Hours.

It took them hours to clear out a small section of screaming canyon. Fighting through beowolves, ursai, creepers, and countless other grimm that had made the place their home. The sun was near setting by the time Oobleck called it a day, calling in for their exfil.

Ruby let out a sigh of relief as she fell onto a nearby rock, resting her aching feet. "Man, I'm tired. I don't think I've killed that many grimm before in my life!"

Coco sat next to her, a faint smirk on her face. "First extermination mission? You get used to it. This is nothing compared to what my team did last year."

Ruby's brow furrowed. "What—"

"We went to Mt. Glenn. Yeah, that Mt. Glenn."

Ruby's eyes widened. Knowing a little about the history of the place, she was shocked Coco could be in such high spirits about it. Mt. Glenn was positively crawling with grimm, both subterranean and above ground. You had to watch the ground and the skies to survive. "Woah…that's impressive."

Coco shrugged. "It was nothing."

The bullheads taking them back to Amora proper arrived a few minutes later, the group piling into them with little hesitation. Everyone—even the more experienced Coco and Velvet—was exhausted in some way, either physically or mentally. Each was looking forward to a rest.

Unfortunately, fate had other plans.

As they loaded up, Oobleck cleared his throat. "Remember, everyone, tonight we're heading for southern Amora to attend a dinner with Yenna Silica, mayor of Alamor. Don't forget to dress for the occasion."

Ruby gulped. "Uh, what do you mean 'dress for the occasion', Dr. Oobleck?"

"Formal wear, standard affair."

Ruby frowned, turning to Yang. "Oh, that's why you insisted I pack that dress."

Yang nodded. "Duh, it was on the brochure docket—have at least one formal outfit. I knew you wouldn't pack one unless I made you."

"Well, yeah, you're right about that."

The group was back in Amora before they knew it, heading back into their hotel and immediately getting ready for their formal dinner. Weiss and Yang immediately went for the mirror, both pushing and shoving as they put on their makeup. Blake and Ruby, meanwhile, simply changed into their dresses, waiting their turn.

Blake was clad in a black, sleeveless dress that came down to her knees, along with a pair of black heels. Ruby was clad in a similar red dress and pair of red heels that Weiss insisted she bring. Mostly so she could practice walking in them. Speaking of, that's exactly what she did while waiting—practice walking in her heels.

Blake sat by, a faint smile on her face as she saw Ruby clumsily try and walk around. She ended up tripping, falling, and very nearly face-planting several times by the time Weiss and Yang were done in the mirror. Blake went first, putting on some simple eyeshadow and mascara, along with some dark purple lipstick.

Ruby, having not packed any makeup whatsoever, simply walked out with them. Unlike the others, she was hanging onto Blake's arm to make sure she actually stood upright. They encountered team JNPR as they neared the elevators.

Jaune and Ren were both in tuxes, Jaune with a blue tie and Ren with a pink one. Nora was clad in a bright pink, sequin dress that fell almost to her ankles. Pyrrha, meanwhile, was clad in a red dress similar to Ruby's, except a shade lighter, exposing her muscular biceps. Her hair was loose and flowing for a change, a smile on her face as she greeted them.

The groups were joined moments later by Velvet and Coco. Velvet was clad in a simple, dark brown sundress, while Coco was clad in a tuxedo similar to Jaune's, except with a dark brown tie. She turned to the four, giving a low whistle. "Dang, you girls clean up nice."

Ruby and Yang both blushed at that, Ruby looking away with a faint smile on her face as Yang gave finger guns at Coco. The group made their way into the elevators, heading down to the bottom floor where Oobleck—wearing a dark blue blazer—stood waiting. He still had his trustworthy thermos on him, being the only one to bring his weapon with him out of the group.

"Ready, everyone?"

The group collectively agreed.

Oobleck turned, guiding the group outside and down the street. Down several blocks, they made their way to the town hall, a large building with a white dome at the top of it. Two guards stood at the entrance, along with a rather large number of people with cameras nearby. Ruby gave a nervous smile as they took photos of the group of huntsmen, making their way up to the guards. Oobleck simply showed them an ID before they let the group in.

Inside was massive, with looming portraits and tapestries along either side hallway. There were dozens of tables lining the central area, with a young woman directing several older gentlemen to one of them. Her eyes flicked across the group before settling on Oobleck, a faint smile on her face. "Ah, Dr. Oobleck I presume?"

"Indeed. You must be Mayor Silica."

They shook hands, the tan-skinned woman giving a bright smile at the group. She was clad in a white pantsuit with a rose on her lapel, her eyes a brilliant amber as they flicked across the group. "Yenna Silica, at your service. Your table is just over here if you'd please follow me."

The group was directed to a large table, easily enough to fit all eleven of them, with a set of blue flowers in the center. Ruby took her seat between Yang and Blake, across from team JNPR. Oobleck took the seat at the end of the table, next to Velvet and Coco.

