Chapter 208: Reporting

DISCLAIMER: This story is NOT MINE IN ANY WAY. That honor has gone to the gorgeous bastard Ryuugi. This has been pulled from his Spacebattles publishment at threads/rwby-the-gamer-the-games-we-play-disk-five.341621/. Anyway on with the present…err learn.

Reporting

I knocked twice on the door and opened it with out ready for a responsea bit impolite, I suppose, however it wasn’t as if a door offered any privateness from me; I might have identified if he was doing something.

“Jaune,” Ozpin famous as he turned in his chair, unsurprised to see me. “It is good to see you once more.”Go to no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the most effective novel studying expertise

I smiled at him and shrugged, closing the door behind me after which going about offering some precise privateness. Solely as soon as the room had been completely locked down did I reply.

“Good to see you too, Ozpin,” I replied, claiming the seat in entrance of his desk. “I needed to come back apologize for the entire Ironwood thingI did not intend to contain him, however he was about to get himself in a whole lot of bother. I might have stopped him another manner, however I used to be frightened he’d look into issues and stumble throughout one thing harmful whereas I used to be gone, so I believed it was greatest to inform him a bit about what was happening. I wanted to drop your title to make him imagine me, however I figured you’d need him alive, so”

I shrugged once more.

“Issues of life and demise are greatest not left to probability,” Ozpin agreed with a nod. “I understandand respect it. Should you had been listening in on our dialog earlier, I meant it once I stated that I used to be in your debt; you might have doubtless saved not solely James’s life, however the lives of many others. Bringing him into issues has been my intention for a while now, however I used to be involved that we might disagree on the means, however your technique appeared to have satisfied him of the hazard we’re poised to face. You’ve my thanks.”

“No drawback,” I answered, gesturing dismissively. “He appeared like a great man and his daughter is a good friend of mine; I would not simply stand again and let him die.”

“Certainly,” Ozpin acknowledge with a slight smile. “Besides, thanks. From the best way he talked, nonetheless, I assume you might have extra to inform me?”

“I needed to the touch base with you,” I answered with a nod. “Quite a bit’s occurred within the final couple months and although it could come as a shock to you, I come bearing unhealthy information.”

Ozpin took a sip of his espresso cup, wanting duly stunned by the revelation.

“Do inform.”

“You and Qrow have been monitoring somebody’s actions,” I stated earlier than throwing in an informed guess. “Right here in Vale, I imply. And I am guessing it has ties to the person who attacked the White Whale on the identical time I dida man named Roman Torchwick.”

Ozpin quirked an eyebrow at that however nodded, contemplating me absently.

“From what Ironwood stated, you have put collectively the truth that he is working for another person,” I continued. “Particularly in terms of the Mud robberies which were occurring these days.”

“Simply so,” Ozpin replied. “I take it you might have some thought of the perpetrator’s id?”

I nodded, watching him rigorously. I opened my senses absolutely, drawing from Ajna and every little thing else I might to gauge his response. By the lens of my Third Eye, I noticed the world because it actually was. The partitions of Beacon crumbled and had been blown away like mud within the wind, revealing a gently carved citadel of inexperienced crystal that pulsed with energy. It flowed all through the entire of the college, centered on the beacon it was named after simply above this workplace.

By the crystals partitions, I might see the studentshundreds of potential Hunters with luminescent souls. I noticed Blake, having returned to the library, as a clear shadow that appeared to fade within the mild. She was seated at a desk with a menagerie of bizarre figures; to her left was a determine that appeared caught painfully between a human and a dragon, with incandescent scales. There was a girl made from ice, holding a scepter capped with a quicksilver orb, throughout from whom was seated a mechanic soldier of scarlet metal and bronze. There was a vaguely human-shaped thunder cloud that appeared perpetually lit from inside by lightning seated beside a posh tangle of lotus flowers, the biggest of which opened to disclose a face.

