Chương 137: Chapter 130: The Huntsman for Fun

The morning sun cast long, elegant shadows across the pristine marble floors of the Atlas Academy Grand Hall. Typically reserved for prestigious academic ceremonies or high-level military briefings, the massive, vaulted chamber had been entirely repurposed into a high-stakes, broadcasted political stage. In the absolute center of the hall, bathed in the harsh, glaring white light of a dozen professional studio rigs, two simple wooden chairs had been set up facing each other.

Surrounding the chairs was a claustrophobic ring of news crews from both the Atlas Broadcast Network and the Mantle Daily. Heavy camera drones hovered softly in the air, capturing every possible angle. Standing just outside the immediate circle of cameras, their eyes sharp and vigilant, were the Happy Huntresses: Fiona Thyme, May Marigold, and Joanna Greenleaf. They were positioned specifically to ensure no Atlesian operatives could interfere or cast localized "disturbances" during the broadcast.

Sitting in the chair on the right, looking impeccably professional in a sharp burgundy suit, was Robyn Hill. Sitting in the chair on the left, looking like he was actively suffering from a mild allergy to the entire situation, was "Darwin". Saitama, dressed in his black suit, white trench coat, and Roman Torchwick's bowler hat, sat with his shoulders slumped. His face was a perfectly flat, unblinking oval.

Since the interview was being broadcast live across the newly restored global network, the entire continent of Solitas was watching. High-definition screens plastered across the towering skyscrapers of Atlas displayed the feed, while down below, shivering citizens of Mantle crowded around frosted tavern televisions and public holograms. Inside Pietro's Pharmacy in Mantle, Pietro Polendina and Maria Calavera watched a small monitor.

"Well, this is going to be either a monumental diplomatic victory or an unmitigated disaster," Pietro murmured, nervously adjusting his glasses. Maria simply let out a raspy, cynical cackle, leaning heavily on her cane.

"Oh, it's going to be a disaster, Pietro. The only question is how loud the explosion will be." Thousands of miles away, in the Headmaster's office at Beacon Academy, Glynda Goodwitch sat rigidly behind her desk. She stared at her massive holographic screen, her knuckles white as she gripped her riding crop. She was absolutely terrified that the anomaly was about to accidentally expose his true identity to the entire world.

Back in the Grand Hall of Atlas Academy, Robyn Hill offered a warm, highly professional smile.

"We are live," Robyn began, her charismatic voice echoing perfectly through the microphones.

"First and foremost, Mr. Darwin, I want to express my deepest, most profound gratitude. And the gratitude of every single citizen in Mantle. Your heroic intervention at my victory rally neutralized a terrifying threat, and undoubtedly saved countless lives." Saitama stared at her. His dotted eyes didn't even twitch.

"Uh... sure," Saitama replied, his voice a flat, completely awkward drone.

"You're welcome." He didn't elaborate. He didn't offer a humble, heroic platitude. He just sat there. In truth, Saitama had absolutely no idea what she was talking about. He didn't know anything about Mantle, he didn't care about politics, and he only remembered the rally because that weird scorpion guy had ruined his free catering. Standing near the cameras, May, Joanna, and Fiona exchanged highly confused glances. They had expected a battle-hardened, stoic veteran.

Instead, "Darwin" seemed completely, utterly bewildered by the basic concept of a conversation. From a safe, secure distance high up on the observation balcony overlooking the hall, General James Ironwood watched the broadcast alongside Winter Schnee, Qrow Branwen, and the Ace-Ops. On the opposite side of the balcony stood Team RWBY, Team JNPR, Oscar Pine, and Penny Polendina. Oscar and the teenagers looked agonizingly anxious, practically chewing on their fingernails.

The adults, maintaining their rigid military composure, were internally sweating just as heavily. Only Penny remained entirely unaffected, maintaining her cheerful, neutral smile. Occasionally, Oscar and the students cast nervous, fleeting glances toward a completely empty, shadowed alcove behind the ring of news crews. Standing in that alcove, completely invisible thanks to her Overactive Imagination Semblance, was none other than their illusionist.

She was carefully, delicately manipulating the light around Saitama, projecting a faint, subtle blur over the lower half of his face whenever a camera drone zoomed in too close, ensuring the public couldn't cross-reference his jawline with the "Hero of Vale." Down on the floor, Robyn Hill smoothly transitioned to her next question.