Yenna Silica made her way to the front of the room, tapping her fork against a wine glass in front of her. "Welcome, everyone, to the fiftieth annual capitol dinner. I'd like to personally welcome our special guests: Bartholomew Oobleck and his students from Beacon Academy."

People applauded as Oobleck stood, the rest of the group taking the hint and doing the same.

When they sat back down, Ruby looked at Blake and whispered. "Did you know we were the special guests?"

She shook her head.

Yenna cleared her throat. "Sadly, Vester Gold couldn't be with us tonight. However, regardless, it is because of him that this dinner can take place at all. To him, our benevolent guardian, I propose a toast."

"Here, here!"

Ruby raised her glass along with the others, though with some hesitation on her part. The people surrounding them at the capitol were a strange mix of fervorous and polite. Simple yet boisterous. It was a strange mix that Ruby wasn't quite sure what to make of. It seemed to her the crowd would just as likely be an angry mob than a delegation. Yenna seemed the only one keeping everyone civil about things.

Dinner was brought out a few minutes later—roast duck with sauteed potatoes—which Ruby gladly began eating. She watched the others doing so as well, a few people casting glances at them and each other. The glances at each other were strangely vicious, as if they were plotting the downfall of everyone around them. The glances at them, meanwhile, were simply curious.

Ruby leaned over to Blake. "Is it me, or are things really tense?"

Blake slowly nodded, eyes flicking around the room. Either her faunus sense of danger was going haywire, or everyone in the room was holding onto a kind of just barely contained anger. As if they were waiting for some kind of incident to push them over the edge into an all-out brawl. She agreed with Ruby on this one, but tense wasn't a strong enough word.

Borderline feral were the words she'd use.

The topics people discussed were easily overheard by the huntsmen, ranging from business to local politics—all discussed in a civilized manner. Yet, one argument rang out among the others. An argument about independence. This one was…less civilized, given the two arguing were standing up at the end of the room.

Yenna quickly snapped her fingers, guards approaching and telling both men to sit. They did so, grumbling under their breath. Guess independence is a bit of a sore subject for these guys. Maybe some of them are natives and some of them are Mistralean? That would explain a bit of it.

Then it happened again. And again. Three times independence was brought up, and each time the two arguers looked like they were ready to come to blows before Yenna brought in the guards to silence them. Ruby vaguely wondered how many more times that would work, given the topic kept getting broached by seemingly everyone.

When dessert was brought out, five men on the left side of the room stood, this time close enough for Ruby to hear exactly what they were saying.

"I'm just saying, we've been de jure independent for over seventy-five years and nothing's happened."

"Careful, don't want to let the ALF hear you saying that."

"Those nutjobs have no right to scream independence with the chaos they cause."

"Let's not pretend we don't want the same thing."

Yenna called in the guards, but this time the men stood firm. One of them stood on a nearby table. "No, enough of this! We all know the issue at hand, yet we refuse to discuss it! I will not be silenced by this! Amora should stand alone!"

Several people stood, voicing their approval.

Another person stood, glaring at the man. "What you say is treason! We are citizens of Mistral and we should act like it!"

More people stood, turning toward those who supported the first man.

Blake grabbed a knife from nearby, spinning it so the blunt edge was tapping her wrist—ready to take it out at a moment's notice. Yang was leaning back, her hands in her lap but ready to be drawn. Ruby gulped, simply hunkering down and hoping things didn't get violent.

Oobleck took a more…proactive approach.

VOOM!

A jet of flame flew from his thermos, silencing the crowd. He stood on his chair, turning to them. "If you can't speak of something in a respectful, civilized manner, perhaps it's best not to speak of it at all. Everyone please be considerate of your generous host."

Yenna nodded as people sat down. "Thank you, Doctor."

She cleared her throat as everyone began finishing their dessert. "Thank you, everyone, for attending our annual dinner. Please leave your silverware on the table before making your exit."

The crowd slowly began to disperse, Ruby and company waiting as Oobleck stayed seated. Yenna walked over as much of the crowd as gone, a faint sigh leaving her. "Thank you for that, Doctor. I daresay we would've had another brawl if you hadn't stepped in."

Ruby gulped. "Another?"

Yenna nodded, turning to Ruby. "Unfortunately, yes. The subject of independence has always been a sour issue at the best of times. As a representative of the Amoran Council for Self-Rule, I may agree with the desire for independence, but you understand I can't allow my fellow independence supporters to rally an army around such a cause."

Blake looked up. "What about the ALF that guy mentioned?"

Her face soured as she shook her head. "The Amoran Liberation Front is a criminal organization that seeks to distance itself from Mistral by any means necessary—up to and including open revolt. They are terrorists in the simplest form, and in no way represent our peaceful island."

She stepped back, giving a practiced smile at the group. "I hope you all have enjoyed your visit to Amora thus far. Don't let those unsavory elements get the best of you."

Ruby was deep in thought as they made their way back to their hotel. An Amoran Council for Self-Rule? An army trying to start an open revolution? People almost coming to blows at such a formal event? It was like everything was a tinderbox around her.

All it would take was a spark.