Chapter 100: A Crisis for Vale
(Congrats to everyone and myself for once again reached 100 chapters milestone. Let's hope we can reach the first 150 chapters milestone!!!)
(Anyway, here ya go.)
After returning from Junior's Club, I went to find a place to sit down and read my magazine. But before that, I went and checked the Forever Fall forest which turned out to still be infested with Huntsmen because after the Grimm retreated, they found traces of illegal smuggling operations, White Fang hideouts and also labs that run illegal researches. That led to a crack down and Forever Fall to be filled by Huntsmen and law enforcement.
I went to a fast food restaurant since I felt hungry although I just had a late breakfast less than three hours ago. I get my order of chicken sandwich and large cup of soda before taking a seat and taking out the magazine to read.
Past the first few pages, I pick a group to enter the shop through my extraordinary senses, looking around before noticing me and walking over to my table.
"Yo. Giving us a lot of trouble to find you. It better be worthwhile or I'll flip." The yellow haired girl said, which I assume is Yang according to Junior.
"You too. Costing me 2.4 million Lien in compensation for trashing Junior's Club." I replied sarcastically and made the magazine disappear like a sleight of hand when it's actually a real 'magic' trick, as real as it can get.
"Wait, what? 2.4 million Lien? Are you sure you aren't ripped off?" Yang sounded worried and flustered as she asked.
Others in the group look worried too, especially the younger sister who looks nothing alike.
"Y-Yeah… 2.4 million Lien *gulp* I can't imagine the amount of customization I can do on Crescent Rose with that much money…" Their younger sister drooled.
Everyone except the Heiress of SDC were shocked to hear such a big sum of money.
"I have to agree with Yang. 2.4 million for such an establishment is quite excessive." Weiss mentally calculated the estimated damages they did this morning. Though she failed to account for Junior's real business that was hurt because his boys were mostly injured.
"I don't really care since money is as abundant as air for me. Anyway, why are you people looking for me anyway? I don't think there's any particular reason to warrant this encounter." I flaunt and act like I did know the reason while taking a sip to compare this universe's soda with previous universes.
"We want to learn your secrets!" Ruby announced their main objective innocently.
Weiss rolled her eyes looking at her partner and team leader that was still far from reaching her expectation of a competent leader. "I simply wanted to know your relation to the Schnee family." Weiss said as her objective differs from Ruby's. Then her eyes looked at my white hair and pale skin which was the result of using a homunculus body. But my similarity to her ends when we look at eachother in the eyes. Pale blue pupils staring at crimson pupils.
"Suppose if I turn out to be part of the Schnee family. What are you going to do about it?" I questioned but she failed to present an answer because she hadn't thought that far yet. But, messing with her might be fun entertainment for this dull day.
"Inform my family and…" Weiss tried to think for more answers but I cut her off with an offhanded reply.
"Then, I am physically required to say no. I am not eager to paint a target on myself and challenge your father's ownership of Father's company." I lied and noticed how her face turned to that of a carp gasping for air as she had difficulty comprehending my words and couldn't find a word to reply.
The others look shocked though, as I announce myself as Weiss' uncle. I invited them to take a seat because they are attracting the attention of other customers.
"Anyway, it looks like she will be out for another while. How about the others? Any other questions to ask except for my abilities?"
Since I denied the question about my power, Ruby sat down dejectedly with her sister smirking at her predicament and looked at the others if they had questions to ask.
"Oh, I have." The orange haired girl chirped as she lifted her arm. "What is your name and are you a Huntsman?"
Weiss seems to snap out of it when hearing about the question asking for my name. Everyone seemed to be interested as they all looked at me unlike before. Only half did and another half whispered to themselves.
"My name? It's Ray von Einzbern and I'm not a Huntsman. I am more of an independent researcher and government official of sorts. Currently taking a vacation though." I replied with vague answers.
"Von? Pfft! Who still uses such archaic surnames in this time of age?" Yang laughed and the others gave a nod because they did not know the significance of the surname.
The surname fell out of use after the Great War because of the disbandment of monarchies followed by nobility caste and the fact that not many of them left after the nobility died leading soldiers in the war itself.
Weiss' mouth finally closed with a ridiculous theory formed in her head. Perhaps Ray isn't her uncle but a relative from the same root. Was Schnee a descendant of nobility after all? The family record only goes as far as her great grandfather who was a retired soldier by the end of the Great War and became a miner with her grandfather, Nicholas Weiss.
Though, if Ray could read her mind. He would have denied that theory as Schnee is one of Salem's failed experiments.
"Wow, does that mean you are a councilman?" Jaune couldn't help but look at Ray differently, like how one would react when a popular politician visits the school to brainwash the children with their ideology for cultivating the next generation of followers of their political party.
"No, I'm not from Vale."
"Oh."
Then we have long talks consisting mostly of empty banter and talk. Weiss occasionally asked more personal questions but I deflected them easily while Ruby didn't give up apparently and was trying to lead me around empty in an attempt to trap me with questions about my power.