"Your sudden appearance has captured the heart of Solitas. But you remain quite a mystery," Robyn smiled, leaning forward slightly.

"Could you tell the people... where did you come from? Which Academy did you attend to achieve such remarkable combat prowess?" Saitama stiffened. A massive, comical sweatdrop formed beneath the brim of his bowler hat. Crap! What did the kids tell me to say?! Saitama panicked internally. Can't remember, too long! I can't tell her I'm from Z-City!

"I, uh..." Saitama stammered, desperately grasping for the only geographical anchor he remembered.

"I'm from... Vale. Yeah. And I went to... Beacon. The school with the big tower." Robyn's sharp eyes narrowed slightly. The delivery was incredibly stilted and awkward. Up on the balcony, Team RWBY and Team JNPR collectively held their breath, their hearts hammering against their ribs. Since Robyn had shaken his hand at the courtyard earlier, her Semblance was already subtly attuned to his Aura. She didn't need physical contact to read him anymore. If he told the truth, their Auras would glow green.

If he lied, they would flash red. Sensing his intense anxiety, Robyn silently, discreetly activated her Semblance. A faint, nearly imperceptible lilac hue washed over her skin as she reached out to read the truth behind his words. However, the result left her profoundly, entirely baffled.

"Darwin's" Aura did not flash red. Nor did it flash green. It remained a steady, glowing gold. Near the cameras, Fiona, May, and Joanna frowned deeply. They knew exactly how Robyn's Semblance operated. This lack of reaction was impossible. Robyn felt as though her Semblance had just crashed headfirst into a solid, impenetrable brick wall. Or a completely blank sheet of paper. She simply couldn't read him.

Saitama, entirely oblivious to the magical lie-detection test he had just effortlessly failed, noticed Robyn staring at him with a deeply confused, somewhat disturbed expression.

"Are you okay?" Saitama asked flatly.

"Oh, I am perfectly fine. Thank you," Robyn instantly snapped back to reality, forcing her professional smile back into place.

"Moving on... so, what about your Semblance? Your seemed to possess such superhuman strength that you were able to tear off the serial killer's body. Could you explain how it works?" Saitama's eyes slightly widened, panicking again in the inside. Ah... This question... What should I say? Physic... amp—what again?

"It's... Physical... Enhancement, or something. Honestly, I never named my, uh... Semblance," Saitama tried to utter whatever he could think.

"Basically, all I did was just... channeling my energy--Aura, to my fist. I trained for three years."

"Wow, that's... impressive," Robyn nods slowly, trying to maintain her professional smile while she was baffled by the simplicity. Robyn continued.

"If you are a Vale native, what prompted your move to our Kingdom? How long have you been an Atlesian citizen?" Saitama's internal panic flared again. He genuinely could not remember a single word of the "script" the teenagers had drilled into him. He decided to just wing it with whatever popped into his head.

"Uh... not long ago," Saitama mumbled, scratching his cheek.

"Probably... a month? Give or take? Honestly, I decided to stay here because of the luxury penthouse. They gave me a room with heated floors and free premium food. It's a pretty sweet deal." Robyn blinked, utterly astounded by the incredibly mundane, mercenary motivation. The news crews murmured in confusion, their cameras zooming in on the seemingly vapid hero. Up on the balcony, Qrow slapped a hand over his face. General Ironwood and Winter let out synchronized, heavy sighs of pure frustration.

The Ace-Ops exchanged bewildered looks, unsure if they should be furious or just laugh at the sheer buffoonery. Team RWBY and Team JNPR were practically pulling their hair out, while Nora desperately bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud. Technically, Saitama wasn't lying. He genuinely didn't remember exactly how long he had been in Atlas, and the free rent was absolutely his primary motivation for tolerating the military's demands. Robyn tried to ping his Aura with her Semblance again.

And again, she was met with absolutely nothing. The gold Aura remained static. Robyn's internal confusion began to curdle into a deep, creeping suspicion. Her Semblance had never failed her. It was the absolute cornerstone of her political career. She began to wonder exactly what kind of Huntsman "Darwin" actually was. Determined to break through his bizarre facade, Robyn shifted her tactics.

