Save the world? Fuck that, I want to make money! (RWBY SI) ch 44

+++

"From the desert they came, banners flying high and weapons bared!"

"The Council of Vacuo is under siege. Police forces are refusing to rescue the besieged Councillors!"

"A spokesman for the Restorationists urge for calm and for people to stay at their homes while they restore order to the city. A stark proclamation, considering the storming of several buildings of prominent Vacuan figures."

The events on screen played against the lenses of his glasses, his hands folded against his face. Despite the eerie calm that he was showing, Glynda could tell that Ozpin was anxious from the way that his fingers constantly twitched against his clasped hands and the slowly draining mug of Atlesian Black coffee on his table. Again, it was another seemingly normal day before another historical event blared out in the news. Ozpin was the first to hear of it of course, Qrow calling him and informing him about the coup underway against the Kingdom of Sands and Summer. Glynda quietly did her part, refilling his mug with fresh batches of Atlesian Black when she saw how much was running out. Finally, he paused the videos, the holographic table vanishing from his desk. 

"What do we do?" Glynda asked quickly, a clipboard held fast against her chest. Ozpin said nothing, the quiet gripping him tightly. He then pressed a quick button and a stylized holographic map of the Kingdoms appeared. His eyes landed towards Vacuo. 

"Vacuo holds Shade Academy and the Relic of Destruction. An ally and a powerful relic. The Restorationists might proclaim acting in the best interest of Vacuo but we would be naive to believe if that is everything they want," Ozpin said simply. "I know long enough that they will justify some outrage and storm the Academy to be rid of it while claiming the Relic of Destruction." 

Glynda did not need to be told twice on who would be the mastermind for this. "Trying to storm a Huntsman Academy? I do not think the leadership of the Restoration Movement would authorize that." 

She doubted that the puppet masters to this could propose that without a very good reason. Huntsmen were heroes despite everyone's opinion of them. Plus, there was children there. Children both from the highest and lowest strata of Vacuo. 

"A Siege," Ozpin theorized. "Storming it would be suicide, politically and figuratively. I feel the Queen would siege it with all inconveniences possible, let Theodore give up the Relic without even spending blood to get it." 

"Would it be possible that information about the Relic would be made public? Give the interim government a reason to go in and search for the weapon?" Glynda asked. It sounded possible, letting bits and pieces of the Relic of Destruction out and accuse Shade of hiding such a terrible weapon. 

"Impossible. That would raise too many questions," Ozpin shook his head. What was left unsaid was that their war was fought in the shadows despite the casualties leaking out. It was then Ozpin's scroll rang, the image of a physically able and strong man appeared. He had brown skin and closed-shaved hair, a vest and shirt clinging to him. He clicked on it immediately. 

"Ozpin," came Professor Theodore's voice. He kept himself calm, despite the chaos happening outside his walls. "I assume you've seen the news?"

"I have," nodded Ozpin, meeting his calm tone equally. It was important to keep their cool at such a stressful time. Yelling and hysterics would get them nowhere. "What is Shade's situation?"

"We are surrounded. My huntsmen are keeping their soldiers away and I doubt they'd like to head inside anyway," Theodore grunted. "The Council have either fled, gone into hiding, or were captured by the Restorationists."

"Did they not ask for asylum with you?" Ozpin asked, curious. At any event, a Huntsman Academy would be the safest place anyone would go to.

​A glint appeared on Theodore's eyes, his expression hardening. "I needed to protect my school and my students. Granting them asylum here would have made Shade complicit." 

A moment's silence was shared between the two Headmasters. Ozpin closed his eyes briefly. Then, he opened them. "I understand your decision with your circumstances. I would have done the same." 

Glynda closed her eyes. As a professor, the students came first then the Academy. She understood as well where Theodore was coming from. It was regrettable but it was not as if the Council of Vacuo inspired confidence considering how poorly they governed their Kingdom. 

"What now, Ozpin?" Theodore asked quickly, cutting into the heart of it. He had little time for idle chat or musings. "I have an army led by nostalgic old men and bloodthirsty tribesman wandering outside the walls of Shade."

"They would not dare dream of violating the neutrality of our Academies. Storming and removing you would be out of the question. I feel they would pressure you in other ways," Ozpin spoke up, aware of how his former Minister was being a pain to him. 

"I am aware. Cutting off and lessening our budget, censuring us for some imagined outrage," Theodore shook. "We all know who exactly is behind this mess and what could interest them here."

"I know, Theodore. I know," Ozpin said, folding his hands. 

"They must not and cannot get it. That item in question in unsavory hands..." Theodore shivered. Ozpin shivered as well. The artifact was used sparingly. Each time, kingdoms were sundered and kings laid low. There was a reason why the inner heart of Vacuo was a desert. The Relic of Destruction aside, there too was the Summer Maiden. Unfortunately and fortunately for everyone, he had lost track of her and so did Salem.

"There is only once place I feel it would be safest in Remnant," Ozpin started.

"You wish for it to be taken to you?" Theodore asked carefully. 

