Save the world? Fuck that, I want to make money! (RWBY SI) ch 40

+++

Music swelled within the halls of marble and aged wood. Wine flowed freely offered by servants in bright colours holding silver trays with golden goblets filled with bubbling purple liquid. Food as well, bread, dates, and other types of finger food ready to be reached by the hungry noble. And what nobles they were: Thrush, Bronzewing, Lark, and Winchester. In better times, these men commanded armies and held lands as far as the eye could see. Wealth, power, faunus slaves aplenty were theirs. They and their fellow elite enjoyed lives of peace and prosperity until Mantle and Mistral launched their war. The noble families of Vale rallied to their king and gave everything they had to their Warrior King. When the war was over, they were a shadow of what they were during the Great War but, they endured it. Vale was victorious after all and the Warrior King was surely going to usher in the Valean Century.

But he didn't.

Instead, he was magnanimous to Mantle and Mistral, offering such light terms as if they had not spent years at war.

But again, they endured it. It was the King's wish that the defeated nations would be allowed to recover. If Vale would not directly control Mantle and Mistral then quieter means could be done.

Then the Faunus arose in revolt. Vale's armies which was pretty much the only force left capable of fighting marched out to supress them. Then they were soundly defeated at Fort Castle. The Army was disbanded and the huntsman system put in place. A cheaper alternative compared to the centralized nature of an army. That was then however, and this was now.

Now, these men and others like them slowly grew their wealth and prestige back. Unlike Vacuo, Mistral, and Mantle, Vale hadn't suffered massive widespread chaos in the waning days of the Color and Faunus Rights Revolution. The city was besieged once or twice but it never fell. Vale never had to pay war reparations, Vale didn't have to rebuild its cities from the ground up, and its merchant class seized on the opportunity to establish Valean dominated trade networks. The money fed back to its leaders and now, they were comfortable to plan their next moves.

"To Vale!" cried Lord Bronzewing, lifting up his glass of wine. His fellows raised their cups, Winchester raising his a bit slower. Outside their circle, they were referred simply as Mr Bronzewing, like a private citizen. But they were among peers now, they used their titles honestly and openly. Sylvester Bronzewing was a pudgy man, his face chubby and hair combed in a way that tried to make him look sophisticated but it only made him look unappealing. He wore a tan suit, fitted for his large size.

"To Vale, and our new army!" Bronzewing continued, grinning as he drank from his cup. The others followed suit, save for Winchester who took a small sip. His moderation did not go unnoticed.

"Going sober now, Lord Winchester?" Lord Lark grinned, his hair silver and smile sly. There wasn't a single part of his clothing that wasn't grey or silver, polished boots wrapped around his legs.

Francis Winchester set his wine cup aside, his eyes hawkish, as he leaned back on his chair. "Do not treat this as a victory when our aims still have not been fully achieved. The throne remains empty," he rumbled, his voice deep and lord-like.

Lark raised an eyebrow. "It is still a victory though? We fund the Fleur, they in turn answer to us. What will the Council do in the face of our power? It will only be a matter of time until we return Vale to what it once was."

"Speaking of power," Thrush spoke up after awhile. "Have you heard of the changes in Atlas?"

"Who hasn't?" Bronzewing scoffed. "We've already given the peasants far too much power and that idiot Ironwood is voluntarily stepping down."

"What do you expect of someone that's allied himself with the peasants?" Lark pointed out. "Did you know that Bunschuh means Peasant's Shoe?"

"Rider is a disgrace to his family name and the line he comes from," Bronzewing shook his head, sipping more from his cup. He signalled to a servant to pour some more as he held his empty cup out. He continued to speak. "Then again, we really shouldn't be surprised. The Color Revolution gutted our Mantlese friends. I am not surprised that they've turned to selling their honor or being Jacques Schnee's whore."

A series of grumbles left the men, save Winchester who simply glowered. Each man here had a reason to hate the Schnee name. They represented the new rich that was born from the death of the old regimes. They may have had wealth aplenty but they would never have the storied blood of the old elite.

"Well, at least Jacques Schnee is dead," Thrush added in. "His wife is a unknown but my advisors are saying that now is a good time for our dust companies to regain relevance and control over Vale."

"Ironwood really is an idiot," Bronzewing snorted, shaking his head. "Jacques was a up-jumped prole but the SDC's dust was the best way Atlas asserted its influence over us. With the SDC getting downsized, its opportunity for us."

It was then, the doors began to open. The men in the room turned their heads as a figure in red walked in, an eye-patched woman following closely behind him. Armand Rouge cut a striking figure, no matter where or when. He regarded the toasting men with a critical eye. "Festivities already?"

Bronzewing smiled, lifting his cup to the Minister. "No, we were just discussing the latest politics coming from Atlas! With the SDC getting whipped, its high time for our Dust companies to assert control over our markets!"

Rouge nodded. He also felt as such. However..."I would not call it a victory for your Dust companies yet, gentlemen."