"Let us speak of the current climate, Mr. Darwin," Robyn said, her voice turning sharp and politically charged.

"You have seen the lower city. How do you feel about the situation in Mantle? What is your professional opinion regarding General Ironwood's harsh embargo, and the subsequent suffering of the citizens? Furthermore, do you believe Jacques Schnee's newly acquired Council seat will actually benefit the working class?" Saitama sat perfectly still. His dotted eyes went completely cross-eyed for a fraction of a second. He is sweating in cold. He had no idea about any of those things, let alone cared.

He didn't know what an embargo was. He had absolutely zero knowledge of Atlas and Mantle's socioeconomic relationship. He couldn't even confidently pronounce the name 'Jacques Schnee'.

"Uh..." Saitama mumbled, his brain flatlining.

"I mean... the snow is pretty cold down there. And... embargoes are... bad? Probably? And that Jack guy... he seems... like a guy who wears suits." The silence in the Grand Hall was deafening. Fiona, May, and Joanna stared at him in absolute, dumbfounded shock. It was entirely clear to the Happy Huntresses that this legendary, elite Huntsman possessed absolutely zero political knowledge whatsoever. He sounded like a middle-school student trying to bluff his way through an oral presentation.

On the balcony, Ozpin's group watched the disaster unfold in excruciating, agonizing awkwardness. Using her Lie Detection, Robyn Hill tried to read "Darwin's" Aura again. And yet, still has no effect. His Aura didn't change color at all, remained gold. Robyn Hill's expression slowly morphed from confusion to genuine fear. She was highly suspicious now. Not of his words or his clumsy behavior, but of what "Darwin" actually was.

If her Semblance couldn't read him, and his answers were this vapid, was he some kind of advanced Atlesian android? A soulless military weapon wrapped in human skin? Saitama noticed Robyn's increasingly disturbed, frightened expression. He tilted his head, his mundane brain trying to deduce the problem. Why is she looking at me like that? Saitama thought, glancing down at his glowing hands. Maybe it has something to do with this 'light' the blonde kid gave me?

Do politicians in this world get uncomfortable if your glow starts to fade? Saitama let out a quiet, internal sigh. Without any visible exertion, and entirely oblivious to the fact that he was currently bypassing the laws of Remnant's magic, Saitama silently focused his mind. Possessing an extreme form of exponential growth and reactive physical adaptation, Saitama's biology effortlessly "absorbed" the external, shared Aura Jaune had painted over him.

He unconsciously molded the foreign energy into his own physical form, temporarily adapting his own body to mimic the exact biological resonance of a standard Remnant human. Saitama leaned forward in his chair, deciding to just be honest to ease the awkward tension.

"Look, I'm sorry," Saitama said flatly, dropping the facade entirely.

"I honestly don't know anything about politics. I don't follow the news. I don't know who is, on what Council. And I really don't care." Robyn looked at him in sheer bewilderment.

"You live in Atlas... and you have absolutely no idea what is happening to the people in this Kingdom?"

"Nope," Saitama answered truthfully.

"Politics are just annoying. It's just a bunch of guys in fancy suits arguing over things they don't actually understand, trying to manipulate everyone else to get what they want. It just blinds people to what actually matters." Robyn's eyes widened. This was the first time she encountered a Huntsman with this kind of view. Once again, she activated her Semblance. And now, Robyn gasped slightly.

For the very first time during the interview, the golden Aura surrounding "Darwin" flared with a brilliant, unmistakable flash of emerald green. He was telling the absolute truth. Up on the balcony, Team RWBY, Team JNPR, Oscar, and Qrow stared at Saitama with wide eyes. They were completely surprised that he had entirely discarded the "script". But they were even more shocked by the raw, profound honesty of his words. Even General Ironwood and Winter Schnee paused, exchanging a surprised, oddly respectful look.

Robyn leaned back in her chair, deeply intrigued by the sudden, blunt shift in his demeanor.

"If you don't care about politics, Then who exactly do you work for, Mr. Darwin?" Robyn pressed, narrowing her eyes.

"Do you work under General Ironwood?" Saitama comically scratched his cheek.

