The heavy door to Ozpin's office clicked shut behind Ruby, leaving Hyunwoo standing alone before the headmaster, Ironwood, and Glynda. The moonlight filtered in through the tall glass panes, casting long shadows across the polished floor.
Ozpin leaned forward slightly in his chair, fingers interlaced on the desk. His voice was calm, though his eyes sharpened.
"So... what Miss Rose said is true?"
Hyunwoo's arms crossed loosely, his tone steady.
"Yeah. But not during the CCT incident. She probably got that info from somewhere else. The hideout Ruby mentioned... it's the same thing Roman told me."
Ozpin's brows lifted just slightly, his silence betraying thought.
"...Is that so."
The boy's gaze flicked toward the general, then back to Ozpin.
"And, General—" Hyunwoo said, his voice firm but not loud, "it's probably best if you check your system. There's a chance Cinder put a virus in it."
Ironwood's jaw tightened, metal fingers curling against his armrest. "A virus?"
Hyunwoo nodded. "She didn't need to say it. The way she moved, what she was doing on the terminal—it wasn't just sabotage. It looked like she was leaving something behind."
Glynda's stern eyes narrowed. "And you're certain?"
"No." Hyunwoo admitted. "But if I were her, I'd want to make sure Atlas paid the price long after I was gone."
For a moment, silence hung thick in the office. Then, Ozpin exhaled slowly, leaning back in his chair. His expression was unreadable, but his tone carried weight.
"You see threats where others might not, Mr. Kim. That can be... troublesome." His gaze lingered a beat longer. "Or it can be invaluable."
The tension in the room shifted the moment Hyunwoo finished speaking. Ironwood straightened in his chair, the metallic plates of his uniform catching the dim light. His voice carried the weight of command.
"If there's even a chance she tampered with Atlas systems, I need confirmation immediately." He tapped his Scroll, opening a secure channel. "This is General Ironwood. I want every CCT relay and every Atlas mainframe swept—now. Priority one."
Static crackled before a voice responded: "Yes, sir!"
Ironwood lowered his Scroll, but his face remained hard, his eyes narrowing at the thought of unseen sabotage. "If Cinder left something behind, I won't have my kingdom compromised because we were too cautious."
Glynda's brows knit. "General, surely a more measured—"
"No, Glynda." Ironwood cut her off, tone sharp but not hostile. "If the boy's right, then we can't afford to hesitate. Atlas is already spread thin on Vale's soil, and if our lines of communication are compromised, we'll be fighting blind."
Hyunwoo didn't flinch under the General's words. He only watched, hands in his pockets, as if weighing whether to speak further.
Ozpin, however, raised his mug calmly to his lips before breaking the silence. "You've always been a man of swift action, James. Perhaps this time it will serve us well." His gaze flicked to Hyunwoo. "Though I admit, I'm curious how you were able to notice something that even seasoned Huntsmen might have overlooked."
Ironwood's head turned slightly, attention now fully on the boy. "That's what I'd like to know as well."
Hyunwoo leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable at first. But then he spoke, his tone even, like he'd rehearsed the words a hundred times before.
"Since I was a kid, I've been looking at people. Watching, studying. I got good at predicting what they do, and what they're about to do next." He paused, glancing briefly at Ironwood before shifting his gaze to Ozpin. "That's how my Semblance came to me. Copy. I study a move, and I make it my own."
For a moment, silence hung heavy in the room.
Ironwood's steel-blue eyes narrowed, analyzing the boy as though he were some new weapon being tested on the field. "A Semblance like that... in the wrong hands, it could be devastating."
Ozpin's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "And in the right hands, it can be invaluable." He set his mug down with a soft clink. "I see now why you noticed what others did not."
Glynda folded her arms, her sharp gaze softening only slightly. "But your insight comes with responsibility, Mr. Kim. If you insist on involving yourself in matters of this scale, then you must be prepared for the consequences."
Hyunwoo shrugged lightly, but his eyes carried a seriousness that undercut the gesture. "I already am."
Ironwood's voice cut in again, decisive as ever. "Good. Then If Miss Rose right, and if your instincts are right... then we're about to see the enemy move faster than any of us anticipated."
Ozpin nodded once, his tone quieter, but far heavier. "The game has already begun."
Before anyone could respond, a sharp vibration buzzed from Hyunwoo's pocket. He pulled out his Scroll, glancing at the screen.
"...It's the Vale Police Station," he muttered, answering the call.
Static crackled for a second before a stern voice came through. "Mr. Kim? Sorry to disturb, but since your team was involved with Roman Torchwick's arrest, we thought you should know—someone is visiting him right now."
Hyunwoo straightened in his seat, his grip tightening around the Scroll. "Visiting?"
"Yes. Just arrived not long ago." A pause, muffled voices on the other side, then the officer's voice returned. "Strange girl. Pale skin, black hair, green eyes, parasol in hand. Didn't say a word. Just walked in like she belonged there."
Hyunwoo's eyes went sharp as glass. "Neopolitan..." he muttered under his breath.
Ironwood's hand immediately went to his earbud, already barking orders. "This is General Ironwood. I want squads deployed to the Vale Police Station immediately. Contain the visitor—no slip-ups!"
Ozpin, however, simply adjusted his glasses, his gaze lingering on Hyunwoo. "It seems your instincts were correct again."
Hyunwoo snapped his Scroll shut and stood. "Then we'd better move. If Neo's here because of Cinder, Torchwick won't be sitting in that cell much longer."
