Save the world? Fuck that, I want to make money! (RWBY SI) ch 63

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How do you get politicians to do what you want?

In a ideal world, all one needed to do was get up to them and offer your plea. Then, said politician would do everything in their power to make it happen. Alas, this was far from a ideal world and officials who do that are a needle in haystack sort of deal, coming out every few generations or so. No, to get officials to do what you want, you need to bribe them. Or as the Americans call it, lobbying.

Power isn't exactly a set thing where one rules forevermore. Unless someone was running a hive of insects with no opposition, officials of any system had people that relied on them but also kept them in power. In tight oligarchies, that was few folk that they needed to be kept happy. In representative systems like the one Vale had, they had lots of people to keep happy. Any act one did was a sacrifice of tightly held power, a thing accumulated over time, and spent very carefully.

My problem now was the Valeans not signing off on a full scale invasion of Mount Glenn. I was aware that Rouge and his band had something to say about that but as far as I could see, that was just white noise. Some of those Councillors were Ozpin's creatures. Why on earth they would oppose me, an ally to Ozpin, was beyond me.

And so, I went off to find out.

There were five Councillors that sat on Vale's council. Two of whom were aligned with Ozpin. The other three I was pretty sure belonged to the Fleur. Now, to snag them.

The murmurs of the crowd went up in the air, conversation flowing as freely as the food, drink, and classical music paid for at my expense. The Warrior King's Theater was perfect for hosting large crowds. My guests came in good suits and dresses. Nothing too ostentatious however considering this was supposed to be a fundraiser for the poor. It would be in poor taste to show up dressed all snag and fine when this event was for the unfortunate. At the center of it all was me, smiling and laughing with my guests. I kept myself free and as accessible as possible. Who wouldn't want to approach me, a man with far too much money and time in his hands?

It did not take long for my targets to do so. Aligned in their camps as they were, they still were politicians and any opportunity to further their cause, whatever it was, was taken.

"Mister Wayland, a pleasure to have you in our beloved city!" came the voice of Councillor Arcenciel. I turned, excusing myself from my other guests as I greeted the man. He was middle-aged, a spitting image of a respectable statesman. He had a thin moustache on his lips with little round spectacles an a multi-coloured suit. How someone could openly wear that in public without shame, I would not know.

His greeting was laying it a bit too thickly for my taste. "Councillor, the pleasure is all mine," I smiled. "Vale is a beautiful city. I love the architecture, I love the food. Simply the best!"

The guests tittered. A little flattery here and there was necessary to grease the gears.

"Quite," he smiled though it did not extend to his eyes. "Now, might I discuss with you a few things? There's some details about the donations I have a few questions about. Might we move a little bit to the side?" 

"Of course," I nodded graciously, still holding my wine glass. I lead the way, directing him to a far off room in the corner, watched by two burly Silver Shields. Both of whom were disguised as waiters. In fact, most of the staff here were Silver Shields. Others were more overt in their uniforms, some were waiting staff, others the caterers. I could not trust anybody else to protect me but them. 

The door closed in behind us. The room were sparse, a lounging area for more important guests to relax at. And, bug free. I was not blind to the Fleur's attempts in trying to spy on me. I knew they were going to spy on me, particularly my apartment. That, I really had no issue with. If they really wanted to watch me play video games for hours on end and shitpost on the internet, that was on them. I did not discuss my plans and ideas in such a place after all. Better to keep them glued and wasting resources on my residence. 

"I have heard that you scandalized the First Minister's secretary," Councillor Arcenciel started as he sat on a free couch, his leg raised on another. I smiled.

"I am a boorish Solitan, in her eyes. I am happy to play the part if only to annoy and make a point," I revealed, crossing my arms. 

"You certainly are boorish, Mister Wayland. Others are a bit more subtle in getting something from men like me," he sniffed. "So, this suggests to me that you do not care for subtly and are likely on a deadline." 

​Aren't you observant. 

"Well, it is sign that I respect Vale's time and interests. If I didn't I would have just done as I had wanted without bothering to give your government a heads up," I informed him. His eyes glint with a flinty edge. Smart man. 

"I suppose I should feel honoured, then," Councillor Arcenciel snorted. He affixed his look on me. Gone was the airs he assumed earlier, now was just pure politician. 

"I had heard from a friend that you intend to invade Mount Glenn," he revealed. I nodded. Someone in the know was far easier to deal with than someone who wasn't. 

"I had looked into the incident, Councillor. And frankly, the idea that people would get upset about the city getting returned to rightful human hands is ridiculous," I said, twirling the glass in my hand. "It has been a long time since that has happened. Beacon regularly sends huntsmen on expeditions there. Now, I come before you with a big toys and a huge army ready to reclaim it for humanity with little to no cost to your Kingdom. What gives?" 

