Price of word

James recoiled as if struck, and Jonathan turned his gaze to Ozpin, trying to understand what it was that had made him suddenly decide to backstab his 'friend'.

Up to this point, Ozpin had already chosen his position, simultaneously showing both his silent opposition to Jonathan and his coalition and allowing events to unfold in a way that suited him. This turnaround, however, did not fit into what exactly Jonathan knew about Ozpin – with his passivity and willingness to influence events from the shadows, only directing them by subtle manipulation, committing the least amount of action possible.

Ozpin's single-minded decision, his support for Robyn, despite how unexpected his actions seemed to Robyn or Ghira herself, did not fit the picture Jonathan had outlined.

In other words…

Either Jonathan was wrong, or Ozpin was once again not who Jonathan thought he was, or something had happened that caused Ozpin to change his usual actions.

Jonathan turned his gaze to Aifal – could it be him? Aifal was a man full of mystery, Jonathan knew that he was influential, but the information about him was half hearsay and half out of reach, in sight but out of Jonathan's hand reach. And thanks to the RATS, Jonathan's hands could reach very, very far.

Could Ozpin have suddenly backed Jonathan because of Aifal's actions? Aifal tried to maintain a neutral stance by pointing out the weaknesses of any possible treaties between Mantle and Atlas. His actions contributed to tension in the negotiations between the two sides, but no more so than any discussion of a specific framework for implementing theoretical plans.

Did such a discussion carry with it something more? Something that caused Ozpin to make a move by intervening in what was going on? Maybe – but if so, then Jonathan lacked the experience or intelligence to see the secret plays between Aifal and Ozpin.

Jonathan's gaze caught the slightly sly squint of Aifal's eyes, causing him to inwardly note that Aifal's objections actually made some sense. Unfortunately, Jonathan himself could not decipher what he would get by his actions, nor what Ozpin had figured out.

And judging by Aifal's sly squint, he knew it.

Diplomacy – the ability to say one thing to make others hear another, or to say nothing at all.

James, meanwhile, with his last foothold knocked out from under him, turned a bewildered look to Ozpin, fully aware that he had become nothing more than a sacrificial lamb at this feast. Finding no purchase there, his frozen expression, between despair and childish resentment, glanced at Robyn as if hoping for a modicum of sympathy from his enemy in such an unjust world at least.

Ironwood was truly desperate to think that Robyn would have any sympathy for Atlas.

"On behalf of Mantle, I'm prepared to congratulate Vale for not forgetting, years later, what the Council system was supposed to be like." Robyn only viciously stabbed at the bottom of James's heart.

Jonathan literally saw the light fade in the General's eyes before he recoiled from the table as if he had been struck. His action caused the agents in his personal guard to tense, and all the other agents around him to tense in response.

Confused, like a lost child, James blinked a few times before the final realization of his fate hit him. The realization caused the already seemingly sickly general to age a dozen years in an instant, hunched over and lowering his gaze before he slowly, with final recognition, signed his own sentence with a nod.

I'm very sorry, General.

"In other words," Jonathan, having determined that General Ironwood had finally surrendered under the pressure of his entourage, stepped forward and finally consolidated the position of his coalition. "Mantle will remain Mantle, as it was before Atlas. And Atlas…"

The second option, the coexistence of separate geopolitical entities, Mantle and Atlas as two separate states – was already rejected. In other words, the third option's what is left – the most Mantle-centric.

"Atlas would be abolished as a state." Robyn couldn't hide the triumphant glee in her voice as she continued on Jonathan's words, the agreement that she had made beforehand, and Jonathan had tacitly agreed to.

"It would remain an enclave city with the right to local government within the standard framework of the new Kingdom of Mantle – just like all the other cities of Solitas."

James finally showed some reaction to these words, though, glancing up, and Jonathan noticed the glow of evil determination in those. The doomed determination of a cornered beast.

He would not go down in history without his final battle. A cornered rat would take even a lion to his grave.

I know.

And still we watch the play, even anticipating the moves ahead…

Cinder. I just want to give Cinder time.

