Save the world? Fuck that, I want to make money! (RWBY SI) ch 32 (Patreon)

+++

The birds of the forest were colorful and melodious in their singing. Long left unexploited as man and faunus were unable to travel too far thanks to the Grimm, great species of birds and other animals lived and thrived in the green of Mistral. But here, even in the outskirts of society, news travelled fast. An attempt had been made on the life of not just Ghira Belladonna and his family but also of the other White Fang leadership which had went to Atlas to celebrate the human Council's decision to choose justice over money. To Sienna, this had been the opportunity she had been waiting for, the chance to finally steer the White Fang into a fiercer direction. And now that the moment had come, it did not make her feel any less terrible.

"This land is beautiful," remarked John Brown as he glanced forward towards the lake. A number of birds had swooped down to feed on fish, their size large and healthy. Sienna had found Brown sitting on a large rock overlooking the lake. In the distance, their camp all bustled with the sounds of an army on the march. Weapons were being checked and rechecked, men and women were training, some were laughing around campfires.

Sienna crossed her arms, standing by his side. "It is beautiful," she couldn't help but agree.

"How are the men?" he asked her.

"Divided. Others still want to fight, others are only here for the bandits," Sienna dutifully recounted.

The faunus of their band all but wanted nothing more but to march North and attack Argus wholesale. It was the closest and most major symbol of Atlas on Mistral. If the Atlesians thought that the faunus would take the attempted murder of the White Fang's chief lying down, they were wrong. But it was not just faunus now in their band. Mistralis of the frontier had joined with them, an alliance of towns from the West to the East to purify the countryside of bandits. They had signed on to clean their land of scum, not join the Faunus in a death ride against Atlas. Personally, Sienna wanted nothing more but to find the cretins that had done the crime and skin them alive. And there was no bigger suspect in the crime than Jacques Schnee himself. Him and the creatures that dared call themselves members of his board. Sure, everyone knew that Schnee was behind bars in a Atlesian prison but no one who understood the world worked believed he was serving time properly.

Brown did not say anything, merely accepting her report with a nod. He turned away, gripping his knee. "I met the Belladonnas late, in the last days of the Faunus Rights Revolution. They were younger, one of the few faunus who could read, write, and educated. It was no surprise Ghira and Kali rose to the ranks when they knew how to run a kingdom and act as Menagerie's voice."

Sienna could recall. "I know. Kali herself told me that when they started, others in the movement had more prestige than them but decided no to go further in leadership." When Menagerie had managed to establish itself more and more faunus enjoyed the fruits of peace, many rushed to be educated. Sienna was one of the early graduates that had distinguished herself. Thus, it was no surprise that Ghira had taken her under his wing.

"Ghira...he praised me," Sienna said, struggling not to let the tears free from her eyes. "He told me that I was only the start, faunus who would usher in a age of artists rather than revolutionaries. And now....he....he..." Sienna could not finish, choking in her tears as memories of her mentor and the steerer of the Faunus was lying unconscious in a Atlesian hospital. The blast had been damaging to the point that the airport had to be closed and even Atlas itself had to be lowered down from the sky to ensure that nothing else was left to chance.

Brown stood up from his rock and walked over to Sienna. It did not take long for him to wrap her in a warm embrace. Sienna cried softly against Brown's chest, letting the pain in her heart mend. But as soon as the pain mellowed, the anger which had been boiling inside of her went to fever pitch as she pulled back, looking up at Brown with fiery eyes. "As soon as we are done with the last of the bandits, we must go to Atlas. This cannot go unanswered."

"It can't," Brown agreed, to Sienna's approval. She moved forward, hugging brown.

"But only I will go, not you." Brown suddenly said. The words were like thunder to Sienna who pulled back, shocked. She...only him? What?

"What?" she couldn't help but exclaim. She was confused. Why would Brown not bring her with him?

"Sienna," Brown spoke calmly, eloquently. "The White Fang's leadership was decimated in Atlas. There are far too many empty seats both in Menagerie and the White Fang. Those seats must be filled." He then placed both his hands on her shoulders, hands which had murdered and killed bandits and scum...but they were gentle to Sienna.

"Yes but...I can't just..." Sienna stammered. "I must avenge Ghira!"

