"There are roads which must not be followed,
Armies which must not be attacked,
Towns which must not be besieged,
Positions which must not be contested"
-Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Percy woke up to several voicemails on his scroll, and a really uncomfortable pain in his neck.
Standing up, Percy stretched and cursed himself for falling asleep in the chair last night. It had seemed like such a good idea at the time.
Scrolling through the voicemails left on his phone, he winced. Deciding Shiro's was the least likely to put him in a bad mood, he tapped it.
"Hey boss, everything's going more or less smoothly down here. Damages were minimal, and so were casualties, though we'll need some more ammo. And we have quite a few dead police of those guarding Malachite's cell. The Junia family is secure in the police station, and I have the police pulling overtime to make sure they're secure. The only other thing is that news of your semblance got out. Sorry, but quite a few people apparently saw you get snatched out of the sky by an enormous pillar of water. Cat's out of the bag on that one. Crazy useful semblance, by the way. I can understand why you kept it under wraps. Let me know if there's anything else you need, and I'll keep you updated."
Percy just shrugged. Oh well. He had expected that, and it wasn't necessarily bad. It gave him a bit of an intimidation factor, and he still had a couple aces up his sleeve in his other powers, in case stuff got really bad.
Percy looked at the next voicemail, and hesitated. This one would probably give him a headache, but he would need to deal with it eventually.
"What the hell have you done, kid? Congrats, you won — I still have no idea how you pulled that off, by the way — but your name is being floated in some dangerous circles. You need to lay low for a while, wait this one out. Call me when you can."
Percy closed the message, moving onto the next one.
"Jupiter, Percy, I didn't expect you to raze the man's villa and kidnap his family. This is crazy, and the council is demanding your head. You need to return him. When you said you were going to strike back, this isn't what I thought you meant. Call me as soon as possible."
Percy sighed, rolling his eyes, moving to the next message.
"I'm just calling to let you know that I'll have someone come by later to set up shipments of clothing and food. They should be there early tomorrow afternoon."
Percy swiped through, raising an eyebrow when the next voicemail came up. It was from a number that wasn't in his contacts list. Curiously, Percy pressed 'Play' on the message.
"Hello Mister Jackson. Some recent… activities have come to my attention. I'd like to speak to you some time. Please, let me know when you are able. I will be available on this line, and I can guarantee that no harm will come to you because of our meeting. I'll see you then."
Percy blinked, staring down at his scroll. Unless he was going crazy, that was the voice of Leonardo Lionheart. Percy groaned. Another stupidly powerful and influential person to deal with. As if dealing with Mistral's council, Ozpin, Malachite, Salem, and Ozma at the same time wasn't enough. Every one of those had the resources to wipe him off the map the moment they genuinely considered him a threat, at least, presumably Salem and Ozma had a large enough base of influence after witnessing the rise of civilization.
Whatever, he could call him back just… some time today, and he could deal with all that other stuff some other time.
Percy sighed, tapping on Shiro's number and texting him to let him know the White Fang bookie was coming by later. He knew he would have to deal with a lot of stuff tomorrow, he was just dreading doing it.
Text sent, Percy slipped his scroll in his pocket and walked out of the office. He might have to catch a bullhead to Mistral so he wouldn't be recognized, but he deserved a break.
"Ah, Mr. Perseus."
Percy bowed back at the headmaster, doing his best to blend in with the Mistralan custom.
"Thank you for coming by on such short notice. I'm sure you must be swamped with all of the events that have taken place recently."
Percy shrugged, straightening. "It was no problem, really. However, it would help if you'd be prompt with why I'm here."
Lionheart chuckled, pulling out his handkerchief and wiping a drop of sweat from his forehead. "Please, I'll let you know as to the nature of our discussion here today in my office." he swept out his hand to the hallway, and Percy nodded, following Lionheart back to his office.
In case anything happened both Qrow and Shiro knew where he was, but Qrow was strangely adamant that he could trust the headmaster.
Percy sat in the chair opposite Lionheart, a little tense. While Qrow had guaranteed the man wouldn't do anything to him, he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling he had in the man's office, like he was in enemy territory. It didn't help he still didn't know why exactly he was here.
"Now, Mr. Perseus, I've invited you here today because an acquaintance of mine wished to meet you. I apologise for not being up front about the intentions of this meeting, but you must understand those I work with prefer the security in anonymity."
Percy heard a click behind him and, sure enough, a man was walking in the door behind him. He was a large man, built like a truck. In a way he reminded Percy of Ares, without the malicious intent radiating off of him.
The man nodded at Percy and moved to sit down at the side of the desk, where Percy just noticed a chair sat out of place.
"I represent a powerful client, who has use of your services." the large man slid a card across the table. Taking it, percy saw a simple scroll number sprawled across it with no other details.
