Chương 128: Chapter 121: The Paradox of the Protector

"WHAT PART OF 'NOT CAUSING TROUBLE' DID YOU NOT UNDERSTAND, MR. SAITAMA?!" Headmistress Glynda Goodwitch glared through the cross-continental feed from her office at Beacon Academy. Her deafening, furious roar echoed through the sterile, imposing confines of General Ironwood's office at Atlas Academy. The sheer, terrifying volume was projecting from a massive, translucent blue holographic screen hovering in the center of the room. Her riding crop was clutched so tightly in her hand it looked ready to snap in two.

Her green eyes blazed with the absolute, uncompromising wrath of a strict mother pushed to her absolute limit. Standing directly in front of the projection, the strongest man in the universe was currently folded perfectly in half. Saitama was still fully dressed in his sharp black suit and pristine white trench coat from the night before. However, out of sheer, primal fear, he had snatched Roman Torchwick's bowler hat off his head, clutching the brim tightly in his red-gloved hands against his chest.

He was bowing repeatedly, his shiny bald head bobbing up and down in a rapid, frantic blur of sheer, comical terror.

"I'm sorry! I'm so, so sorry!" Saitama pleaded, his voice cracking with panic. Heavy, comical sweatdrops poured down his face.

"I didn't mean to cause a scene! I swear! I just saw a flyer for limited, free premium beef brisket! It was sold out everywhere else in the sky city, and nobody gave me any supermarket coupons for this place! I couldn't just let it go to waste!"

"That is entirely beside the point!" Glynda scolded, slapping her riding crop against her desk with a sharp CRACK that made Saitama flinch violently.

"You were explicitly restricted by Professor Ozpin and General Ironwood from leaving the upper city! We spent months burying your accidental heroics when you were dubbed the 'Hero of Vale'! Then you accidentally shipped yourself to Anima and completely disrupted the criminal underworld of Mistral! And now, you are being paraded across international news networks as the 'Savior of Mantle'! Do you have any idea the geopolitical disaster you are courting?!"

"Y-yes! Yes, I know!" Saitama whimpered, looking up like a cornered child. He pressed the bowler hat between his hands in desperate prayer.

"Please, just don't delete my bank account! I-I'll be good! I won't eat beef ever again!" The atmosphere inside Ironwood's office was a masterpiece of collective, profound awkwardness. Standing behind Saitama, observing the scolding, was the entire Vanguard. Oscar Pine, currently channeling Ozpin's ancient presence, stood next to Ruby Rose, Jaune Arc, and Pyrrha Nikos. All four of them were smiling with incredibly strained, pitying expressions.

Yang Xiao Long and Nora Valkyrie had their hands clamped firmly over their mouths, their shoulders shaking violently as they fought back tears of hysterical laughter. Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Lie Ren simply facepalmed in unison, shaking their heads in utter bafflement at the invincible hero cowering before a school headmistress. Near the door, Penny Polendina and Ciel Soleil watched the interaction closely.

"It is absolutely fascinating!" Penny whispered to her partner, bouncing slightly on her heels, her synthetic eyes glowing with innocent excitement.

"The strongest man on Remnant is currently displaying physiological responses consistent with extreme fear of a school administrator! His heart rate is skyrocketing!" Ciel adjusted her beret, maintaining an expression of cold, stoic professionalism while furiously tapping notes onto her data-pad.

"Indeed," Ciel whispered back, her voice a rapid, clinical monotone.

"The hierarchical dynamic defies all known combat logic. Headmistress Goodwitch possesses no anomalous kinetic output, yet her administrative authority entirely suppresses his reality-breaking capabilities. I must record this variable for psychological containment." Qrow Branwen and Winter Schnee exchanged a long, deeply exhausted glance. They both let out a synchronized sigh, crossing their arms and leaning back to watch the absurdity unfold.

