Hyunwoo leaned forward, resting his good arm on the table. His expression turned grim.
"As for the matchmaking... I think they want to create drama. Maybe frame one of the students, twist the outcome to ruin a school's reputation. If they succeed, it won't just stain the Vytal Festival—it'll sow distrust between the kingdoms. And then, lastly..." His eye narrowed. "They'll make sure panic spreads."
Glynda tilted her head, brows furrowing. "And how exactly are they going to do that?"
Hyunwoo exhaled sharply. "As I said before—three people are behind this. Roman told me once, one of them has the ability to create illusions inside someone's head. That's the key."
The room fell silent.
Ozpin's hands tightened around his cane, his eyes narrowing slightly behind his glasses. "An illusionist... that explains how so many of Roman's schemes ran smoother than they should have."
Ironwood frowned deeply. "Mental interference is far more dangerous than simple trickery. If they can manipulate what competitors or spectators see, they could orchestrate chaos without firing a shot."
Glynda's voice was sharp. "Imagine a student being tricked into striking their own teammate, or an audience seeing an innocent combatant appear to cheat. The scandal would be immediate—and irreversible."
Hyunwoo nodded. "Exactly. All it takes is one incident. One fight that looks like sabotage. Then the rumors spiral out of control. Mistrust builds. Panic follows."
Ozpin finally broke the tension, his voice low but steady. "Then we must prepare for more than just external attacks. If illusions are in play, even the integrity of the tournament can be compromised."
Ironwood's metal fist clenched. "We'll need countermeasures. Soldiers, cameras, records—all redundancies in place. If someone tries to stage a scene, we'll catch it."
Hyunwoo smirked faintly, though his eye was cold. "Good luck with that. Illusions don't just fool cameras—they fool reality. But don't worry..." He sat back in his chair. "If they try to use that trick, I'll be ready."
Hyunwoo shifted the conversation, his tone sharpening.
"And one last thing. The White Fang's activity in Vale—it hasn't been reduced. It's stopped. Completely."
Glynda blinked, surprised. "Stopped? You're certain?"
Hyunwoo nodded. "Not a whisper. Not a single sighting, not even small robberies or smuggling. They went from a storm to dead silence overnight. Don't you think that's suspicious? Especially after the last incident?"
Ironwood's brow furrowed. His mechanical fingers tapped on the table in thought. "If an organization as large as the White Fang suddenly halts... it's not peace. It's preparation. They're regrouping for something bigger."
Ozpin's voice was calm but grave. "The timing is too convenient. With the tournament underway, the city is distracted. Security, even if tightened, is focused here at Amity. That silence may be the sound of a blade being drawn."
Glynda frowned, folding her arms. "So we have three dangers overlapping: the virus in the systems, an illusionist capable of twisting perception, and the White Fang waiting for the right moment to strike."
Hyunwoo gave a humorless chuckle. "Yeah. Sounds like they're setting the stage for a grand performance."
Ozpin looked at him over the rim of his glasses. "Then we must be ready to end the act before it begins."
Hyunwoo leaned back slightly, voice lower now. "I want to ask one last thing—"
But before he could finish, Ozpin's scroll buzzed on the table. The headmaster raised a hand politely.
"Pardon me."
He opened the device, eyes narrowing as he read. His usual calm expression shifted into a faint frown.
"James," Ozpin said, turning the screen toward Ironwood. "It seems there's a commotion in Beacon's courtyard. Your specialist... and our Qrow Branwen are involved."
Ironwood's jaw tightened. "Qrow." He exhaled, more annoyance than surprise. "I warned Winter about his temper."
Glynda let out a quiet sigh, already straightening her posture like she was preparing to march out herself. "Of course those two would clash."
Hyunwoo raised a brow. "...Guess that's my cue to stay out of it."
Ozpin closed his scroll with a quiet click. "We'll need to contain this quickly before students or the public catch too much of it. Appearances matter during the Festival."
The sound of boots striking stone echoed as Ozpin, Glynda, Ironwood, and Hyunwoo hurried across Beacon's courtyard. The air was already buzzing with noise—students shouting, gasps of surprise, the unmistakable clash of steel.
By the time they arrived, the square had already cleared. Winter Schnee was lunging forward with ice-cold precision, Qrow countering with his relaxed but deadly swings. Sparks flew as their weapons collided in a flurry of motion.
Hyunwoo frowned, crossing his arms as he stood at the edge of the crowd. Really? Fighting in the middle of the Academy?
He heard Ruby pushing her way through the crowd, teammates following.
Ruby's voice was shrill: "What's going on?!"
Weiss, tense and pale, snapped back, "Some crazy guy just started attacking my sister!"
Ruby opened her mouth to respond but froze when she saw who the "crazy guy" was.
"That is my uncle!" she shouted, voice cracking.
Weiss blinked, jaw slack. "...What?!"
Ruby cupped her hands and yelled at the top of her lungs, "Kick her butt, Uncle Qrow!"
Weiss stiffened, then, perhaps out of instinct more than pride, shouted back, "Teach him respect, Winter!"
Hyunwoo pinched the bridge of his nose. "...And they call me reckless."