Or are we postponing the choice until the end? As always, Jonathan, as always…

General Ironwood rose abruptly from his desk, making the multitude of agents around him to tense, their hands instantly at their side, weapons bared. In a moment, the friction in the room became palpable, frozen in a moment of anticipated bloodshed.

"Atlas will never agree to such terms." James spoke clearly, and to the point even when he said it in a normal tone of voice, as if to imprint every word spoken into steel. "One day we might only be remembered in history books, as everyone does, but we will not go down in history because of some summit and someone else's decisions."

"As Vale's representative, I must agree with General Ironwood." Ozpin replied quietly, "If the new State Government is to be built on the principles of freedom, is not the first gesture to be made as to the fate of Atlas, within or without Mantle, the most important?"

Hearing these words, Robyn shifted her heavy gaze to Ozpin, but where the tricks of diplomacy didn't work, the tricks of oratory worked beautifully. Robyn was the sort of person for whom the pursuit of perfection trumped rational necessity – just one reminder from Ozpin caused her to retreat from the option of destroying Atlas to the option of coexistence. Given that Atlas would never independently decide to submit to Mantle, even if the legacy as the only true heir to the old kingdom did pass to the newly-created state, it was a logical compromise.

"Is it fair to give the benefits of Mantle to Atlas now, before they can realise all the possible prospects before them?" And Aifal's words pushed Robyn back to getting more out of Atlas, again working on her conviction.

Aifal couldn't find a decent way to respond without showing his hand, and was forced to shift to support Jonathan's coalition to fend off Ozpin's attempt to force Robyn to back off.

The two opponents, Aifal and Ozpin looked at each other intently, waiting for an opportunity to attack their opponent, for some reason Aifal was now supporting Jonathan. No, he was not supporting his coalition, but his position, his actions may have seemed supportive of Jonathan, but only for the time being.

In reality, he was not interested in Mantle getting his way, but in…

What if he knew about the last resort?

Jonathan hesitated for a moment, then glanced at Aifal. The latter, looking at Ozpin, only shifted his gaze to the side for a moment, casting a sly squint at Jonathan before shifting his gaze back to Ozpin.

Jonathan shifted his gaze to Ozpin, then suddenly became breathlessly aware of the next detail of Aifal's plan, a look cast at the right time and in the right way said far more than words could sometimes express.

God-damn it, Aifal isn't poisoning James and Robyn… He's poisoning me and Ozpin!

***

So that's how…

Ozpin didn't let his thoughts show on his face, drawing an internally straight line from Aifal to Jonathan.

Could that really be the case?

Ozpin did not specifically withhold information about Aifal from Jonathan, but at the same time he did not specially provide it. Perhaps wanting to see how Jonathan would act and whether he would have the strength and ability to break through Aifal's fine defenses, using Aifal as a kind of measure of Jonathan's ability and an indicator of his involvement in world politics.

Ozpin's initial assumption prior to the summit in such a case was that Jonathan had never been able to break through to Aifal. Jonathan knew that Aifal was influential and intelligent, but no more than that, and it was from this knowledge that Ozpin planned his moves to influence Jonathan and the summit.

However, if Aifal and Jonathan had actually formed an alliance to force Ozpin to make a move to support their common position, all the while leading Ozpin to believe that Aifal was acting alone… Ozpin, for all his power, was neither omnipotent nor omniscient. It was possible to defeat or outmaneuver him, even manipulate him.

What if Aifal and Jonathan had joined forces?

In Jonathan's eyes, however, after a moment, just before Ozpin could conclude that Jonathan had colluded with Aifal, Ozpin saw confusion quickly change to panic.

Or is Aifal playing an even more subtle game, trying to pit me against Jonathan?

Aifal smiled slightly after a moment, throwing a meaningful smirk at Ozpin, making his mind work, instantly creating and debunking new and new theories and ideas.

Both are possible, and neither can be taken completely on faith. I have seen the most lofty ideals lead people into the arms of Salem.

"So the people of Atlas aren't people anymore?" James twitched his cheek, glancing at Robyn. "How quickly you've proven your slogans false!"

Grimm, I was distracted from Robyn and James!

