Time is of the essence, but I haven’t been able to use it properly in the past few days, despite my best efforts. Our new boss is a complete murderous bitch and her cronies made sure to stick around to be a total pest to everyone so we couldn’t try anything funny, at least on the first days.

  Even then, I swear I had seen the green-haired human a few times when I wasn’t with the crew of outws and around my home.

  I’ve never seen Roman or Neo scared, although Roman was far more expressive than Neo. Yet that alone was very telling, and I shared the sentiment. I wouldn’t dare or try to anger the fire woman who can literally kill you with a single touch.

  It was just like in Vacuo, where the strongest always got to call the shots.

  That was very troubling, to say the least.

  And knowing the very likely scenario that I was the weakest one in the group, which I tried. I really tried to change it in the past days to go and finally increase my level in Emerald forest only to keep noticing the same green-haired p dog or the worst possible scenario. Beacon closed the forest to everyone, since they were conducting an investigation along with the preparations for the initiation.

  Practically leaving me no pce to gain the needed experience to level up. And leaving Vale would be taken as an attempt of escape and I shudder at what Cinder might do.

  And that’s her name, Cinder Fall.

  All the bad things are piling on me.

  And I cannot see my situation better described with myself sitting on top of a dust dispy case as I watch Junior’s men along with Roman taking everything as fast as they can.

  From being a simple courier, I became an accomplice to armed robbery. All because that bitch of Cinder who wants us to steal as much dust as possible with only the expnation 'Do it or else'.

  At least, at the very least, this robbery is against the SDC, vindication of some sort.

  I give a quick gnce at the SDC employees, who have their hands and feet tied. And the security guards who were easily dispatched by Neo, which doesn’t come as a surprise. Only one woman was openly crying, clearly scared of what was happening, but Roman was very clear with his warning, stay put and nothing will happen to you.

  Unlike everyone who is so open with their activities, proud in some particur cases, I must conceal my identity, which brought back the edgy hoodie from that human gang, a face mask and the dreaded beanie, causing a lot of discomfort to my ears.

  It’s annoying, but necessary.

  Roman snaps his fingers to get my attention. “Hey pup, wake up.”

  Pup?

  I frown when I look at him, but he merely points at a pile of crates. “Store them. We have fifteen minutes before the police are alerted.”

  I do as told, but I must admit that those guys are quite efficient and organized with their robbery. Anyway, a single touch is all I need.

  [Dust crate has been added to your inventory] x15?“Is that all?” I ask.

  “For now, it’s enough.” He shrugs before turning to one of his helpers. “Hey, did you get the access code to the main storage?”

  I don’t know if I’ll ever hit a limit, but that would be a lot of dust we will be taking.

  “Here it is.” The guy with a short beard approaches the fmboyant thief and hands him a crumpled piece of paper. Roman snatches it from him, his eyes scanning the paper quickly before he strides confidently towards the rge metallic door.

  Positioning himself in front of the button panel, he brings the paper up closer to his eyes and calmly enters the code.For a few tense seconds, nothing happens.

  Then, suddenly, a deafening arm bres through the room, causing everyone to wince in pain. Roman’s confident expression turns into a scowl as every window and door locks itself with thick, unforgiving metal bars.Shit.

  The rest of the henchmen in the room begin to stir, their anxiety palpable as they eye the locked doors and windows. Meanwhile, the previously crying woman has now escated to full-on wailing, her screams piercing everyone’s eardrums. But Neo moves quickly, slipping behind the woman and quickly gagging her to silence her cries.

  Roman remains calm in the midst of the chaos, his expression trying to hide his annoyance as he surveys the room. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he sighs and mutters under his breath. “Only five now.”

  Neo immediately kicks the manager’s head, knocking him out cold as revenge. And the woman’s shriek of terror is muffled by her gag.

  “We are leaving. Hunters are bound to come with this much noise,” Roman comments, tossing a handful of fire dust towards the back door with a flick of his wrist.

  With a practiced hand, Roman aims his cane and pulls the trigger, sending a bzing fre towards the votile dust. My eyes widen as I realize what he’s about to do, and I dive for the nearest cover just in time.

