Jaune stepped into the Headmaster's office, his gaze immediately locking onto a figure that radiated hostility. Raven Branwen stood there, in her armor and weapon dangling on her hip and her crimson eyes glaring like daggers. Without hesitation, Jaune's instincts took over. His hand went to Crocea Mors, drawing the blade with a speed that betrayed countless hours of practice. The sound of metal sliding free echoed sharply in the room as Jaune fell into a defensive stance, his movements fluid and deliberate.

The atmosphere in the room shifted. Tension coiled like a spring as Jaune's eyes narrowed, his posture betraying a readiness to fight.

"Whoa, calm down!" Qrow Branwen interjected, stepping forward with his hands raised in a placating gesture.

But Jaune wasn't swayed. He pivoted to keep Qrow and Raven both in his line of sight, his stance unwavering. His grip on Crocea Mors was firm, but his expression remained eerily calm — devoid of the usual warmth he carried around his friends.

"Mr. Arc, lower your weapon." Glynda Goodwitch's sharp voice cut through the tension as she entered the room, her frown deepening.

Jaune adjusted his stance slightly, lowering the blade but keeping it at the ready. "Is she an enemy, Ma'am?" His voice was steady, but there was a cold edge to it.

"Not right now," Qrow said, his tone half exasperated, half amused. "What's got you so jumpy, kid?"

Jaune didn't respond, his piercing blue eyes remaining fixed on Glynda, awaiting confirmation.

Glynda sighed, rubbing her temples. "We've come to… an understanding. She's currently... allied with us. So I ask again, sheathe your sword."

With that, Jaune sheathed Crocea Mors in one smooth motion, though the tension in his shoulders didn't entirely dissipate. "I came to see Headmaster Ozpin," he said simply.

As if on cue, Ozpin entered the room, his ever-present mug of coffee in hand. He took a sip, his calm demeanor contrasting sharply with the palpable tension in the air. Raven crossed her arms and turned her glare toward the wall, her irritation obvious.

"Well, Mr. Arc," Ozpin began, setting down his mug. "It seems you've been quite busy. Hunting down bandits, no less."

"It was by chance," Jaune replied, his tone clipped. "But that's not why I'm here. I need your help."

Ozpin arched an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what assistance might you require?"

"Do you know anything about Menagerie?" Jaune asked, wasting no time. "Yang and Blake haven't returned, and we've heard rumors of a civil war. We're worried they might be in trouble."

Ozpin's expression grew more serious. He turned his gaze to Raven, who scowled but spoke nonetheless. "Yang's fine," she said curtly. "I don't know about the Belladonna kid."

"There you have it," Ozpin said, spreading his hands slightly.

Jaune frowned, unconvinced. "How can you be sure?"

Qrow answered, stepping closer. "Raven's Semblance lets her keep tabs on people she's bonded with. If Yang were in trouble, she'd know."

Realization dawned on Jaune, and his grip on his sword loosened slightly. "So you weren't there to hurt her when we met. You were trying to protect her?"

Raven's glare sharpened as she growled, "You knocked me out before I could say anything."

"I doubt you're the kind who'd talked," Jaune still lowered his head slightly in apology. "I'm sorry for misunderstanding."

"Save it," Raven snapped, her voice venomous.

Qrow smirked, taking a swig from his flask. "She's just mad a student managed to knock her on her ass."

"It won't happen again," Raven hissed, her anger practically radiating off her.

Jaune ignored the jab, refocusing on the matter at hand. "What about Blake? Is she okay?"

Ozpin leaned back slightly, his expression thoughtful. "To be honest, we don't have clear intel on Menagerie. The rumors of unrest hold some credibility. If Menagerie is in trouble, there are larger forces at play."

He glanced toward Raven, who scowled but added, "She's not alone. But she won't leave the Belladonna girl."

Qrow sighed, swirling the liquid in his flask. "See, kid, this woman has the ability to portal in and out, but since she's the worst kind of deadbeat mom, she's too scared to actually show up."

"I am not afraid!" Raven snapped.

Jaune's gaze sharpened. "Afraid of the enemy?"

"Yup," Qrow said, clearly enjoying Raven's ire. "Something's watching Menagerie. After their screw-up here in Vale, they're tightening their operations. It's a hostage situation from what we can tell."

"Then why not grab them both and bring them back here?" Jaune pressed.

Raven's glare turned icy. "Because like I said, the Belladonna girl won't leave, and Yang won't leave without her. Or do you want to kill some people by acting like a dubmass?"