"Fuck-ass tyrant! Have the people of Atlas ever thought of the people of Mantle as actual living people? Now, when you're cornered, you hypocrites adopt such a policy? How convenient!" Robyn rose instantly from her seat, glaring at James, the situation at the edge, the moment before the battle began. "If one more word comes out of your rotten mouth…"

"That's enough!" Jonathan shouted sharply, causing the two people about to bare their fists, to freeze before glancing over in displeasure, but also with some relief. "This is an international summit, not a bazaar vendor squabble! If you cannot be diplomatic, leave the summit, and we will discuss it without your presence!"

Jonathan's words instantly made Robyn and James tacitly agree, to their displeasure, that being forced away from what is supposed to be their summit, would have caused thousands of different contradictory signals. Not to mention the fact that neither James nor Robyn would have agreed to such a thing. One reprimand and Jonathan's harsh tone had subconsciously shifted Robyn's opinion somewhat to the negative against Jonathan.

But in return it halted the dangerous build-up of aggression, shifting the anger of the two sides from each other to him. A dangerous and not the most ideal, but an effective move.

So Jonathan doesn't want to allow a civil war in Atlas after all… Or is he trying to confuse me? Either way, it's a rather dangerous and weak move – trying to pass himself off as the 'arbiter' of the summit, with power over both sides – Robyn and James wouldn't like it. Even if Robyn is capable of forgiving him far more than James.

"Hmm." Robyn, in confirmation of Ozpin's inference, quickly calmed herself by literally plopping back down in her seat, while James remained standing, glaring at Jonathan, before still slowly returning to his seat, glaring at Robyn and Jonathan alternately. An action that didn't go unnoticed by Robyn, causing the latter to wince inwardly a little.

Indeed, Jonathan had shown himself to be the unambiguous leader of his coalition and Robyn didn't like that, even if it was true – another crack in the facade of a united position.

Ozpin shifted his gaze to Aifal, who only looked up silently, feigning innocence with his whole appearance.

Or is he simply trying to wreak havoc and confusion? That would fit both his aims and Salem's methods.

Aifal was dangerous precisely because of his unpredictability – he could play any game, changing his position on the fly.

Ozpin found himself at a crossroads – who exactly was playing what game now? What game was the unknown player playing? And what was Ozpin supposed to do in response?

Jonathan is trying to keep things within Mantle's margin of victory on the negotiating field. But if he and Aifal have indeed formed an alliance, for whatever reason, I should not support them. Unless Aifal has staked his plans precisely on me resisting their alliance, and it is my resistance that suits the two of them.

Plans within plans, two spiders trying to entangle each other with their webs, while both spiders were blind to each other's webs.

Aifal has always been renowned as a man who knows no defeat. How unexpected, to know that even the Gods were not perfect, and to encounter such a thing in reality.

"Mantle would withdraw as a separate nation and remain the independent heir of the old Kingdom, while Atlas might try to maintain its independence… If it could." Robyn finally gave in after Jonathan's reprimand, taking a more moderate position.

James' face creased at these words, but in the end he nodded slowly, acknowledging with reluctance the outcome of this part of the negotiations and preparing himself for another.

The summit has just started, after all.

***

Step by step, word by word, concessions after concession, and the angry debate that followed – the negotiations barely moved, anger repeatedly flaring up time after time and only stopping before actual weapons were to be pulled.

Aifal used all his powers to pit Robyn and James against each other – inflaming their conflict.

Do we really care, Jonathan? We know how this is going to end anyway.

Jonathan rubbed his eyes, feeling the fatigue of the past hours pressing in on him. Minute by minute, word by word, Jonathan did nothing physically draining. But the thoughts, the plans, the guessing where Aifal and Ozpin's blade was aimed this time, what he had to do in the next second to prevent the negotiations from dying, minute by minute, hour by hour… It was exhausting.

Jonathan could feel that he was exhausted. The caffeine in his system could barely manage to keep his body seated, Jonathan wasn't even sure if his body still had the strength to get up from his seat and take a step.

"The formalization of the outcome and the signing of the treaties will take place tomorrow," General Ironwood said slowly, through gritted teeth, causing Robyn to nod back grudgingly in agreement.

