A/N: No Character is Owned by me.

Chapter 3

White Fang's arrival in Atlas was swift and brought with it a shocking announcement: a senior leader close to my father had been assassinated, putting the entire city on high alert.

Unfortunately for my father, Remington wasn't the target, which means I can still maneuver things from behind the scenes.

To further stoke the flames of hatred, I instructed Remington to fire all Faunus employees from the company upper echelon. The timid Remington complied; the recent surge of animosity has made him more susceptible to not even question me.

The new leadership of White Fang has been swift and decisive. I must admit, I'm impressed by Sienna's capability. However, like Ghira, the Faunus kind do have some brain problems as they struggle to move past assassination attempts. They've tried four more times to attack Atlas and SDC senior leadership, each time meeting with failure.

This isn't how the SDC will fall. It's clear I need to take matters into my own hands.

I leveraged Remington to gain access to the company's mainframe, which connects directly to the CCT. This granted me access to their latest activities and database.

Though it took some time to master the system, I now had as much access as a senior executive.

It was time to make a call. Using a voice changer to deepen my voice, I dialed the number.

"Hello, is this Ms. Sienna Khan, Leader of White Fang?" I asked, my tone deliberately calm but edged with authority.

"Who is this? How did you get this number!" Sienna's voice crackled with suspicion and urgency.

"I am Victor Von Doom. My nephew, Little White, instructed me to contact you." I kept my voice steady, letting a hint of sadness seep through to convey the gravity of the situation.

"My Little White… Where is he? Is he alright? Please, tell me, I will come right away!" Her voice trembled with worry, and I could almost hear her racing heartbeat through the phone.

"Sadly, his condition is critical, and he cannot meet anyone. But that's not why I called." I let a note of regret seep into my voice.

"What do you want?" she demanded, her voice sharpening with frustration.

"Like you, Ms. Sienna, I am deeply troubled by those in power destroying the world's very foundation, especially the SDC and Jacques Schnee, who doesn't deserve to live. I want to help you. I want to see SDC destroyed!" I spoke with fervent conviction.

"How can I trust you?" Her voice was wary, tinged with suspicion.

"You'll trust me, Ms. Sienna. Check your scroll now." I instructed.

DING

"What… is this?" Her disbelief was palpable, her voice softening as she scanned the information.

"Ms. Sienna, I admire how you lead White Fang. You may have power now, but you lack the means to topple SDC. They have Atlas backing them; they're too large to fall from a single assassination attempt. So, I'm offering you a different path to their downfall." I spoke slowly, my voice carrying a tone of calculated assurance.

"You mean...?" Her voice was cautious but tinged with a spark of hope.

"How can you kill a goliath when you're just an ant, Ms. Sienna? You can't. But even as an ant, you can make it suffer by attacking its weak points. One day, it will collapse from the pain. I've shared key SDC supply chain routes with you. Attack them, disrupt them, and make the goliath suffer." I laid out the plan with a tone of cold calculation, the promise of revenge clear in my voice.

"And what do you want in return?" she asked, her voice steady but laced with curiosity, trying to discern my true intentions.

"Exactly what you want, Ms. Sienna."

"And that is?"

"Revenge."

Under my direction, Sienna and the White Fang executed my plans, but expanding our influence was crucial for strengthening the White Fang. Using my access to the SDC network, I effortlessly bypassed the CCT firewalls set by the Atlas military, scouring for as much information as possible.

The scale of the conflict I've set in motion may not be large yet, but I know that if the White Fang continues as planned, the Atlas military and Ironwood will inevitably take action—something I'm not ready for yet.

I took my time navigating the network of Atlas Military, finally reaching what I was looking for: Military Secrets.

"Here we go. So, what do we have here?"

"Military patrol routes and deployment sheets... could be useful."

"Spending records for this month... next."

I scrolled further, sifting through data, looking for anything that could give me an edge. Most of it was routine—logistics, maintenance reports, personnel files. Nothing immediately helpful, but I made mental notes of anything that might be useful later.

Then something caught my eye—a report marked High Priority. My heart rate quickened as I skimmed through the contents.

"New weapons testing... Atlesian Paladin-290 by Watts... and the Penny project?"

Now, this was interesting. The Atlesian Paladin was something I'd heard of before—one of the top military weapons in Atlas and a key component of its military strength. The 290 seemed to be a new prototype.

I dug into its files. The 290 was indeed a new prototype—much more advanced and significantly larger. It can hinder my plans. The Penny project, I frowned as I read through the files, then burst out laughing.

"You've got to be kidding me! They really want to build this!"

The Penny project plan was to build a robot—a robot with a so-called "soul"—to protect Atlas. I frowned as I read through the proposal and couldn't help but sigh looking at the vision of Atlas leaders.

While the ambition might seem noble at first, it falls apart when you consider the bigger picture.