"Well... I guess... you could say that." Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Robyn watched his Aura. It flashed green again. Technically, since Ozpin's group, which included Ironwood, was providing his free food and penthouse, Saitama genuinely believed he was doing odd jobs for them. Fiona, May, and Joanna exchanged stunned looks. Robyn's Lie Detection Semblance was indeed working, and "Darwin" admitted that he was an Atlesian asset.

"So you do work for him," Robyn leaned forward, her voice filled with desperate intensity.

"I want to hear your opinion, Mr. Darwin. Does General Ironwood truly care about Mantle? Does he actually want to protect the city?" Saitama tilted his head. He didn't know Ironwood's grand strategy. But he remembered hearing Ruby, Jaune, and the others about defending Mantle, building bonfires for the citizens. He remembered Ironwood sending them down there.

"I don't know what the robot-arm guy thinks," Saitama answered honestly, his voice a flat, deadpan drone.

"But I did hear him and the kids talking about protecting the city below. So... he probably doesn't want Mantle to be destroyed. I don't know if his methods are good or bad, but he's trying, I guess." Robyn saw his Aura flash green again. She was incredibly confused.

"Darwin" admitted to working for Ironwood, but he spoke about the General with total apathy, clearly not blindly following orders. Robyn thought that he seemed entirely confused between "working under" and "working with." Robyn decided to push for the ultimate question. The very reason she had demanded this interview.

"How do you feel when working alongside General Ironwood, Mr. Darwin?" Robyn asked, her voice turning sharp and diplomatic.

"Is there anything you find... concerning? Any operations or resources that you feel the General didn't tell you about? Something that is hidden from the public eye?" The question hit the balcony like a bombshell. Team RWBY, Team JNPR, Oscar, and Qrow instantly froze in absolute terror. Winter, the Ace-Ops, and General Ironwood stiffened rigidly, their hands drifting toward their weapons. Ozpin's group had actively hide Salem's existence from Saitama. Including about the Maidens and the Relics.

If Saitama spilled that General Ironwood did hiding something from him, the Kingdom would collapse. Saitama rubbed his chin, looking up at the ceiling as he thought deeply.

"I don't know," Saitama mused.

"I don't think so." Ozpin's group on the balcony let out a massive, collective sigh of relief. But suddenly, Saitama paused. He snapped his fingers, his eyes widening slightly.

"Wait a second. I think there is something that the robot-arm guy never told me about." The absolute, blood-curdling terror returned tenfold. Every single Huntsman and Huntress on the balcony instantly stopped breathing. Team RWBY's eyes expanded to comical proportions. Ironwood's cybernetic fist clenched tight enough to dent steel. Miles away in Beacon, Glynda Goodwitch shot out of her chair, grabbing her riding crop in pure, unadulterated panic. Oh Gods... Ruby thought frantically. He figured it out!

He knows we've been hiding the shadow war from him! Down on the floor, Robyn and the Happy Huntresses leaned in eagerly, completely desperate to hear the General's darkest, most dangerous military secret.

"Yeah... he never told me..." Saitama leaned forward, his voice dropping into a serious, conspiratorial whisper. He comically revealed his ultimate curiosity.

"His military units seem to have an absolutely massive, near-unlimited stock of premium Wagyu beef," Saitama stated, his eyes wide with profound suspicion.

"But whenever I go to the Atlas supermarkets, it's always completely sold out or out of stock! The robot-arm guy never told me how he manages to store so much Wagyu! Don't tell me he used military funds to buy out all the supermarket's meat stock!" Silence. The silence in the Grand Hall was so absolute, you could hear a pin drop. The jaws of every single person on the balcony unhinged, hitting the floor in pure, utterly baffled exhaustion.

Inside Pietro's Pharmacy, Pietro and Maria burst into loud, wheezing, absolutely hysterical laughter, clutching their stomachs. Robyn Hill stared at him, completely flabbergasted. She let out a forced, incredibly awkward laugh.

"I... Is that so? Is there... anything else you feel the General has never told you?" Saitama thought about it for another second. He then casually shrugged, his expression returning to its usual flat baseline.

