Everknight

Chapter 4

"See all of this?" Roman waved his arm around the entire warehouse filled with Dust crates. "This covers next week's quota. Honestly, either I'm getting too good at this or they're letting me off easily."

The last few days have been productive. Roman was able to pull off multiple heists quickly before the cops and huntsmen arrived, which has gotten easier without Glynda or Qrow. A stark contrast not too long ago where the city was prowling with that particular Huntsman and Huntress.

Sitting atop one of the crates were Cinder's underlings. Emerald and Mercury, who was currently bored out of their minds. Their mistress has specifically told them to lay low, and not do anything stupid. They'll leave that to the White Fang soldiers who were tasked in carrying out transportation and various missions.

Normally, the White Fang wouldn't be working together with humans. After all, it was the human's discrimination against the faunus that set the group down a violent path. But with Cinder's persuasion, she has gained the support of Adam Taurus and the rest of Vale's White Fang cell.

So, Emerald and Mercury are currently out of the job.

Emerald rolled her eyes. "Right. Still doesn't cover up the fact that you got your hat handed to you by a fifteen-year-old girl."

"No offense, Em. But that is getting old, and that's coming from me." Mercury absentmindedly skimmed through a comic book. "When are we leaving again?"

"You two clearly don't understand how much work goes into this." Roman fixed his hat and lit a cigar. He wasn't expecting appreciation, oh no. What Roman expects is some recognition for his work. "Go on. Sit there doing nothing, while I do all this hard work and get no credit for it. She wouldn't have gathered this much Dust if it weren't for me."

"I do give credit when it is due, Roman." Cinder skulked out from the darkness, surprising the villainous trio. "But a portion of it goes to the Everknight." She flicked through the messages on her scroll and closed it. "And he's the one that's been keeping our hindrances at bay."

Roman, Emerald, and Mercury exchanged curious glances at each other.

"What do you mean, ma'am?"

"I wasn't given the full details." The details provided were vague, but it came from Salem herself, which was forwarded to Cinder by Watts. If Salem doesn't wish to provide them more information, then they have no right to question it unless it's truly necessary. "From what I was given. His mission was centered around Forever Fall and Emerald Forest. The latter is an area where Beacon Academy conducts its annual initiation for their soon to be freshmen students, which so happens to be on the exact same day the Everknight made his move."

"Which means a lot of surveillance and huntsmen on hand in case anything goes wrong." Roman understood the initiation process as he was a former huntsman.

Cinder nodded, surveying the stolen Dust they amassed. "And among Beacon's staff overseeing the initiation is Ozpin's little birdie, Qrow Branwen and Ozpin himself."

The picture was starting to form in their minds what had transpired.

"What happened," Emerald asked.

"Why, part of Emerald Forest was destroyed during an altercation between Jaune and our enemies with the Everknight making his daring escape." Cinder turned to them with a smile. "All under Ozpin's nose."