Chapter 204: Load Time

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.

Load Time

Ironwood wasn’t even making an attempt to cover his gritted tooth now, the fingers of his human hand nonetheless twitching sporadicallybut he stopped for a protracted second to take a deep breath and nodded to himself. Slowly, he leaned ahead to relaxation his elbows on his knees, specializing in me as if making an attempt to stare me down.

For sure, if that was what he was making an attempt to do, it failed miserably.

“Does Ozpin know?” He demanded eventually. “In that case, there is not a lot level in conserving secrets and techniques. He’ll”

“Ozpin would not know,” I interrupted, doing my greatest to look bored. “No less than not every thing. Excessive circumstances or not, you’ll be able to’t anticipate the Headmaster of Beacon and a needed terrorist to have common contact. We work in the direction of the identical ends and towards a standard enemy, so we share info when it will be handy, nevertheless it’s an alliance of comfort and nothing extra. I knowledgeable him of her actions a month or two in the past and have been maintaining a tally of her since, however we have not been in contact just lately, as there are few methods he’d be capable of help meas such, I will merely maintain onto the exact particulars till it will give me a bonus to disclose it. Regardless, I hope you do not really consider Ozpin would let you know every thing, even when he did know. That man retains nearly as many secrets and techniques as I do.”

Ironwood’s face twisted in reluctant, irritated settlement and he regarded like he needed to swear and punch one thing within the face. Earlier than he may proceed his questioning, nonetheless, Polendina cleared his throat, drawing consideration to himself. He and Ironwood shared one other look earlier than the Normal exhaled and regarded away.

“Assuming what you say is true,” The Professor started, me cautiously. “Why do you care? Whereas I may, maybe, see why Ozpin could be prepared to change info with you within the face of necessity, why are you prepared to help him? What do you stand to realize by doing so? I would have thought you’d approve of tearing issues down, given youraffiliations.”

By that, he will need to have meant the White Fang. The implications of his phrases additionally helped to guarantee me that we had been speaking about the identical particular person and never two completely different folks; I wasn’t certain in the event that they had been conscious of who that individual was, however they’d possible picked up indicators of Cinder’s actions, contemplating the bombings and thefts that had taken place in Atlas to this point. I would briefly thought of that they may have been speaking about Raven, however even when Qrow had advised Ozpin that she’d appeared and vanishedwell, I doubted they’d be actively pursuing her. On condition that they knew what her energy was, in addition they most likely know that if she did not wish to be discovered, she wasn’t going to be.

Even so, I wasn’t completely sure learn how to reply. This was essential info to revealbut additionally delicate info, because it bore the danger of splashing over onto my allies. Finest to deal with this with a light-weight contact, however to say sufficient to steer them in the best course and make them cautious.

“I can perceive your confusion, given that you’re unaware of the complete image,” I replied calmly with out lacking a beat. “It is fairly easy, reallyshe has chosen to affiliate with the White Fang, which is why I’ve chosen to affiliate with you.”

There was a second of surprised silence at that.

“What?” Ironwood requested, blurting out the phrases regardless of having apparently agreed to let Polendina speak. “Why?”

I made a present of contemplating that for a second.

“She needs minions, I suppose,” I mused. “Grunt labor and sacrificial pawns.”

“I feel what my buddy meant,” Polendina interceded. “Was that if the White Fang is working along with her, why are you right here working towards her?”Observe present novels on novelb((in).(com)

I gave him loads as if I assumed the query was bafflingly silly.

“Why would I wish to work along with her?” I requested. “I really feel I should not have to clarify that she would not have our greatest pursuits in mindwhile the proposals she offered had been organized such to make it appear as if it will be in our greatest pursuits to affiliate her, she intends to make use of us after which throw us apart as soon as we have fulfilled our goal. No matter benefits we’re to garner from this alliance are sure to be short-lived and her true plans will nearly definitely hurt us as nicely. Even past that, being a sacrificial pawn tends to be its personal draw back; therefore ‘sacrificial.'”

“Why work along with her in any respect, then?” Polendina returned. “Why not merely break issues off completely?”

“You are afraid of her,” Ironwood answered earlier than I may, eyes widening very barely as stared at me.

Sure. Sure I used to be. However please do not say stuff like that out loud, at the least not so bluntly. I’ve a popularity to take care of right here.

“Am I?” I requested aloud, making it sound like I used to be truthfully questioning myself. Frowning barely, I turned my head to look out the home windows of the airship as I visibly mulled it over. “I am unable to say worry is one thing I am a lot accustomed to”

Lies and rattling lies.

“However I’ll admit, I don’t want to struggle her at current,” I continued. “Even in one of the best case situation, I am unable to say I discover the percentages favorable. Whereas I’m assured in my very own survival, I believe a lot of my subordinates would die if it got here to a struggle. I’ve carried out my greatest to use stress for Ozpin’s sake, however there’s solely up to now I can danger pushing her at current. As a Normal your self, I am sure you perceive.”

Ironwood grunted in what may need been acknowledgement, dropping his eyes to the ground.

“How lengthy have you ever and Ozpin been working collectively?” He requested eventually. “Was the White Whale all a setup?”

“Not in the best way you’re imagining,” I replied, shaking my head. “We did not have formal contact till afterwards and the White Whale was one thing that served my very own functions in liberating that city. Nonetheless, it additionally served as a type ofadvertising, let’s assume? Beneath the circumstances, a certain quantity of competence is a necessity, and I used to be proving myself each to him and to the White Fang. This isn’t a matter for the unskilled or unprepared.”

