Chương 136: Chapter 129: The Hollow Handshake

The biting, relentless wind of Solitas whipped through the towering skyscrapers of Atlas's upper residential tier, carrying a flurry of sharp ice crystals that hammered against the pristine glass of the luxury penthouses. Down on the street level, however, the frigid atmosphere was entirely displaced by a suffocating, chaotic sea of human energy. A massive, impenetrable crowd of journalists, cameramen, and adoring citizens from both Atlas and Mantle had gathered outside the Schnee-sponsored high-rise.

They were waving signs, holding heavy microphones, and shouting excitedly, their breath pluming in thick white clouds as they completely barricaded the entrance. At the center of the street, forming a strict, defensive perimeter around the heavy lobby doors, were the elite Ace Operatives and Penny Polendina.

"Keep the line tight!" Clover Ebi commanded, his charismatic smile unwavering despite the tension.

"Step back! Official Atlesian military business!" Marrow Amin barked, his Faunus tail twitching aggressively as he held his boomerang rifle horizontally across his chest, actively pushing back a surging line of Mantle Daily reporters. From a considerable distance, perched high atop the frosted roof of a neighboring commercial spire, Emerald Sustrai and Mercury Black watched the circus unfold. They had been tracking "Darwin" for days, exactly as Arthur Watts had ordered.

"I still can't believe it," Emerald murmured, pulling her heavy white coat tighter around her shoulders. Her dark eyes squinted against the glare of the morning sun as she looked down at the crowd.

"Look at them. One guy in a bowler hat shows up out of nowhere, and suddenly he's the most influential person in both cities. He's got Mantle worshipping him, and Atlas treating him like a VIP." Mercury scoffed, leaning his back against a massive ventilation unit and kicking a chunk of ice off the roof with his metallic prosthetic.

"Yeah, well. When you can physically rip a psychotic scorpion Faunus apart with your bare hands, people tend to notice. It still sounds like a bad joke. No weapon. No Dust."

"It's terrifying, Merc," Emerald whispered, a shudder running down her spine that had absolutely nothing to do with the Atlesian weather.

"But... we've seen something like it before. Back at Haven... what's his name again? Jaune Arc?" Mercury paused, his gray eyes narrowing slightly at the memory.

"Yeah," Mercury grunted.

"That blonde boy caught Cinder's superheated arrow like it was a toy, and then punched her so hard it felt like a bomb went off. Maybe this 'Darwin' guy has the same kind of naturally enhanced physical strength Semblance? A brute-force brawler?"

"If he is, he's operating on a much higher level than Arc," Emerald noted grimly.

"Cinder is out of her mind trying to hunt him down," Mercury rubbed his head in frustration.

"Honestly? I'm getting sick of playing babysitter. Why don't we just sneak into that fancy penthouse tonight and take him out in his sleep? It's two against one." Emerald shook her head vehemently.

"Are you insane? It's far too risky. The penthouse is heavily guarded by elite guards, and the media are practically camping on his doorstep. If we get spotted, we'll have the entire Atlas military breathing down our necks." Emerald turned to face him, her expression hardening.

"Besides... we have no idea what this guy is truly capable of. If he wakes up, we might end up exactly like Tyrian." Mercury let out a long, heavy, incredibly annoyed sigh. He dragged a hand down his face.

"Fine. What about poisoning his food? We slip something into his takeout."

"Poisoning him with what, Mercury?" Emerald hissed, exasperated.

"We don't have access to Tyrian's venom! And Atlas is meticulous. They quality-check everything going into these VIP sectors. The second they find poison in his food, the entire Kingdom goes on high alert, and Ironwood will know assassins are actively targeting him. It blows our cover entirely." Mercury crossed his arms, staring out at the floating city with deep, unadulterated disgust.

"I am so sick of these slow, boring political games. I just want to get off this frozen rock."

"I know," Emerald sympathized quietly.

"But it can't be helped. We just have to follow what Arthur said. He is the only one who knows how this Kingdom works" Suddenly, a deafening, unified cheer erupted from the street below. Emerald and Mercury immediately crawled to the edge of the roof, peering over the parapet.