The fight intensified, Winter's icy glyphs scattering across the air as she propelled herself like a missile. Qrow parried each strike, smirking through the chaos.
Among the crowd, Hyunwoo caught a glimpse of Mercury sliding through. He paused, eyes flicking between Qrow and Winter, before quietly muttering, "Huh?" Then, without another word, Mercury turned and jogged off, slipping away unnoticed by most—except Hyunwoo, who narrowed his eyes. Suspicious.
The courtyard gasped as Winter propelled forward, roaring, her rapier aimed squarely at Qrow's throat. The man didn't flinch, smirk never leaving his lips.
Then—
"SCHNEE!"
Ironwood's voice boomed across the courtyard, commanding, heavy with authority. Winter froze mid-strike, her blade trembling mere inches from Qrow's neck. The square fell into silence, only the faint clink of steel filling the air.
Hyunwoo muttered under his breath, "Well... this day just got more entertaining."
Ironwood's commanding voice still hung heavy in the air as Winter finally sheathed her weapon. He placed a firm hand on her shoulder, guiding her away while Ozpin and Glynda moved forward.
"Everyone, back to your business," Glynda's voice rang out as her riding crop tapped the ground. A ripple of telekinetic energy spread across the courtyard, shattered stone and debris lifting into the air and sliding neatly back into place as though the fight had never happened.
The crowd reluctantly dispersed.
As Ironwood and Winter strode off, Penny spotted Ruby in the thinning group. She gave a soft, almost mechanical smile and raised her hand in a tiny wave. Ruby's expression lit up, and she eagerly waved back before bouncing toward Qrow.
"Uncle Qrow!!!" Ruby cheered, leaping onto his arm and kicking her legs happily. "Hi! It's so good to see you! Did you miss me? Did you miss me!?"
Qrow barely blinked. "Nope."
They shared a grin anyway as he ruffled her hair with his free hand.
"Qrow!" Ozpin's voice cut sharp, his eyes stern. Ruby was promptly dropped on her feet as Qrow turned toward the Headmaster.
"A word, please," Ozpin added, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Qrow tilted his head, sighing. "Yeah, yeah..." Then he leaned down to Ruby, lowering his voice. "Think I'm in trouble."
Ruby crossed her arms. "Well, you did kinda tear up our courtyard."
"Yeah, I did," Qrow smirked, winking as he offered a fist bump. Ruby bumped him back with a grin. "Catch ya later, kid."
As Qrow walked off with Ozpin, Glynda, and Ironwood, Weiss stepped beside Ruby, arms folded. She glanced at the departing Huntsman, then at Ruby. "And suddenly, your recklessness makes sense."
Ruby huffed, nudging Weiss' shoulder with a smirk. "You're just mad because he whooped butt."
Weiss lifted her chin. "That was a draw, at best."
Ruby's mischievous grin made Weiss look away with a faint scowl.
"—Well," a familiar voice cut in, casual and teasing. Ruby and Weiss turned to see Hyunwoo strolling toward them, hands in his pockets. "Looks like your uncle's way more reckless than me."
Ruby perked up instantly. "Hyunwoo! Where were you? You missed JNPR's match!"
Weiss added sharply, "Indeed. Your absence was... notable."
Hyunwoo scratched the back of his head with an almost sheepish grin. "Eh... I was kinda busy."
Ruby leaned forward, narrowing her eyes playfully. "Busy doing what?"
Hyunwoo gave a vague shrug, smirk tugging at his lips. "Let's just say... 'classified business.'"
Ruby pouted. "That's not fair! You can't just say that!"
Weiss sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Honestly, between you and her uncle, I'm starting to wonder if reckless is contagious."
Hyunwoo chuckled at that, glancing between the two girls. "Maybe it is. Guess you'll have to get used to it."
Ruby giggled while Weiss rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath, "Wonderful..."
Ruby was still grinning when Weiss muttered something under her breath, but before Hyunwoo could reply, Ozpin's calm voice carried back across the courtyard.
"And Mr. Kim," the Headmaster said evenly, adjusting his cane as he turned slightly. His eyes found Hyunwoo through the dispersing crowd. "I will need to meet with you as well."
Hyunwoo's easy smile faltered just a little, though he covered it quickly with a casual shrug. "Figures."
Ruby blinked in surprise. "Wait—you too?"
Weiss arched an eyebrow, sharp as ever. "Of course. He's always sneaking off somewhere."
Ruby leaned closer to Weiss, whispering loudly enough for Hyunwoo to hear, "See? Suspicious."
Hyunwoo smirked, putting a finger to his lips. "Shh. Like I said—classified."
Ruby pouted but Weiss only crossed her arms. "Just don't make more trouble. Beacon's courtyard has had quite enough excitement for one day."
"Relax," Hyunwoo replied with a small grin as he started after Ozpin. "I'll be back before you know it. Try not to miss me too much."
Ruby puffed her cheeks. "Who said I would?!"
Weiss sighed. "You're impossible."
Hyunwoo chuckled at their reactions before slipping into the direction Ozpin, Ironwood, Glynda, and Qrow had gone—his expression shifting from casual to serious the moment he was out of sight of his friends.
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