Cinder's Arrival

"Traveling on all of those trains and planes made me so sore…" A young man with grey hair and silver eyes was walking through the streets of argus. His clothes were matching, so having a grey jacket and black pants. "At least we were in first-class definitely an improvement over the other times."

The tan, green-haired girl walking next to him looked down at that map in her hands. She wore a white and green crop top and white shorts with brown thigh-high boots. Her red eyes scanned the map up and down before letting out an exaggerated sigh. "This thing is unreadable." Crumpling it up, she threw the map away.

"Emerald, Mercury has been so irritatingly impatient since we've arrived." Walking ahead of the two of them, Cinder came to a stop. She was looking towards the tall building in front of her, which was the one owned by Shen and the White Fang. "Wow, this place is big… I didn't think the White Fang had the resources to do stuff like this in Argus."

Mercury commented on the building in front of them as Cinder turned her head. "That's because there's someone special in the White Fang within Mistral. Due to how Mistral is run it's difficult for the White Fang to operate here. As such they're considered the weakest branch of the four. However, thanks to that person's efforts they have risen to the top."

Mercury touched his chin before understanding. "I see… So he's the person we've come to see and the one who plans on backing our endeavors?" Cinder nodded. "Yes, and our Master has taken interest in Mistral as well. With that being the case we're here to find out what he wants in return." The two of them understood as they followed Cinder to the entrance of the building.

Too many people, presumably Huntsman, stopped them at the front doors. "You can't pass this point without authorization." Cinder didn't speak as she pulled out a slip of paper and handed it to the man. Looking over it once, he nodded before opening the door letting the three of them in. Sitting on a couch to the entrance were Torchwick and Neo waiting patiently.

Cinder and the others immediately saw the difference with their not being any human insight. Faunus fully ran the building. Looking up, Torchwcik spotted them and laughed. "Finally! He was getting tired of waiting, and so was I, if we're being honest." Walking over to them, Torchwick extended his hand. "Roman Torchwick it's a pleasure, and this is Neo."

Cinder smiled and took his hand. "Likewise." Turning around, Torchwick gestured for them to follow him. A few of the White Fang cast them glances but seemed to ignore them afterwards. After all, any human here was authorized by Shen to be so. Everyone here practically worshipped him as a hero among the White Fang.

Getting into the elevator, Torchwick spoke to the three of them. "Although he's pretty young try not to do anything stupid in there. I just bought this place and I plan on staying in it for a while. Rather not having to renovate an entire room." Mercury and Emerald saw Torchwick looking directly at Cinder while speaking.

When the elevator hit the appropriate floor, everyone stepped off. "He's in that room over there. Good luck." Torchwick waved them off after pointing out the room. His behaviour was extremely reserved and also slightly worrying. Neo stayed behind with Torchwick, but her eyes never left the three of them staring them down until they disappeared from sight.

"Let's just hope all this waiting will lead up to something interesting shall we?" Torchwick smiled to himself as the door to the room he pointed to closed. Inside was a meeting space with a single table and window covering an entire wall. Taking a seat on one end of the table, Cinder looked at the person sitting opposite to her.

"Cinder Falls you've finally made here. I thought I would have to cause a little more trouble to finally grab your attention." Cinder was caught slightly off guard as Shen outright spoke her name. "Well, you're a hard person to ignore…" Her eyes landed on Blake, who was standing next to the sitting Shen. "Especially considering your reputation spreading through Mistral."

Turning her attention back, Shen smirked and leaned back in his chair. "Well, I'll try. Now flattery aside we both know why we're here and what you want from me. So all that's left to talk about is what I want right?" Placing her hand on the table, Cinder shook her head. "Not exactly. In fact, I have two questions that have been lingering on my mind."

Shen looked interested as he humoured Cinder. "The most prominent being, why? From what I understand your actions have raised the White Fang here to new heights. Money and Dust shouldn't be an issue for you whatsoever yet that's all we have to offer. So tell me why are you putting so much at risk for humans? We should be natural enemies after all."

Cinder always had an expression of control on her face, along with a sense of superiority hidden behind a charming yet fake smile. It was normally enough to hide whatever she was thinking. After all, she was deceptive to her core, but sadly Shen could see straight through her. "You know Cinder, you are always too eager for power and control. It's a good trait, but not against me."

Cinder's smile fell a bit as Shen continued. "You're here because you're out of options. Adam Taurus can't supply you with the manpower you need right? Maybe he's been forced to back out of his arrangement with you?" Shen spoke with a smile as both Blake next to him, and the three people in front of him had their eyes change in emotion.

"So now you've come here to me. So yes you're definitely right. Alone you three are worth nothing to me. In fact, getting rid of you would probably save me a lot of hassle in the future. However, the person that can help me is your master. She is the one who sent you here right?" Suddenly Cinder's face completely changed.

She stood up so fast that her seat fell back as both wariness and shock enveloped her. "You- Who are you?" Salem's very existence is hidden from the world. Almost no one knows of her, and yet she is the shadow that lurks across Remnant. There was no way Shen, who simply controlled the White Fang, should know of her.