"No. That's all, I guess." Robyn initially refused to believe it. She poured her focus into her Semblance, desperately trying to read any hidden deception, any buried military secrets. His Aura flared a brilliant, undeniable green. Saitama had given her absolutely everything he genuinely knew. Aside from his true identity, he was completely devoid of secrets. Robyn let out a long, heavy, internal sigh.

"I see..." That concluded it.

"Darwin" was with Ironwood, but he didn't blindly follow orders, and he genuinely had absolutely no idea what Ironwood was hiding. To Robyn, despite his monstrous strength and localized fame, "Darwin" was nothing more than an oblivious, politically ignorant civilian. She was deeply frustrated and profoundly disappointed. She hadn't gained a single piece of leverage to save Mantle. Saitama noticed her shoulders slump, sensing the heavy, political desperation weighing her down.

He let out a lazy sigh, leaning his elbows on his knees as he looked directly at the frustrated politician.

"I see that you care a lot about the city below," Saitama said, his voice surprisingly calm.

"But honestly? I think you aren't truly there for them right now." Robyn's head snapped up, her sharp eyes flashing with defensive anger.

"Excuse me?"

"You're too obsessed with finding 'political secrets' or whatever," Saitama told her bluntly, his face an unreadable oval.

"You're spending all your time trying to uncover conspiracies instead of just focusing on being there for your people." Saitama gestured vaguely toward the windows.

"Like, I heard your people are freezing down there. I also heard that they're actively rejecting temporary heaters just because they think the military is incompetent. That's not wise. The military is at least trying to help fix the problem. If you're really their leader, you should be telling them to take the heat and survive, not holding a grudge." Robyn stared at him, completely taken aback by the simplistic, raw logic.

"And it's not just you." Saitama continued, his commentary shifting seamlessly to the floating city above.

"The people up here, in this floating city. They are all being way too arrogant. Guys in fancy suits living in massive houses are locking their doors and hoarding all those colorful, explosive energy stones just because they're scared of some random hacker." He pointed a thumb up toward the balcony where Ironwood stood.

"And the military isn't doing any better," Saitama criticized flatly.

"Marching around the city below with guns and bossing people around isn't protecting them. It just makes them scared." Saitama scratched his head, delivering an unintentional, profound masterclass in societal infrastructure.

"If you guys can't fix that heating system or something permanently, and want to keep the hacker out of the upper city, then fix other important problems. For starters, fix the giant defensive walls around the city below so those black weird animals stop getting inside. And instead of just deploying soulless robots to tell people what to do, the soldiers should actually go down there and genuinely interact with people." He gestured vaguely toward Team RWBY and Team JNPR on the balcony.

"You should take an example from the kids. They actually went down into the snow and built fires for the people, talking with them like how human beings should be. They were actually there for them." Saitama comically groaned, slouching back in his chair.

"This is exactly why I hate politics. Both of these cities' relationships are ridiculous. You're making each other totally miserable just because of some intruders." He looked back at Robyn, his dotted eyes holding a simple, unshakeable wisdom.

"Rather than being paranoid, keeping secrets and yelling to each other, how about both cities just sit down in a room and have a proper talk like rational adults?" Saitama, entirely unintentionally, had just delivered a beautifully wise, brutally honest assessment that flawlessly bridged the toxic divide between Atlas and Mantle. And he had done it on a live broadcast, watched by the entire Kingdom of Atlas, and every other Kingdoms on Remnant.

"Oh, and one more thing." Saitama added, looking directly into the nearest news camera with a highly annoyed pout.

"People really need to stop calling me the 'Savior'. It's super cringe and incredibly annoying." Saitama crossed his arms, his voice dropping into a casual, deadpan declaration that echoed across the globe.

"I don't beat up monsters or bad guys for Mantle. Or for Atlas. Or for the robot-arm guy and his group. I don't do it for money, or fame, or because someone told me to." He looked back at Robyn.

"I protect people because I want to. Nothing more, nothing less. After all..." Saitama offered a faint, incredibly content smile.

"I'm a Huntsman for fun." Robyn Hill stared at "Darwin" in absolute, stunned silence. The Happy Huntresses stood frozen by the cameras. The news crews forgot to check their audio levels. Up on the balcony, Team RWBY, Team JNPR, Oscar, Qrow, Winter, and the Ace-Ops stared down at the anomaly with widened eyes, completely breathless. Penny Polendina clasped her hands over her heart, looking down at Saitama with profound, shining awe.