"There they are," Mercury muttered. The heavy, reinforced glass doors of the penthouse lobby hissed open. Stepping out into the freezing Atlesian air was "Darwin". Saitama was impeccably dressed in his sharp black suit, pristine white trench coat, and Roman Torchwick's bowler hat. However, his face was a masterpiece of pure, comical annoyance, a massive sweatdrop practically visible on his forehead despite the cold.

Trailing closely behind him, forming a tight, protective phalanx, were Oscar Pine, Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, Yang Xiao Long, Jaune Arc, Pyrrha Nikos, Nora Valkyrie, and Lie Ren. Walking directly beside Saitama was a petite girl with plain brown hair, bundled in a warm, dark trench coat. The crowd went absolutely wild.

"Mr. Darwin! Over here!"

"Savior of Mantle! Thank you!"

"A word for the press, please!" Dozens of microphones and cameras were thrust forward, but Team RWBY, Team JNPR, Oscar, and Penny instantly formed an impenetrable wall, gently but firmly pushing the media back.

"Please! No interviews at this time!" Ruby yelled over the crowd, keeping her arms linked with Jaune to form a barricade. The four Ace-Ops watched the chaotic absurdity with profound bafflement. Clover, however, simply smiled, adjusting his lucky pin.

"Good morning, Mr.

'Darwin'," Clover greeted playfully, his voice laced with charismatic sarcasm.

"It is an absolute honor to give the Savior of Mantle a ride again. Shall we go now?" Saitama let out a massive, highly pained groan, completely ignoring the sarcasm as he trudged past the elite operative.

"Just get me on the ship before I go deaf." As Saitama and the Ace-Ops boarded the sleek, heavily armored Manta airship, Team RWBY, Team JNPR, Oscar, and the brown-haired girl quickly followed suit. High on the rooftop, Emerald and Mercury watched the boarding process with intense scrutiny.

"Well, that confirms it," Mercury grunted.

"Ozpin's brats are definitely here in Atlas. And they're acting as his personal bodyguards. Targeting him just got ten times harder." Emerald nodded, her dark eyes narrowing as she focused on the petite, brown-haired girl walking beside the anomaly.

"But... who is that?" Emerald whispered, genuine confusion lacing her voice.

"She wasn't with them at Haven. And she isn't wearing a uniform."

"Maybe she's Darwin's sister or something?" Mercury shrugged lazily.

"Or a local handler?" The heavy hatch doors of the Manta airship sealed shut. The thrusters roared, and the vessel lifted off the street, soaring through the skyscrapers of Atlas, with Penny gracefully flying alongside it, acting as an aerial escort.

Inside the sterile, imposing confines of General Ironwood's office at Atlas Academy, the political nightmare had reached critical mass. General James Ironwood paced furiously behind his massive steel desk, his cybernetic leg clanking heavily against the floorboards. Qrow Branwen stood near the window, his arms crossed, a deeply stressed frown creasing his rugged features. Hovering in the center of the room were the two translucent blue holographic screens.

Headmistress Glynda Goodwitch sat behind her desk at Beacon, looking thoroughly exhausted, while Headmaster Theodore broadcast from Shade Academy, his boisterous energy notably subdued. Xanthe Rumpole was absent, handling the massive influx of transferred students in Vacuo. The three Headmasters and the veteran Huntsman were trapped in a state of absolute, profound frustration.

The chaotic, accidental sequence of events that had led Saitama to accept a face-to-face interview with Robyn Hill was entirely unprecedented. They had spent the early hours of the morning engaged in a frantic, highly classified Scroll conference with Team RWBY and Team JNPR, desperately trying to formulate a strategy to "fool" Robyn during the upcoming broadcast.

It was a terrifying gamble, made infinitely worse by Saitama's notoriously apathetic character flaw, knowing he would likely forget the "script" the moment he sat down. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Glynda shook her head, bringing a hand up to violently rub her forehead.

"That idiot..."

