The elevator hummed quietly, carrying Ozpin, Glynda, Qrow, and Hyunwoo upward. Qrow leaned lazily against the railing, flask in hand, but his sharp eyes never left the boy.
"So," Qrow finally drawled, "who's the kid?"
Ozpin, calm as ever, replied, "Hyunwoo Kim. He has been of... particular assistance."
The name made Qrow's eyes flicker with recognition. He let out a short, almost bitter laugh. "Kim, huh? Now that's a name I didn't think I'd hear again." His gaze fixed on Hyunwoo, sharper this time. "You related to Hyun, by any chance?"
Hyunwoo froze, his chest tightening at the sudden weight of the question. "...You know my father?"
Qrow's smirk faded into something softer, more nostalgic. He tilted his flask, staring at it before answering. "Know him? Kid, your old man was one of my best friend back at Beacon. We went through a lot together."
Hyunwoo's eyes widened. "...Best friend?"
"Yeah," Qrow said, his tone more sober now. "We were reckless, stupid... but damn good together. He had this way of making people follow him without even trying. Always pushed harder than anyone else. Drove me crazy sometimes." He gave a small chuckle, then sighed. "We didn't always see eye to eye, but... Hyun was someone I trusted with my life."
Hyunwoo lowered his gaze, gripping his hand tightly. Hearing Qrow speak about his father — not as some distant figure, but as a real person, a friend — stirred something deep inside him.
Before he could ask more, the elevator chimed and the doors slid open. Ironwood and Winter stood waiting, stern as ever.
Qrow slipped his flask back into his coat, muttering, "Guess story time'll have to wait."
Ozpin stepped out with Glynda, Qrow, and Hyunwoo in tow. Winter spun on her heel the moment she saw them.
"What were you thinking?" she snapped, her voice cutting through the air.
"If you were one of my soldiers," Ironwood added, tone low and edged with iron, "I'd have you shot."
Qrow's smirk widened as he pulled a flask from his coat. "If I was one of your soldiers," he drawled, "I'd save you the trouble and shoot myself."
Winter's eyes flared with anger, but before she could retort, Glynda's voice struck like a whip. "Enough. Winter, James, your reaction hardly helped the situation."
"He was drunk!" Winter shot back, her hands tightening into fists.
"He's always drunk," Glynda replied flatly.
Silence followed. Qrow froze halfway through another swig, eyes flicking to the others watching him. Slowly, almost guiltily, he lowered the flask, muttering something under his breath.
Hyunwoo couldn't help the quiet scoff that slipped past his lips. The sound made Winter snap her gaze toward him like a blade being drawn.
Winter's sharp stare fixed on Hyunwoo the moment his scoff slipped out.
"And who exactly are you?" she demanded, her tone crisp and defensive.
Before Hyunwoo could open his mouth, Qrow's smirk deepened. "The kid's a Kim," he said, almost casually, as if that explained everything. His flask dangled loosely in his hand, catching the dim light. "Hyun Kim's boy."
Winter blinked, the name hitting her like a stone tossed into still water. "Hyun Kim...?"
Qrow tilted his head, studying her reaction with a half-lidded eye. "If you don't even know that name," he muttered, "then you really don't get out much."
The words silenced the room for a heartbeat. Hyunwoo finally stepped forward, his expression calm, voice even. "I'm your sister's friend too," he said, tone steady but not unkind. "Nice to meet you."
Winter stiffened at the remark. Her eyes flickered between him and Weiss's name that lingered in her thoughts, her carefully maintained composure cracking for just a second.
Ironwood exhaled through his nose, crossing his arms tighter. "Enough introductions," he said, his voice cutting through the tension. "We've wasted enough time already."
"Qrow," Ozpin finally said, his voice steady but weary. "Why are you here?"
Ironwood's gaze sharpened as he leaned against the desk. "You've been out of contact for weeks. You can't just disappear in the field without reporting back."
Qrow scoffed, a humorless grin tugging at his lips. "I'm not one of your special operatives, Jimmy."
"General," Winter corrected immediately.
"Whatever." Qrow's tone was flippant, though his eyes hardened. "You sent me to dig up dirt on our enemy, and guess what? Our enemy's already here."
Ironwood's jaw tightened. "We know."
Qrow blinked, then barked a laugh. "Oh, you know? Well, thank Dust I've been out there risking my neck just to keep you all informed."
"Qrow—" Ironwood started, exhaling sharply.
"Communication's a two-way street, pal." Qrow jabbed his Scroll in the General's direction. "See this? It's got this neat little thing called the SEND button. You should try it sometime."
Winter's icy stare didn't waver. "They had every reason to assume you'd been compromised."
Qrow's smirk returned, sharper this time. "And I've got every reason to assume you don't need to be here." He jabbed a finger toward her. "Seriously. Who invited her?"
For a moment, silence lingered. Then Ironwood spoke, his eyes still on the desk. "Schnee, we'll discuss this incident back at my ship."
Winter's composure cracked just slightly. "But sir—"
"Winter." Ironwood's voice left no room for debate. "Leave."
Her salute was sharp, though her glare at Qrow on the way out was even sharper. The Huntsman only answered it with a lazy wink as the elevator doors shut behind her.
The room exhaled with her absence. Ozpin steepled his fingers, studying the three men left before his eyes settled on Hyunwoo. "We already know the identity of our enemies," he said at last.
Qrow cocked his head, brows rising. "Oh, you do now?"
"Yes," Ozpin murmured, his tone grave. "And it is... a complicated situation."
