Overthrown

The Council of Mistral was located in Mistral's Capital City. The entire city itself was built directly on a large mountain. At the very top was Mistral's Academy, Haven. However, the Council, which held sway over the Kingdom, met somewhere separately. It was built into the side of the mountain directly under Haven.

It was a small facility kept under constant guard and watch, for council members and Haven's Headmaster only. It was a circular room in detail, with half being built into the mountain and the other half having a glass. Light from the sun poured into the room as five figures sat around a table.

Two guards with automated weapons stood at the entrance. "Why was a meeting called so suddenly?" An older man with white hair and a mustache looked towards the other people sitting there. He, along with everyone else, were council members, excluding Leonardo Lionheart. He had a tan head of hair along with a beard and mustache.

Wearing a brown greatcoat and white pant's he had a confused expression on his face. "Indeed could this matter not have been handled over a video call?" The two other council members, besides one, nodded in agreement. "I'm afraid such a matter must be handled with all of us present and in person. The graveness of this matter can not be undersold."

An older woman with red hair looked at them with a grave expression. She was the one who had called this meeting. Seeing her face, Lionheart asked. "What matter are you referring to?"

The others listened carefully as the old woman lowered her head. "It makes sense none of you are aware. The news has just recently reached the city. However it has been spreading from city to city rapidly through methods I am unaware of. It's bringing not only panic but rebellions across the Kingdom."

Her words carried weight as all of them fell silent. "What are you talking about? What is this news?" One of the council members inquired as the woman spoke. "Argus has fallen, destroyed and razed to the ground. The Mayor and the Headmaster, Xander of Sanctum has been confirmed KIA."

Listening to her word's one of the council members felt a bead of sweat roll down his face. "Haha… What are you talking about? This is not time for jokes." His nervous laughter caused the others to remain silent as the old woman shook her head. "This is no jest. It was a combined effort of both a new military power under the control of Faunus, along with Grim."

Lionheart's face went from passive confusion to disbelief and dread along with the other council members. Clutching his head between his hands, the old man on the council seemed stuck in a state of bewilderment. "How… How did this happen? Argus is by far our most secure city, protected by our own and the Atlas Military. Why did we receive no distress calls?"

"We're not sure…." Of course, all of the unknowns about the situation were planted there by Shen. The fewer information people knew about a situation, the less control they felt they had. At the same time, it was perfect for causing panic and fear. Lionheart sat there for a moment before taking a deep breath.

"Did we already send news to the other Kingdom's of this incident? Especially Atlas?" The old woman on the council nodded. "Yes, I did so right before calling this meeting. They should be aware of the incident shortly." No one could tell you how much losing a city meant in a world like a Remnant.

A place where Grim ravage and destroy any small towns or villages too weak to protect themselves, people flee to cities. Thanks to that, the population in this world was kept fairly low. However, losing their second-largest city, Argus? This was a bigger issue than anything else, especially since it was done by a group and not just a random event.

"In any case we're going to be forced to annouc-" In the midst of talking, one of the council members heard screaming. "What is that?" The rest of the council heard the screams as well, as they grew more plentiful and louder. At the same time, gunshots were echoing into the room. "Please stay here while we investigate."

The two guards at the door looked at one another as they opened the door. Going outside of the room, they closed it behind them, locking it with a special keycard. The council listened silently as the noise only grew louder. Soldiers ' moving and yelling mixed with the sounds of fighting.

However, after only two minutes's all the sounds stopped. "What the hell is going on? Is someone attacking us?" The council was freaked out by the sudden silence as Lionheart, being Haven Academy's Headmaster, stood up. "I'm sure it's fine and the issue has been dealt with. Wait here and I'll go check in with-"

Without any warning, the locked doors leading to the council's meeting room launched open. The two doors flew through the air like bullets shattering the glass and falling out of view. "That won't be necessary." Walking through the now broken entrance was none other than Shen.

Holding her umbrella, Neo was standing next to him along with over one hundred soldiers part of Shen's personal army. "Who are you!" Standing up, one of the council members looked at Shen and then glanced to the hallway behind him. Littering the ground was a bloody mess, with Mistral soldier corpses everywhere.

"What… You bastard!" He was the youngest member of the council and, as such, was hot-blooded. Hearing him yell at Shen, Neo's face immediately dimmed as her eyes latched to him. "Do you know what the hell you've done? You'll be-" His voice went silent as Neo's position changed.

With the use of her semblance, her fake form next to Shen disappeared as her real self standing behind the hotblooded council member became visible. Her sword, which acted as her umbrella's handle, was coated in blood. At the same time, the council member's head slowly slid from his neck, falling to the ground, followed by his limp body.

Shen put his hands together as he spoke as nothing had happened. "It would be best if you all remain quiet while I'm speaking. And Lionheart you're free to leave." Lionheart's face showed a look of anger and confusion as he yelled. "What are you talking about! Who are you?" Shen didn't look at him as he spoke.