Bronzewing raised an eyebrow. "And why is that? The SDC is getting split, no?"

Rouge walked up, his hands folded behind his back. "In Atlas, yes. But overseas, the Atlesians still allow the SDC to maintain their monopoly. It will surely change, depending on what Ironwood does, but the SDC still remains a competitor. Not mentioning that it has cemented itself as a trustworthy distributor of Dust the world over. The people know the Schnee Dust Company, not the Winchester Dust Company or the Bronzewing Dust Company. If we wish to overtake our enemies, we must be competitive as well."

His air switched as he glanced around, the nobles glancing at him in rapt attention. "And that is why I have called this meeting, to discuss our next steps."

He walked up to the center of their circle, ensuring that their attention was focused solely on him. He walked with practiced grace and command, his act done many times in good and terrible moments. "As of recently, the Atlesians have launched a referendum to change their system of government. They plan to turn it into a Federal parliamentary system. No longer will a Council of Five lead them but a whole government."

The room went silent for a moment until laughter filled in the room. Deep, roaring laughter. Bronzewing laughed the hardest, Thrush chuckled and Lark snorted. Winchester remained silent hearing the news.

"They're morons!" Bronzewing guffawed after fighting his tears. "The Council System kept power in a close circle! If they continue with this, they will deliberately throw away the means to keep controlling their Kingdom stable! They'll be allowing the hoi polloi access to ruin things some more!"

"Details, Minister," WInchester interrupted, his voice firm and controlled. "How do they seek to do this?"

"Ironwood and his political ally are willing to surrender their seats to allow the new government to form, should it pass," Rouge recounted. He made sure to glance at the eyes of each man in the room, his words cutting deep. "This sacrifice makes them look self-less. The plebes would love this act of sacrifice and no doubt make the two even more popular. And considering that both men are also the authors for this change, they can go and champion the new system however they wish."

He shook his head. "However, I am talking about this not because we should care what politics the Atlesians are up to but for what it means." Rouge schooled his features. "Their plans for government will only bind Solitas together. They also have announced that no longer will Atlas return to the skies but instead, stay connected with Mantle. The Mantlese will love this. Atlas has always enjoyed advanced technology but with the population of Mantle and the industrial potential it has...we will find ourselves a supercharged Solitan state that will be even more of a nightmare than the old Mantlese Empire."

Rouge paused, making sure that his words sink in. "Royal and Imperial have re-opened Steyr. The other companies are planning to reopen their old factories as well. The new elites of Atlas have thrown their support behind Ironwood. This possibility is not just a question of if but when."

Horror opened up on the noblemen's expressions, understanding swelling inside their minds. Thrush summarizing it slowly. "Their new parliament...it will bring all of Solitas closer. I assume Ironwood and Rider are looking to make the new government efficient and flexible."

"But wouldn't a parliamentary system be chaotic? So many voices will allow for a deadlock!" blurted Lark.

"Not if you are the architects of this change. I imagine Ironwood is plotting where to place who and where," Bronzewing responded to Lark, earning a grimace from the man.

"You would not bring this up not unless you had something in mind, Minister," Winchester spoke up. Rouge did not speak of things not unless he had something in mind as well. The man did not bandy or waste his words. The minister, hands still clasped behind his back, took a few more steps around the circle of nobles. Each step like a drumbeat into their hearts. 

"We must, for the sake of Vale, be ready to pursue policies that will see us stronger through the end," Rouge said bluntly. "I propose that we liberalize." 

The silence that followed afterwards was deafening. Then, the dam broke. 

​Bronzewing stood up. "Liberalize?" He spoke with slow and steady venom, spitting the word out like it was poison. "Do you intend to let our ranks be polluted by the masses and...and....animals?" 

Rouge's Musketeer bristled, her hand reaching for the blade on her waist. Rouge held out his hand to stop her as another noble joined, Lark. 

"It is unbelievable that I am hearing this from the First Minister of Vale!" Lark screamed, spittle coming out of his mouth. His eyes were bloodshot, his veins pulsing with rage. "My family sacrificed everything for Vale and the Color Revolution took what little we had! Do you intend to le-"

The two yelling noblemen suddenly paused, their words dying in their mouths as a strong and unyielding presence poured into the room. Wind flew from Rouge's robes as the men were forced to kneel with a cry. Thrush stood up in horror and moved to shout but a striking glare from the Minister made him freeze. To Thrush, Armand Rouge glowed with red, his aura flaring as his Semblance, Autorité, flared in full force. The cardinal turned his attention away from Thrush and back to the two stricken noblemen crying and screaming on the floor, their minds mushed into submission. 

It was at this time, Francis Winchester stood. With a raised voice, he ordered, "Minister! Enough!" 

Tears poured forth from Bronzewing and Lark's eyes as they rolled on the floor in pain. Rouge gave glanced at Winchester quickly then grunted. "As the Your Grace commands," he said simply, his aura turning off. The two nobles spasmed, crying their eyes out like infants, as Rouge returned to where he stood, a single gloved hand wiping away at his coat. Francis glanced at the servants who had been watching in silent horror. "Get those two out into their rooms. Get a doctor to watch over them." 