"I still don't understand," Theodore boomed from his screen, crossing his massive arms in sheer bafflement.

"How did this Robyn Hill woman and her Happy Huntresses even get Saitama's contact info? He just got that Atlesian Scroll!" Ironwood stopped pacing, letting out a long, bitter sigh.

"It was a failure on my part," Ironwood admitted, his voice tight.

"To legitimize his cover as 'Darwin' against intense public and media scrutiny, my logistics team fabricated a backdated military record and added him to the Official Huntsman Registry. Robyn Hill and her team are fully licensed Atlas Academy graduates. They possess access to the Kingdom's registry and communication channels."

"She simply looked him up," Qrow deduced grimly.

"Exactly. Furthermore, Robyn has vast connections within the civil service sectors," Ironwood nodded.

"Not to mention that May Marigold possesses intimate knowledge of Atlas high society and bureaucratic networks, despite severing ties with her wealthy family. Between the official registry and sympathetic insiders, pulling a newly activated contact number was child's play." Qrow dragged a hand down his face.

"You underestimated her, Jimmy. You underestimated her team, and you underestimated how far she would go." Ironwood closed his eyes, profound regret settling heavily over his features.

"I know." Suddenly, a sharp, encrypted beep echoed from Ironwood's wrist communicator. Ironwood pressed his fingers to the device.

"Report." After hearing the comms, Ironwood's expression hardened into a mask of pure, unyielding military authority.

"Understood, Specialist. Maintain perimeter security. I will be down shortly." Ironwood lowered his wrist, looking up at the holographic screens.

"Winter said they are here," Ironwood stated.

"I am heading down to the courtyard."

"Good luck, James," Theodore offered, a grim smile touching his lips.

"You're going to need it."

"May the Gods help us," Glynda prayed softly, adjusting her glasses.

"And let us hope Mr. Saitama possesses the cognitive awareness to not completely destroy our cover story."

The exterior courtyard of Atlas Academy was a sprawling, magnificent plaza of polished white marble and glittering monuments to Atlesian supremacy. However, today, it felt like a political battleground. A sleek, civilian transport ship had touched down on the authorized visitor pad. Stepping out onto the marble were the Happy Huntresses: Robyn Hill, Fiona Thyme, May Marigold, and Joanna Greenleaf.

Following closely behind them, kept at bay by a line of strict Atlesian androids, were a dozen eager news crews from the Atlas Broadcast Network and the Mantle Daily. The four Huntresses walked forward, their eyes scanning the pristine, towering architecture of the military academy. Fiona walked beside Robyn, carefully carrying a beautifully wrapped gift bag.

"Wow," Fiona murmured, her sheep ears twitching as she looked up at the main spire.

"I haven't been back here since graduation. It feels... weird."

"It feels sterile," Joanna corrected, crossing her massive, muscular arms.

"Too clean. Like nobody actually lives here. Nothing like the streets of Mantle." May Marigold adjusted her beanie, a faint, melancholic smile touching her lips.

"It hasn't changed a bit. The same cold walls, the same impossible standards. Honestly, I'm glad we left. The air down below might be freezing, but at least it's real."

"Stay focused, everyone," Robyn commanded softly, her sharp eyes scanning the courtyard.

"We aren't here for a reunion. We are here to get answers." Before they could reminisce further, the heavy, reinforced doors of the Academy's main hall hissed open. General James Ironwood emerged, flanked by Specialist Winter Schnee and Qrow Branwen. The three veterans marched across the marble, their postures radiating absolute authority.

"Robyn," Ironwood greeted, his voice a perfect, even baritone as he came to a halt.

"It has been quite a while since we stood in the same courtyard."

"General," Robyn returned the greeting, her tone equally professional, yet laced with an undeniable, sharp edge of distrust.

"I wish the circumstances were better." Robyn's gaze drifted from the General, landing on the grizzled Huntsman standing beside him.

"Oh," Robyn noted, raising an eyebrow.

"You're the one traveling with those Vale kids."

"Guilty," Qrow smirked dryly, taking a slow swig from his flask.