"Hehe… Don't act so startled. I know more about your master than even you do which isn't saying much I suppose. This is also why I'll give you a chance to redeem yourself in her eyes. Tell her to contact me herself. If she accepts the offer I lay down then she'll have my support in her goal… Her true goal, until the very end…"

Cinder stared at Shen with that smirk on his face, full of both confidence and foreboding. After standing there frozen for a moment, she turned around. "Were leaving!" Both Mercury and Emerald were surprised to see Cinder like this as Emerald spoke out. "But when-" She was immediately cut off by Cinder glaring at her.

Her body froze up as she nodded and immediately followed behind her. Mercury glanced back at Shen before following as well. Shen casually waved as they left, saying something in a low tone. "Try to keep your head on your shoulders during this ordeal, Cinder. I would hate for you to die too soon."

With that, Cinder left in a hurry, not even bothering to close to the door. The next second, both Torchwcik and Neo walked in. "So I'm guessing things didn't go well?" Shen shook his head to Torchwick's questions. "Oh no, it went about how I expected. It won't be long now till they crawl their way back to me. Sadly until then, we're going to have to wait a bit longer."

Torchwick raised a brow as he looked at Shen, who seemed quite happy with himself. "You know for someone who is so impatient you do like waiting don't you?" Shen glanced at him as he shrugged. "I learn from others' mistakes. So many people exist with their own plans for their world. Some are willing to wait tens of years, others hundreds."

Shen turned in his chair to look out the window behind him. "Yet in the end, they all fail due to a failure to look into the possibilities. Ignoring certain people's existences, possibilities and leaving important matters to those who are simply too useless to carry them out. I won't make the same mistakes, I refuse to." Shen narrowed his eyes when he said those last words.

A silence enveloped the room as everyone stared at him thinking their own individual thoughts. At the same time, a few minutes later, Cinder, followed by Emerald, and Mercury had long left the building. Cinder had her eyes refocused, but her fist clenched tight. "Cinder what's going on? What was with that guy?" Mercury spoke up first as Cinder came to a stop.

"Emerald you had all the things we brought with us moved to our hotel rooms didn't you?" Emerald nodded. "Yes, just like you asked me to." Hearing that, Cinder took a deep breath as she regained her calm. "Good, then I want you to come with me. Mercury, you stay here and watch that building. Keep note of everything that happens especially when it comes to that boy."

Mercury nodded in uncertainty as Cinder gestured for Emerald to follow her. 'This is weird. I've never seen Cinder that riled up before. That guy… Everything about him is just so strange.' Later into that day, Cinder and Emerald arrived at the rooms they had prepared in Argus beforehand. Lying on the ground before them was yet another one of those strange Grim-like orbs.

"Are we really talking to her so soon after arriving?" Emerald seemed worried as Cinder didn't answer and bowed. Emerald soon did the same as Cinder spoke. "Master, I have something to talk to you about." Keeping her head low, the Grim orb let out a dark glow before rising into the air, seemingly activating.

"Ah, Cinder contacting me so soon. I can only hope this isn't a matter that will displease me. Another failure from you would be quiet… Displeasing." Cinder opened her mouth before closing it, seemingly preparing to speak. "Master I have met with the one who is to assist us. However, something unexpected has occurred."

Salem seemed disinterested in general but still replied to Cinder. "Speak." Cinder raised her head as she spoke in all seriousness. "The person we met had agreed to assist us however he had requested… Yet those requests seemed to be based on knowledge he has of you. I'm not sure how but he was expecting us to come here and most likely engineered it."

Finally, Salem gave a response of interest as she went silent. Cinder took this chance to continue speaking. "He said he is willing to support your endeavours but only if you speak to him directly. I'm not sure of the details but he most likely-" Cinder was cut off by Salem speaking. "What does he look like?"

Cinder turned to look at Emerald, who was behind her. Emerald nodded as she utilized her semblance. Her red eyes seemed to glow as she focused it on everyone in the room. An illusionary figure appeared beside her in full height and nearly perfect appearance. It was Shen, of course, replicated from Emerald's memory and imagery of him.

Looking at Shen through the Grim orb Salem went through instant recognition. "It's him... " She whispered to herself as suddenly Cinder and Emerald heard a chuckle which evolved into a controlled laugh. "Interesting, very interesting. And he wants to meet me? Very well then I'll humour his curiosity. Agree to his terms Cinder and schedule for us to talk within the week."

Salem gave no further explanation as the Grim orb cracked and fell to the ground. Both Emerald and Cinder were surprised by Salem's sudden decision but had no time to question it. Standing up, the Cinder remained silent as Emerald spoke, "Something is definitely going on behind the scenes. It was a good idea to leave Mercury there to watch them."

Finally, Cinder spoke. "I agree. If even Salem is willing to act when it comes to him. Then it seems it will be best if we get closer to him on our own."