Even General Ironwood stood perfectly still, his eyes wide as he deeply pondered the blunt, powerful truth of the hero's words. In her office at Beacon Academy, Glynda Goodwitch slowly lowered her riding crop. A small, immensely proud, maternal smile formed on her lips. In Pietro's Pharmacy, Maria and Pietro smiled warmly, nodding in absolute agreement with the broadcast. Down in the freezing streets of Mantle, the angry, rioting crowds had gone completely silent.

Forest, his arm heavily bandaged from the rally incident, stared up at the holographic screen, a sudden, profound realization washing over his face. The entire Kingdom was moved. In the Grand Hall, Robyn activated her Semblance one last time, reading "Darwin's" Aura as he finished his speech. It was a brilliant, unyielding green. Realizing that "Darwin" possessed a heart of pure, genuine, uncomplicated heroism, Robyn slowly smiled.

Although she still harbored deep trust issues regarding General Ironwood, she was genuinely, profoundly glad she had demanded this interview. Robyn stood up from her chair. She extended her hand once more.

"Thank you, Mr. Darwin," Robyn said, her voice rich with genuine respect.

"I am truly glad I had the chance to talk with you today." Saitama stood up, shaking her hand with his usual flat expression.

"Yeah, you're welcome." Even though he had absolutely no idea what the point of the conversation had been, and had already forgotten the topic. Fiona, May, and Joanna smiled widely, deeply moved by the unexpected wisdom of the "Savior of Mantle." The three Huntresses nodded respectfully to each other. The news crews exchanged satisfied smiles, officially cutting the live broadcast. Robyn turned her gaze to Fiona, gesturing gracefully toward the gift bag.

Fiona stepped forward, happily offering the heavy bag to the hero.

"Here you go, sir." Saitama's eyes instantly comically widened into massive, sparkling stars. He eagerly grabbed the bag, practically vibrating with joy as he saw the premium cuts of beef and fresh fruit inside. As Robyn and the Happy Huntresses turned to leave the Grand Hall, Saitama called out to them.

"Hey!" Saitama said, holding his bag of beef happily.

"If you guys ever throw another party with free catering, feel free to call me! I'll visit the city below again, even if the robot-arm guy tries to prohibit me!" The Happy Huntresses paused, entirely baffled by his blatant, carefree disregard for military authority. They exchanged a highly amused look, bursting into awkward, delighted laughter. Robyn smiled, offering the hero a final, respectful nod.

"You are welcome in Mantle anytime, Mr. Darwin." Up on the balcony, Oscar, Qrow, Team RWBY, Team JNPR, and Penny broke into wide, immensely relieved smiles. Even the Ace-Ops, Winter Schnee, and General Ironwood himself let out quiet sighs of profound satisfaction.

Across the expansive exterior courtyard of Atlas Academy, the freezing, biting winds of Solitas howled. A sleek, civilian Bullhead transport ship sat idling on the landing pad, its engines humming a low, steady rhythm. Trailing far behind the Happy Huntresses, the various news crews from the Atlas Broadcast Network and the Mantle Daily were quickly packing up their heavy camera rigs and climbing into their respective network vans, eager to rush the historic broadcast back to their editing rooms.

Robyn Hill, Fiona Thyme, May Marigold, and Joanna Greenleaf walked together across the frosted marble, their heavy coats snapping in the wind. However, the usual fiery, rebellious energy that surrounded the vigilante Huntresses was remarkably subdued. A profound, reflective silence had settled over the group. Every single one of them still bore a look of deep, lingering realization.

The words of "Darwin" continued to echo in their minds, stripping away the complex, suffocating layers of Atlesian politics and replacing them with a blunt, unavoidable truth. Robyn walked with her arms crossed, staring down at the snow crunching beneath her boots.

'You're too obsessed with finding 'political secrets'... instead of just focusing on being there for your people.' The bowler hat Huntsman's deadpan assessment had hit her like a physical blow. Robyn let out a slow, frosty breath, realizing with a heavy heart that he was entirely right. The sting of the stolen Council election had festered inside her. Her relentless, blinding drive to uncover whatever dark conspiracy General Ironwood was hiding had almost entirely consumed her.

