Mission Aftermath

Crimson was on his way to the training hall when his scroll buzzed. Seeing the caller ID marked "General Ironwood," he answered swiftly.

"Specialist Crimson," Ironwood's voice was firm yet calm, as always. "I need you to join me at a council meeting this morning. Winter will be there as well. I believe it's time you got a firsthand look at how Atlas operates."

Crimson blinked in surprise. He wasn't accustomed to being involved in political matters, much less sitting in on council meetings. "Understood, General. I'll be there shortly."

The meeting was already underway by the time Crimson arrived, joining Ironwood and Winter in the grand council chamber. The room was austere yet imposing, with a long table surrounded by the council members. The atmosphere was tense, voices raised as the council debated various issues ranging from military funding to resource allocation.

Crimson remained quiet, observing everything with a sharp eye. Winter, seated beside him, occasionally leaned in to offer context about certain arguments or individuals. The most heated moments came when Jacques Schnee, representing the Schnee Dust Company, argued against a military expansion in Mosset Grotto, claiming it would "burden Atlas resources unnecessarily."

Crimson watched Jacques with a cold, unflinching gaze. He could see through the man's thinly veiled selfishness, the way he twisted his words to mask his true intentions. It was clear Jacques wasn't concerned about Atlas or Mantle—he was concerned about his profits.

When the meeting finally adjourned, Crimson left the chamber alongside Ironwood and Winter. The general looked tired but composed, the weight of Atlas pressing heavily on his shoulders.

Crimson broke the silence first, his tone thoughtful but edged with candor. "General, you have my respect and admiration for dealing with those people. If I were in your position, I'd probably have put a few bullets in their heads by now—especially Jacques Schnee."

He turned to Winter, offering a faint smirk. "No offense."

Winter smiled, unfazed. "None taken. You wouldn't be the first to suggest it."

Ironwood chuckled dryly, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "That's the way things are here, I'm afraid. Balancing the council's interests with what's best for Atlas and Mantle is an endless struggle. Jacques, in particular, is a constant thorn in my side."

Crimson raised an eyebrow. "I'm guessing he's not happy about Mosset Grotto."

Ironwood's tired smile widened slightly. "You're right. Clearing Mosset Grotto of Grimm has made Jacques restless. A newly discovered mine in the grotto is even larger than the Schnee Dust Company's biggest operations. It's bad news for him."

Winter's eyes narrowed slightly. "He'll do everything in his power to undermine it."

"Exactly," Ironwood said. "He'll try to prevent its development—or, failing that, demand a share of the profits. It's a battle that's only just beginning."

Crimson folded his arms, his expression grim. "Let me know if you need help... persuading him to see reason."

Ironwood chuckled again, though there was a trace of genuine appreciation in his tone. "I'll keep that in mind, Specialist. For now, let's focus on maintaining momentum. Thanks to your efforts in clearing the ancient monument we can redirect personnel to the new mine instead of defending Mantle ."

Crimson gave a slight nod, feeling a mix of pride and resolve. While he wasn't one for politics, he could see the importance of standing firm against individuals like Jacques, and he was willing to do whatever it took to support Ironwood.

As the three of them parted ways, Crimson couldn't help but think about the weight Ironwood carried. It wasn't just Grimm or enemies outside the kingdom that Atlas had to fight—it was the constant political battles within.

_____________________________

Crimson left Ironwood and Winter, his mind still dwelling on the weight of politics and leadership, but he quickly refocused as he approached his original destination: the training hall.

The sound of clashing weapons and determined voices greeted him as he stepped inside. At the center of the hall, Team RWBY was engaged in an intense sparring match against the Ace Ops, minus their leader, Clover. The Ace Ops' fluid teamwork and precise coordination were on full display as they worked to push the younger team to their limits.

Crimson's sharp eyes scanned the room, taking in the various dynamics. On the far side, Clover stood chatting with Qrow, the two men sharing what looked like a relaxed conversation. What caught Crimson's attention, however, was the absence of Raven. It was unusual for her not to be close to either Qrow or Yang.

Intrigued but not overly concerned, Crimson made his way to Qrow and Clover. He greeted them with a nod and settled in to watch the sparring session alongside them.

The fight was hard-fought, with Team RWBY showcasing their potential. Ruby's speed, Yang's power, Blake's agility, and Weiss's precision worked in tandem to give the Ace Ops a challenge. Yet, it was clear that the experience and synergy of the elite team gave them an edge.

Eventually, the Ace Ops came out on top, their victory decisive but earned.

"Not bad," Elm said, stepping forward with a grin. She gave Team RWBY an approving nod. "You've got a ways to go, but one day, you'll make an excellent team of huntresses."