“I do not know,” I admitted. “She’s admitted that she intends to focus on your machines although the CCT to assist on inflicting havocbut that will simply have been a lie for the White Fang. It is one thing to keep watch over, to make certain, nevertheless it’d be silly to consider that is what she’s actually after or that she would not have the rest in thoughts. If it seems to be nothing however a diversion for her true schemes, I would not be stunned.”

“It is definitely potential,” Ironwood murmured, eyes dropping to the ground. “However to grab management of the androids, she’d should get shut. Would she really be prepared to strike so near Beacon?”

“Sure,” I acknowledged with surety. “She has the ability, however greater than that, take it from somebody who knowsno matter how daunting it could appear, there are flaws in each system, whether or not it is man or machine operated.”

“True,” Polendina admitted, frowning as nicely. “Flaws are exhausting to erase, as a result of they will come from so many sources or else be created outright. Nonetheless, the hope is to reduce them and to hide them. Whereas a system could seem simply exploited to its creator, that is a perspective constructed on familiarity and time. How would she concentrate on these flaws nicely sufficient to construct a plan round them?”

It was a superb query and one I would had myself. Whereas invading Beacon could be pretty trivial for me, assuming Ozpin did not discover and select to intervene, if he didwell, issues had been sure to get sophisticated quick. Was Cinder so highly effective that she felt no concern over difficult Ozpin on his personal floor? It was potential and it was exhausting for me to evaluate the distinction between two unknownsbut in that case, why each with such a roundabout scheme and act so fastidiously?

No, Cinder had worries of her personal; of that a lot, I used to be certain.

Stillbest to deal with a distinct drawback.

“It appears she has allies inside every of the Kingdoms feeding her info,” I replied. “Allies positioned extremely sufficient to find out about your current initiatives. Watch out what you say any longer, even amongst these you belief.”

“The Queen has Pawns,” Ironwood muttered with one other grunt. “I’ve heard, however I hadn’t realized they’d reached this far. What does she plan to do with the Paladins?”

“They are going to be handed into the possession of sure members of the White Fang, who will likely be on standby awaiting the following stage of her plan,” I answered. “She’s defined that facet of her scheme, however I am unable to say what she really intends to doI will communicate to Ozpin in time about how we’d go about dealing with the matter. Nevertheless, it appears quite a lot of her plan relies on you, Normal.”

“Me?” Ironwood requested, trying abruptly stunned. “What does she need with me?”

I clicked my tongue as soon as, mulling it over earlier than answering.

“It is perhaps greatest if you do not know the precise particulars in the interim,” I replied. “Relying on how we select to proceed, it could be for one of the best to maintain your response as genuine as potential. Nonetheless, I am unable to say I get pleasure from sending folks blindly into hazard and also you do should have some thought of what you’re moving into. The meant results of her plan is to discredit Ozpin by inflicting chaos on his watch, at which period it shall fall upon you to take command of the Vytal Pageant’s protection. She plans to take advantage of your reactions to additional her following schemes.”

“My reactions” Ironwood’s frown deepened. “Does she know me?”

“She appears to consider so,” I replied. “However maybe when the time comes, it can prove that she would not know you fairly in addition to she thinks?”

“Maybe,” Ironwood agreed, tone and expression fierce earlier than he calmed himself. “I’ll maintain that in thoughts, ought to it turn out to be related.”

“See that you just do,” I stated. “Now then, it’s about time that we conclude our enterprise right here. I suppose I need not let you know to be discrete in no matter you intend to do?”

“After all not,” Ironwood replied, sighing. “I suppose that by the point we arrive, the Paladin’s will likely be gone?”

“Sadly, sure,” I answered. “I shall endeavor to keep watch over their whereaboutshowever, it’s fairly potential that they are going to all be destroyed when it comes time to intervene along with her plans.”

“I figured as a lot,” He acknowledged. “The place will we proceed from right here?”

“We proceed as regular,” I advised him. “She will likely be gathering her forces for the Vytal Pageant and so we could. Do not act till you have got sufficient assist to take action safely.”

He grunted in acknowledgement and nodded as soon as.

“And if I must contact you?” He requested.

“If the scenario requires it, I gave Ozpin a strategy to contact me in an emergency,” I replied after giving it a second’s thought. “It will be greatest to keep away from doing so too usually, to keep away from issues on both endbut if it turns into obligatory, I can journey shortly. I’m additionally in a position to act in ways in which is perhaps seen as unbecoming of a Normal or a Headmaster, which permits me better leeway in my actions. If want be, I can usually purchase issues that you just won’t be capable of. Watch out, nonetheless; should you require one thing essential, it is possible to attract consideration.”

“I perceive.” He stated.

“Good,” I stated earlier than checking on Cinder. With my Attain, I may help her even from this distance and I would carried out so, smoothing issues over and assuring they progressed as shortly as potential. Fairly frankly, even when Cinder hadn’t requested me to take action, I would have made certain no one acquired in her waythe guards who may reply to the alarms did not deserve what would most likely occur to them. With my assist, she’d made good time, and as long as I used to be cautious, I used to be assured nobody would cross her path. I would must proceed to maintain watch, butit must be okay now, given the warnings I would handed on. Ironwood would at the least wish to confirm my claims with Ozpin earlier than continuing. “Then I shall withdraw for at the moment. Gents. Penny.”

“Valedictions!” Penny waved, although her spirits appeared a contact decrease than earlier than.

I smiled at her as soon as after which snapped my fingers, returning energy to the airship and vanishing again into Naraka.