets tore through his body.

The firing squad stopped after a few seconds. Watts falls back and slides down the barrack wall. The scientist's blood stained the white interior and pooled on the floor.

Cordovin steps forward and in view of the still recording camera in Watts's bloody hand. She let out a disappointed sigh and ordered her men out of the room.

Through either a miracle or pure spite, Watts coughed and laughed.

"Hah hah," he used his last ounce of strength to stare into Cordovin's eyes, "Tell James, Say hi to the world."

And like that, the infamous Arthur Watts took his last breath. The internal bleeding would have killed him, regardless. In this lifetime, it wasn't a fire and a betrayal that ended him. Instead, He'll plant the seed to destroy Atlas and entrust strangers to carry it out.

"Bullshit," A soldier whispered," There's no way a signal can get out."

"It looks like the apocalypse is happening outside," Another soldier added," Radio barely even works in base."

The specialist was too stunned to speak. She looked into the camera and shot it with her sidearm, ending the transmission.

It was a half-truth that Watts' message is sent throughout the entirety of Remnant. Instead, the range is short due to the weather, but there are plenty of willing volunteers to spread it around. The volunteers hide close enough to the base to relay the final moments of Watts to their scrolls.

The tundra of Solitas raged with an intense blizzard capable of knocking airships out of the sky. Yet, a few dozen snowmobiles are racing across the snow-filled wasteland. Vernal is using her power to weaken the storm around them otherwise the Faunus would have been shredded by the winds.

Vernal didn't know who Arthur Watts was but his death will be worth something.

"Great work everyone!" Flaxen, leader of the Atlas branch of the White Fang, shouted into her comm," Recording received and not a single casualty. That's the best we can do in this situation."

Flaxen turned to nudge her passenger.

"You holding up fine, Vernal?" She questions," It sucks we weren't able to rescue him. So don't feel down."

"Think so," the leader of the Branwen tribe held tightly," This storm isn't normal."

"Well, crap?" Flaxen cursed," Atlas' own Maiden is doing this?"

"I don't know."

The Spring Maiden thought about it. She knows the upper limit of a maiden power because of Jinn. A maiden can create a storm out of nothing but it only localizes. This blizzard is affecting a whole continent at a magnitude beyond what a Maiden is capable of. Even the shielding system in Atlas is getting overwhelmed. While Mantle is reporting deaths from the weather.

'They're fighting!' Jinn screamed from within her.

"Who is fighting?" Vernal whispered.

"What was that?" Flaxen shouted.

"I said the weather is putting up a fight!"

"I know right!" She said," It is doing our job for us."

"Good!" Vernal sighed," I didn't have to kill anyone, again."

"That wasn't you remember?" Flaxen recalled," That was me. I'm the one who annihilated the Battalion. You just give me your permission and after that your body, magic, and knowledge."

Flaxen semblance is possession. She can take full control of another person's body. It works best when either the target is unconscious or willing. She discovers it when she places a hand on a pass-out Shay.

There are major drawbacks to the semblance. She can't use the other person's semblance nor does it stack aura. The victim can easily force her out with little effort. In the meantime, Flaxen's body would be left vulnerable.

"Once the weather clears, We will post our findings to the net," Flaxen ordered," Stay close and within a formation, The world shall see the true face of Ironwood and I want all of us to witness it."

Dozens of Faunus replied promptly.

"These guys seem professional," Vernal noticed," They aren't like the ones down south."

The spring maiden has spoken to White Fangs before. They are so hostile toward her. If they dislike racism and inequality why are they acting that way? She can't understand it. Vernal figured she should visit Menagerie after this. Blake and her family seem like good people.

"Of course, they aren't! I hand-picked them after all," Flaxen smiled," Most of them are either ex-soldiers or trained militias. I even have people with important skills and higher positions working under me."

"That's awesome," Vernal nodded.

"It is what will separate us from the other branches," she explained," I want quality over quantity. It's what I learned back in the day. A few experienced and motivated employees can run a department better than a dozen new hires."

The spring maiden stares at the nearest White Fang members. They aren't wearing Grimm masks but standard goggles, face masks, and beanies for a snowstorm. It makes sense because they don't want to draw attention to the White Fangs. They are just 'bandits' that wanted to raid a small, remote military outpost.

The weapons are also different from the White Fangs in Mistral. They are all made from Atlesian designs and parts. Which means it is primarily white and black with only accents of other colors. It is all weapons a professional army would use.

Vernal looked at the gun blade.

'I need to get myself one of those,' She thought to herself. Vernal wanted to make her very own weapon. A sniper rifle and a glaive hybrid seem like the best option for her.

There is a reason why she's risking her life behind enemy territory. She wanted to learn from her auntie, Flax, to be a better leader for the tribe and get the best quality material for her weapon. She already picked out a name, too.

Ver Veritas.

She is thankful that Jinn 'accidentally' reveals her birth name. It is the name her parents give to her and not the one assigned to her because she was a 'nameless orphan'. It is ironic, maybe even by fate, that her true name and Vernal Easter are Spring related.

