The New Rose

Chapter 20 - Aftermath

General James Ironwood was currently in Professor Ozpin's office in Beacon tower, along with said professor and Glynda Goodwitch. The vibe in the room was a bit complicated, both Ozpin and Glynda looked angry while General Ironwood couldn't seem to let go of the smile that was on his face. He knew the reason why Ozpin and Glynda were angry, but if he was being completely honest he didn't really care. Thanks to his detectives that group from Haven was going to the Maximum-Security Prison in Atlas, and Roman Torchwick and the White Fang would follow.

Part of him wanted to feel a little guilty, considering that he had been keeping the knowledge about that group a secret from Ozpin and Glynda. Not only that, but he didn't let them know that Ruby Rose was a part of a top-secret and important investigation, a big step up from what he and Sindel promised them that unit would be. Still, the arrest that they had made tonight was a victory that was more important than James keeping a secret, hopefully Ozpin and Glynda would understand that.

General Ironwood also believed this was good because he had a feeling that the group from Haven were involved with the grimm witch known as Salem. She was the whole reason that Ironwood had decided to take Ozpin up on his offer in joining his secret society along with Glynda, Qrow and a few others. At first he thought the group from Haven were just common criminals, but with the information his Intelligence Unit collected it was clear they were more than that. Then there was the report about that Mercury boy seemingly studying Pyrrha Nikos, who Ironwood knew was Ozpin's next choice for the Fall Maiden…

Meanwhile Ozpin and Glynda were glaring at the general, not happy at all with how the night turned out. What was supposed to be a nice night for them, and the students was turned into a disaster by the general and his soldiers. James had information about supposed transfers from Haven who were apparently criminals, and he didn't tell them? They were the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress of Beacon for a reason, and they had a right to know he was running some sort of operation.

Glynda was especially angry because James was subjecting her student to danger, even if she was talented. The deputy headmistress only gave her permission to Ruby joining that unit because she felt it was necessary for the girl to get some away time from her team after what happened. Not only that, but James and that Sindel woman told them that Ruby would only be hunting grimm, gathering intelligence, and dealing with some low-level criminals.

In reality it was actually the opposite, she did hunt some grimm sure, Ruby told her that once she came back. However, the intelligence that Ruby and those other students were gathering were apparently vytal and the criminals they were dealing with were not low level at all. The White Fang and Roman Torchwick were among the most dangerous criminals on Remnant, and if that group from Haven was working with them that means they are just as dangerous. What exactly did James get Ruby into?

Ozpin was just as upset for the same reasons but also for one different one. He was angry at James for sure, but also at himself for allowing those three criminals to walk into Beacon and commit those acts of violence. He paled to think that they were minions of Salem, and the more he thought about it he figured that might be the case. What else could they want that was so important that they would join with the White Fang and Roman Torchwick? Ozpin didn't know but he was sure James did, speaking of which the General's voice took Ozpin out of his thoughts.

"So, are we going to discuss something or did you bring me here just to glare at me?" General Ironwood asked amused and the glares he got worsened.

"Don't get that attitude with us James, what in the hell just happened?! Who are those people and why didn't you let us know criminals were at Beacon?!" Glynda asked enraged.

"What happened was that my two detectives stopped an act of villainy tonight, something that no one in this room knew was going on. Had it not been for them something terrible would have happened, try to focus on the outcome instead of what preceded it. As for why I didn't tell you all that was the Intelligence Unit's idea, since we no idea how that group communicated they could have had other accomplices or wires near your office. We needed to keep that group in the dark as long as possible so they could make a mistake and here we are." Ironwood explained and his colleagues had wide eyes.