Meanwhile, standing a few feet away from Saitama, Neopolitan was putting on the performance of a lifetime. The diminutive illusionist had her hands clasped innocently behind her back, her heterochromic eyes looking up at the ceiling as she casually, soundlessly whistled. She was desperately pretending she had absolutely nothing to do with the incident, fully avoiding eye contact with anyone, since she was originally the one who had shoved the flyer in his face and proposed the infiltration to begin with.

Behind his massive steel desk, General James Ironwood wasn't shouting. He wasn't reprimanding. He was simply sitting in his high-backed leather chair, his fingers pressing deeply into his temples, massaging a profound, comical headache in absolute silence. The General was trapped in an impossible paradox.

He didn't know whether he should be furiously court-martialing the anomaly for violently breaching classified protocol, or thanking him on his hands and knees for effortlessly capturing the serial killer who had been slaughtering his soldiers for weeks. He opted for a pained silence. On a secondary holographic screen hovering next to Glynda's, the Headmaster of Shade Academy was having a vastly different reaction. Headmaster Theodore threw his head back, his booming, hearty laughter rattling the audio speakers.

"AHAHAHA! Oh, you cannot make this up!" Theodore roared in pure amusement, slamming his massive hand against his sandstone desk.

"The 'Hero of Vale'! The 'Sheriff of Shion'! The 'Unknown Huntsman of Mistral Below'! And now, the 'Savior of Mantle'! The man is collecting legendary titles like they're trading cards!" Standing right beside him, Xanthe Rumpole groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Theodore, please. This is not a laughing matter." Ozpin, taking control of Oscar's voice, finally stepped forward to mercifully intervene.

"It's alright, Glynda. His identity is still safe, that's what matters most," Ozpin requested smoothly, a faint, grandfatherly smile touching the boy's lips.

"While Mr. Saitama's methods were... highly unorthodox, we must acknowledge the result. He successfully captured one of our most dangerous enemies." He turned his hazel eyes to the bald hero.

"We are grateful for your service, Mr. Saitama. But you must understand the gravity of the situation. You cannot compromise yourself any further." Saitama stopped bowing, letting out a long, miserable sigh.

"I get it. I don't even like being the center of attention anyway. The reporters kept flashing lights in my eyes all morning. It was super annoying." Winter stepped forward, her posture rigid as she assumed her administrative duties.

"General Ironwood and the rest of us will help cover your identity as 'Darwin' during your stay in Atlas," Winter assured him firmly.

"We will reinforce the cover story. However, your operational parameters are officially changing. You and Neopolitan are no longer permitted to wander the city of Atlas without an escort." Neo stopped her innocent whistling, her eyes narrowing as she glared at the Specialist.

"You are effectively a celebrity now," Winter continued.

"Whenever you step outside, you will undoubtedly be swarmed by the media. Because of this, Miss Neopolitan, you have no choice but to actively mask your own and Mr. Saitama's entire appearances with your Semblance whenever you leave the penthouse. Atlas's connection to Remnant has been restored. This news will definitely spread to the other Kingdoms." Neo's shoulders slumped.

She let out a silent, defeated sigh, realizing her brilliant plan to score free cake and stolen wallets had spectacularly backfired, turning her into a permanent, walking cloaking device. Saitama comically groaned, throwing his head back.

"It's Vale all over again. Next thing you know, someone's going to try and make me an action figure." Qrow stepped up, offering a dry, sympathetic smirk.

"Hey, cheer up, baldy. To make it up to you, Winter is going to personally secure you a stack of premium supermarket coupons." Winter's head snapped toward the veteran Huntsman, her pale blue eyes flashing with sheer, aristocratic indignation. She gritted her teeth, composing herself with a sharp exhale.

"... Yes. I will see to it." Saitama raised his eyebrows, a small, genuine smile finally returning to his face.

"Really?! Thank you, Sword Girl, Drunk Guy!"

"Speaking of making things up to you," Headmaster Theodore grinned from the screen.

"Check your Scroll, Saitama." Saitama blinked, reaching into his trench coat pocket and pulling out his device. The endlessly curious Neo immediately leaned against his arm, peering over his shoulder at the glowing screen. A delivery notification popped up: PACKAGE SECURED - SCHNEE PENTHOUSE LOBBY.