"I have to say," Robyn crossed her arms, analyzing him.

"They're incredibly capable. They've been working themselves to the bone protecting Mantle. You must be a great figure to them, keeping them so disciplined in this chaos." Qrow chuckled, a sad, self-deprecating sound.

"I wish I could take the credit, lady. But honestly? They were already great without me." Robyn's expression hardened.

"That may be true. But I still do not tolerate you, or them, enabling Ironwood's secrecy. They lied to my face down in Mantle." Ironwood let out a heavy, tired sigh.

"Robyn, please. The embargo in Mantle... the restricted movement, the halting of supplies to Atlas... it is absolutely necessary for the security of this Kingdom."

"He speaks the truth," Winter defended instantly, her pale blue eyes flashing.

"The General enacted the embargo specifically to trace the cyber-incursions. We needed a closed system to catch the hacker who crippled Mantle's heating grid... and manipulated the Council election." At the mention of the rigged election, a flicker of pure, unadulterated anger flashed in Robyn's eyes. She remembered the devastating moment on the stage at her victory rally, the crushing realization that her people had been robbed.

"Don't play games with me, Winter," Robyn snapped, stepping forward.

"An embargo to catch a hacker? That is incredibly suspicious. Anyone with half a brain can see what is actually happening. Ironwood is trying so hard to isolate Atlas from the rest of the world, hoarding resources in the sky, while Mantle freezes." Robyn pointed a sharp finger directly at Ironwood's chest.

"You are protecting something up here, General. You are hiding something incredibly dangerous, and the fallout is destroying Mantle! How can I possibly trust you, if you refuse to trust me and the very people you claim to protect?!" Ironwood closed his eyes, the weight of the shadow war crushing his shoulders. He couldn't tell her about the Relic of Creation. He couldn't tell her about the Winter Maiden. The panic would be apocalyptic.

"I have an... important project," Ironwood explained vaguely, his voice strained.

"A project that is simply too dangerous if it leaks to the wrong hands. I swear to you, Robyn... I am truly trying to protect Atlas and Mantle." Robyn scoffed, shaking her head in sheer disgust.

"I am done hearing your excuses, General. We are not here to negotiate your embargo." Robyn turned her head, gesturing to the news crews waiting eagerly behind the barricades.

"Mantle doesn't want your military. They want 'Darwin'. He is vastly more competent than your entire army."

"Mr. Darwin was explicitly ordered by the General to protect your rally, Robyn," Winter intervened, attempting to reclaim the narrative.

"He is an Atlesian asset."

"Of course you would say that," Robyn smirked cynically.

"But I don't want to hear it from you. I want to hear it from 'Darwin' himself. I want him to explain it on his own." Before Ironwood could argue, a loud, mechanical roar echoed from the sky behind the Happy Huntresses. Everyone turned their heads. A sleek Atlesian Manta airship descended gracefully through the snowfall, touching down perfectly on the secondary landing pad. The heavy hatch doors hissed open. The Ace Operatives stepped out first, securing the ramp.

Behind them, stepping out into the freezing air, was "Darwin". Saitama was impeccably dressed in his black suit, white trench coat, and bowler hat. He was accompanied by Team RWBY, Team JNPR, Oscar Pine, and Neo who still flawlessly disguised as a brown-haired civilian. Penny Polendina descended from the sky a moment later, her green thrusters humming as she landed beside them. The instant "Darwin's" foot touched the marble, the news crews absolutely exploded.

"Savior of Mantle! Over here!"

"Mr. Darwin! A quick question!"

"Is it true you defeated the killer without a weapon?!" Saitama let out a massive, highly comical groan of pure annoyance, burying his face in his red-gloved hands as he walked. The Ace-Ops and the teenagers immediately formed a tight, protective wall around him, blocking the flashing cameras as they escorted him across the courtyard. Robyn Hill smirked, a look of profound, political satisfaction spreading across her face. Fiona, May, and Joanna exchanged highly amused, baffled glances.

"I gotta admit," May chuckled, looking at the pristine white trench coat and the bowler hat.