"So Ver," Flax called out," Or Vernal?"

"Vernal, I am Vernal now," She repeated.

"Ya sure…sure," She exhaled," Does it feel like the weather is finally letting up?"

"We better seek shelter," Vernal silently called on Jinn for directions, "2 km away, straight ahead."

"No, I mean," Flaxen paused," Are you feeling better about yourself?"

She didn't want to admit it but she was fully aware of what Flaxen did to the Atlesian soldiers. It was brutality she has never witnessed before. Vernal should be asking Flaxen if she's the one hurting more. She wanted to stop Flaxen or tell her to tone it down but knows it will be on her to finish it.

Vernal didn't want to kill anyone but will do it if needed. She just wants to be safe from the world. Vernal Easter is the weapon and Ver Veritas is when she is finally free.

Once the weather cleared, It took another half a day for Atlas to reconnect with the rest of Remnant. Once it did, All hell broke loose as the last moments of Watts were leaked to the net.

"Turning a failed mission into a successful one for us," A smooth, seductive voice congratulated over the scroll," Watts still has so much value but alas, His injuries and the severe storm were beyond your capacity."

"Sorry, Ms. Taylor," Flaxen apologized," Is the contract voided?"

"You will still be paid accordingly," 'Ms. Taylor' confirmed," And I would like further service in the future."

"I-I'm thankful."

"Good luck with your endeavor," Salem hung up the scroll," Why are the Gods back? And why didn't they destroy the world?"

Salem fumed over the results. She gained the least and lost the most compared to her enemies. A sizable population of Grimm is reduced, minions dead, an entire kingdom out of her reach, failed to convert a powerful asset, and now the Gods are here but are only squabbling among themselves.

Luckily, Watts left behind one of the most crucial components of her plan. A flash drive containing the virus.

She needs to start finding new associates. Watts and Lionheart are dead. Cinder is still mentally inept. While the rest have to keep a low profile. There are already candidates worth scouting. She looks at a list of names and groups of interests.

Every action has consequences.

I woke up feeling refreshed. It no longer felt like the sun was trying to burn me alive. The first thing I did was turn on the TV to see what I'd done.

"The rescue effort is still ongoing-"

I changed channels.

"Hundred of lives lost in Mantle alone-"

"Civil unrest in Atlas."

"Unrelenting Grimm attack-"

I flip through the channels taking in all the information.

"Sorry," I uttered to myself. My decision killed hundreds if not thousands of innocent lives on the continent of Solitas. So much for reforming my life.

I need to look at this from another angle. This much destruction has set Atlas back and bought me some time. I can't recall my past and my aura feels weaker. This means the God of Light took the bait and no one will know what I did.

I have done nothing wrong.

I will find a way to make amends from now on and find the golden path. I have another chance to set it right.

A/N: Jinn knows everything, Akame. Which is weird when the Gods seem to lack it. Old humanity rebellion for example. It's best not to think too hard about it.

This should be a good stopping point. So holidays have made it impossible for me to write and I lost motivation for it. I wrote 5000 words in under a week.

And this chapter changed A LOT. I deleted roughly a thousand words in one edit and switched out characters. For example, It wasn't Cordovin at the base but Ironwood. I changed it because Ironwood wouldn't be a council member for long if he is directly involved.

The Schwarz as a whole was also going to be more manipulative and direct rival to the Schnee's but I changed it. And that's all because of how I wrote Joyce Schwarz.

I like writing Joyce Schwarz since he represents Akame turning her life around. He isn't going to live any longer but he's in his 90s and has lived peacefully for decades. Joyce's old lifestyle is supposed to kill him before he reaches his twenties yet he sets it all aside for a better life. It's the type of story I heard before. The Schwarz is undoubtedly good yet flawed and challenges the idea that everyone in Atlas is either corrupt, overly patriotic, or a spoiled brats. Atlas itself can still be fixed before it gets too rotten.

Yes, The Gods will keep their distance. I said it last chapter but I needed one more event to make them leave. They will be entirely outside the story after Akame's little stunt. Otherwise, One of them will destroy Remnant in an attempt to one-up the other. No more miracles or divine intervention from now on.

Which is also a part of Akame's plan. Akame's existence is still sending ripples. For example, Flaxen, Vernal, and Hui Fang should die long before volume 1. The Schwarz family would never affect the plot. Malachite would never rise to power. Etc.

Fun team naming for future chapters. It's team AKME(Akame) officially but due to the entire team using alternate names and an alternate team leader for secret missions: Team MAVK(Maverick). Melty Pyrite, Aka Kurono, Ver Veritas, and Umbra Kalypso.

Top secret names until team RWBY hears about it. Volume 1-3.

Ruby: My sisters are so cool! They're like top-secret spies!

Yang: Really? Aka? Umbra? They did what? Wait until dad hears this.

Weiss: Here 10k lien as a down payment, Melty. I need your help.

Blake: *Ignore her and she'll leave me alone*

Ver: Hiiiiii~

Blake: Oh Fu-