There are four huntsmen academies in the world, each training top-tier Huntsmen with exceptional skills. Every year, hundreds of graduates from these academies are deployed to various parts of the world. Yet despite the number of people entering this career, the world still suffers. Grimm attacks continue, and towns are destroyed.

That's where the military steps in. It empowers and trains ordinary people. While a soldier may not have the skills of a Huntsman, they can be just as effective in defense when equipped with the right weapons and technology. And how many defenders does the military produce in a single year? Thousands.

That's why Atlas is on top—not because it produces the best Huntsmen, but because it has the best military. So, does it make sense to develop a robot with a "soul," or should the focus be on top-tier military weapons? The answer is obvious.

"Ironwood's brain must be rotting if he's even considering this kind of project a high priority!"

I sighed as I looked at the screen.

"But I can't take any chances. If Ironwood is serious about bringing this project to life, he can do as he wishes—but I need to make sure the Atlesian Paladin-290 isn't constructed now."

A smile crept across my face as a plan formed in my mind. "Maybe I can use both to my advantage."

I waited in the clean, stark hallway for the person I had come to meet. The walls were a sterile white, and the silence was occasionally broken by the distant hum of machinery. Arranging the meeting had been straightforward, but the real challenge was just beginning.

To obscure my identity, I wore a black wig. It wasn't a drastic change, but it was enough to make me less recognizable.

From the end of the hallway, I heard raised voices echoing off the walls. Two men were shouting at each other:

"Polendina, I'm warning you—don't interfere in my affairs! You and Ironwood will never recognize my greatness. Now leave!"

"But—" Polendina's voice wavered, trying to reason.

"Leave! I have a meeting to attend!" Watts snapped, his voice dripping with irritation as he stormed toward me.

As Watts approached, his face was flushed with frustration, his eyes narrowed into hard slits. I stood and greeted him with a composed smile, trying to mask any unease. "Nice to meet you, Dr. Watts. I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me despite your busy schedule."

Watts, clearly still fuming, dismissed me with a wave of his hand. "Kid, leave now! This isn't a place for games. Here, people deal with important matters." His tone was sharp, and his expression was a mix of annoyance and disdain.

Unfazed, I held out my introductory letter. "It's our first meeting. I'm Victor the representative from SDC. Here is my letter."

Watts's eyes flicked to the letter, and his irritation deepened. "You're the representative from SDC…?" His disbelief was palpable.

I nodded.

His voice dropped to a low growl, filled with barely contained anger. "Unbelievable! This is how I'm treated again! I thought SDC conducted its business more professionally, but I should have known Jacques was just as bad as those two leeches." He spat out the words, his frustration evident.

"Kid, leave immediately! I don't want to deal with anyone right now!"

I refused to back down and stepped into his path as he tried to leave.

"Kid!" Watts growled.

"Dr. Watts, I think you're underestimating me. Although I may look young, I'm fully qualified for this job," I said calmly, trying to keep my own frustration in check as I met his glare.

Watts pushed me aside roughly. I stumbled, barely maintaining my balance. "Dr. Watts, I know more about Paladins than you!" I exclaimed, my voice firm.

Watts stopped abruptly and turned sharply. "What did you say?"

"I said I know more about Paladins than you!" I repeated, standing tall.

"Oh, really?" he retorted, his tone dripping with mockery, his frustration visible. "A kid like you claims to understand my Paladins better than me? What's next—did the sun rise in the west today, or are cats flying now?" His sneer was a clear sign of his contempt.

"I challenge you; I can show you!" I said, my smile unwavering but my eyes sharp and challenging.

Watts snorted, his nostrils flaring as he glared at me with open irritation. "Fine, then. Come to my office. Show me what you know."

I smiled, feeling a surge of satisfaction. The first part of my plan had been a success.

Watts was a man of great knowledge, so to defeat him, I needed to use that knowledge against him.

Proving myself to Watts wasn't easy, but thankfully, I had done my homework. His questions were relentless, probing every detail, but I managed to answer them all confidently. Finally, I unveiled my masterstroke.

"A kid like you designed this?" he asked, narrowing his eyes as he scrutinized every detail of the document. I had prepared it in advance, using his original design as a foundation, but with a few strategic tweaks of my own.

"Yeah, while it's just a prototype, I believe it's better suited than what we currently have. The power consumption can be reduced by 20% across all models if we follow this design," I said, noting how Watts's expression shifted to one of thoughtful consideration.

"Yes, I see how. I was contemplating something similar for the new prototypes but couldn't pinpoint what was missing. This design addresses many key issues with the Paladins," he admitted, genuine surprise and respect coloring his voice.

"Thank you, Dr. Watts. I'm just glad I could show you," I replied with sincere politeness, carefully concealing any hint of deceit.

"One last question, kid," Watts said, his tone sharpening slightly.

"Why did you want to meet me?"

My smile faltered. I knew this was coming. "What do you mean, Dr. Watts? I'm representing SDC; of course, it's for business…" He cut me off.