Ruby managed a small smile, though her dejection was evident in the way her shoulders sagged.

Crimson, leaning back in his seat, commented, "The four of them still need time to catch up."

Clover, arms crossed, nodded in agreement. "You are right. With time, they might even surpass us." His tone was genuine.

Before the conversation could continue, Clover's scroll buzzed. He glanced at the message and stood up, his expression turning serious. "Duty calls," he said briskly. Turning to his team, he called, "Ace Ops, let's move!"

The team assembled quickly, leaving the hall with the efficiency that defined them.

As the sparring session wrapped up, the others noticed Crimson's presence. Ruby and Yang were the first to approach him, their faces lighting up.

"Crimson!" Ruby said, practically bouncing. "Can we come with you on your next mission? Please?"

Yang crossed her arms, her golden eyes gleaming with interest. "Yeah, we're ready. Just give us a chance!"

Before Crimson could respond, Qrow smirked. "Pyrrha's been talking a lot about her mission."

Crimson gave a small nod. "Once your new weapons and outfits are ready, we'll go."

Yang and Ruby groaned in unison, clearly unhappy with his measured response.

"Patience," Crimson added with a faint grin.

He turned to Qrow, his expression shifting to one of curiosity. "By the way, where's Raven? She's usually around."

Qrow's smirk faded slightly. "Someone came and asked her to follow. Something about the prosthetics."

Crimson nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I see."

Yang, standing nearby, glanced at Crimson. "Thanks for helping my mom, by the way."

Crimson shook his head. "I should be doing that," he said simply, his tone firm yet humble.

The rest of the group approached them then, Pyrrha among them. Her bright green eyes met Crimson's, and she asked, "Is there another mission coming up?"

Ruby and Yang shot him matching annoyed looks, which made Crimson's eye twitch in irritation.

He sighed and answered Pyrrha. "If there's another mission, I'll let you know. For now, there are plenty of smaller missions you can take to build experience."

As he said that, Crimson paused a little then brought out his scroll and tapped a few commands. 

"Here," he said, extending his scroll toward her. Pyrrha blinked in confusion as her own scroll buzzed in her pocket. "That's your reward from yesterday's mission."

"Reward?" Pyrrha repeated, taking out her scroll.

Crimson nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Clearing missions—even under Atlas jurisdiction—comes with monetary compensation. That's your share."

Pyrrha glanced down at her scroll, her fingers hesitating before opening the notification. Her emerald eyes widened in shock as she saw the amount transferred.

"W-Wait, this has to be a mistake," she stammered, her voice unsteady.

Before Crimson could reply, Nora peeked over Pyrrha's shoulder and let out a piercing scream of disbelief. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!"

The rest of the group had their curiosity piqued.

Pyrrha's face flushed as she shook her head. "Crimson, there's no way this is right. I didn't do nearly enough to deserve this."

Crimson crossed his arms, his expression firm but calm. "It's correct. We cleared the ancient monument completely, and Atlas managed to establish a new outpost there because of our work. That's no small mission. What you're seeing is your share—half of the mission reward."

Pyrrha still looked unconvinced. "But… I didn't do half the work. I was learning and getting help from you the whole time."

Crimson raised an eyebrow, his tone growing firmer. "It was my mission, my rules. And I say you earned it. Discussion over."

Pyrrha opened her mouth to protest again but stopped at the unwavering look in his eyes. She sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly as she nodded. "Thank you," she said quietly, though the disbelief lingered in her tone.

By now, the others had gathered around, peering at Pyrrha's scroll to see what all the fuss was about.

"Holy crap," Yang muttered, her golden eyes wide. "That's… a lot."

"I can't believe this," Weiss added, her usually composed expression giving way to genuine surprise.

Blake, standing slightly to the side with her arms crossed, gave Crimson an appraising look. "You know," she said thoughtfully, "I think I'd like to go on a mission with you too."

The others quickly chimed in, Ruby bouncing on her toes. "Yeah! Sign us up!"

Crimson rolled his eyes and ignored their enthusiasm. "Patience," he said, brushing past their remarks.

Then, shifting gears, he addressed the group with a rare hint of levity. "Since we've been in Atlas, we haven't had a proper gathering. So today, we're going out. My treat."

The group perked up at that, their earlier envy forgotten in the face of this unexpected announcement.

Crimson turned to Qrow, who was leaning against the wall with his usual smirk. "Dad, can you check on Aunt Raven? Make sure she comes along."

Qrow chuckled, tipping his flask toward Crimson in mock salute. "I'll see what I can do."

The team's excitement was palpable as they began chattering about where they might go. Crimson, meanwhile, watched them with a faint smile.