"And he will be," Brown nodded. "A sword of vengeance will cut through the guilty and the faithless, Sienna. But I will do it, not you. You are important." His grip on her tightened a bit, he leaned down eyes intense but voice gentle. "You are one of the few who studied and learned from Ghira and Kali. So few remain now that are qualified to lead and guide the faunus. Do not waste your youth in this."

"But you're going," Sienna said bitterly. "That's a bit unfair, don't you think?"

"I'm old, Sienna," Brown smiled sadly. "I have lived my life fighting for your people, so that you and others like you will live in a free Remnant. I am spent."

Not entirely, Sienna whispered to herself bitterly. But that, she could not say. Not now when they were in this war. She glanced away, refusing to meet his eyes. "Is this your final decision?"

"Yes," declared John Brown. He pulled back, turning away. "Tonight, the Branwen Tribe dies. I shall go to Atlas and bring justice to Jacques Schnee. You...you shall lead your people to a new world." And with that, he walked off, his boots leaving footrails as he walked.

+++

Atlas was previously a part of Mantle, both figuratively and literally. That was until a decision was made to lift the city high into the sky. The reason for such was to make Atlas a shining beacon of the future, a star for not just Mantle to be inspired by but for all of Remnant. After all, the technological wonders that the world was experiencing came from Atlas after all. Noble the reason may be, the planners clearly did not expect the side effects. Having a permanent city floating in the sky blocked Mantle from the sun, turning a already cold city even colder. It made administration harder as well thanks to the literal distance that separated Mantle from Atlas. And because of that separation, what once had been a single city and a single kingdom became two.

Archduchess Adelhaid, her mother, had taught her stories of Mantle in its glory days. Of their ancestor Carolus the Great, of the different Kings that tried to contest for control over Solitas, of Emperor Maximillian finally finishing the work of generations. Then...the disasters of the Great War, the Color Revolution, the lashing out of the citizens against her family. That was why she had decided to abandon her real name for that of Robyn Hill. Someone who stole from the rich to give to the poor. Because of that, she had gathered a cohort of like-minded women who loved their city. Fiona, May, Joanna...so much so that when they finished their education at Atlas Academy, they decided not to serve in Atlas's armies but left to return to their homes and do what they could for Mantle's people.

And now, they were going far away, never to see it again. She had wanted to stay, to help out after the bomb blast at Atlas but their fates had been decided. They were to be punished before they were to be sent over to Vacuo, firstly to act as huntsmen of the company. Secondly, to make sure that they would never see Mantle ever again.

But it was for Mantle, the city of her ancestors. For Mantle, Robyn would give anything.

"You are stripped of your weapons, your huntress licenses, your very being is taken," their new minder and jailor told them. He was an old man, one of the oldest Robyn had seen and dressed in armour one could find in a history book. "The only thing you have left is your bodies, your skills, your souls and each other. You have bit back against the hand that bit you and that hand will remind you of what happens when you throw away your oaths.

Electricity poured forth from pikes. The Mistrali Shields assembled forward, electric pikes in their hands. In the distance, fellow Mantlese recruits stood in their squares, faces hidden under their peaked hats. In one corner, a Silver Shield tossed their weapons into a pit. Then, it was summarily burnt. Robyn kept her face strong, she had to be. Fiona tried her best to be strong too but she was too gentle for that. She cried and wept openly, the sight of which made May hiss and snarl at. Joanna kept her face stoic. Normally, they would try to break out but men bearing guns stood at the walls.

"Pikes, forward!" the old man Land yelled out. In speeds only such men could do, they raised their pikes. Land turned on her feet, eyeing them. Behind him, the Wayland Flag flew high, fluttering in the Mantlese breeze. On it was the eagle, its wings outstretched and its eyes, it seemed judging towards them.

"You have committed crimes against the unit. The sin of which simply cannot be ignored." Land told them. "You will one by one, walk the gauntlet until it is over. You shall enter the gauntlet sinners, you will leave it as Forlorn Hope. The Silver Shield Mercenary Company provided generously but it shall punish harshly as well. Prepare yourselves, worms."

Robyn took a step forward. She had lead them into this mess. She will bear the weight of responsibility too. Drums rolled, its toll hearkening her pain.

Then it stopped.