"I was going to say Atlas," said Ozpin, surprising both Glynda and Theodore. "Atlas is totally under Ironwood's sway and he possesses that which we do not have, an army. If the Queen wishes to gain what you hide, she would have to go public to get it. And that would not be for her best interest." 

It irked Ozpin massively that he would have to send the Relic of Destruction to Atlas instead of Beacon but from what he could see now, it really was the best option. Vale was his bastion of power yes but with the Fleur rising in power, that would not be ideal. Atlas was undergoing changes at the moment but it was undeniably a bastion for humanity. It also did sting seeing his efforts for Atlas getting changed by Ironwood but he was willing to accept it if it meant a strong ally and friend at his side. This, he informed Theodore. 

Theodore listened and nodded, hesitantly. "I would feel safer if it was with you instead of Ironwood, Ozpin. That man already possesses a far reaching military and honestly, the strongest Kingdom on Remnant. But to send him our item in question...."

"My trust in Ironwood is marrow deep, Theodore. I can not think of no man on Remnant with both integrity and humility," Ozpin said firmly. There too was dear Leonardo at Mistral but sending a powerful relic to a chaotic Anima was a bad idea as well. Atlas was quite literally the most stable Kingdom on the planet. 

"He looks more metal than man sometimes but...I suppose I can trust your words," Theodore grunted. Ironwood had given up the military's seat in the Council with the government restructuring they were doing. A man willingly giving up power. If that was not an endorsement of Ironwood's character, Ozpin did not what else would take.

"The biggest problem now is transporting the item in question," Glynda spoke up, being silent all this time. She adjusted her glasses. "What ideas do you have, gentlemen?" 

"Before that, I feel General Ironwood ought to be involved here. It is only proper to inform a man that we are putting a dangerous Relic inside his house before we advance our plans," Theodore said dryly. Ozpin snorted, shook his head, and dialled up the General. Not a second later, his voice spoke up. 

"Ozpin. The Queen has made her move, again. I am ready to send a fleet to Vacuo and deal with this uprising should you deem it wise. Shade must not fall," Ironwood's voice broke through quickly with the force of granite breaking through a wall. 

​"I would very much appreciate it if you do not send such a thing to my Kingdom, Ironwood," Theodore spoke up, his face frowning. "Yes, the Restorationists are obviously sponsored by who must not be named. But they are still my people, ignorant as they are. Plus, I'd rather not Vacuo not become a battleground again, please." 

​"And it won't," Ozpin spoke up quickly. Gods, another Great War with their current technology would be damning. "James. Theodore and I were discussing about the possibility of moving his speciality item for safekeeping in Atlas. You currently have the most stable and well protected Kingdom than us. What do you think?" 

​Ironwood clearly looked like he was ready to don his armor and sail a fleet into Vacuo but...he paused to compose himself. "Hiding it in Atlas would be possible but I would have to find a place to keep it. Do understand that should I accept this, the value of Atlas as a strategic threat to the Queen would increase?" 

Ozpin was well aware of that. But he too was also well aware of his own wife. Salem was trained in politics and governance unlike his more warrior like education. But she too was educated in warcraft. She would never attack an absolutely firm stronghold not unless she possessed greater strength or could weaken it from within. "I am strongly confident that the Queen would not move against you, James. The Queen would have to use great strength to overcome you or weaken you from within and neither options are possible for her at the moment."

James went quiet for a second to process Ozpin's words. "To get to the artifacts, she would need to overwhelm Atlas which would expose her existence. She cannot weaken Atlas either as we have underwent changes to our government," James realized. What he left unsaid was the glaring rot that the Queen could have used to her advantage. Ozpin nodded. 

"Exactly," Ozpin nodded.

"The problem remains, transportation. How can we do that? The item in question is not exactly subtle," Theodore spoke up. The Relic of Destruction was a massive glowing blade with a golden hilt. 

"I also do not have assets in Vacuo to facilitate a transfer, Ozpin. If I send people, the Queen will notice," Ironwood pointed out. Ozpin had Qrow there but truthfully, he was not going to let him handle such a sensitive mission considering his semblance. 

"Do we know someone with assets in Vacuo and with the sense not to overplay it?" Glynda spoke up, cocking her head. 

​It was then, Ironwood's eyes flashed. "I may have someone in mind."

+++

"This is stupid," Ruby muttered, tossing the book she was supposed to be for reading. The young girl pouted, feeling the reprimand of dad coming onto her skin, warning her not to go out and find the Silver Shields and interrogate them about their weapons. Ruby inwardly resisted the urge to groan at that, feeling peeved at how little her own father thought of her. She wasn't just going to ask them about their weapons. No, she was going to ask them about their entire arsenal!