"As promised back in Haven," Theodore chuckled, crossing his massive arms.

"I had my contacts secure the absolute newest, next-generation Vacuan virtual reality gaming console. It hasn't even been officially released to the public yet. I had it shipped on the first secure transport this morning. That should keep you from getting bored in your penthouse." Saitama's eyes expanded into massive, sparkling, highly detailed stars of pure, unadulterated consumer joy.

"A pre-release VR console?!" Saitama gasped, practically vibrating with excitement.

"Headmaster, you are officially my favorite guy in this weird group! Thank you!" General Ironwood finally spoke, his deep voice cutting through the celebration.

"Mr. Saitama," Ironwood commanded, staring directly at the anomaly.

"I am warning you. Do not break protocol again."

"Got it! No problem, General!" Saitama promised eagerly, his mind already prioritizing video games. He turned to his side and comically, lightly smacked Neo on the back of the head.

"You heard that, brat? No more secret missions." Neo rubbed her head, fixing him with a highly theatrical, exaggerated pout.

"You are both dismissed," Ironwood ordered, turning to his specialists near the door.

"Penny. Ciel. Escort them back to the penthouse."

"Sir! Yes, sir!" Penny and Ciel responded in perfect unison, delivering flawless salutes. Saitama happily shoved his Scroll into his pocket. He grabbed his bowler hat, plopping it securely back onto his shiny bald head to complete his disguise, and turned to follow the girls out the door.

"Oh, and Mr. Saitama?" Glynda's voice rang out from the screen one last time. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Saitama froze. He slowly turned his head, a look of comical dread returning to his face.

"If you cause trouble again," Glynda stated, adjusting her glasses so the lenses glinted menacingly, "I will definitely delete your bank account for real."

"I won't leave the city! I swear!" Saitama panicked, holding his hands up defensively.

"Additionally..." Glynda continued mercilessly.

"As punishment for this breach of protocol, and as emotional compensation for the sheer terror the real Darwin is currently enduring back in Vale... I have officially cut your Beacon Security Consultant salary by half." Silence. The color completely and utterly drained from Saitama's body. He turned into a stark, grayscale portrait of absolute, soul-shattering despair. It was as if his very soul had detached from his physical form and floated away into the ether.

"M-My salary..." Saitama whispered, his voice a hollow, haunting echo of a broken man. Before he could collapse, Glynda's stern expression softened. She looked past the anomaly, her green eyes landing on the glowing android near the door.

"And Penny," Glynda smiled warmly.

"It is very good to see you again."

"It is wonderful to be back, Headmistress!" Penny cheered enthusiastically.

"And it is spectacular to be reunited with my friends!" With that, the heavy doors hissed open. Penny and Ciel marched out into the hallway. Saitama followed them, his arms hanging limply at his sides, his feet dragging across the floorboards as he walked out in a state of comical, zombie-like despair, mourning his lost wages. Neo trailed behind him, a smug, highly entertained smirk on her face. The doors clicked shut.

The chaotic, comedic energy instantly evaporated from the office, leaving behind the crushing, heavy reality of the shadow war. Ironwood sat forward, lacing his fingers together as he looked at the young Huntsmen and Huntresses.

"I want to officially extend my thanks to all of you," Ironwood stated sincerely, his blue eyes sweeping over Ruby, Jaune, Pyrrha, Nora, and Ren.

"Despite my explicit orders to take the night off, you chose to guard that rally. Your instincts were correct."

"We're sorry we went to Mantle without telling you, General," Ruby apologized earnestly, rubbing her arm.

"We just... we wanted to help protect them."

"It is alright, Miss Rose," Ironwood assured her, waving off the apology.

"Your presence was vital. You assisted Penny and Marrow in maintaining the perimeter during the blackout, and you ensured Mr. Saitama was escorted back to Atlas immediately after he stopped the killer. You did well." Winter stepped forward, pulling up a classified, encrypted medical dossier on the holographic projector.

"Regarding the prisoner," Winter reported, her tone turning icy.