  The sound of the explosion echoes in my ears, drowning out the screams of the SDC workers as they panic in their spot.

  I’m not given time to adjust as a hand pulls me up and drags me towards the smoke. As we move deeper into the smoke, I can feel my chest tightening with each breath, causing me to hit my chest a couple of times to steady my breathing.

  Thankfully, it’s over quickly as we cross a hole and step outside the building. It’s only then that I notice all of Junior’s men rapidly undressing, revealing they are wearing casual clothes underneath their bck tuxedos. Each one of them hands me their uniform in order before darting off in different directions.

  “Good luck kitten.” Roman tips his hat and gently pces a hand on Neo’s shoulder, who gives a slight bow before both of them shatter in millions of pieces. And I’m the one left behind.

  I check my surroundings and sigh in exasperation. They could have taken me with them, but I knew this would happen if the arms went off. All is part of the pn, but that doesn’t mean I like it one bit, but there is nothing to do besides follow with the next step and taking off everything.

  All the heist uniforms are sent to my inventory and adjust my sleeveless vest before turning on my heels and walking in the opposite direction.

  Hunters are probably two blocks away, so like I’ve been told, don’t try to run and look suspicious as fuck.

  Easier said than done.

  -Hours Later-

  With a yawn, I leave the police station.

  Who could have guessed that a faunus in the vicinity would be taken in for questioning? It was very good hindsight from Roman’s part to have me memorize the perfect alibi. And my inventory being a life saver since nobody will ever know I have millions of lien worth in dust with me.

  Also, the fact that Roman is an attention whore, that’s why he left so fast. To take all the spotlight and leave me and Junior’s men more than enough time to get away from the scene of the crime.

  It was surprising to see him take two hunters by himself and come out on top. Even if Neo was helping him behind the scenes, that doesn’t diminish his achievement.

  Still fuck the due process, cops and their damn 20 questions games.

  But I am free and I can continue with what was accorded after the heist. Walking three blocks away from the station, I take another taxi and head straight to the commercial district, Junior’s club to be exact.

  The pce is bustling with people, already queuing up despite the fact that it’s not even 7 pm yet. Luckily, I don’t have to join the queue and instead make my way towards the back entrance of the club.

  There, I see a girl dressed in red waiting for me, her arms crossed and a frown on her face. “You’re te,” she says with a hint of annoyance.

  “Not my fault,” I reply, giving her a shrug. “Cops were asking too many questions.”

  And I was considerate about the time since I took a taxi to come here.

  The sister sighs. “Whatever, as long as it doesn’t backtrack to us. Just drop our part.” She opens the door and beckons me to come inside.

  There is a long hallway with many doors, but that’s a detail of no importance since Miltia opens another door that leads to the basement, but it is quite well illuminated compared to the other basement I’ve visited so far.

  I take a quick gnce around the cluttered room filled with various items, almost like a storage room. Better said, the basement is a storage room. But these details aren’t important, as I know exactly what to do next.

  I drop the single dust crate that was promised for their help, along with their uniforms.

  The brunette's eyes widened for a moment and looked at me. “I didn’t know you had a storage sembnce.”

  “Pretty useful stuff, doesn’t it?” I smirk and summon my Ats mask for a moment before sending it back.

  Overkill?

  Dunno, I just felt like showing off.

  “No wonder Torchwick hired you.” She rolls her eyes and crosses her arms.

  “Hired sounds as if I had a fucking choice in the matter.” I scowl at the memory.

  The red twin shrugs and pulls a small business card. “If you are looking for extra cash, just give us a call.”

  Her response causes me to raise an eyebrow in doubt as I take the business card. “I thought your boss didn’t want strangers meddling in his business.”

  “He still doesn’t, but your sembnce is too useful to be ignored. Especially for our line of work,” she replies with a smirk.

  I read a scroll number on the card before stashing it in my pocket. “I’ll think about it.”

  With a wave of my hand, I bid her farewell before leaving the storage room and the nightclub. As the building fades into the distance, I let out a long sigh. With that out of the way, I’m technically done for the day. All that’s left is to drop off the rest at Roman’s hideout, which I can do tomorrow since it’s safely stored in my inventory.

