A/N: Before anyone says anything, yes I know that Klein was "relieved of his duties" at some point between Weiss' escape and the Schnee Banquet, but I'm getting to that in the story so be patient. I am very glad to see that my story is back to being able to be voted for. I won't lie, when I noticed that my entire author section vanished I panicked. I enjoy being able to release these chapters for you guys and was worried it wouldn't be able to happen. Luckily that wasn't the case and it's all said and done now. With my little rant done, here is todays chapter. I hope you all enjoy. Rhino out.
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Walking up to the large doors, General Ironwood knocks on the door and shortly after a small butler opens the door and gives then a curt nod.
????: "Good evening gentlemen. How may I help you?"
Ironwood: "Ah, Klein. It's good to see you again. I'm here to speak to Jacques Schnee about some business matters. I brought alone Topaz here to be my assistant."
Klein: "Very well, a pleasure to meet you young Topaz. Please, follow me to the study."
Following Klein through the mansion, Topaz takes a look around and notices how cold and empty the mansion feels. Topaz can't help but think that this environment must have been terrible to grow up in, and made a mental note to talk to Weiss and Winter about it later. The group continuous through the mansion before stopping before a closed wooden door. Klein knocks on the door and a voice that Topaz hoped to never hear again sounds out.
Jacques: "What?"
Klein: "Mr. Schnee, sir. General Ironwood is here for his meeting with you."
Jacques: "Very well, send him in."
Klein opens the door and General Ironwood walks into the office with Topaz in tow. Topaz remains behind General Ironwood waiting for the right moment to show himself to Jacques.
Jacques: "It's about time you arrived James. I'm still not happy with your little embargo and the money it's costing me."
Ironwood: "Such a warm welcome as usual Jacques. You know as well as I do why I placed that embargo. And I am sure that with the money you make on the side the embargo isn't hitting you as hard as you say."
Jacques: "Money on the side? Just what are you implying James?"
At that moment Topaz steps out from behind General Ironwood and shows himself to Jacques. Jacques' eyes go wide for a moment and his face tenses before he composes himself. To anyone with untrained eyes, they wouldn't have noticed the subtle change.
Topaz: "Hello again Mr. Schnee, never thought I would see you again."
Jacques: "Who are you? I have never seen you before in my life."
Topaz: "You're going to try that card? Oh well, you gave yourself away when you first saw me. So I hear you are enjoying this embargo?"
Jacques: "You damned animal, you'd better watch yourself before you get hurt. James, would you kindly arrest this thing for these outlandish accusations."
Ironwood: "No, I'm of the same mind as him Jacques."
Jacques: "You would dare believe the lies of an animal over a trusted friend of yours?"
Ironwood: "Friend, maybe at one point, but not anymore. And trusted, really Jacques? I don't trust you as far as I can throw you."
Jacques: "Bastard. How dare you! Get out of my house this instant. If you remain here I shall call security to escort you out."
Ironwood: "Very well Jacques. We will return with the necessary precautions to ensure your arrest. Have a nice last day or two of freedom Jacques."
General Ironwood turns and makes his way out of the office followed by Topaz. Outside of the office stands Klein with a look of utter confusion on his face.
Klein: "Young man, were you wronged by him?"
Topaz: "What do you mean by that Mr. Klein?"
Klein: "Please, call me Klein. And I'm asking if Master Schnee did something to you that has caused you any pain?"
Topaz: "Oh, well yes he did in that past. I've gotten over it, but it would be nice to see some justice done."
Klein: "I shall do what I can to help assist the two of you. That man has been a terrible father to his children and his greed worries me some days."
Ironwood: "Thank you Klein. Be careful around here would you?"
Klein: "Certainly General Ironwood. Have a great rest of your day."
Topaz and General Ironwood leave the Schnee mansion to return back to Atlas Academy. Along the way General Ironwood receives word from one of his soldiers. He looks at his scroll and groans, alerting Topaz that something is up.
Topaz: "Is something the matter General Ironwood?"
Ironwood: "Yes actually. Something that involves you I'm afraid."
Topaz: "Involves me? How so?"
Ironwood: "Over the past couple of weeks there has been a serial killer on the loose in Mantle. His targets are all faunus men or women. He has been called the hunter due to that and the fact he has been taking trophies."
Topaz: "Trophies sir?"
Ironwood: *sight* "Yes, trophies. From his victims, he takes their faunus characteristics as trophies. Ears, Tails, he's even skinned an arm for their scales. He is despicable, but no one has seen him leaving the crimescene."
Topaz: "Gods, that's horrible."
Ironwood: "Yes, it is. I'm warning you and Blake about him because of his anonymity. So please, be careful when you go out into secluded areas. I will ask for your help in catching him, but I will not have you or anyone else putting themselves into danger for this."
Topaz: "I will help you catch this bastard General. We faunus are not animals to be hunted. We are people too and we deserve to be treated as such."
Ironwood: "Alright, we have arrived back at the school, so lets get together with your friends and give them the rundown of him so they can help."
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Blake: "So let me get this straight… there is someone going around Mantle killing faunus and taking their characteristics as trophies."
Ironwood: "I am afraid so Miss Belladonna."
Weiss: "And you want us to help catch him."
Ironwood: "Yes, I am not forcing you if you don't want to, and I will understand completely if you don't."
Topaz: "I'm going after this bastard no matter what. As I told you earlier General, faunus are people, not animals to be hunted."
Blake: "I'm in too."
Yang: "If Blake is in then I am too."
Blake looks at Yang and Topaz can swear he sees her blush. Smiling at the two finally getting closer, he smiles briefly before returning to the conversation.
Ruby: "Weiss, do you want to help as well?"
Weiss: "Of course I'm helping you dolt!"
Ruby: "Good, then team RWBY along with Topaz is on the case sir."
Ironwood: "Good, then Jaune, I would like for your team to continue helping the ace ops in setting up Amity Tower. Neo and Ariel, I would like for you two assist Topaz and make sure he doesn't do anything reckless during this investigation."
Ariel: "Good, I was going to help regardless."
Neo: "Same, we know Topaz better than everyone."
Ariel: "Yep, and knowing him, he will do something reckless to get this guy."
Topaz: "Eh, you're not wrong. But in my defense, this guy needs to go down."
Ironwood: "I agree with that, but not with anyone putting themselves in danger to do so."
Topaz: "Yeah, yeah, I get it sir."
Ironwood: "Good, to start I would like you guys to ask around Mantle if anyone has seen anything that might help us find this guy. Keep an eye out for anything suspicious and help out the people if they need it while there. Most of the faunus population down there work in the mines so during the day you should be fairly free to do as you please. When the trucks begin to return from the mines is when you need to become vigilant. From what we have found, most of the murders have happened an hour or so after their return. All of you be careful and keep us up to date."
Everyone: "Yes sir!"
Topaz walks out of the office with Neo and Ariel following close behind. Team Ruby follows a little ways after. Gathering in front of Atlas Academy Topaz turns to Ruby to plan for the upcoming investigation. They eventually decide that Ruby and her team would look around the northern side of town going east to west while Topaz and his girls will look around the southern side going west to east to cover as much ground as possible. Agreeing with the plan, both teams decide that would work best and make their way to an airship to take them down to Mantle.