"He looks like a mob-boss straight out of a cheesy Mistralian crime movie." Ironwood, Winter, and Qrow instantly tensed. Their heart rates skyrocketing as the absolute, terrifying climax of the geopolitical standoff approached.

"Darwin", the Ace-Ops, and the teenagers finally halted in front of Robyn and her team. The media cameras zoomed in, broadcasting the historic meeting live across the Kingdom. Robyn Hill stepped forward. She offered a warm, incredibly charismatic smile, her sharp eyes studying the unreadable, flat oval face beneath the bowler hat brim.

"Mr. Darwin," Robyn greeted, her voice carrying clearly over the wind.

"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me. Mantle owes you a profound debt." Robyn extended her right hand, offering a firm, respectful handshake. Team RWBY, Team JNPR, and Oscar instantly stopped breathing. This was it. The moment of truth. If Robyn's Semblance activated, or if she felt no Aura, the entire cover story would instantly vaporize on live television. Saitama stared at her outstretched hand. He looked at her face, his dotted eyes completely blank. He didn't know who she was.

He didn't care about the politics. He was just incredibly bored.

"Uh... yeah... sure..." Saitama mumbled awkwardly. Saitama reached out with his red-gloved hand and grasped hers. They shook hands. The moment their palms connected, a brilliant, warm, shimmering white light flared to life, outlining Saitama's entire body. Robyn's eyes widened slightly in genuine surprise. The sheer, overwhelming density of the Aura she felt through the physical contact was breathtaking. It felt like shaking hands with a solid mountain of light.

It was, in reality, Jaune's hyper-dense Aura, which the blonde knight has shared to him back at the penthouse. But, just in case, he also still desperately, sweatingly projecting onto Saitama here, from a few feet away. It worked too perfectly. It convinced the Happy Huntresses, and the Kingdom watching at home, that "Darwin" was indeed a Huntsman with an incredibly powerful Aura.

And most importantly, because Saitama genuinely believed he was just shaking the hand of some random lady who wanted to say thanks, he wasn't technically lying. Robyn's Semblance remained entirely dormant. The whole vanguard let out a synchronized, silent exhale of pure, unadulterated relief. Robyn released his hand, her respect for the man visibly deepening.

"Thank you, for catching that monster. For protecting my team and the people of Mantle." Saitama, who completely failed to grasp the context of the serial killer, the political assassination, or the terror of the previous night, simply nodded obliviously. All his brain registered was the memory of a crazy scorpion guy who had ruined his free food.

"Yeah, whatever," Saitama grumbled, a hint of genuine annoyance in his voice.

"He ruined my premium beef." Robyn blinked, slightly taken aback by the incredibly blunt, weirdly specific grievance, but she quickly recovered her charismatic smile. Fiona Thyme stepped up beside Robyn. Robyn gestured gracefully to the sheep Faunus.

"As a token of our immense gratitude," Robyn smiled, "Mantle would like to offer you a gift." Fiona held out the beautifully wrapped bag.

"It's a collection of the finest premium smoked beefs and fresh Solitas fruits we could procure from the lower markets, sir." Saitama's entire demeanor violently shifted. The comical, flat annoyance instantly evaporated. His dotted eyes completely expanded to the absolute limits of his face, sparkling with the blinding, holy light of pure, unrestricted joy. Premium beef?! Saitama thought, practically vibrating with excitement. And free fruit?!

Saitama eagerly reached out with both hands to grab the bag, a massive, dopey smile spreading across his face. However, Robyn smoothly raised her hand, gently intercepting him before he could take the gift.

"But before you accept our thanks," Robyn said, her voice dropping into a sharp, focused, and undeniably political register.

"We would like to have a little 'talk' inside the Academy." Saitama froze, his hands hovering awkwardly in the air, his eyes locked desperately onto the bag of beef. Robyn smirked, turning slightly toward the news cameras before looking back at the invincible anomaly.

"So, Savior of Mantle..." Robyn challenged smoothly.

"Shall we begin?"