"My services?" Percy raised an eyebrow, setting the card down.
The man nodded. "I'm aware you don't exactly offer services, per se, but my client believes you can be useful to one another. She can offer more than money as payment, should you wish it. The choice is yours, I'm here to hand you the card."
Percy looked at the card speculatively. It seemed he was getting involved with some even shadier people, and he wasn't sure that was a good thing. Either this was some very rich crime lord from one of the other kingdoms, or they were small fish trying to look big and gain a relationship with Percy. The second explanation didn't make much sense, however, considering they had Lionheart arrange this meeting.
"I'll consider it. Is that all?" Percy glanced between the two.
The large man and Lionheart shared a glance.
"Yes, that will be all. Please do refrain from informing anyone as to the nature of this meeting, my client would prefer no-one know of her existence."
Percy tried not to quirk his eyebrow at that. His client was a she, that was probably a tidbit of information the bear of a man didn't mean to let slip.
Percy slid the card into his pocket and stood up, nodding at both of them in turn and turning to leave. He'd have a lot to think about, it seemed. But first, he had other matters to attend to.
His enforcers gave him a respectful nod when he came into eyesight, a nice change of pace from the police officers who didn't so much salute as they tripped over themselves to slam their hand into their forehead.
Percy nodded back, passing between the two guarding the door and swinging it open, glancing around at the inside. It was a sparse room, a metal table and pair of chairs that looked incredibly uncomfortable were the only furnishments.
Percy swung the metal chair on his side of the table around, sitting on it backwards.
"Mornin'" Percy greeted.
The patriarch of the Junia family groaned, lifting his head to glare across from him.
Percy sipped on the morning coffee he had brought with him. "So, you're a reasonable man. I imagine we can do this the easy way?"
To the patriarch's credit, he didn't break that easily. He spit at Percy, his blood-mixed saliva landing about halfway over the table. Percy sighed, leaning back in his backwards chair.
"Guard!"
One of his men instantly opened the door, peeking his head in the room.
"Junia doesn't feel like playing easy. I need you to deal with one of his family members. Break their limbs until their heart gives out, you know, the usual. Who do you think we should start with, the wife perhaps?"
The man nodded, ducking out of the room. "On it, boss."
Of course, Percy did not intend to harm a single hair on her head. As much as he did need this information from Junia, he refused to stoop that low to get it. He hadn't changed that much.
But just because he wouldn't actually kill an innocent woman or her children did not mean he wouldn't pretend to if it got him what he wanted.
"This really doesn't need to be that hard, you know. All I need is your various bank accounts, personnel files, simple things like that. Just… accounts. And then I can let you go, my point proven. You don't need to lose your wife over this."
Junia looked in tremendous pain, but he refused to break. He stayed silent, even though he averted his gaze downwards.
Now, as nice as Percy was compared to your run-of-the-mill crime lord, he certainly wasn't going to just let Junia go. That was a lie. But he could keep his family in Windpath, where everyone might think they were dead. Where they couldn't be used against him.
Sighing, Percy called again. "Guard!"
Another guard peeked his head in.
"Apparently his wife wasn't enough. Have your pick of the son or daughter and do whatever you want to them before offing them."
The enforcer gave his best crooked grin. "I'll make sure to have a good time with the daughter before getting rid of her, boss."
Percy had to wrestle down some bile, but in the end this was just acting — that was all.
"Stay the fuck away from my family you uncivilized creature!"
Percy glanced across the table and raised an eyebrow. "Hey, don't look at me. Your family means nothing to me, they're just a bargaining chip, just like you. But to you, they're your family. A family you'll trade for a couple bank accounts. Which one of us is more despicable, I wonder?"
The Junia patriarch grit his teeth, "Fine! Take the damn accounts, just let my family go!"
Percy nodded, quickly standing up and walking out the door. Loudly, he said. "Let the wife and daughter go, keep the son as collateral for now. Get the information we need from him, I'm sure he'll cooperate for his son's sake."
His men nodded, and one of them ducked into the room to collect the information. While they certainly wouldn't be able to get a large amount of the man's wealth tied up in real estate or frozen by the government after his disappearance, it wouldn't hurt Percy's bank account, that was for sure.
Percy sighed, feeling like he needed to actually wash his hands after that encounter. He shook the metaphysical blood off of them as he left the building, feeling a bit silly as he did so. He didn't actually hurt anyone, he had to remind himself. At least not that badly.
Qrow was right on one thing, though. He had to lie low, now. Or rather, he should. He desperately wanted to continue expanding, but there were some things he just shouldn't push to a breaking point. The great crime families of Mistral were one of those things. He had just kidnapped a noble of Mistral, a head of one of the great families. He couldn't just continue with normal business after that as if he didn't have an enormous target on his back. And a bigger deal than even that maybe, he had also had Miss Malachite killed. Those two things couldn't technically be linked back to him, but anyone in the know in the situation would be able to figure it out quite easily.