Jonathan was loath to let James out of the negotiating room. Letting him to step out of sight would allow him to reconsider the outcome of the negotiations and come to new conclusions in his head, to consider new strategies and new outcomes. A chance that tomorrow's meeting, besides signing the negotiating outcome, would surely require a final round of negotiations – but it was impossible to keep him in the summit at the moment either.

The document had to be formulated and prepared, and each of the players, Jonathan himself first among them, needed a breather before the next round.

If the next round would take place at all, of course.

James continued to stand for a few moments before he gave a short nod without any more pleasantries to anyone, "My lawyers will take care of the preparation of the contract."

Robyn did not respond to these very straight words, which in turn caused James to only nod briefly and, without looking around, fully accepting his 'besieged fortress' position and resigning himself to his doomed resolve, walked away.

Ozpin, a moment afterwards, silently gave a nod to each of those present, lingering his attention for a moment on Aifal before following behind Ironwood. As Ozpin left, Leonardo, silently acquiescing to all decisions discussed, to linger his gaze on Jonathan.

Hm? Did he have something to discuss?

The likelihood of such a thing was not zero, but it was equally likely to be another act by Ozpin, given how the silent faunus was firmly on his side. Or it was simply another ploy by Aifal, given that they were both Mistral Councillors.

Aifal silently rose, casting a satisfied half smile and giving a much more open bow than Ozpin's to everyone still present – but he was unmistakably focused on Jonathan. "It was a pleasure working with you."

"I look forward to continuing the work." Jonathan was almost startled by the voice of Vacuo's advisor, whose existence he had already forgotten before she had left the room, leaving Jonathan, Robyn and Ghira alone for a short while.

"I didn't think it would wear me out this much," Robyn frowned angrily, staring at the seat that James Ironwood had occupied a moment ago.

If you only knew how much it's drained me – and you're one of the many reasons why.

Huh, it would be nice to be much simpler, much more right and better, just standing your ground and stepping forward at any moment without wondering where your path leads you.

But is there any rightness in being right that way? No matter how confident you walk, it makes no difference if you're walking towards a cliff.

"It went better than I thought it would, actually." Robyn sighed and pulled a packet of cigarettes from behind her coat pocket before quickly lighting it, causing Jonathan to pull away slightly, even aware of how useless it really was. With his health, he would cough uncontrollably from even one accidental inhalation of 'second-hand smoke', so unknowingly he sought to distance himself from Robyn. Perhaps a bit too on the nose of a metaphor.

Robyn, seeing Jonathan's action, winced slightly before putting the cigarette away for a few minutes until she said goodbye to Jonathan. Only until he parted ways with Jonathan however, the cigarette would be getting lit again soon after, needing nicotine above all else at the moment.

"How many was it? I counted ten times when we froze a second before the fight." Ghira spoke up in the silence that just formed.

"I remember nine," Robyn shrugged. "But they all subsided in the end, so that's not bad."

Jonathan didn't even find the strength to sustain such a dialogue, only flapping his eyelashes loudly, hoping it would count as his answer.

"Jonathan? Is something wrong?" Ghira turned to him after a moment, causing Jonathan to reflexively raise himself up a little, squeezing the last remnants of strength out of himself.

"It's not the end, just the beginning." Jonathan only replied grimly as an answer, feeling his brain begin to work against his wishes – thoughts, and plans tossing before his inner eye. All he can see are new and newer problems popping up, from the current to those looming in a dozen years from now.

Robyn, hearing Jonathan's conclusion and seeing his exhausted figure, tensed slightly, while Ghira could only cast a slightly saddened glance at him, before Jonathan was able to bring himself under control. "But we've dealt with that for now… If you need anything, I can provide my lawyers…"

Robyn only smiled at his offer. "Fiona is already overworked, and I've never been very good at jurisprudence, so thank you, I'll be taking advantage of that offer."

Ghira only silently winced, glancing over at Jonathan, clearly thinking inwardly about his influence on Robyn and perhaps seeing a reflection of himself.

In the alliance between Glenn and Menagerie, everyone knows who plays first fiddle. But at the same time, Ghira himself, even knowing this, does not want to see Menagerie relegated to the level of a junior partner, the things they fought for – freedom, equality, brotherhood…

And what happens in the end.