Quickly, the servants moved, dragging the crying noblemen out of the floor. Thrush sat back down, his stomach fallen down and nervous. Winchester sat back down as well, sighing. "I would appreciate it, Minister, if you do not empty my court of its strongest supporters." 

"You need better men to attend you, Your Grace." Rouge sniffed, his hands clasped behind his back.

"Will they be alright?" Thrush asked hesitantly. 

"Autorité allows me to force my will into Grimm, human, or faunus. They will recuperate in a week if their minds are strong. A month if not. I did not use my semblance to its full potential," Rouge informed him, shaking his head. It was not the first time he had done such a thing to morons. In the worst times of the Great War, there had been those that raised dissent in the Warrior King's Council. Dissent that was not needed when the country was at war. 

​

"Regardless, you are forbidden to do as you please to my chosen Court. You are the First Minister of Vale, yes, but you serve me as much as they do. If they go out of line, it is my right to punish them. Are we clear on this, Minister?" Francis Winchester glowered, his voice brooking no argument. Rouge lowered his head to his soon to be monarch. 

​

"As Your Grace commands," Rouge offered stiffly. Winchester sighed. Ever since the Cardinal had approached him and pitched his family's ascension into the vacant Valean throne, there had been moments where the Cardinal thought that he would be a puppet. He and his family was no one's puppet. The Winchester's were direct royal cousins to the old House. If Rouge had any respect for the institution he so claimed to support, he would school his more controlling attributes. He would have to find a way to make up this blatant invasion on Bronzewing and Lark's minds. Rouge apologizing would be enough. But that would come later however. 

​

"You were saying about liberalization?" He asked guardedly. 

​

"Pragmatism will win us better control over Vale," Rouge explained. "If we cling so tightly to our traditions, we will be stagnant and constrained. Already there are those suspicious and hostile to our ideals. I do not propose a radical shift in politics like what Atlas is doing but reforms into our current system to make it more palatable to our people. Of course, we will always remain in the majority but we will give off the appearance of democracy. We roll back our more restrictive policies and kick out the idealogues of our clique. We must appear clean and impartial, not tainted with the likes of anti-faunus members. Perhaps even offering more rights and opportunities to them." 

​

Thrush who had been quiet since Rouge's semblance use spoke up. "I must protest!" He hissed. "The faunus are animals! It is already unnatural that they are free and you want us to-" 

​

"Pragmatism will allow us important strategic allies and boons if we wish to accomplish our goals," Rouge interrupted him with a hiss. He turned back to Winchester. "This is what the Atlesians are doing, realpolitik. Their moves look insane to us now but that is if you look at it on a surface level. By reforming their government and deciding to return to the ground permanently, Mantle and Atlas are one. With their new system, they will be much more united and much more coherent than before. The re-activation of Steyr and other industries will supercharge them to the point that they will outproduce us. We will be shackled to them economically, militarily, and politically." 

​

He took a breath. 

​

"Vale still has so much to catch up on if we do not want to shine Atlas's shoes. Restoring the army is the first step, secondly we must dismantle the old systems that have kept us stagnant and offer a better one that will be palatable to our people. These are no longer peasants of the old age, they are now doctors, lawyers, corporates, and huntsmen. They will resist all attempts at bringing back the old order." 

​

"I assume you have a plan, then? You would not propose it if you didn't." Winchester surmised. 

​

Armand Rouge smiled. "Of course I do." 

​

Armand Rouge has a plan. He always had a plan. 

​

Francis Winchester paused to consider Rouge's pitch. The Cardinal painted a bleak picture. Atlas was already powerful and rich. Re-uniting with Mantle would no doubt mean it would spend money re-integrating the old city but if it was done, the sheer amount of power that would lay at Atlas's fingertips would be unimaginable. Clinging to hard to what separated them from their own people stagnated the Fleur. It would only make them look undesirable and hostile. It recoiled Francis that he was considering this but Vale was the most important thing in his mind, not his own personal feelings. 

​

"Very well," Francis WInchester decided. 

​

Rouge offered the Duke a bow, his face set. Inwardly, he did hate that he had to consider all this. He was an old man, he had his biases. However, he served Vale first and foremost. The Vacuoans were already doing their part with the guidance of Strangelove and his lackey. There was some difficulties in getting the tribal trinket but everything would be ready soon. 

​

By the time the 38th biennial Vytal Festival Tournament would begin in Vacuo, the Old World will rise from the ashes like a phoenix.

​

Until the, he would have to keep on doing his work. When Vale was strong, he would have to cut off his liaison with the Fleur's sponsor. Vale was above and everything in the world, not a servant to some shadowy overlady. 

+++

A/N: At heart, Rouge is a Valean through and through. He thinks that he is using Salem's support, not thinking that Salem is in turn manipulating him for her own ends. 

For the next chapter...work begins on a dragon at sea.