  I realize that it’s probably best to deliver the rest of the loot today, so I don’t end up annoying that woman.

  With that in mind, I turn right and start walking down the streets of the commercial district to pass the time and clear my mind.

  But my pns come to a halt as I pass by a unique burger joint. I stop in front of the store and gnce at the various promotions, but it’s the name of the joint that makes me snort in amusement.

  Beacon’s Bacon.

  That’s definitely a name, and that’s not even counting the logo. It’s Beacon’s logo but repced with spatus and bacon strips.

  Just for that alone, I will buy something.

  I push open the door and head straight to the register to check the menu and pce my order.

  The cashier, a blonde girl dressed in yellow and red stripes, seems to be preoccupied with the cash register, but she soon lifts her gaze to look at me.

  “Welcome to Beacon’s bacon. How may I… MA’IQ?!”

  I blink and find myself staring into a pair of surprised blue eyes.

  “Oh... hi Jeanne,” I greet back after realizing that the clumsy knightess is the one behind the uniform. I’m used to seeing her in her bck hoodie and armor, but I should have noticed her long braid.

  “W-what are you doing here?!” she stammers, her face turning red as she looks around nervously.

  “To buy food?” I answer, tilting my head in confusion.

  What else would I do in a fast food store?

  “Ummm… that makes sense... “ She ughs awkwardly, pying with her hair.

  “Miss D’arc?” A stern voice comes from behind, making Jeanne freeze on the spot. “Are you refusing service to a customer?”

  A woman wearing a formal suit and gsses appears behind the counter, right behind Jeanne, who becomes pale.

  “Nonononono.” She frantically replies as she turns to face her boss. But the dy has none of it and looks as if she is about to lecture the poor girl.

  Yeah, as amusing as that might be. I won’t abandon Jeanne like that.

  “Just catching up with a friend, Miss. Nothing serious.” I speak up, getting the woman’s attention, who raises an eyebrow but accepts the short expnation, nonetheless.

  She quickly looks back at the blonde girl. “Miss D’arc, please remember that you still have two hours left. Refrain from pying around and get back to work.” With that said, the boss dy turns around and leaves for her office.

  “Sure thing, miss Lazuli!” Jeanne frantically nods until she is sure her boss is gone. She lets out a long sigh of relief before looking at me with a tired smile. “Thanks for the save. She would have lectured me for the next half hour.”

  “It wouldn’t be fair since you did nothing wrong. Although, I’m surprised with her policy of no discrimination.”

  “Well, kinda? It was the first thing she warned us. Everyone with money is a customer, no exceptions.”

  I chuckle. “And here I thought it was done from the goodness of the heart.”

  After all, money is money, can’t bme her.

  “So what can I get you?”

  I look at the menu again. “Well, just give me the number three and make it rge.”

  It’s a simple meal, bacon burger with french fries and soda.

  She quickly types on the register and scans the barcode to process the payment. Honestly, that’s really convenient, just a quick scan from your scroll and you pay, rather than taking out lien and counting out the exact amount.

  Afterward, she hands me the receipt with a forced smile.

  An awkward silence follows as Jeanne fidgets on her spot for a while, looking everywhere in the room until a bell rings. She picks up a tray with my order and hands it to me with the same smile.

  I can’t help myself but smile in amusement.

  “Ummm, have fun?”

  I take my tray and head towards one of the empty tables. It isn’t a detail I pay much attention to, but the pce has plenty of customers, mostly families with kids. I choose the only table with a view of the streets and dig in. I gotta say, a hamburger with bacon strips tastes delicious. Maybe I should try making my own version at home.

  Add some onion rings too.

  Or maybe make my own bread to give a crusty look and…

  Let‘s just eat.

  -Two hours ter-

  I watch as a very flustered Jean D’arc exits the store, wearing a bck hoodie adorned with a cartoonish bunny and carrying a backpack over her shoulder.

  “So, you managed to find a job,” I excim loudly, hoping to catch her attention, which it does, making her sigh.

