Smile

Chapter 20

"Jacques, it is time." Arthur says as he steps into Jacques's study, Jacques grinning slyly before granting him a nod in response.

"Splendid, I cannot wait to see what you've come up with this time." Replying rather joyously, Jacques taps away at his computer and brings up the news, ready and waiting to see what his partner in crime has in store.

"I will return once I've finished, until then, sit back and enjoy the show." Arthur steps out of the study and departs the manor, making his way to his base of operations up in Atlas. Once inside he settles at his desk and begins to tap away at the myriad of scrolls in front of him, readying the footage to be uploaded to the DustNet as he had done weeks prior.

"Alright Ironwood, let's see how you deal with this."

---

Thump thump thump thump.

"Nnh... Who is it?" Weiss tiredly asks with a groan before rubbing at her eyes, gaze slowly drifting towards the door after the knocking ceases.

"Weiss, it's Winter, you need to come immediately." Winter's voice calls out from the other side of the door, Weiss groaning before pushing herself up into a seated position.

"Can I... Mmh... Get dressed first?" Swinging her legs off the bed, Weiss pushes herself up onto her feet, then stretches her arms out to either side while awaiting Winter's response, the words that come proving to be to her detriment.

"I'm afraid not, it's urgent." With a sigh ringing out, Weiss begrudgingly opens the door to the dorm and steps out, dressed in just her nightgown, slippers, and headgear, looking rightfully as if she had just crawled out of bed.

"What's going on Winter?" Winter looks around after Weiss speaks, then motions for her to follow before turning and marching off, a frown resting on her face. Weiss trails along close behind her as they traverse the halls of the academy, eventually stepping into Ironwood's office where James, Penny, and oddly enough Pietro are waiting.

"Weiss, good morning." James calmly greets the underdressed teen, a slight nod being given in response before he continues to speak. "I'm afraid I've called you here with bad news to report. Another video has appeared on the DustNet and the news has latched onto it, it's... Not good, I'm sorry to say." Falling silent, he brings up the recently broadcast news report, Weiss's gaze falling onto it as it starts playing.

"Good morning Atlas and Mantle. This is Lisa Lavender, bringing you a breaking news bulletin. A new video has surfaced online of the young Weiss Schnee and Penny Polendina, Mantle's so called 'protectors', and the implications, well, they're quite shocking. The following footage contains graphic scenes, so please, do not watch if you cannot handle it."

As Lisa trails off footage begins to play of Weiss and Penny on their last mission to Mantle when the first video appeared online. However, being doctored like the first, the footage depicts the two girls fleeing onto a Manta, bleeding bodies left behind as they leave. To an untrained eye, the expertly edited footage looks to be authentic, but to someone who knows what they're looking at, it can be seen that two different videos were combined.

"Can you vouch for the safety of Mantle when it's protectors are two violent killers? As it stands, both Schnee and Polendina haven't been seen for sometime now, we at the Atlas Broadcast Network hope that the authorities will swiftly capture them and bring them in for justice. Thank you, and good day."

"I... That..." Rendered speechless by what she's seeing, Weiss just stares forward in shock, mouth slightly agape. Penny walks over to her and gently grasps her hand, Weiss's gaze slowly sinking towards the floor before she grabs it in return.