"It is confirmed. The serial killer is Tyrian Callows. A highly wanted criminal from Anima who was presumed dead."

"He's one of Salem's," Qrow stated grimly, his crimson eyes hardening.

"I'm sure of it."

"Without a doubt," Winter nodded.

"While our medical teams were treating the catastrophic trauma to his lower spine and severing the bleeding nerves where his tail used to be, he was screaming incoherently in agony. Amidst the cursing, he repeatedly screamed about 'His Queen' and 'His Goddess'. He is an absolute fanatic."

"I knew it," Qrow growled, gripping his flask.

"I remember Cinder Fall mentioning his name to Leo during the battle at Haven Academy. He's part of her Inner Circle."

"We have finally captured a high-value target," Ozpin noted, his voice echoing through Oscar.

"That is a monumental victory. However, the board remains incredibly hostile."

"Tyrian Callows was the muscle," Ironwood analyzed, swiping the holographic screen to display the rioting streets of Mantle.

"The culprit who hacked Mantle's heating grid, and the operative who rigged the Council election polls yesterday... that is someone else entirely. Someone highly sophisticated."

"And with Jacques Schnee winning the election, the situation has only deteriorated," Weiss added, her voice laced with cold disgust for her father.

"He shut down all nonessential SDC operations. Thousands are out of work. The riots are escalating."

"And that chaos, combined with the failing heating grid, will inevitably attract massive packs of Grimm back to the perimeter," Ren observed quietly. Ruby stepped forward, her silver eyes burning with absolute, unwavering resolve. She looked at her team, and then at Team JNPR. They stood shoulder-to-shoulder, a unified, unbreakable front.

"We won't stop," Ruby promised the Headmasters and the General.

"We will continue to help Penny and the Happy Huntresses maintain the safety of Mantle. We'll do whatever it takes to calm the citizens again, until we find the hacker." On the screen, Glynda Goodwitch's expression softened with profound, undeniable pride.

"You have all developed into remarkable Huntsmen and Huntresses," Glynda praised warmly.

"Please, be careful out there. Always take care of each other."

"We will, Professor," Jaune smiled, offering a respectful nod to the screen.

"And do not hesitate to report to me the moment Mr. Saitama does something stupid again," Glynda added, a slight, knowing smirk returning to her lips. The students erupted into a chorus of highly awkward, nervous laughter, knowing it was only a matter of time before the anomaly broke the laws of physics over a coupon dispute. Theodore chuckled.

"Seriously, Glynda. I really admire you and James for being able to maintain your sanity in handling him. I can't wait for him to visit Vacuo next time." Glynda sighed in annoyance.

"Oh, you have no idea, Theodore." Then, General Ironwood stood up from his desk. He walked around to the front, crossing his arms over his broad chest. His expression shifted, becoming intensely serious and deeply calculated. He looked directly at the holographic projection of the Beacon Headmistress.

"Speaking of Saitama," Ironwood began, his deep voice commanding the absolute attention of the room.

"I would like to have a discussion regarding your...

'Tactical Kinetic Evaluator'." Glynda, Theodore, Rumpole, Ozpin, Qrow, Team RWBY, and Team JNPR all turned their gazes toward the Atlesian General. Glynda's eyes widened slightly, blinking in distinct confusion, curious about what is exactly that the general is proposing.

The biting, sub-zero wind of Solitas whipped across the sprawling, elevated military landing pad just outside the imposing main structure of Atlas Academy. A sleek Atlesian Manta airship sat idling on the frost-covered tarmac, its engines humming a low, steady rhythm as it awaited its passengers. Saitama, having securely placed Roman Torchwick's bowler hat back onto his shiny bald head, trudged across the concrete.

His shoulders were slumped, his posture radiating a profound, soul-crushing aura of financial depression. Walking silently beside him was Neopolitan, her pink-and-white parasol resting easily over her shoulder. Flanking the two anomalies were their officially designated escorts: Penny Polendina and Ciel Soleil.

"I must admit, Mr. Saitama, your physical intervention last night was highly impressive," Ciel stated, marching in perfect, unblinking step beside him.