  “Yeah... three days ago,” she responds, her voice barely audible as she nervously twirls her hair.

  I raise an eyebrow, surprised by her sudden change in attitude. “Why are you embarrassed? There’s nothing wrong with your job.”

  Also, she will be able to pay something, my bastard boss, although he is more preoccupied with a certain fire bitch to actually care or at least keep tabs on his many debtors.

  “I.. I don’t know, I guess I never thought I would be working here even if it’s temporary like… it’s not really a good job? I don’t know, I just don’t want people to know because…Is embarrassing? What will people say?” She rubs the back of her neck, forcing a smile onto her face.

  I blink, taken aback by her words. That... actually makes sense? Wait... Why does that make sense?

  Shaking my head to clear away the foolish thoughts, I summon a pair of drinks and hand one to her, which she happily accepts.

  “Fuck ‘em.” I gulp my drink. “You will be going to Beacon soon. What can they say for themselves?”

  Jeanne gives me an assuring nod, her fingers gripping the cold drink as she pops open the can. “At least it’ll only be a few weeks,” she murmurs, a hint of relief in her voice.

  “Oh? Beacon’s initiation is already that close?” I ask, the realization of time slipping away hitting me.

  A faint but genuine smile curves across Jeanne’s lips. “Yeah... “

  She takes a long sip from her drink and takes the lead, setting a brisk pace as we traverse the bustling streets. I hasten my steps, catching up to her side, our footsteps falling into sync.

  As Jeanne finishes her drink, a satisfied sigh escapes her lips. She effortlessly crumples the empty can between her hands before casually discarding it onto the street, and her gaze meets mine. “Ma’iq, can you help me train more?” she asks, her voice tinged with a hint of hopeful anticipation.

  My ears perk up at her sudden question, and I turn to look at her, curious about her request.

  Rubbing the back of her neck, she avoids direct eye contact and speaks hesitantly, “I know you’ve been really busy with work, but I need all the help I can get before the entrance exams.”

  A dry ugh escapes my lips. In reality, I’m not that kind of busy anymore. “Well, I still haven’t finished that manual, but... I kind of have some free time nowadays,” I admit, not revealing my current unemployed status or my involvement in certain illicit activities.

  I notice her expression lighting up, and a broad smile spreads across her face as she lunges at me, trapping me in a tight hug. “GREAT! Can we train tomorrow morning?!

  “Eh... sure?” I reply, exerting a bit of strength on both arms to break free from her grip. “Nine in the morning sounds good?”

  Intentions that don’t go unnoticed by Jeanne, who is the first to break away, refusing to look up as her cheeks are blushing profusely. It was more surprising than anything.

  “So, where are we going?” I ask, trying to break the silence.

  She looks up, clearly startled, and scans our surroundings before nervously rubbing the back of her neck, accompanied by a sheepish smile. “I didn’t realize we were walking towards my motel.”

  “Wow, at least buy me a drink first,” I retort with a pyful smirk.

  “No! That’s not what I meant!” She frantically waves her hands, her adorable blush returning.

  I burst into ughter, unable to contain myself.

  “Jerk,” Jeanne pyfully shoves me a couple of steps away, but my ughter continues.

  Shaking my head, I look at her with a smile. “Jokes aside, I genuinely don’t mind accompanying you.”

  She stops in her tracks, eyes widening for a moment, but quickly regains her composure. “Yeah, I would like that.”

  We continue walking together for a while, and then I remember something. I reach into my pocket and pull out a small piece of paper. “Here’s my scroll number, just in case you need it.”

  “Thanks,” she says, tucking my scroll number into her pocket.

  That scroll number will definitely come in handy, especially if I need to cancel a lesson with her or if something unexpected comes up. But mainly, it’s for staying in touch...

  I can’t help but wonder if Bke has managed to send my message yet. How close is it to reaching Levi? Will I receive a message or a call from her soon?

  Damn it, Bke.

  “Sooo... nice weather?” Jeanne speaks up, diverting my attention from the dark thoughts swirling in my mind.

  I can’t help but snort, trying to hold back my ughter. “Yes, nice weather.”