​Councillor Arcenciel sat silently, considering my words. Then after a moment's silence, he spoke. "You are aware that expeditions are different to invasions. A full scale invasion would set off the surrounding Grimm and potentially endanger Vale. The tunnels have long since been sealed, yet, but what about the surrounding villages near or adjacent to Mount Glenn? You will incur the wrath of a whole region's worth of Grimm, Mister Wayland." 

He looked up. "And let's not mention the fact that you would be moving tons of men and material inside our borders. No sane Valean would allow such a large force to go about freely in their own country." 

"With all due respect, Councillor," I retorted. "There is no such law that prohibits me from operating freely in the countryside. I am not coming close to Vale's walls. I am far away, getting all the grimm to me." 

"There will be, soon." the Councillor informed me. "I am hearing up the grapevine that elements of the Fleur intend to push for stricter controls on mercenaries. With the continuing sophistication of the Royal Army, it is the feeling of certain individuals that letting the security of our Kingdom lie in the hands of adventurers and unaligned men-at-arms is a risk." 

I kept my face neutral at that. Now, mercenaries and yes, huntsmen were in the same category, were generally unrestricted. They had licenses and rules, of course such as codes of conduct. But little in the way of actual regulation. As long as anyone can pass licensing, mercenaries could do whatever they wanted. That was why my Silver Shields had great autonomy in places and so did huntsmen. 

"I don't imagine that will go well," I said flatly. 

"It won't," Councillor Arcenciel nodded. "The Valean Police are getting organized, the Armed Forces have recovered from its malaise back in the day. It is the feelings of certain people that security ought to be entrusted to the government more." 

By doing this, the Valeans were essentially extending its authority even more to the outside towns and cities. The Fleur had seen how unified Solitas had become what with the re-unification between Atlas and Solitas. Centralized states had a tendency to organize its resources and population better after all. 

​I wonder if Ozpin knew about this. 

"Now, my friend in Beacon has yet to know about this," Councillor Arcenciel informed me. "I had quite left the meeting discussing about this with my associates. If my colleague hasn't informed him, then I will." 

​"And what is your opinion on this, Councillor?" I asked carefully. 

​He smiled. "I think that motion should be taken into the back and shot," he happily revealed. 

​Despite myself, I could not resist the urge to snort. "Care to explain?" I asked. 

Ärcenciel was happy to provide conext. "I had watched for years as the Fleur slowly built their power. They were a fringe band back then, you know. A club of crazies and nostalgic fossils. Then, they suddenly exploded in influence. They suddenly had more money, more drive. More will. And they infected themselves in my beloved kingdom." 

He paused, taking a sip from his glass before continuing. "At first, I thought that we could resist them. But events outside our control turned folk scared." 

Multi-coloured eyes looked up at me. "The mine blast, the Mistrali civil war, the rise of the Restorationists in Vacuo. Minister Rouge used all those to whip people's fears into overdrive. The Royal Army was restored. The government was overhauled. The treasury found its money swept into state industries. The Fleur had quietly achieved their goals while we could only watch on helplessly. The only thing left now for them is to put Francis Winchester into the Green Throne."

"And if they achieve this, the Fleur can have the power to neuter huntsmen and ensure the pretender gets a easy state to run." I surmised. I shook my head. 

"All in service to the King," Councillor Arcenciel nodded. 

"This comes back to my earlier question however. A question you hadn't answered to my satisfaction," I said gruffly, crossing my arms. 

"Well, I will answer it, Mister Wayland," he shrugged his shoulders. "You want something, the Colour Revolution needs something as well." He leant back on the couch. "Assist me and my colleagues in reducing the Fleur's influence and in exchange, we will let you do whatever the hell you want with Mount Glenn." 

I was going to reduce the bastards the smithereen anyway. Not only were they French and god, frustrating the French is a time honoured Germanic tradition. 

"The Fleur are a cancer that has been infecting my kingdom for far too long," Councillor Arcenciel muttered darkly. "We did not start the Colour Revolution just for the old regime to come back in new colours." 

​The Colour Revolution swept Mistral and old Mantle, with actual fighting in the streets. But in Vale, it was a voluntary move on the part of the old regime to avoid that. Granted they only did that once the old Valean army got its shit kicked in but still, it came from the top and not the bottom. Perhaps this was why it was relatively smooth for them to come back since the architect of its dissolution was still alive in the form of old Rouge. 

"Don't you have to wait for your friend in Beacon for what he has to say?" I asked, curious. 

"Mister Wayland, my friend in Beacon and I are allies. I am not his subordinate anymore than I can order him," Councillor Arcenciel said with a raised eyebrow. "We share similar goals, and that is all." 

"Well, then," I said, putting the matter aside. "I suppose we are in business, then." 

"For the Colour Revolution," Councillor Arcenciel smiled. 

​Right, whatever you say.

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A/N: We are so back, chat. I swear, we are so back.