She ran between the gauntlet and her skin felt electricity. Her muscles screamed in pain as fire coursed through her veins. Her body threatened to stop but her aura kicked in, restoring her functions. There were merely twenty men ahead but to Robyn, it might as well be a whole regiment. She continued to run, her cries of pain leaving her lips with each shock. "ARGHHHG!" she shrieked. The Mistralis did not just hold their pikes out, they stabbed and jabbed at her, earning blood. From where they stood, Fiona cried some more, watching Robyn run through for their sins. May's anger bubbled inside of her but Joanna held her hand out, keeping her in place. If they tried to run, it would only make things worse for them and even then, they'd leave Robyn behind.

They had fucked up, badly. It was only right to take their punishment to the face. Ahead, Robyn had run past the twelfth pike until finally, she collapsed. Before darkness took her, the Wayland Eagle flew above, fluttering, watching, disdain in its eyes.

When she came to, Robyn was on a hospital bed, her uniform gone and replaced with a hospital gown. Bandages were all around her, a saline solution feeding her IV.

"Hey you, finally awake?" a familiar voice spoke up. Her eyes settled on the old man Land sitting across her bed, arms crossed and face grumpy.

"My team!" Robyn cried aloud, worry for her fellow huntresses.

"They're alive and alright but still unconscious," Land said, his tone neutral. Robyn breathed a sigh of relief.

"Can I see them?" she asked, hopeful.

"No," Land said flatly.

She bit her lip. "Why?"

"That is going to be a privilege that you and your fellow huntresses will have to earn back. Do well and eventually, your past stations will be restored little by little," Land announced. He paused, looking at Robyn. "Royal and Imperial as well as the Silver Shields had been a generous employer, providing work for many of your fellow Mantlese. And not just the bare minimum, the company goes all the way to ensure that all those that sign with us will have much to look out for both in and out of work. You and your idiot cohorts just endangered that," Land said, each word a knife into Robyn's heart. "Why?"

"Do you seriously think that anyone from Atlas will listen to me? To my Huntresses?" Robyn began, hurt and feeling intimidated but she was not going to let his words affect her too deeply. Yes, she understood that they had committed a mistake but to twist the knife even deeper was cruel when they were already served their punishment. She sat up her hospital bed, lip curled in rage. "Atlas dumps its trash onto Mantle, every day businesses close or move to Atlas and leave Mantlese workers behind. There is barely enough money for services like hospitals and schools! Do you seriously think that we did not try the legal options? We have, old man! We have!"

Her hands balled into a fist. "I know that my Huntresses and I did badly. But you do not have a right to tell us about the 'proper way' when those ways were impossible to turn to. I have seen children die in hospitals because there were not enough doctors. Mantlese children go learn their lessons in cold classrooms without heating. Drug abuse and hopelessness tear away at our people. Don't you ever dare to lecture me."

And it was true. Mantle was only ever kept alive by its people who were either too stubborn to leave or simply had nowhere else left to go. Bottomline was, they all had pride for their city, the birthplace of Solitan civilization. The city of Emperors, of composers and tailors, of dreamers and palaces. This was the city her mother told her Mantle was before the Emotion Laws. And it was a city Robyn would do anything to get back.

"I am not denying that Mantle's situation is terrible," Land sighed. "What I am asking about is...why did you all think it was a good idea to steal?"

Robyn's cheeks burned brightly. She looked away. "....We already know we did terribly. I just want things to be right."

"Tch. Fine." Land tutted. "As I said, perform well in Vacuo and slowly, you and your team will be reunited again. If I am pleased by your performance, I might even send word up the line that you all can return to Mantle."

"A restored Mantle?" Robyn asked hopefully.

"Of sorts," Land replied, eyes glinting.

+++

The boardroom quieted down as soon as she came in. It was clear to Willow Schnee that each board member had been yelling and crying at each other judging from their frazzled looks and faces. It was easy to see why when outside the building, crowds of protestors both human and fauns were a stone toss away from breaking in to render harsh judgement upon them. Only the presence of riot police, an Atlesian Knight contigent, and Mantas flying around was what kept them from doing it. It had become dangerous for her to travel in fact that she had come in via a Bullhead instead of the usual car.

"Madam Schnee!" the Chairman of the Board greeted her, face ecstatic as finally, the CEO had arrived. It had been the very first time that the man was looking at her for leadership instead of hidden scorn.

"Chairman," Willow greeted him. "What seems to be the issue?"

"The riots, Madam," the Vice-Chairman supplied as he nervously rubbed his hands together. "What...what is our plan? We...we didn't bomb the White Fang, did we?"

Willow was quite sure that the faunus outside were more than happy to murder him and his ilk for other understandable reasons. "For your sakes, I hope you did not go behind my back and do that."