In her desperate crusade for the truth, she had inadvertently encouraged her own freezing, desperate people to reject the military's temporary heating stabilizers purely out of spite. She had nearly lost herself to the political game. Of course, she still firmly believed Ironwood was hiding something massive, and she fully intended to uncover it eventually. But the strange, oblivious Huntsman had successfully grounded her. Her priority had to be the immediate survival and morale of Mantle.

"Well," May Marigold spoke up, finally breaking the silence as she adjusted her beanie against the wind.

"The guy is weird... But in a really good way." Joanna chuckled, shaking her head in sheer disbelief as she hefted her massive weapon over her shoulder.

"That's an understatement. He's so unexpectedly mundane. Honestly? The way he slouched in that chair and complained about groceries... I kind of doubt the guy is even a real Huntsman."

"I agree, he's just... too simple," Fiona added, her sheep ears twitching curiously beneath her hat. She turned to look at her leader.

"But Robyn, I've been wondering. Why didn't your Semblance work on him during the initial part of the interview? When you were asking about his background and the Academies, you didn't get a read at all, did you?" Robyn sighed, stopping near the boarding ramp of the Bullhead. As the one who wielded the Lie Detection Semblance, the complete lack of Aura resonance was still driving her crazy.

"I didn't. It was like trying to read a blank sheet of paper," Robyn admitted, her sharp eyes narrowing in thought.

"But then, strangely, the connection established perfectly the moment we started talking about his allegiance to Ironwood, and his views on the cities." Robyn crossed her arms, looking back toward the towering, pristine spires of the military academy.

"I am highly suspicious about his background," Robyn told her teammates, her political instincts still razor-sharp.

"Even if my Semblance couldn't read his Aura at first, I could read his face. He was sweating bullets. He looked comically panicked when I asked him where he was from. He is absolutely hiding something about his past." Robyn's stern expression slowly softened into a genuine, respectful smile.

"However... even if his background is a complete mystery, I feel like I can trust him," Robyn declared softly.

"He was undeniably honest about his nature. About what he does, and why he does it." Fiona, May, and Joanna listened intently.

"He is hiding things about himself, and I just can't prove what they are yet," Robyn concluded.

"But one thing I know for sure... that man is totally not a bad person."

"Yeah, you're right," Fiona said, smiling.

"He seems to have a pure heart."

"He merely works with Ironwood, but he isn't standing up for him. He isn't his pawn," Robyn observed, feeling a profound sense of relief.

"He doesn't know, nor does he care, whatever the General is scheming. He's willing to completely defy Atlesian law and jump into the slums if it means protecting the weak. He is a true neutral." Robyn looked at her team, her eyes shining with renewed purpose.

"And he isn't doing it for glory, or honor, or any grandiose reason. He doesn't even care what the media or the elites think of him. He is doing it purely because he likes to, no matter what happens." Robyn said as she steps onto the metal ramp. Her voice filled with deep admiration.

"That is what a true Huntsman should be." Fiona, May, and Joanna smiled warmly, nodding in absolute agreement.

"True," May smirked.

"He's too simple to be a villain. He's weird, but he's kind of fun." Robyn chuckled, her charismatic energy returning in full force. She is definitely intrigued.

"I think I'm going to have a talk with him again, some other time," Robyn said, determined.

"Not an interview, and not in front of the cameras. And of course, I'll make sure that, next time, I find out who he truly is." For now, though, Robyn was satisfied. The overwhelming relief of confirming "Darwin's" neutrality was exactly what she needed.

"Let's head home, girls," Robyn commanded, hitting the button to close the hatch.

"We have a city to keep warm."

Inside the Grand Hall of Atlas Academy, the harsh, glaring studio lights had finally been powered down, plunging the massive chamber back into its usual, dignified serenity. Saitama stood near his wooden chair. He was currently peering into the beautifully wrapped gift bag Fiona had given him. A wide, dopey, entirely un-heroic smile of absolute satisfaction plastered across his face as he counted the premium cuts of Wagyu beef and fresh, exotic Solitas fruits.