"The serial killer had successfully evaded the combined surveillance networks of the Atlas military, the Ace Operatives, and even Penny's localized thermal sweeps for weeks. The fact that you neutralized him with a single, unarmed maneuver exceeds all projected combat parameters." Ciel adjusted her beret, her tone shifting into strict, administrative caution.

"However, as Specialist Schnee mandated, it is imperative that you and Miss Neopolitan remain entirely low-profile moving forward to avoid further geopolitical complications." Saitama didn't answer immediately. He slowly turned his head, casting a highly annoyed, deeply accusatory glare at the illusionist walking beside him.

"Thanks for dragging me into this mess," Saitama said, being annoyed by Neo's antics. Neo didn't even break her stride. She rolled her heterochromic eyes, offering a lazy, unapologetic shrug of her shoulders. She reached into her pocket, pulling out her Scroll with a practiced flick of her wrist, and shoved the glowing screen directly into Saitama's face. [You wanted the food too.] Saitama's left eye twitched violently. He swatted the Scroll away with a heavy, exasperated sigh.

He couldn't even argue with her logic. His mind violently flashed back to the majestic, towering mountain of limited-edition Solitas Smoked Beef Brisket scattering into the dirty, slushy snow of Mantle.

"That stupid scorpion guy," Saitama grumbled miserably, kicking a loose chunk of ice off the tarmac.

"He completely ruined my free premium beef. And now my salary is cut in half. This is the worst vacation ever." Penny gracefully floated a few inches off the ground, entirely undeterred by Saitama's misery.

"Do not despair, Mr.

'Darwin'!" Penny beamed, excitedly using his public alias.

"Because of your incredible actions, the city of Mantle is finally free from the terror of the serial killer! The citizens are completely overjoyed! According to local network chatter, thousands of people down below desperately wish to meet you to express their boundless gratitude!" Saitama aggressively pulled the brim of his bowler hat down lower over his eyes, shivering in pure dread.

"Absolutely not," Saitama refused instantly.

"No crowds. No reporters. From now on, the only people I am talking to are the kids, the old men with the canes, and supermarket cashiers. That's my final offer." As they neared the boarding ramp of the Manta airship, the heavy crunch of military boots on the snow drew their attention. Crossing paths with them on the tarmac were the five elite members of the Ace Operatives, returning from a perimeter sweep.

"Hello there, the legendary 'Savior of Mantle'!" Clover Ebi called out, his charismatic smile widening as he spotted the bald hero. Saitama let out a massive, highly pained groan, burying his face in his red-gloved hands.

"Please... don't call me that."

"We couldn't help but overhear the shouting from the General's office," Harriet Bree smirked, resting her hands on her hips with a highly sarcastic glint in her eyes.

"So, how did Headmistress Goodwitch's 'thanks' go? Did she give you a medal?" Saitama's face scrunched up in profound, lingering trauma.

"She took half my paycheck. That lady is terrifying." Elm Ederne let out a massive, booming laugh that echoed across the landing pad.

"Ha! I would have paid good Lien to see that! The strongest man in the entire universe getting lectured like a toddler who broke a vase! It's a shame Vine and I weren't in the office to witness it."

"Trust me," Marrow Amin sighed, shaking his head alongside Clover and Harriet.

"We saw it happen back in Haven Academy. It's exactly as absurd as it sounds." Despite the playful teasing, Clover's expression softened into one of deep, genuine respect. The Ace-Ops leader stepped forward, offering a crisp, sincere nod to the anomaly.

"Jokes aside, Mr. Saitama... thank you," Clover said, his voice dropping its usual playful edge.

"Despite your total, baffling lack of legal comprehension regarding General Ironwood's restrictions, you did us a massive favor. That killer was giving us a migraine for weeks, and he was hunting our people in the dark. You stopped a massacre."

"That is right," Vine Zeki agreed, crossing his arms with a fierce, respectful smile.