"Don't lie to me, kid. I designed the entire security network for Atlas and Mantle. Do you think it's easy to fool me? From the start, I knew the communication was all fake." His tone was sharp and uncompromising.

Of course, I knew he knew. It was all part of the plan.

"Dr. Watts... I... I..." I stammered, feigning panic as I struggled to find my words.

Watts placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Kid, calm down. I'm not going to harm you. There aren't many I respect, but you've earned my respect. I just want answers."

Here comes the blow.

"I... I am your fan, Dr. Watts," I said meekly.

"Kid?" Watts looked puzzled.

"I said I am your fan, Dr. Watts!" I repeated, my voice firmer this time.

"What?" Watts was taken aback, never expecting such an answer.

Seeing the shock on Watts's face, I knew my plan was working. Watts was a man of great knowledge, but with that knowledge came pride—his greatest downfall.

"From a young age, I admired your Paladins—the Knight series, the Rook series, and the Pawn series. They've always been my favorites. While other kids aspired to be Huntsmen, I just wanted to learn more about these amazing Paladins. That's my dream. That's my goal." Fake tears welled in my eyes as I spoke each word with conviction.

Watts's mouth fell open in surprise. "Are you serious, kid? You're my fan? You like my work?"

"Yes, Dr. Watts, I am your biggest fan!" I said with unwavering conviction.

Watts stared at me, processing my words. His eyes softened slightly as he took in my sincere declaration. "I've never met anyone who's been so passionate about my work. Most people only see the end results, not the years of struggle and innovation that go into it."

I nodded vigorously. "I know how hard you work. I've studied every aspect of your designs and analyzed every detail. Without you, Atlas would never be what it is. I just wanted to be like you!"

I noticed a glimmer of tears in his eyes.

"Dr. Watts… are you okay?" I asked, my voice tinged with concern.

He let out a hearty laugh. "No, kid… No, Victor."

"Can I call you that?"

I nodded.

"I'm more than okay. For years, I've tried to demonstrate the importance of what I do, but no one ever really understood. But now, meeting you—how can I not be okay? I'm happy! Happier than I've ever been!"

"Dr. Watts… I'm really glad I could meet you," I said, my voice sincere.

"Me too, Victor. Me too," Watts said with a warm smile.

Part two of my plan had been a success.

Watts and I spent the entire day together, and he eagerly showed me every part of his lab. His enthusiasm was palpable, transforming his demeanor so completely that even his colleagues seemed taken aback by the unexpected smile on his face.

Seriously, didn't they understand that all the man wanted was some appreciation? They had worked with him for years!

Many were curious about my identity, but Watts kept them at bay, leading some to assume I was his son. I didn't correct them; gaining Watts's trust was more crucial for making my plan a reality.

"So, how did you like the most advanced lab in Atlas?" Watts asked warmly.

"It was incredible!" I replied with genuine enthusiasm. "The Paladins are amazing; all your work is incredible, Dr. Watts!"

Watts's chest swelled with pride. "Let me show you something else. It's a bit of a secret we're working on, but I think you'll really like it."

I had a hunch about what he was about to reveal.

He led me to the back of the lab, where the area looked a bit empty.

Behind a large door, I saw a massive Paladin—larger than anything I had ever seen or built. It was my target. "What is this?" I asked.

"Atlesian Paladin-290, one of my finest works to date. It's the new range of protectors for Atlas," he said with pride. "It's still a prototype, but once it's completed, whether it's Grimm or Faunus, no one will be able to harm Atlas."

"I can see that," I said, taking a detailed look at the model. "Why do you keep it here? Shouldn't it be out front where others can see it?"

"Sadly, it's not greenlit yet because of a certain someone," he said through clenched teeth. I sighed in relief internally.

"Watts! What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you that you're not allowed to be here? Don't tell me you're working on this again!" A voice cut through the air as someone else entered from behind.

"Polendina, I told you this is my lab. I can do whatever I want!" Watts shouted.

"I have to care. This project isn't approved yet. I can't allow you to waste our funds on something still under review," Polendina replied.

"My project is a waste of funds? Or is the doll you're creating a waste of funds? The Paladins have…" I coughed, interrupting from behind, as they both looked at me.

Watts calmed down, returning to his usual demeanor. Polendina also scrutinized me critically. "You're not allowed to bring visitors into the lab."

Watts clenched his teeth. "He is Victor, my intern. I can bring him whenever I want! Victor, let's leave."

I followed Watts under Polendina's critical gaze. Watts added, "I'm sorry, Victor. You had to see that. There are a few people I can barely tolerate, even for a second. I hope you don't mind."

"No, no, I totally get it. Some people are just a waste of space in society. We shouldn't associate with them," I replied.

"Glad we share the same sentiment."

"So, I'm your intern now?"

"Are you interested?"

Yes i was interested.