  From that point onward, our walk takes on a peaceful rhythm, with Jeanne occasionally asking questions with very straightforward answers. I don’t mind at all; in fact, it helps to distract me. As we continue our journey, I begin to notice the gradual transformation of the surroundings.

  The commercial district remains alive with bustling activity, but each zone we pass through carries its own distinct atmosphere, setting it apart from the main avenue.

  And soon we arrive at a retively empty and quiet street.

  “Well, here it is…” Jeanne announces.

  I look around and spot a small apartment complex enclosed by a metal fence. It’s not the most aesthetically pleasing pce, and it shows some signs of deterioration, but it’s far from drastic compared to the buildings in the slums or even the poorer areas of the Residential district. The motel sign nearby flickers intermittently, with a faulty letter that occasionally turns on and off.

  “You should consider moving to a different pce now that you have a job,” I comment, taking into account the external appearance, which suggests that her room might be even worse. “Maybe not a five-star accommodation, but at least somewhere with a private bathroom.”

  I mention the private bathroom part because I notice a man exiting another building with a roll of paper in his hand and leaving a trail of paper stuck under his shoe.

  Jeanne grimaces, having noticed the same thing as me. “I will! But I need to wait till the end of the week to receive my first paycheck. But I’ve already looked for alternatives!”

  I have to admit, that’s some progress.

  “Well, I guess my job here is done. See you tomorrow,” I wave my hand and start walking in the opposite direction, as I need to return to the hideout and drop off all the dust. Hopefully, Cinder won’t have any other tasks for me today.

  “Ma’iq, wait!”

  I come to a halt and attempt to turn around, but before I can, a hand grabs my arm, pulling me down. Caught off guard, I feel a soft but warm sensation spreading across my right cheek, my eyes widening in surprise. I pull back, looking at the blonde knightess who is now staring at me, her face flushed red.

  “T-thanks for coming with me...” she stammers before quickly turning on her heels and rushing towards the building, leaving me speechless.

  [Affection with Jeanne D’arc increased by 6, 15/100]?Left standing in surprise, I slowly raise my hand to touch my right cheek, still feeling the warmth lingering there. I watch as Jeanne reaches her room and closes the door behind her; the sound echoing faintly in the quiet street.

  “Stay down goddamnit!!” I quickly grab my stupid tail.

  Seriously, am I part dog or something?!

  -Next day-

  ‘… what are you? A witch doctor, mumbling … You are an ignoramus, a nothing. You are no longer worthy of the name “man”... I was there when mankind stood upon the brink of transcendence! … You disgust me.’

  A single, red glowing orb stands before me.

  ******‘HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATEHATEHATEHATEHATEHATEHATEHATE…’?

  I awaken abruptly, my eyes snapping open, and I scrunch up my face as I try to process the jumble of images and words from my what I think are dreams. As usual, they barely make sense, though they seem to be slowly becoming somewhat coherent. Still, they remain an annoyance to deal with.

  I kick off the quilt and rise from my bed, stretching my limbs to shake off the remnants of sleep. A new day awaits me, and the first order of business is to grab myself a hot drink. I make my way to the small kitchen and prepare a cup of warm milk with two spoons of sugar. Taking a sip from the comforting brew, I retrieve my scroll and decide to check my finances. It’s been a while since I st looked at them. I’ve always had enough money, but I haven’t kept track of the exact amount.

  Much to my dismay, the screen shows 43567 lien.

  That’s… not a lot.

  Especially if I take into consideration my delivery fees, which I get paid at least three thousand lien and it’s been almost two months I’ve spent in Vale and in Roman’s forceful employment. And considering my sary from my legal job, I should at least have one hundred thousand lien in savings!

  How the fuck did I burn my money so fast?!

  Ah… the fucking Pepsi.

  And my less than legal weapon purchases, the asshole overcharged with a silence fee as an excuse for every purchase.

  Fuck.

  With a sigh, I gulp down the remaining milk in my cup and slump onto my chair, feeling a sense of mencholy wash over me. I must limit my Pepsi purchases to one can a week at most.