"Stupid dad. Stupid Yang," Ruby grumbled yet again, standing up from her chair and fell back on her bed. As if dad wasn't bad enough, Yang was insistent that Ruby should keep herself cooped up once school was over, worried for her safety. Something about the Atlesians being stinky. She rolled over, staring up at the ceiling before frustration welled up in her. She reached for her scroll, looking up the CCT Net. Impatiently, her fingers tapped as her scroll booted up, waiting to be connected to the network. Ruby wished that it was faster or maybe if they lived near Vale. The city always had the best connection after all. But no, they lived on Patch. It was...it was nice place to live, Ruby had to admit. But between the peace of Patch to the convenience of the city, Ruby at that moment would like nothing more but to have a stronger CCT connection.

For what felt like an eternity, her scroll finally connected. She allowed herself to giggle a bit, happily booting up Scrolltube. Her feed responded a minute later. She blinked, noticing that the one hour GoScroll videos of militia/SIlver Shield compilation had been unfinished. That mistake of hers, she would fix soon. She blinked, noticing a suggested video for her to watch. It was a streamer with golden aesthetics and a crown, monarch something. Apparently, she was going to start a playthrough of a new game with kings and crusades. Ruby shook her head. that was not what she wanted.

She pressed the search button and typed in, eager to re-watch the videos of her favourite channel. A minute later, Stunning visuals and the low droning but smooth voice spoke up. "Weapons....are made for war. It is their purpose. A weapon that cannot fight is not a useful one."

Ruby's allowed her thoughts to go astray, her mind wandering into fantasy. She wondered how the Defender rifle would feel in her hands, how the smoke would smell and taste, and the thousands of Grimm defeated by her hands. Of course, she was already in the middle of designing her very own weapon with a little bit of help from Uncle Qrow but that would take time. He was off doing grown up things, somewhere.

She wondered how he was doing.

She took a breath and sat up on her bed. Ruby looked to the side, towards the sky. Night had fallen now, revealing the stars in their entirety. Dad and Yang was away getting groceries. Ruby was pretty sure Yang went to make sure dad would also buy them all the Vytal Festival tickets he had promised getting. Ruby pouted. She already asked dad to buy her the full Frontier series of guns and he promised her he would in the next payday.

She was going to await that eagerly.

Sure, they weren't as cool as say, Uncle Qrow's or any Huntsmans weapons. But Ruby saw in them a utilitarian beauty that shone with its function, not form. Royal and Imperial was also making even more and more better guns too, going bigger with each passing day. The battles around Solitas was just, in her humble opinion, chef's kiss.

Then there was the one responsible for them, Alexander Wayland. Ruby did not understand why Yang liked them so much. Boys were yucky and stinky. They also didn't like her too. She was small and quiet and shy and so many things that just made Ruby grumble. Who cares if Yang was blonde and had blue eyes and was popular and flashy? She liked weapons! She could tell everyone everything she knew in X-Ray and Xav without pausing to breathe!

She sniffed as she hugged her legs to herself. The only one she could really handle at the moment was him. He walked with a kind smile and could make guns.

Suddenly, an idea formed in her head.

What if...what if she would make him her friend?

She glanced at her sketchbook sitting idly in the corner of her room. It had all her ideas for what she wanted for her first weapon. Uncle Qrow was helpful, yes, but there was quite literally the best artificer in Remnant on her island. This was the opportunity of opportunities. She would be dumb if she passed this chance out.

With new found energy, Ruby dashed. She was already in her pajamas but she could change quickly with no problem. And so, clad in new clothes, Ruby mantled the final part which was her bloody red cloak and good. Her steps were brimming with excitement as she grasped for her sketchbook, hugging it close to her chest.

Just as she was about to leave her room, the familiar sound of engines reached her ears. She froze, recognizing the sound of their van pulling up. Dad and Yang were home. If she would ask for permission, she would surely be told no. She glanced outside, taking the moment to decide. The doors to their van were opening and she could hear Yang running up for the door to their cabin.

The door of their house opened and in rushed Yang, a manic grin on her face. "RUBY! GUESS WHAT I GOT! TICKETS TO-"

She paused, blinking, as she saw the empty cabin save for the pile of petals on the floor.

+++

Lorenz Ban hopped off the truck, numerous other men joining him as they disembarked. Clad head to toe in protective equipment, Lorenz took the moment to spy their new surroundings. He had been expecting to work the lines in Steyr with many other of his comrades, producing the bullets or whatever else the foreman wanted him to do. Instead, he was invited alongside many other workers into a backroom and offered a choice to work in a different site. He would get even more compensation for his work and better benefits but he had to sign a NDA. For what the company was already offering him, he would kill to keep his position.

The smile on his wife's face as he bought her a top-of-the-line handbag and the sheer joy in his son's eyes getting that latest Scroll model was worth it.

And so, he and the others walked forward, being led by men he had never seen before. They were in a shipyard, not the airships that dominated the skies, but the traditional sea-faring ones. While air travel was becoming more and more common, going through sea was still the best way to transport bulk goods or people. He was a carpenter by trade yes but he was also a very fast learner. If the company decided he was going to be making ships, he would do it.

But as Lorenz and many others like him were led into a massive covered building, he blinked as he saw not a ship being made but rather, something else. Long, tubular, and massive.

+++

A/N: Updoot.

Sorry for brief periods of vanishing. I am sadly a uni student :c