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Past all of the other revelations which followed, the resolution of that morning's events in the Emerald Forest was surprisingly mundane by comparison, perhaps to the point of absurdity going by their otherworldly visitor's reaction. "You seem almost
offended at the notion of receiving payment for the slaying of Grimm, but here on Remnant, the greatest and foremost defenders of humanity require compensation in order to keep up with the expenses of their ongoing duties, while still maintaining the freedom that they or their ancestors fought hard to protect. The compromise, if you will, to formalized military organization which largely fell out of favor at the conclusion of the Great War, barring Atlas, of course."
"Seems foolish," Ser Richard, as he insisted upon being referred to as all of Ozpin's indirect attempts to dissuade him fell through, opined freely. "Why
not unify if you are actively threatened by an existential threat which does not ever go away? And organize within one unified command structure?" A distant part of Ozpin held the notion that this man would get along surprisingly well with James, having little patience for all the political niceties that the more independent people of Vale stood by. It wasn't quite so bad that the notion of surrendering even a little bit of independence or freedom was outright anathema to them, but that was for emergency situations only.
"Those days might some day come upon us again," Ozpin admitted in a rare display of forthrightness, shocked by the things he had been told by the man across from him still. "Politics between nations are, in effect, a temporal concern, civilizations have risen and fallen time and again throughout all the years that humans have lived upon Remnant, lived and died by the ideals that they cleaved to. But for now, it seems that the call of a single despot or monarch would sway very few, if any. None but the most extreme in thought."
Ozpin shoved over the stack of Lien cards toward Ser Richard again, which the Knight reluctantly accepted, though he treated them with an expression of absolute disdain. "I assure you, while this situation is somewhat unusual, this is how the Kingdom of Vale expresses its appreciation, even one step removed from the usual methods of expressing gratitude which you might be more familiar with. You have done its people a great service, and the rewards are in preference for each outstanding closure of contract for a very good reason. It just so happens that you have collected... quite the substantial bounty, in a relatively short time."
"I'm not against the pragmatism of the gesture," Lonmouth replied, mouth set in a firm line. "Though ultimately I see little point. I have no need for ordinary supplies," he said, gesturing to one of the various rings he bore. "I cannot be trapped by common means, nor starve or want for much in the way of sleep. I can make camp while in full armor and be at relative ease and comfort."
"Yes, these things would be of great interest to me and my associates," Ozpin replied, beyond the obvious reasons he had already revealed. "But are you so sure there's no merit in taking a closer look at what we can provide you? Dust, in all its forms, has proven to be a material of miracles, one not so easily dismissed. And from all that you have revealed, I am given to understand that we have access to tools which your people have never heard of or encountered before." The man had seen too many fantastic--and from just brief descriptions, horrifying things, for modern technology to even phase him. However, Atlas pushed the boundaries of what was thought possible with a bit of human ingenuity and, as the kids said these days, overwhelming firepower.
Could he not be the least bit curious?
Richard tilted his head in thought, but still lifted his broad shoulders in an anything-but-careless shrug. "I don't expect there will be any real need for me to collect samples while I am here. Like as not, the King will be able to bribe or persuade your valuables away from your people with little if any trouble, making my own efforts largely pointless by comparison." The faith that the man in front of him had displayed for this seemingly ruthless conqueror did not inspire much confidence in Ozpin, by comparison, but for a chief enforcer espousing the virtues of their autocratic master, he did not seem inherently evil or unreasonable taken at face value.
Ozpin was acquainted with the notion of necessary evils.
Still, the Headmaster of Beacon would still sleep better at night, knowing Richard Lonmouth was stranded here, this nebulous threat that their master presented stillborn the moment he had been revealed, rather than liable to serve as a replacement for another. That it would provide yet another possible ally who would seek his counsel or assistance did not weigh in on that perspective overmuch...
Ozpin tented his hands carefully, wondering about how to phrase their next offer without giving cause for any additional offense.
"How would you feel about providing instruction to others on a limited or even contractual basis?" As he had little to lose by making the offer, Ozpin threw it out blindly, having no more reason to detain the man any further than he already had, yet desperate to keep an eye on him.
"Depends," Ser Richard replied carefully. "Who do you need killed?"
***
Yang was beyond tired, but also too grateful and stubborn to simply give up when an idea entered into her head. She was met with a surprise when, while waiting in the administrative building nursing a cup of coffee while her sister nested her head in her lap, sleeping in her grass-stained clothes which her aura had yet to saturate away, the first familiar person to walk up to her wasn't the Headmaster or their strange guest, but... "Dad!"
She paused, not wanting to disturb Ruby from getting some much needed rest... that she was honestly looking forward to, herself. "Heya kiddo," he half-whispered, smiling fondly down at her sister. "I'm just here to deal with the paperwork side of things, clean up is all done outside the city." Yang shook her head, still shocked they had called all hands on deck to deal with the rampaging Grimm. The fact that hardly anyone had gotten hurt by the event was all the more shocking, she wasn't completely blind to the danger her dad just helped end before it could get out of control, either. It was more surprising than anything else that he came all the way here from Patch, though. Things must be worse than she thought...
...
"So classes are suspended?" She asked, almost hopeful she'd get to avoid another of Professor Port's lectures for the foreseeable future.
"Not for long," he said quickly, sounding a little nervous, "It's just that, with a lot of Huntsman and Huntresses already spread so far out, there's not many people on hand to help with keeping panic in check in the short term. I think that Ozpin might even call your Uncle Qrow back in, if things get hairy enough."
"That's bad, right?" She said, starting to get worried.
What could make Ozpin of all people freak out?
"We'll get through this, just like always." Her dad sounded confident enough about it, though. "Oh, there he is." He stood up, and Yang followed him, leaving Ruby in her nest of couch cushions. "Oz! Is this our friend?" He stuck his hand out to the figure in black armor, who took him by the forearm with surprising firmness and a smile so subtle you might have missed it if you blinked. "Thanks again for looking after my girls out there, I don't want to think about what would have happened if you hadn't been there."
"Think nothing of it," tall, dark and scary replied modestly. "You are their father?"
Dad laughed, blue eyes shining with mirth as he placed a hand on Yang's shoulder, "Just Yang and Ruby over there... she's kind of all tuckered out, you know how kids are at that age." The armored man seemed to slump at the words, nodding his head resignedly.
"All too well."
There had been something bothering Yang all night, though... "What were you doing out there, in front of all those Grimm? It was practically in the middle of nowhere..." she trailed off, watching a complex series of expressions pass between Ozpin, Dad and 'Ser' Richard's faces.
"I was out hunting a dangerous threat," the man eventually replied, the Headmaster giving a confirming nod. "But it escaped."
"Yes, an unfortunate turn of events, one which we hope to soon rectify without any further cause for panic," Headmaster Ozpin added in. "But now I believe it's time for you and your sister to retire. Do not worry about morning classes for now, as they have been canceled. Still, do look forward to afternoon combat evaluations."
That was kind of a weird segue to take, Yang thought.
Must be a lot on his mind.