Qrow leaned back, flask dangling loosely from his fingers. His crimson eyes flicked toward Hyunwoo, lingering on the boy with curiosity. "And does the kid know everything? About our enemies?"
All eyes in the room turned to Hyunwoo.
Ozpin's gaze lingered on Hyunwoo a moment longer, as if weighing something. Then he turned back to Qrow, his voice calm but deliberate.
"The truth is... it was Mr. Kim who uncovered our enemies' identity," Ozpin said. "He was the one who led us to Roman Torchwick and had him captured, months ago."
The words landed like a pebble dropped into still water. Ironwood's expression remained firm, but there was a flicker of approval in his eyes. Glynda shifted her stance, studying Hyunwoo as if reevaluating him entirely.
Qrow, on the other hand, let out a low whistle. His lips curled into a smirk as he gave Hyunwoo a long, appraising look.
"Well now," he drawled, tilting his flask toward the boy. "Seems like you're a lot more capable than you look."
Hyunwoo met his gaze without flinching. "I try."
Qrow chuckled, amused. "Heh. Guess you're not just Hyun's kid by name."
For a brief moment, there was something softer in his expression—something that hinted at the respect he'd once held for Hyunwoo's father. Then it was gone, buried under sarcasm and whiskey once more.
Ozpin steepled his fingers, his eyes moving from Qrow to Hyunwoo. The tension in the room pressed down, even the quiet hum of the machinery beyond the glass couldn't cut it. Finally, Ozpin spoke.
"Very well. Since you've been in the dark, Qrow, allow me to summarize what we know."
Qrow tilted his head back, smirked plastered on his face. "About time."
Ozpin ignored the jab.
"First—our enemies. The ones behind the recent chaos in Vale. We have confirmation of at least three key players. Cinder Fall, who orchestrates much of their activity. Mercury Black and Emerald Sustrai, her associates. They are embedded within the Vytal Festival itself, moving among the students."
Qrow's smirk faded, his eyes narrowing. "So they're already inside."
"Precisely," Ozpin replied. "And thanks to Mr. Kim, we know more than we might have otherwise. He uncovered their trail when Torchwick was still active, and directly aided in Torchwick's capture."
Ironwood gave a slight nod, arms crossed. "And Roman Torchwick remains in Vale custody. But that hasn't slowed their plans."
Ozpin continued, his voice firm. "Second—our systems. The CCT network is compromised. There is a virus embedded deep within the communication lines, tampering with critical functions. We've detected interference especially in tournament match-making. It seems designed not only to destabilize, but to create drama... scandal that could tarnish Beacon's reputation."
Glynda's lips pressed into a thin line. "It would only take one rigged match, one well-placed illusion, to create chaos."
Qrow raised a brow. "Illusion?"
Hyunwoo spoke up then, his voice steady. "One of their operatives has that ability. Roman told me himself. They can slip false images into someone's head. Make them see what isn't there. It's not hard to imagine how dangerous that could be during the Festival."
Qrow eyed him a moment, then leaned back. "Lovely. As if we didn't already have enough nightmares to deal with."
Ozpin nodded. "And lastly... the White Fang. Activity in Vale has not merely declined—it has completely ceased. Not diminished, not hidden, but stopped outright. Given their recent aggression, such silence is... more troubling than open attack."
The room fell into silence for a moment. Ironwood's jaw tightened, Winter frowning in thought. Qrow let out a low, humorless chuckle.
"So let me get this straight," he said, eyes flicking between them. "You've got enemy infiltrators in the middle of your tournament, a poisoned communication grid, terrorists vanishing off the face of Remnant, and a kid who's apparently doing your job better than half the staff here." He gave a nod toward Hyunwoo. "Did I miss anything?"
Ozpin exhaled slowly, adjusting his glasses. "No, Qrow. That... is the state of things."
Qrow let out a long sigh, dragging the back of his hand across his mouth as if to wipe away the taste of wasted time.
"Great," he muttered. "I spend weeks crawling through bars, slums, and back alleys chasing whispers—and this kid beats me to it." He shot Hyunwoo a crooked grin, raising his flask in mock salute. "Guess I'm getting slow."
Hyunwoo only shrugged. "Or maybe I just got lucky."
Ozpin cleared his throat, steering the conversation back. "What matters now is not who gathered the information, but what we choose to do with it. We know the shape of our enemy's plan. That gives us an advantage—if we act wisely."
Ironwood straightened, his tone crisp and uncompromising. "Then we tighten our defenses. I'll be pulling back a portion of the Atlesian Paladins and automated units. The risk of them being hacked is too great. In their place, I'll deploy live soldiers. Men and women I trust, who can adapt in ways machines cannot."
"That will double security in the Festival grounds."
Across from them, Qrow barked out a laugh, sharp and amused. "Hah! So the great General Ironwood finally admits his toys are a liability. Took you long enough, Jimmy."
Ironwood's jaw tensed, but he said nothing.
Ozpin's gaze shifted between the two men, his expression unreadable. "James, Qrow... we cannot afford division. If our enemies are as clever as they seem, they will exploit even the smallest cracks in our unity."
"Relax, Oz," Qrow muttered, leaning back in his chair. "I'm just enjoying the sight of Mister Iron-and-Steel here finally realizing you can't solve every problem with a shiny metal army."
Glynda glanced between them, then asked quietly, "So... what exactly is our move? Knowing isn't enough. If they're already inside, they won't wait forever."
Ozpin adjusted his glasses, voice firm but calm. "Our move, will require precision. We will watch. We will wait. And when they reveal themselves... we will be ready."
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