  On a more positive note, I’ve managed to acquire some dust for myself from our heists and will continue to do so. This means that the dust bill won’t be a problem anymore, especially considering the inevitable price increases that will arise due to Roman’s and Cinder’s actions.

  Still, I need money and a vehicle.

  Two hundred lien savings will do.

  Just how can I get that much?

  The plushies again?

  Instead of parading them on a beach, I parade them in parks where kids gather. Yeah, that could work.

  However, I must find a new job.

  A legal job.

  That was the main condition for my apartment or the ndlord will kick me out. Fucking hell…

  Another sigh escapes my lips as I stand up from the chair, deciding what to do today. However, as I take a step forward, something catches my eye, a piece of paper lying on the floor in front of the door.

  Curiosity piqued, I quickly make my way towards it, bending down to pick it up. It’s a simple piece of paper, folded in half. Carefully, I unfold it, revealing a short letter.

  ‘It has come to my attention that you no longer have a job. As per agreement, you will be evicted from my property unless you find a new job and send me a picture of your work certificate to the following number…’

  “Piece of shit!” I resist the urge to tear down the paper and rip it to pieces. All that anger and negativity boiling inside me only to exhale everything. I knew that asshole would know sooner or ter. I shouldn’t be surprised he finally discovered my sticky situation.

  But I have less than two weeks to find another job. One that can accommodate my less than optimal schedule, and very likely deal with the erratic behavior of that fire bitch.

  Nobody would hire me, and if they did, I might encounter problems with the assistance. Then, it dawns on me that I don’t need to actually work, just a legal front to get that stupid cuse off my back.

  Miltia's offer comes to mind.

  I hastily make my way back to my room, retrieving my vest and pulling out the business card I had tucked away. I copy the number onto my scroll, my finger hovering over the call button. However, a sudden hesitation grips me, and I take a moment to pause and think.

  Do I really want to do this? Do I really need this?

  Asking help from a crime lord will inevitably put me in debt again. I mean, I should keep trying to look for a new job. There had to be one with flexible hours, but those wouldn’t pay much and then that asshole would ask how I make up for the difference to keep paying rent.

  And I don’t really have much time before the month end, meaning, the deadline is quite close before I become homeless…. AGAIN.

  It should be a matter of perspective.

  From the meeting with Roman, Junior showed to be more conservative in his approach, so If I do end up accepting his offer. He wouldn’t ask anything drastic or try anything outndish, unlike Roman, who likes pushing the bar.

  From delivering small packages (Drugs) to no-name thugs, to smuggling weapons for Ats.

  Besides, I’m already too deep in this mess. Working a bit for another boss won’t put me in an even worse situation that I’m already in.

  It will be fine… I hope so.

  I finally push the call button and hear the beeping noise.

  “Who is this?” A gruff voice picks up the call.

  “Miltia gave me this number.”

  There is a long silence, making me worry for a moment.

  “That was faster than I expected.”

  I sigh. “Situation changed.”

  “Come tomorrow night.”

  “Will be there.”

  I hang up the call, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over me. I let out a tired sigh, dragging a hand across my face in frustration.

  I realize that I can’t take back what I’ve just done. It’s in moments like these when everything seems to pile up on you, and you just need to sit down and take a breather. So that’s exactly what I do. I sink into the comfort of the couch, my gaze fixated on the ceiling of my apartment, lost in deep thought for a while.

  Right…

  I have something to do today.

  I pull out my scroll and check the time, 7:21 Am. Still plenty of time before Jeanne’s extra lessons.

  I should increase my weaver level, at least one level, before going to meet up with her. I think I have more than enough yarn to achieve that goal, but first I need to wash the dishes and take a shower.

  Or at least that was the pn until my scroll rang a message notification.

  It could be Jeanne. Since just yesterday I gave her my number.

  But it’s more likely to be Neo. Even with our shitty situation she kept her attitude. At least when Cinder isn’t around to act like the bitch, she is.

  ‘Ma’iq I need your help’

  “Bke?”

  ‘Yes’

  I take one moment to think and look back at the scroll

  “What do you want?”