"Salem has given me full authority over her actions here in Mistral. I advise you to fall in line and leave like I asked." The name alone immediately caused Lionheart to freeze. His anger disappeared as if it was never there and instead of a look of fear and anxiety. The council members did not fail to see Lionheart's sudden shift as he lowered his hands to his side.

"I understand." Without any fuss, he began to make his way out of the room.

"Lionheart, where are you going?"

"Dont tell me..."

"Are you mad!"

He didn't answer any of them as he kept his head lowered and left. The Headmaster of Haven Academy had long joined Salem. A plot point that would be focused on later in the future episodes of RWBY. "The rest of you secure the perimeter, kill anyone who tries to enter this place."

The soldier's behind Shen saluted. "Yes Sir!" Before turning to carry out his orders, only leaving him, Neo, and the council. Placing her blade back into her umbrella, she looked towards Shen. "Break them. I don't need their minds intact for this." Shen's words caused Neo to smile as she looked towards the council members sadistically.

Hearing Shen's words, the terror began to infiltrate their eyes. "Wait! Please! What do you want? I'll give you anything!" One of the council members began begging, getting on his knees. The two others remaining were the old man, and the old woman clenched their teeth. It was a humiliating sight. However, not one they could blame him for.

Looking down at him, Shen glanced at Neo. "Start with this one." Immediately the council member's eyes widened as he saw Shen turn to leave. "Wait! Please!" He practically crawled on the ground after Shen, but before he could get close, Neo's blade stabbed him through the leg. "Ragh!" A blood-curdling scream echoed through the room.

"Oh and Neo, make sure they don't have any obvious external injuries. They won't be good puppets if they're under suspicion." She nodded while staring at the council member whose leg she had just pinned down. 'And with that I now have full control over Mistral… It took a while, almost feels unbelievable.'

An entire Kingdom was now in his hands. Of course, he had to maximize on that fact, but how? Leveling up is his main goal, and that meant he needed to either kill more people. Or he would have to start hunting down the characters in RWBY that represented the top brass. Either way strength wise he had already surpassed a majority of the population.

Stopping in a hallway, Shen suddenly thought to himself. 'Actually there might be another method for me to get stronger a lot faster...' Thinking for a moment, Shen felt he had a fairly good idea. But if he wanted to implement it, he would need something first. The Relic Of Knowledge, in simplicity it allows one to ask any question every one hundred years.

Right now, it was lying in a vault under Haven Academy, yet he couldn't get to it. The only one capable of opening it currently would be Raven. 'Mother of one of the main cast, and the current Spring Maiden.' And Maidens in RWBY possessed powers that were threatening even to him.

Salem currently only wanted the Relics. So he would give it to her, of course, only after using it to get what he wanted. And on top of that, he would gladly take the Maiden herself under his care. If he could pull this off as planned, then soon, he would be able to render not only Salem and Ozpin useless against him.

But the entire world of RWBY would be his for the taking. As for what he would do afterwards? 'That's going to be a day worth remembering.' At the same time, something was churning that Shen wasn't aware of. In the Kingdom of Vale within Beacon Academy, its Headmaster had received a call.

A middle-aged man with silver hair and brown eyes was sitting inside of an office high above the Academy itself. He was wearing a dark black suit over a green vest and black trousers. "General Ironwood, to what do I owe the pleasure?" A holographic screen displaying the name Ironwood appeared above the desk in front of him.

"We've known one another long enough Ozpin. Call me James. Besides, as much as I hate to admit it I did not call you to catch up." Ozpin sighed as he placed the cup of tea in his hands onto the desk. "So what is your reason for calling? I'm assuming it's something quite urgent."

Ironwood made a sound of an acknowledgment as he spoke plainly. "I have received word from Mistral's Council that the city Argus has been destroyed." Ozpin's face immediately turned serious as he frowned. "What?"

"I didn't believe it either, however imagery of the scene has been sent over to me. Along with that news of this incident is spreading throughout the Kingdom of Mistral." As Ironwood said, images began appearing on Ozpin's screen. Long-distance pictures of what used to be Argus, now burnt to the ground with Grim making it their new home.

"This… Was it her?" Ozpin spoke slowly as Ironwood answered. "Possibly, from what I know an unbelievable number of Grim had attacked, however that's not all. A new group composed of Faunus, led by someone we're not aware of assistance in the attack. If it truly is her, then it seems she's begun making her move."

Placing his hand on his head, Ozpin massaged himself. "If that's really the case then we must warn Lionheart and tell him to be ready. I was not expecting her to target Mistral first. I'll have to make a few calls including contacting Qrow." Ironwood agreed as he added on. "I will offer any assistance I can."

Ozpin nodded as he stood up from his chair. "With the fall of Argus, panic will begin to spread throughout the world. People will feel unsafe within their own homes. It's best if we address the news ourselves. Familiar faces tend to calm people down." No matter what, stopping a full-blown panic was important.

"Very well, I'll do what I can. Be careful Ozpin." Soon Ironwood hung up the call leaving Ozpin to himself in the office. Walking to the window behind his desk, he saw the numerous students of Beacon.

"Whatever it takes."