Menagerie and Glenn are already strongly linked – even if Ghira decided to abandon their alliance, it would take months to wind down all these programs. And given the level of mutual integration of the two states, it would do Menagerie as much, if not more, harm as Glenn. Given that Glenn strongly relied on Menagerie in the past and at the moment, while Glenn is able to exist on his own, Menagerie would lose access to the unique artifacts Glenn provides.

In other words, Ghira now stood at a crossroads, unwilling to fall into complete dependence on Glenn, and yet already forced to follow the leader. And so it was in this situation that he watched with such great dismay as Jonathan reached out his arms to Mantle, aware that he was not much more secure than Mantle.

The fauna might be very loyal to Ghira – but it was the treaties with Jonathan that had brought Menagerie prosperity and managed to elevate the scattered assemblage of fauna to the level of a state.

What happens if Jonathan Goodman and Ghira Belladonna's vision one day diverges?

Ghira clearly doesn't want to test that.

Jonathan raised his hand and rubbed the bridge of his nose before opening his eyes and nodding languidly to Ghira and Robyn. He really wished that he had the gift of ignorance – seeing future problems in front of him starting to bloom only makes his weariness increase.

"I suggest we meet to discuss the specific points of the treatise in three or four hours, I need at least a little rest from that mess." About this, Robyn eagerly nodded, before picking her cigarette back out. Ghira also nodded, much less enthusiastically, while Jonathan rose from his seat, leaning on his cane heavily.

Taking one last glance at Robyn, who had gone ahead of him to the exit of the building, then at Ghira, who had remained slightly behind with a thoughtful look on his face – Jonathan exited the meeting room.

And so, the first act came to an end. Intermission is called.

***

Cinder's team made their way behind Jonathan calmly, in the same composition and formation as before, all according to the security protocols. Protocols that Cinder almost broke as soon as she cast a single glance at Jonathan, who had just appeared from the meeting room.

Jonathan seemed to have aged twenty years and was moving around with such difficulty, as if he were carrying the weight of the whole world on his shoulders.

Could this be the case? What happened in that meeting room? Are we at war now?

One of the agents even had to break standard operating procedure by putting up his arm to allow Jonathan. Who, at all other times, desperately pretending that his cane was more of an accessory to his style, than a necessity, to lean on him. Something that was necessary, as Jonathan was almost wobbling on his legs.

Cinder knew that negotiating could be exhausting, she also got tired from long conversations with other people. For all her popularity, Cinder considered herself more of an introvert than an extrovert, but never until now had she seen what a man truly exhausted by interacting with his peers looked like.

Heavy is the head that wears the crown.

But Cinder knew that Jonathan needed support now more than ever, a chance to distract himself for a moment and regain at least a drop of his strength.

And she was painfully aware that he would not accept her help.

Cinder had no pity for Jonathan, in the sense that she did not see him as lesser, knowing full well that no shackles, including bodily ones, could hold Glenn's King back. But at the same time, she did want to help Jonathan – a massage, coffee, or even to serve as a pillow or as a sounding board, ready to listen to any speech from Jonathan.

But he would never even dare to dump an iota of his problems on Cinder.

Cinder realized that the only way she could help Jonathan at the moment was to try to get him back into a routine – to pretend that everything was normal – to convince Jonathan that life went on even at this moment.

And that meant following a predetermined plan.

Cinder wanted to support Jonathan, even if it meant her plans needed to be put on the back burner.

And somewhere in the back of her mind, she didn't want to meet her family.

Cinder was aware that it was the right thing to do – a necessary step, even.

Like a bitter, necessary medicine.

And at the same time, Cinder was aware that she didn't want to.

Miss Sunny. Amanda. Lee.

Cinder covered her eyes for a moment, standing silently behind Jonathan, who went inside the prepared limo.

"It's going to be okay," After a moment a pleasant warm feeling came to Cinder along with the feel of a palm on her head.

Cinder instantly opened her eyes, seeing Jonathan's tired but sincere smile, which lingered for a moment before the door closed.

Cinder nodded confidently to herself, seeing off Jonathan and her team.

Everything was going to be alright.

Cinder turned around, finding the agent assigned to her for this trip with a glance, and nodded to him.

That's what Jonathan said – and so it shall be.