  ‘Come to the same pce quickly. I’m already there.’

  “I have things to do.”

  ‘Please, it’s important.’

  I pce the scroll on my leg, letting out a groan of frustration. I already have a sinking feeling that whatever help Bke needs won’t be a simple task, and it’s likely to be connected to the White Fang in some way. Something I really want to avoid at all costs for now.

  But it’s Bke we’re talking about. I can’t just turn my back on her without at least hearing her out. Even though she bought into such a ridiculous excuse for my disappearance.I let out another sigh, feeling the weight of the situation weighing heavily on me. I pinch the bridge of my nose, contempting the reasons to help her and the reasons to say no. It’s a tangled mess, and I can already tell that things are about to get even more complicated.

  “Fine, but this needs to be quick.”

  I have sword lessons with Jeanne, after all.

  But I need a shower first.

  -Time ter-

  The residential district is typically a quiet and empty pce, but in the morning, during working hours, the streets are bustling with activity. People are hurriedly leaving their homes, heading off to work, and going about their daily routines. Amidst the crowd, I navigate through the streets unnoticed, slipping into an alley and making my way towards a set of dders.

  I’ve learned my lesson, and it would be bad if someone saw me wall jumping and call the cops out of fear.

  As I reach the top of the dder, I spot my mentor pacing back and forth, a worried expression etched across her face. She bites her nails nervously, lost in her thoughts. But as if sensing my presence, her ears suddenly perk up, and she sharply turns around.

  “Ma’iq!” she excims, relief flooding her features as a warm smile spreads across her face.

  I chuckle lightly as I climb over the edge, joining Bke on the rooftop. “Yeah, that’s me. But if you ask me, it’s a bit odd to be called so early. I hope it is not just over-dramatization or else you will owe me breakfast,” I tease, trying to lighten the mood.

  Bke’s smile fades as she takes one deep breath and looks me dead in the eye, giving me a better look of the bag under her amber eyes. “You have a storage sembnce, right? How much can it carry?”

  I cock an eyebrow, mildly surprised by the sudden out of pce question. “Never hit a limit so far.”

  And I don’t even know if it is a big room that I haven’t filled up or if it works with slots and anything can enter there.

  She nods solemnly. “Ma’iq, this is very important,” she asserts, taking a step closer. “I need your help to recover... things from Mountain Glenn, and we need to act fast.”

  The mention of Mountain Glenn causes a frown to form on my face. “Mountain Glenn? Bke, why would you...” My eyes widen as the realization dawns on me, shaking my head. “No. My answer is no. I won’t do it.”

  Bke’s ears ftten against her head, and I can see a hint of hurt in her eyes at my immediate refusal. “What? Why?” she asks, her voice ced with confusion and disappointment.

  Is there any other reason? Or does she just refuse to acknowledge it?

  I narrow my eyes, still crossing my arms, and shoot Bke a firm gre. “Bke, I really, and I mean really, don’t want to get involved with the White Fang. I was cordial back there because it was business and it was the least I could do for you. But if I see them again or they bother me, I will break them.”

  Bke winces and nervously bites her thumb. “I... I understand your feelings, and I know I’m partially to bme, but please, I really need your help. I promise it will be quick, and you won’t have to deal with or see anyone from the White Fang.”

  “Bke, don’t try. I already have too many problems to deal with right now, and the st thing I want is to add another one to my list. If that’s all, then I regretfully refuse,” I state firmly, turning around and heading towards the dder.

  “I’ll pay you!” she suddenly shouts, causing me to freeze in my tracks.

  “I… I know Roman wants dust, lots of dust. If you help me to recover everything from Mountain Glenn, I will give you plenty of dust. That will make him happy, right?”

  I slowly turn back with my mouth hanging open.

  “Plenty of dust? Bke, what the fuck were you doing in there?”

  And dust wouldn’t make Roman happy but Cinder. Better said, why isn’t she trying to lecture me or scold me? But actually help me with something wrong?

  What the fuck happened to her?