The shock in their faces was something Willow was going to remember. "We would never!" the Chairman exploded, offended. "We here care deeply about the faunus, don't we?" He asked, turning to his fellows for support. They all nodded, quickly.

"Indeed. We love the faunus!" One declared loudly.

"I would let my daughter marry one." Another one suggested.

"I have a few faunus friends," one interjected.

"So!" the Chairman exclaimed before turning back to Willow. "What shall be our plan for this disaster, Madam?"

"I have heard your pleas, Chairman," Willow began. "And I have come up with a plan that will save the SDC. Even despite the disaster at the Council, this will ensure that the SDC will go through this stronger than ever albeit at a reduced size."

The relief in their faces was palpable. A sight that Willow would cherish in breaking as she continued. "However, that is a plan without you people in it."

Silence descended before the yelling match began. The board members of Jacques Schnee all yelled and hurled insults at Willow who looked at them dispassionately while a few remained seated, quiet. "We are your board and I am its chairman!" the man shrieked. "You cannot do this to us!"

"She can," a voice interjected. Eyes turned towards the table where an old man stood supported by a cane. Behind him were other men and women, some elderly with a few in their twilight years. Each one eyeing them all with disdain.

Willow had worked quickly, looking around for any of her father's associates that could still be alive and willing to help. To her relief, there were some who were alive and quite influential albeit retired. Going to them and asking for their help was met quickly and easily. The old man, their leader, walked up to the chairman. Despite his age and slightly short height, he seemingly towered over the Chairman. "You are in my chair," the old man said, pushing the Chairman aside with his cane.

"W-what? Who are you?"

"The new chairman of this board, son," the old man said quietly. "You've been replaced."

There was one thing that Willow learned from Jacques, insider trading. A few members of the board had seen how the winds were going as soon as the Council voted to shatter the SDC. They had agreed to sell their stock as long as they were not going to pay for their crimes. It was a disgusting deal, Willow felt, but if it meant that the bigger fish were going to be fried, so be it.

"I call for a vote to remove the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, and the Treasurer from this board," the Secretary of the Board announced dispassionately. "Who votes for it?"

Hands were quickly raised. Those who were not in on the coup quickly caught on, raising their hands.

"Security!" the now ex-chairman of the board screeched. The Security did come, SDC guards bearing the Schnee snowflake upon their vests. But instead of reaching for Willow and the others, they went instead for the removed board members.

"The Schnee Dust Company thanks you for your tireless service," Willow said with a smile as the men were dragged.

Her smile turned murderous. "I hope you enjoy your retirement,"

Their screams still echoed against the walls even as they were dragged out. As the chaos subsided, the new members took their seats save for the old man. The Secretary seeing the empty chairs, cleared his throat. "As senior most remaining member of the board, I call upon for a emergency vote. I nominate Alba Steel to take the place of Chairman of the Board. Raise your hands if you approve." 

The votes were quick. And the old man nodded at the nomination. "Thank you, Secretary. I will take over, now." He glanced up, eyes which were previously tired were burning with energy. "I will however ask for the CEO to join us at the head of the table," he said, eyes soft. 

​Willow's eyes widened. "It is where she belongs," Alba said with a wink. 

Of all the things, Willow had expected him to start listing what they were going to do. Assets had to be organized and taken stock of, ensuring that only the most valuable dust mines remained in the SDC's hands. They were going to present a plan of gradual shattering to the Council that while slow would at least ensure a stable handover. Willow had thought that she had done enough as the interim CEO. She was going to let Alba do his job...

She swallowed the lump in her throat as she walked forward, Alba staying aside, as she sat at the head of the table. 

For the first time since her husband's fall...Willow felt like a true leader. 

"Thank you, Chairman," she could cry here and now. 

"It is what your father would have wanted," Alba whispered, going to the side and sitting at the last available seat closest to Willow. And so, they began to discuss business. Steps in making sure the SDC would leave this still strong and measures to deal with the current drama happening in Atlas. As they did so, Willow wondered how to thank the men that had, in their minds, helped her out casually but were in fact angels to her. Tartan already said he didn't want a reward but that only left Gerard. 

Perhaps a dinner date wasn't out of the question?

+++

A/N: A little short update for now. It's my nanas b-day today and I will be celebrating it with her c: She is going 70 now, ladies and gents. Please do wish her a happy b-day!