A Man of Honor.

Chapter 49: Revelations.

"A crook is a crook, and there's something healthy about his frankness in the matter. But any guy who pretends he is enforcing the law and steals on his authority is a swell snake. The worst type of these punks is the big politician. You can only get a little of his time because he spends so much time covering up so that no one will know that he is a thief." ~ Al Capone.

We drove to the south side of town to the industrial sector, the Atlesian side of town like it was any fucking suprise.

Sure enough Ozpin and Ironwood had stayed deathly quiet during the drive until we reached an inconspicuous office building pulling around back and getting out. Ironwood opened my door for me and we shuffled inside through the alley and into the office.

"So what are we doing here?" I asked Ozpin as we stepped into the bland little office. I took out my cane and leaned on it. I wanted the comfort of a weapon in my hand.

"We're having a meeting with my top assets, this building belongs to him." Ironwood told me. "But since they've yet to arrive I suggest we start without them, there's a lot you don't understand Mr. Arc."

"No, I think I understand more than you think." I said to him. "You're with the Atlesians, you've helped them start this little fucking war. Probably on behalf of the SDC since our unions and dust robberies have severely cut into their profits."

"That is only part of the truth." Ozpin said, he put his hand on my shoulder but I shrugged it off. "So explain it to me then." I said, taking a subtle step away from him.

Ozpin sighed and motioned to a chair in the little office. "How about you have a seat?" He suggested politely.

I accepted the offer and laid my cane across my knees as I blatantly ignored the no smoking signs to light up a cigar. "Alright, I'm listening."

"We know that there are other forces behind the Roman and the White Fang." Ironwood explained to me. "Terrorists who wish to cause great harm to your kingdom, to all the kingdoms, that is what this is really about."

I briefly thought about Cinder and her cronies. I knew this to be true but I wasn't much in a sharing mood. "Who?" I asked them.

"That information is classified." Wyatt said plainly.

"Oh great." I said with a roll of my eyes. "Gods forbid I'm exposed to some dirty little secrets, it's not like I can be trusted with those."

"The people we face don't have a name, at least none that would have any meaning for you." Ozpin told me. "But they're very powerful and they've been helping to pull the strings and orchestrate something terrible. We don't know what but I am sure with the dust and weapons you've helped the Torchwick Family acquire for the White Fang you can imagine how terrible it can be."

"And that is why I took it upon myself to assist Roman's competitors, to undermine his business practices." Ironwood explained to me. "However... I admit this has been a difficult task, in part because of your actions."

I looked at Ozpin. "Did you know about this!?" I asked him.

"Ozpin was completely ignorant of my actions." Ironwood explained to me. "I knew he wouldn't approve of my methods so I worked behind his back."

I looked over at Ozpin who nodded at me. "No, I don't approve of these methods at all, all of these shootings and explosions have only put the people of our city further on edge and from the look of things that isn't going to be changing any time soon."

"So the hand moves and the brain is clueless, fucking wonderful." I laughed, I watched as Ironwood crossed his arms over his chest defensively and looked away. Even Ozpin was visibly uncomfortable. "So is that why your man here had me shot at, blown up, kidnapped and tortured?"