Ozpin sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "That's the gist of it. And our position makes direct intervention... delicate. People's lives are at stake and to act now is to waste those lives."

Jaune's frustration was visible as he clenched his fists. "So the problem is getting Blake out and the people that are in danger. But if things are that bad, still, shouldn't we act?"

Before Ozpin could respond, Glynda stepped forward, her tone stern. "And before you get any ideas, Mr. Arc, we will not allow students to take action. If it becomes necessary, we have professionals who will handle it. This is not your fight."

Jaune's jaw tightened, but he gave a curt nod. "Understood." Without another word, he turned and left the office, his cape swishing behind him.

In the silence that followed, Qrow chuckled softly. "Kid's got guts, I'll give him that."

Raven leaned against the wall, her arms crossed as she watched the door close behind Jaune Arc. After a moment of silence, she spoke, her tone begrudging but firm. "That student... he's not bad."

Ozpin raised an intrigued eyebrow, sipping his coffee. "Oh? What makes you say that?"

Raven scowled, irritated even as she spoke. "He fights with a purpose — measures the threat and responds accordingly. And, honestly? I'm surprised no one ended up dead when he fought the White Fang. He's holding back. That much is obvious."

Qrow let out a chuckle, raising his flask to his lips. "Making excuses, sis? You just don't want to admit a kid knocked you flat."

Raven shot him a glare. "It may sound like one, but it isn't. He's well trained. Smart enough to know when not to kill too. I wonder why he's even here. He handled himself in Mt. Glenn with remarkable restraint."

Ozpin's gaze sharpened. "How exactly do you know what happened at Mt. Glenn, Raven?"

"Probably checked him out after she got her ass knocked out," Qrow smirked.

She shrugged, her expression turning smug. "Your security has holes, Oz. I suggest you fix them."

Glynda, her arms crossed, gave a thoughtful nod. "She's not entirely wrong. If Jaune Arc were to take the Huntsman Qualification test, I don't doubt he'd pass it easily. His technique is polished — he's clearly been well-trained on fighting Grimm and Human opponents. And yet..." She trailed off, tapping a finger against her arm. "It's as though fighting isn't his primary goal. He matches his opponent's level when sparring, even with someone like Nikos who can make your weapons unuseable. And his Semblance? It's a trump card. With that, he could easily overpower her or outlast her in a prolonged fight."

Raven smirked at Qrow, her eyes gleaming with smug satisfaction. "See? I was right."

Qrow groaned, tipping his head back. "Alright, fine. You're not wrong. He did look like he was ready to take us both on back there. Not an ounce of hesitation. That kid's got guts, I'll give him that. He's confident."

Ozpin's thin smile widened slightly. "Confidence born of purpose, I'd wager. Jaune Arc is not merely a fighter. Consider his Semblance—amplifying and healing others. To me, he seems like someone who would rather help than harm. What better way to help others than by knowing how to protect them?"

Qrow didn't respond, though his gaze was distant as he mulled over the thought. Raven snorted, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, while Glynda uncrossed her arms and moved to the table.

"We can admire his potential all day," Glynda said, "but we have more pressing matters." She tapped a tablet on the table, and a series of images appeared on the screen. Grimm, mutated and grotesque, displayed in various poses of aggression. Their forms were distorted, larger, and imbued with strange enhancements.

"These," Glynda continued, "are modifications to the Grimm that have been observed in the aftermath of Merlot's experiments. Larger, stronger, and more feral than ever. If this wasn't concerning enough, given Merlot's methods, there's a troubling possibility that he's now collaborating with Salem."

Ozpin's thin smile vanished as his face grew somber. "A troubling possibility indeed. What evidence do we have to support this theory?"

Glynda pointed at the screen. "These Grimm don't just show mutations. Their behavior is coordinated, strategic even. It suggests external control or influence. And given their mutual interest in weaponizing Grimm... it aligns too well with Merlot's known ambitions. The timing of their activities overlapping is more than coincidental."

Raven studied the images, her expression darkening. "So the mad scientist is playing nice with your witch. Wonderful. What's next, Ozpin?"

Ozpin sipped his coffee, his eyes narrowing. "We prepare for the possibility that Merlot's creations are only the beginning. If he's aligned with Salem, it's not just Vale or Mistral that will face the consequences — it's all of Remnant."

Qrow let out a long sigh, leaning against the table. "Looks like things are about to get a whole lot worse."