  “Ma’iq, believe me when I say it’s nothing bad.” She bit her lip, her amber eyes looking down as she rubs her arm. “You know that Menagerie depends a lot on what we can steal, and… and what we had stored in Mountain Glenn was supposed to be sent to Menagerie, but the grimm happened and then vale cops and hunters a-and more grimm and…”

  I don’t hesitate to grab Bke’s shoulders and give her a gentle shake to snap her out of her frantic rambling. “Bke, calm down,” I say firmly, my voice filled with concern. “Take a deep breath and exhale. Slow down.”

  She does as told, and breaks away from my grasp and walks away towards the edge of the building. “I know you hate the White Fang, but I assure you this isn’t for them but for my.. our home. Please help me.” She says without looking at me, making me sigh.

  When she puts it like that, I feel like a piece of shit for not helping her. It’s not for those assholes or that bitch of Sienna, but normal people. But I shouldn’t care for people, but they aren’t just people but faunus. And this is clearly important for Bke, who genuinely wants to help.

  Goddamnit…

  I scratch my head, thinking again.

  Roman and Neo mostly were checking that I didn’t try to leave, at least without permission, but now that became totally irrelevant now thanks to Cinder and her cronies. But she made it clear. I would be dead if I tried to escape.

  Yet, I wouldn’t be escaping. Just going above and beyond to complete her task, which might please her, I just need to tell her the pn, omit some details and I would be excused.

  And this could be the opportunity to finally level up. As far as I know, Mountain Glenn is infested with grimm and I will have Bke to oversee the whole thing so I would be retively in safe hands.

  This is to help Kuo Kuana and all the people that were nice to me.

  Yeah, settle a debt and reap some benefits.

  I release a long, weary sigh as I finally reach a decision. However, before I commit to it, I feel the need to crify a few things. “How long would it take us to reach Mountain Glenn?”

  There is a pregnant pause, and she turns towards me, her eyes shimmering with hope.

  “An hour and a half at most if we use the train.”

  “The train?” I scratch my head, perplexed. I had no idea that there was a functional railway connection leading to that forsaken pce.

  “We just have to jump off when it gets close.” She quickly adds.

  That makes a lot more sense. But jumping a train in movement, that would be a first.

  “And do you have a pn for our return?” I raise a valid concern. “I highly doubt we can catch a train back, and walking all the way back to the city is out of the question.”

  Besides the long time that it would take to reach the city, the ever presence of grimm. Bke should have a vehicle, at the very least.

  “We… I know a way. It will take us to Vale in a safe manner.”

  I look at her for a moment and sigh. I will have to take her word for it.

  “Bke, you’ve really put me in a tight spot, but I’m with you on this. When do we leave?”

  A warm smile graces my mentor’s face. “Thank you. We should depart right away. A train is scheduled to leave in one hour.”

  So that means I would leave Jeanne hanging, despite I promised her to be there at nine.

  Yeah, no.

  “Hold on a second, Bke,” I interject firmly. “That’s way too soon. There are a couple of things I need to do first and also buy some supplies and extra weapons before going to grimm infested nds. And have you seen yourself? At least take a nap. You clearly need one.” I point my eyes to emphasize my point.

  She carefully touches the bags under her eyes, but shakes her head.

  “But this needs to be done as soon as possible.” She weakly protests. “We cannot waste time, a lot of people depend on us.”

  I wince at her words. I really don’t like that feeling.

  “Bke, I have my fair share of problems to handle as well. If I don’t address them first, things could go terribly wrong... I mean, really, really bad,” I expin, a shiver running down my spine at the mere thought of being reduced to ashes.

  “But...”

  “No, Bke, I’m serious. Take a break. I’ll help you, but give me just a couple of hours,” I firmly interrupt.

  Just what has she been doing all this time?

  She bites her lip, clearly conflicted, but eventually lets out a defeated sigh. “Alright, I’ll wait for you at the train station. Please, be quick.”

  She turns around and walks towards the dder, leaving me alone standing on the edge of the building. With a rather good view of the streets, people are ignorant of what is happening above them.

  Yet, their ignorance holds no relevance to me as I retrieve my scroll and start typing a message to Neo.

  I think she will help me with my pns.