Heading out on a walk, he decided that that is what he would do. He'd keep a low profile for a little bit, even if that offer from the large man earlier did feel a bit tempting.
"I thought you said I should keep a low profile."
"Like you were going to listen to me anyway."
Percy rolled his eyes. "For the record, I actually decided that it was the right move. Just because you're usually wrong doesn't mean you have to be all the time."
"Yeah, screw you too. Either way, this is low profile. You're just taking a vacation to Vale. What on remnant is more low profile than that?"
"Let's see, what's more low profile than going to a small island to visit one of the agents of the most powerful man in Remnant? I can think of a couple things, to be completely honest with you."
"Shut up, and get your overpowered ass over here. I heard about your semblance, too. You and I have some talking to do."
Percy mockingly pouted, even though he knew Qrow couldn't see him. "Aww, is someone upset I kept secrets? Sowwy if I figured you'd go tell your master like a good pet." Percy winced as soon as he said it, and wished he thought before he spoke for once in his life.
"Look, I told you I'm sorry. What do you want me to—"
"Nothing, I don't want you to do anything, I'm just poking fun. Look, I'll fly out to Patch, but you owe me a round of drinks."
"I owe you a round? What are you smoking, and can I have some?"
Percy chuckled. "Fine, I'll buy you some drinks, but only if you promise to spar me while I'm there."
Percy could hear a low chuckle through the scroll. "Drinking and fighting, what else is there to do on Patch? Deal."
Percy chuckled, shaking his head and hanging up the scroll call. He'd keep laying low until he went to visit Qrow. He had to admit a short vacation might be good for him. He wasn't doing much good back in Windpath anyway, he got the sense from Shiro he was just getting in the way when he tried to help.
Mind made up, Percy continued on his jog. He'd have to make travel arrangements.
Qrow met him at Patch's miniature bullhead dock. He'd decided to take a police bullhead bereft of the police, so as not to make a big deal about several Windpath police officers with rifles visiting the pedestrian town.
"Qrow." Percy nodded, extending a hand.
Qrow returned the nod and the hand. "Percy."
They walked in a comfortable silence, as if it wasn't the first time they'd seen each other in some months. Percy followed Qrow to… wherever he was going. Percy had a hotel booked, but he assumed Qrow was taking him to… what, lunch? The bar? His home? Percy had no idea. They hadn't really planned anything out. Not that either of them were the type to.
"You've been keeping up your training, I hope?"
Percy blinked, suddenly remembering he was actually walking next to Qrow. "Yeah yeah of course. I don't really do much day-to-day, Shiro takes care of that stuff. I have enough time to keep in shape."
Qrow scoffed and shook his head. "Shiro and you, huh. Who could've known you two would make a good pair. Shiro was always a bit reserved but I never expected him to take a desk job, especially not for some upstart like you."
Percy snorted. "Hey, he's not a desk jockey, he just takes care of the day-to-day. He has assistants, you know." he protested, albeit halfheartedly.
Qrow took out his flask and took a quick swig. "Yeah, whatever. Just don't get any ideas about asking me to join in on any of your schemes. Next thing I know I'll be chained to a desk."
Percy rolled his eyes. "Yeah, like I'd ever invite you to join in on any of my schemes. Your luck would ruin anything I tried." It was true, Qrow's luck was abysmal. Percy couldn't count the amount of times birds just happened to release themselves onto Qrow's shoulder. It's like they were offended by his name or something. Even when birds weren't using him as a restroom, Qrow had maybe the worst luck Percy had ever seen. Just little things, like a shower pipe breaking in the morning, or a gnarled root happening to stick up in his path.
Qrow shrugged. "Can't argue with that one." then he paused. "I just realized you've never met Taiyang."
Percy raised an eyebrow. "Your brother, right? Niece's dad?"
Qrow scratched his head and began walking again, this time at a slightly faster pace. "It's a little more complicated than that, but yeah… something like that. Anyway, we can head to my house first, get a few spars in before I can shower and we'll hit the bar. Speaking of which." Qrow glanced at him. "Do you have any clothes, or even a toothbrush, or anything?"
Percy shrugged. "I travel light. I had someone send some clothes ahead and the rest should be prepared for me."
"Right, rich, forgot." Qrow turned away, muttering something about spoiled kids.
"But anyway, that sounds good. I hope you're ready to get your ass kicked."
Qrow narrowed his eyes. "If I had half the natural advantages you do, kid, I'd smoke you. And you know it."
Percy shot him a mocking smirk, letting his hands rest behind his head. "And yet you don't, do you? I think I should be able to beat you without too much trouble this time. I did tell you I've been keeping up my training."