"You saved a lot of lives down there." The completely oblivious hero blinked, utterly failing to grasp the profound, life-or-death gravity of the political assassination he had prevented.

"Look, you don't need to lecture me," Saitama mumbled, waving a dismissive, red-gloved hand at the elite operatives.

"I already got yelled at enough in the General's office today. I'm going back to the penthouse." Clover chuckled warmly, understanding the hero's absolute refusal to accept praise.

"Fair enough. Have a good rest, Savior." Saitama grumbled under his breath, turning to walk up the metal ramp of the airship.

"Sir Darwin! Please, wait!" A chorus of frantic, heavy voices echoed from the far side of the tarmac. Saitama, Neo, Penny, Ciel, and the Ace-Ops all turned their gazes toward the commotion. Sprinting across the frosted concrete, their heavy armor clanking loudly, was a full squad of Atlesian military guards. As they drew closer, their faces became visible beneath their visors.

It was the exact same squad of heavily armored soldiers who had met Ozpin's group on the Omega-12 docking bay the first time they arrived in this Kingdom. The very same terrified men who had completely panicked and opened fire on Saitama, only to watch him casually caught their supersonic bullets right out of the air. The lead Sergeant skidded to a halt directly in front of the airship ramp, heavily out of breath. His squad quickly fell into a perfectly synchronized, rigid line behind him.

"Sir Darwin!" the Sergeant gasped, looking at the man in the bowler hat with absolute, starry-eyed reverence. Without a single word of command, the Sergeant and his entire squad snapped to attention, executing a flawless, bone-shatteringly crisp military salute.

"We want to express our deepest, most profound gratitude to you, sir!" the Sergeant declared, his voice trembling with genuine, overwhelming emotion.

"Many of our closest teammates and friends operating in Mantle were victims of that monster! They were butchered in the dark! It was the reason our nerves were so frayed when we first met your Vanguard!" The Sergeant bowed his head deeply, his squad following suit.

"Thank you for avenging our brothers and sisters," the Sergeant said thickly.

"And we formally, deeply apologize for how we treated you and your allies upon your arrival! You are a true hero of Atlas!" Saitama stood on the metal ramp, his dotted eyes completely blank. He stared at the bowing, heavily armored soldiers. His mind completely failed to process the dramatic, emotional confession. He honestly didn't even remember who these men were. To him, they were just another group of loud guys in uniforms.

"Uh..." Saitama mumbled, scratching his cheek awkwardly as a massive sweatdrop formed on the side of his head.

"Yeah... sure. Don't worry about it." Standing nearby, the Ace-Ops watched the interaction in sheer, unadulterated awe.

"Unbelievable," Marrow whispered, his tail twitching.

"He just effortlessly gained the absolute respect and devotion of the Atlas rank-and-file... and he doesn't even know who they are."

"His ability to naturally command loyalty through sheer, overwhelming kinetic output is a fascinating sociological phenomenon," Ciel commented, her fingers flying across her data-pad. Penny clasped her hands over her heart, her green eyes practically sparkling with overflowing admiration for the mundane hero. Saitama let out a heavy, incredibly exhausted sigh. The sheer volume of people expressing gratitude, giving him titles, and bowing was completely overwhelming his introverted circuits.

"Whatever," Saitama muttered, turning his back on the emotional scene and trudging up the rest of the ramp into the airship cabin.

"I just want to go back and check out that new video game console." Neo smirked, twirling her parasol as she confidently strutted up the ramp behind him. Penny and Ciel followed closely, their escort duties firmly in place. With a heavy hiss, the cargo doors of the Manta airship sealed shut. The thrusters roared to life, and the sleek vessel lifted off the tarmac, ascending back into the gleaming, upper echelons of the floating city.

Down on the landing pad, the Atlesian soldiers held their crisp salutes until the airship completely disappeared into the clouds. Clover Ebi shook his head, a baffled, charismatic laugh escaping his lips as he looked at the rest of the Ace Operatives.

"He is the most mundane, unheroic, completely absurd man I have ever met," Clover grinned, adjusting his lapel.

"But thank the Gods he's on our side."