For a second, I thought-about Ruby, in her spot on the head of the desk. Beneath my Third Eye, her small type shifted to that of a big, armored determine, coated in heavy plates of blood purple armor that consistently shifted in model and design. It modified between every little thing from Atlesian plate mail to the nice armors of historic Vacuo. The one issues that remained fixed had been its thickness, its colour, and the truth that it hid her total physique with out revealing even a glimpse of what lay beneath. At her again was an equally mercurial weapon, overlaying her distinctive scythe, and glowing inside her very soul.

However what drew my eyes was the cloak she wore above the armor, an everlasting fixed regardless of the fixed shifting beneath it. It seemed very similar to the bodily one which Ruby wore, however for the truth that it appeared waver between being made from regular fabric and from hundreds upon hundreds of interwoven rose petals. It coated the laborious metal of her armor, softening her look by some means. The sight virtually made me smile, however I saved my expression clean, even beneath my illusory face.

Then, I checked out Ozpin.

Ozpin’s true self wasn’t one thing that stood out at first look, no less than not in comparison with a lot of the souls I might seen. He did not develop in dimension or sprout half a dozen arms or develop into one thing inhuman. If something, he almost slipped into the background. His type was hid inside a easy inexperienced cloak that hid most of his physique from sight. Beneath it, I acquired the impression that there may be one thing moredark metal inscribed with strains of inexperienced power, the regular turning of clockwork gears, and a consistently turning hourglass heartbut even him with my eyes, it was laborious to make certain if any of that was actual of simply one thing I needed to see. It was laborious to explain precisely, however the picture pale from sight the second it was centered on, as if retreating into the confines of his cloak, as if asking me to pay no consideration to the person inside. Even once I tried to concentrate on his eyes, the literal home windows to his soul, there was nothing; the higher half of his face was hidden by the shadows of his cloak however for a couple of locks of white hair.

After a second of remark, I could not make sure I might seen something in any respect. Right here on the high of his emerald citadel, Ozpin virtually appeared to fade away.

It was actually annoying. However I remained centered on him as I thought-about how greatest to reply his query. I might hoped, even realizing that it was unlikely, to search out some type of decisive proof that Ozpin both was or wasn’t a Rider, however all I might discovered was that I actually, actually, actually had no thought. The character of his soul was a contact suspicious, however with how diversified and distinctive souls may very well be, there was no approach to know for certain. He might need been hiding his true nature somehowor it might have simply been a creative illustration of the truth that he was a cryptic asshole typically.

What ought to I say to him, realizing that? Ought to I take an opportunity and attempt to get a response from him? Proceed to belief him based mostly on previous proof? Mislead him and hope it did not come to mild? If he was a Rider, revealing an excessive amount of might result in him contacting Cinder, multiplying my issues. Did I dare take any dangers realizing how simply he might reveal my lies?

However then, Ozpin had all the time been in a position to reveal my lies. And no matter else had occurred, right here and now there gave the impression to be no change in Ruby. Possibly he was ready for one thing, made he had no unwell intentions, however both manner, he hadn’t completed something but.

I nodded, understanding. Even for those who had 100 bullets in your gun, there is a matter of how shortly you’ll be able to hearth and reload even earlier than you have in mind the period of time you’d want to choose precisely the best bullets in precisely the best order. I might ignore the difficulty of carrying capability due to my Stock and, to an extent, ignore the difficulty of time by utilizing Accelerationbut even I’d run into points if I attempted utilizing Mud in earnest. Mud Weaver was restricted by the kind of garments one was carrying, Mud Eater by one particular kind of Mud at a time, and even regular Mud use confronted a matter of which crystals one was holding.

However by some means, I figured Cinder most likely did not have to fret about any of these issues. I might doubtlessly sustain together with her for a short time if I used my Psychokinesis and caught to solely utilizing crystals, however I might burn by means of my shops shortly for worse outcomes. I doubted I might match her in selection or quantity and I might be limiting my very own combating model. No, if I had been to face her, it could have to be on my phrases as a substitute of hers.

The one difficulty was that it seemed like she might homicide me on my phrases, too.