Qrow waved him off. "Yeah right, unless you managed to get twice as fast in the span of a few months, I think I'll be fine." He paused, and then peered at Percy out of the corner of his eye. "You didn't get twice as fast, right?"
Percy just shot him a knowing smile. It was fun to watch Qrow anticipate his demise.
As much as he loved taunting Qrow, he definitely had not gotten twice as fast. But while he wasn't twice as fast, actually training for a long period of his life had quite the effects on his abilities. Qrow would not be in for a fun time.
"This is it." Percy was brought out of his thoughts by Qrow speaking. They emerged from the path they'd been walking along to see a log cabin in the middle of a small clearing. It was relatively large, but Percy figured someone like Qrow could afford something this large out in the countryside of Patch.
Percy glanced around the clearing, looking from woodline to woodline. "Nice place. How much of this is yours?"
Qrow shrugged. "Out here, it doesn't really matter. As far as you want, really. It's not technically within any settlement, so property rights are a bit blurry. Only downside is that we occasionally get the odd grimm. But for a huntsman's home…"
"Not really a problem, got it." Percy nodded, following the now moving Qrow towards his home. He didn't say anything, but he really was looking forward to what Qrow considered family, especially his nieces. Everything else just kind of seemed to be a drag for him, but the one or two times Qrow had mentioned them… it had seemed to put a little life in the dour old man.
Percy took a glance at said dour old man. He seemed a bit tensed, hunched in on himself. If Percy had to guess he was a bit nervous about showing his family to Percy, or maybe the other way around. For all Percy knew he was the first person to come out to this cabin in who knows how long, or maybe he was the thirtieth visitor today. There would be no way of knowing.
"You guys have visitors out here often?" No way other than asking, of course.
Qrow shot him a glance. "That obvious, am I?" he shook his head, seemingly forcing his shoulders to un-hunch. "No, not really. But I'm not nervous about that. I'm more nervous about Tai. He watches the news a lot, and keeps up with things here in Vale. So he might recognize you. On top of that you're showing up at his house, where his daughters are, and I may or may not have forgotten to mention you'd be here."
Percy paused a few feet away from the house to rest his face in his palm. "Should I expect a fist as soon as I walk in the door?"
Qrow rolled his eyes. "Nothing so dramatic. You should be fine… I think."
Percy let out a long sigh. "Let's just get this over with so at least I'll know if I have to fight for my life today."
"Yeah whatever." Qrow opened the door to their homestead…
And was promptly launched back several feet.
"Uncle Qroooow!" A red and black blur crawled over him and Percy took a step back, wondering what the Hades had just hit him.
"Yeah yeah I missed you too squirt, now get off me." The little girl pouted as Qrow physically removed her from his person. She hadn't been off of him for a second when another blur came zooming out of the doorway.
"Uncle Qro-" Qrow stuck his hand out, stopping her mid leap and sending her to the ground. "-ow." The girl on the floor was colored in a variety of golden and light brown combat clothes. In fact, she was about Phyrra's age. Considering she was the child of a huntsman, there was a good chance she was currently attending a combat school. "Who are you?"
Percy blinked, staring back at the girl who was now staring at him from the ground.
"Yang, Ruby, have some manners. We have a guest." Percy glanced at the doorway to find a rather large man. He was a good bit bigger than Percy, if only a little taller.
Percy chuckled nervously. "It's fine. Sorry about kind of dropping in unannounced."
Tai shook his head, wiping his hands off on a dish rag hanging from his waist. "It's fine. That's just the way Qrow is. I'm Taiyang, but you can call me Tai." he extended his hand.
Percy smiled and extended his own. "Nice to meet you, Tai. I'm Percy."
So I'm finally gonna do this properly for once, but I have a discord for writers and readers you might all be interested in. I'm there, Greed720 is there, Akumakami is there, it's a great time. If you want to join, put in your browser 'discord .gg /kYCPuAw' without any spaces, and remember it's case sensitive.
Also my pat-reon is pat-reon CuriousBeats. On that note, I'd like to thank my patrons for staying with me and apologize for not having any chapters for you ahead of time recently, I don't deserve you guys, seriously. I'm gonna try and make it a goal to have the next chapter out on pat-reon by the end of the week, but no promises.
For all of you who are still wishing me well I managed to recover from the rona well enough, it was just a harsh cold to be honest. Proditione et Fide will be updated in a few days (and holy shit I'm just now realizing that this story has grown from approximately the same readerbase as et fide to about 8 times it, so I guess that means nothing to most of you.)
As promised (sorta) the last 2 chapters have been made a bit more readable, though to be completely honest I didn't get to that until… literally a few hours before I upload this, instead of a week after like I promised. Sorry.
Things are still pretty busy but I'm at my parents for a couple weeks, so things are calm enough that I can write right now. Hopefully we'll be seeing the quality of these chapters going up.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend
Next Chapter April 20