Yang occasionally tried to flirt but I deflected those too. Jaune is a good talker, I feel like he is the drinking buddy that I need. Blake and Ren are the silent duo of the group. Nora asks the most random questions and Pyrrha is hesitant to talk although she seems to open up easily when I said I only knew who she was today.
"Grrr… This is unfair! Reveal your secret already." Frustration settled in for Ruby as all her attempts to dig up answers were seen through by me.
"Listen here Ruby. Power like semblance is meant to keep hidden because they are your trump card. The less other's know, the harder it is for them to predict and counter it." I rubbed my brows and almost called her 'Lil Shit'. She is just too persistent about it unlike her friends that understand when to back off after being rejected.
"Anyway, I think we had stayed for a bit too long. It's about time I leav-" I was suddenly interrupted by a burst of negative energy. The corrupting and all consuming presence of All the World's Evil. Then a second later, the sound of a siren ripped through the air and followed by notifications on everyone's Scroll.
Salem sure is eager to test out the gift I left for her. Not even half a day passed and she already enhanced the Grimm with Black Mud. The presence also coming from the south, Glenn Mountain apparently from the disaster warning on the Scroll.
"We must return to Beacon Academy quickly!" Jaune, who managed to remain level-headed, said and urged everyone to leave quickly to board a Bullhead.
Meanwhile, I am intrigued and also responsible to make sure the corrupted Grimm isn't too powerful or it would be a genocide instead of just being a test for humanity to weeding out the weak.
Fine tuning the Grimm to suit their intended task, I suppose.
———
In Beacon Academy, a large number of students that are deemed capable and Huntsmen gathered in the auditorium.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let's not waste time on pleasantries and get right into business." Ozpin stood on the stage while supported by his cane that doubled as his weapon, scanning the crowd before giving a nod and turning toward the large holographic screen. "At hour 1337, the new settlement on Glenn mountain was suddenly raided by a new type of Grimm and unfortunately wiped out the entire settlement and the defender in less than an hour." He spoked grimly and the entire crowd gasped at the new type of Grimm.
In terms of appearance, nothing much changed but their flesh turned to primarily red, gheye everything else like their fur, protruding bones, claw, mask, etc became tar-like black. Then their blood, their dripping blood from the brief clash with the defender shows it corrupts any lifeforms no matter if it's human, animal, grass, tree, etc. Turning the entire city into tainted wasteland with deformed and corrupted lifeform prowling the now ruin of a former bustling settlement.
*Chatter* *Whisper* *Gasp!*
Reactions were various and it's expected when such changes are presented to them. Who even dares fight such an opponent that blood and fluids can corrupt a human into a deformed husk that preyed on its former comrades.
"The Atlas had dispatched the Atlesian and their Spec-Ops to help control this growing disaster." Ozpin said slowly to the crowd before the screen turned into a map that showed the mountain and a red tide expanding out from it by the second, overrunning the nearby settlement and heading to the city of Vale itself.
"The cause is still being investigated by our Grimm experts but we are calling all able Huntsmen to take arms and defend our home."
"Right now, as we speak. The council had agreed to enforce martial law and organize all available forces from the Guild and mercenaries." The announcement dragged on for another few minutes before experienced Huntsmen and academy staff divided the crowd into groups, preparing to be dispatched.
The situation looks tense and grim for everyone, especially the people organizing this operation.
Majority of the people contacted their families after the announcement ended and gathered on their assigned group which divides into Assault, Defender, Scout and Logistic.
Unfortunately, Team RWBY and JNPR are assigned into the Assault and Scout group which would operate on the frontline of this crisis.
———
After separate with Team RWBY and JNPR. I followed the source of the negative energy and teleported myself into what I assumed was an abandoned Dust mine but a quick check turned out to be a subway system that connects to tunnels and natural subterranean caverns.
*Growl!*
*Roar!*
*Hiss!*
As soon as I arrived, I was surrounded by blackened humans, faunus and Grimm ready to attack me but I activated [All the World's Evil] authority which instantly pacified them and they returned listless and wandered the subterranean tunnels.
"Such a waste…" I said after seeing the blackened White Fang members that was the majority of the creatures down here. "Ah… those fluffy ears." I sighed.
One of the blackened Beowolf approach me and seems to be wagging it's tail and sat down like an obedient puppy.
"Did it sense my thoughts?" I wondered with intrigued as I pet its head that the Beowolf tilted to me. It made a low growl that sounded threatening but its action was completely different as it licked my palm.
"Right, wolves show affection differently than domesticated dogs." I remembered and pet the somehow friendly horrific monster and looked at the others that seemed to show similar empathic traits and approaches me.
"Alright then, can you bring me to your temporary master?" The Beowolf instantly drops on all four and shows me it's back, as if inviting me to ride on it.
"I'll take it as a yes then." I got on the Beowolf before it growled louder and then darted forward with its agile limbs, disappearing deeper into the tunnels.
—————
(The promised action isn't here but this is the build up and the next chapter will definitely be a battle. Ray will stay mostly in the background and the Rwby characters will do the fighting.)