___
The heavy metal door clanged shut behind her, and the muffled chatter of the Vale police faded into the background. Neo strolled down the dim corridor, parasol twirling lazily in her hand. The keys jangled on the guard's belt as he let her through, utterly convinced by the smile she had painted across her illusory disguise.
When the cell door finally opened, Neo dismissed the illusion, her true self stepping forward in silence.
Inside sat Roman Torchwick, slouched against the bench like he owned the place. He glanced up, the usual smug smirk tugging at his lips—though it faltered when he saw she was alone.
"Well, well," Roman drawled, hat tilted back. "If it isn't my favorite mute. What, no entourage? Cinder couldn't even be bothered to hold my leash herself?"
Neo tilted her head, eyes narrowing. She tapped the tip of her parasol against the bars, once, twice—sharp and accusing.
Roman sighed, leaning forward, arms on his knees. "You think I sold her out, don't you?"
Her silence was answer enough.
"Tch. I didn't," he said quickly, defensively. "I played the part, sure. Ran a few gigs, stirred up chaos with the White Fang. But betray Cinder? Please. You think I've got a death wish?" He waved a hand dismissively. "She's got half the Kingdom dancing on her strings. I'm not stupid."
Neo didn't move. Her mismatched eyes burned holes into him.
Roman faltered under her gaze. He'd known Neo long enough to know she didn't waste time chasing shadows. If she was here, now, without Cinder's knowledge...
"...She doesn't know you're here, does she?" he asked, his voice dropping.
Neo didn't answer, only tapped her parasol again—once, firmly.
Roman's smirk finally vanished. He ran a hand down his face, chuckling bitterly. "Unbelievable. You'd risk showing up alone just to meet me, huh?"
Neo stepped closer, her expression unreadable.
For a moment, Roman just stared at her, then let out a sharp exhale. "...Fine. You want the truth? Yeah, I've been playing both sides. I'm not loyal to Cinder. Never was. I'm loyal to surviving. And if that means feeding Ozpin's people a little breadcrumb here and there, so be it."
His eyes met hers, serious now. "Cinder's endgame? It'll burn down Vale and everyone in it. I'm not sticking around to be ashes. If you're smart, neither will you."
Neo's parasol stopped twirling. For the first time, her lips curved into the faintest, coldest smile.
Roman leaned back against the wall after his confession, trying to mask his unease with a crooked grin.
Neo didn't buy it. She tilted her head, parasol resting lightly on her shoulder, then snapped her fingers. Her body shimmered, shifting—snowy hair and spectacles replacing her features. Ozpin stood in her place, calm and watchful.
Roman froze. His smirk twitched.
"...Cute trick." He tried to sound amused, but his tone cracked just enough to betray the tension.
Neo-as-Ozpin raised an eyebrow, silent, waiting.
Roman's lips tightened. "He didn't make me. It's not like Ozpin put a Scroll to my head. I just... knew he was the type who'd take what I fed him and not ask too many questions."
The illusion flickered again. Broad shoulders, crisp uniform, the hard lines of Ironwood's face. Neo's mismatched eyes burned colder now from behind the General's steely glare.
Roman clicked his tongue, dragging a hand down his face. "Ironwood? Hah. Please. That stiff wouldn't know subtlety if it punched him in the jaw. No, not him. I wouldn't risk talking to Atlas brass—they'd throw me in deeper than this cell."
And then the illusion shifted one final time. Short dark hair, sharp gaze, casual stance that carried a weight Roman couldn't ignore. Hyunwoo.
Roman went still. His cocky mask cracked completely.
He stared at the illusion, then let out a low, bitter laugh. "...Of course you'd pull that one." His voice dropped to a mutter. "Kid's the real problem, huh?"
Neo stepped closer, silent as death.
Roman exhaled sharply, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "Fine. Yeah. I gave the breadcrumbs because of him. He's unpredictable, dangerous, and worse? He's not playing Cinder's game. You can't manipulate someone who doesn't care about the board."
His eyes flicked up, hard. "If you want to know why I'm hedging my bets, it's because of him. Hyunwoo Kim. If anyone's gonna topple Cinder's little empire, it's that brat."
The illusion shimmered away, leaving Neo herself once more. Her lips curved into a small, dangerous smile as she spun her parasol lightly. Roman knew that look: she'd gotten what she wanted.
Neo dropped the last illusion, letting her true form shimmer back into place. Her parasol rested against her shoulder as she studied Roman with that sly, knowing smile.
Roman rubbed his temple, sighing. "You got what you wanted, huh? That brat's the reason. Don't rub it in."
Neo tilted her head, lips parting just slightly, as if to form a question she'd never voice. Instead, she tapped her parasol twice against the floor.
Roman chuckled humorlessly. "What, you want me to make a jailbreak now? Please. I might be reckless, Neo, but I ain't suicidal. Making enemies of Cinder and Ozpin's little club? That's not business, that's suicide."
She narrowed her eyes, expectant.
Roman leaned forward, lowering his voice. "No. We sit tight. That kid—Hyunwoo—he promised me, promised us. Once this madness is done, they'll ship us to Vacuo. Out of the spotlight, out of the game. That's worth more than any half-baked escape plan."
Neo's smile lingered, unreadable, but her gaze sharpened at his words. She gave a small nod, parasol spinning lazily in her hand.
Roman exhaled and slouched back, muttering, "Don't get me wrong. If a door opens, I'll take it. But for now? No thanks. I'll let the kid keep his word... if he can."
Neo's silence was answer enough. She turned, heels clicking against the cell floor as she started to walked away, the faintest glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. Roman wasn't sure if she believed him—or if she was already planning three moves ahead.
___
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