“These had been my ideas, too,” I stated. “If it got here right down to it, I would have the ability to hit her laborious sufficient to present you a gap for those who managed to maintain her nonetheless lengthy sufficient for me to do itbut even then, something that might do that may most likely blow Beacon off the map. I figured we would need to keep away from that, if in any respect doable.”

“I might respect that,” He agreed, shaking his head together with me. “I would have the ability to defeat her, however the prices can be prohibitively excessive. Even when I concerned my closest buddies, I would have the ability to restrict it considerably, however I might be knowingly sending them to their deathand although any of them would give their lives to guard the Kingdoms, I might choose it in the event that they did not should.”

“Mm,” I acknowledged, understanding that. “Similar. Sowhat ought to we do? I attempted cornering Cinder on the sting of Mistral, however I used to be actually, actually outclassed. We would have the ability to catch her in transit on her manner again which could hold her from reaching the Kingdoms, however even when we managed to nook her in the midst of nowhere, I am not completely sure we would be able to hold her from reaching someplace populated. Take it from me, even a little bit little bit of white Mud is a hell of a factor and for those who add it to time and house manipulationcould you retain her from getting away even with all of that?”

Ozpin thought-about it for a second.

“If it was right here, maybe,” He replied, tapping his desk once more. With my Third Eye, I noticed some type of energy ripple by means of the emerald partitions of Beacon. “However in an unknown location, it is nothing I might need to wager the lives of numerous harmless individuals on.”

“And whereas we might lure her right here, Beacon’s type of full of individuals,” I understood, nodding.

“The defenses of this place are primarily meant for an emergency,” He agreed. “Whereas it may ward towards catastrophe, I did not construct it with the intention of inviting catastrophe inside. I suppose we might try to take away everybody from Beacon beforehand, however it appears unlikely she can be keen to method a spot that had clearly been abandoned.”

I nodded once more at that.

“I might create illusions to make it appear populated, however even when she did not see by means of it, there are too some ways for it to crumble,” I stated. “It is laborious to maneuver tons of of individuals round with out drawing any consideration and no offense, however I am reasonably uncertain that everybody in your scholar physique can hold a secret. For greater than ten seconds, anyway.”

“None taken,” Ozpin replied. “I am cognizant of the truth that distributing info amongst tons of of younger women and men is maybe not one of the best ways to maintain a secret. A extra delicate method may be warranted.”

I frowned for a second, excited about it.

“If it had been anybody else, I might use Naraka,” I stated, aggravated. “Whether or not to attract her in or to take away all the scholars from the fray. However I am virtually sure she might escape of it if she needed to.”

“It is a difficult scenario,” He acknowledged. “And sadly, no fast options come to thoughts. As such, it could be clever to keep away from shifting towards her overtly, no less than till the scenario modifications.”

“Modifications?” I requested. “Modifications how?”

“I suppose that is as much as you, Jaune,” He replied, me steadily. “Out of all of us, you’re the one most definitely to interrupt this impasse. I assume you are already planning one thing?”

I fell silent for a second, cautious to satisfy his gaze unflinchingly.

“Nothing concrete but,” I stated. “Although I have been coaching an excellent deal these days, within the hopes of closing the hole between me and Cinder. I may be making a little bit of progress in that regard, however”

I signed and shook my head.

“Is there something I can do to help you?” Ozpin requested.

I pursed my lips for a second, contemplating the query earlier than nodding slowly.

“Possibly,” I stated, making an attempt to not let any hesitance slip into the sound of my voice. “There may be one factor that I feel may have the ability to assist me make some progress.”

“Oh?” Ozpin puzzled, elevating an eyebrow. “Then please, inform me. I am going to do every little thing I can to assist.”

I nodded once more and took a deep breath, turning my head to look out the window in his workplace and think about the town far beneath.

“I am sorry to ask this,” I stated eventually, not having to faux the uncertainty in my voice. “I am certain it is not one thing you want to consider a lot. Butis there the rest you bear in mind about Jericho Falls?”