Now that the Happy Huntresses and the relentless media swarm had entirely evacuated the premises, the group finally broke their perimeter. General Ironwood, Winter Schnee, Qrow Branwen, and the Ace Operatives descended from the balcony, marching across the marble floor to join Oscar Pine, Team RWBY, Team JNPR, and Penny Polendina as they surrounded the anomaly.

"That was sensational, Mr. Saitama!" Penny beamed excitedly, hovering a few inches off the floor.

"I cannot believe that actually worked," Weiss exhaled a massive, shuddering breath of relief, pressing a hand against her chest.

"Me neither," Jaune laughed awkwardly, dropping his Aura projection and wiping the heavy sweat from his forehead.

"My heart was beating so fast I thought I was going to pass out." Ruby turned toward an empty, seemingly unoccupied patch of marble flooring right behind the news-crew perimeter.

"Thank you so much for the cover, Neo!" Ruby called out gratefully.

"If you hadn't blurred his face when the cameras zoomed in, someone in Vale definitely would have recognized him!" The empty space shimmered like broken glass. Neopolitan dropped her Overactive Imagination Semblance, fading back into the visible spectrum. She was still wearing the warm, dark trench coat, but her expression was one of profound, theatrical exhaustion. She let out a long, heavy sigh, dramatically wiping her brow.

Maintaining a precise, localized optical illusion for an entire hour was taxing, even if it wasn't nearly as extreme or Aura-draining as projecting the giant super-robot in Mistral or the silver titan of light in Argus. Saitama looked up from his bag of beef. He walked over to the diminutive illusionist and casually, gently patted the top of her head.

"Good job, kid," Saitama praised flatly. Neo immediately puffed her cheeks out, offering him a fierce, comical pout and aggressively holding her hand out, palm up, demanding her payment.

"I know, I know," Saitama sighed, lazily swatting her hand away.

"We'll get the snacks after this." He held up the heavy gift bag, his dotted eyes sparkling.

"Besides, look at all this premium meat! Tonight's dinner in the penthouse is definitely going to be hotpot again." Neo's pout instantly vanished, replaced by a wicked, deeply satisfied smile. Qrow Branwen chuckled, his raspy voice echoing in the hall as he took a slow swig from his silver flask.

"I gotta admit, baldy. You really pulled a fast one. I never thought I'd see the day where a hardened, stubborn politician gets completely humbled by someone like you." Oscar, alongside Team RWBY and Team JNPR, looked at each other with wide, amazed smiles. They remembered exactly what Ozpin had predicted back at the penthouse in the early hours of the morning.

'If Mr. Saitama can successfully navigate this conversation, it could serve to significantly strengthen the fractured relationship between Atlas and Mantle.' The ancient Headmaster had been absolutely right. The suffocating, geopolitical apocalypse threatening to tear the Kingdom apart had been entirely, miraculously averted by a man who simply wanted his groceries. General James Ironwood stepped forward, his posture impeccable.

"Mr. Saitama," Ironwood began, his deep voice carrying a profound, undeniable resonance of respect.

"I must formally express my thanks. Your words today... they were exactly what this Kingdom needed to hear."

"Indeed," Winter agreed softly, placing a hand over her heart and offering a crisp, sincere bow.

"Your perspective was illuminating." Both military figures had been deeply, genuinely moved by his unintentionally wise speech regarding leadership, arrogance, and communication. And though they remained absolutely committed to keeping the terrifying existence of Salem a secret from both Robyn Hill and Saitama himself, the hero's words had given them a renewed sense of clarity regarding Mantle.

Standing behind the General, the Ace Operatives: Clover, Marrow, Harriet, Elm, and Vine, also looked at the man in the bowler hat with heightened, undeniable reverence. Their respect for the anomaly, which had already been massive following his capture of Tyrian Callows, had just skyrocketed. Saitama blinked his dotted eyes, completely oblivious to the heavy, emotional weight of the room.

"Uh... sure," Saitama mumbled, scratching his cheek. He had already entirely forgotten what the interview was even about.

"It was mostly just annoying."

"You were so clever during your speech, Saitama!" Ruby praised excitedly, bouncing on her heels.

"When you said you were a 'Huntsman for fun'!"

"That's right!" Jaune grinned widely.

"If you had accidentally used the word 'Hero' instead of 'Huntsman', the entire media network of Remnant would have been instantly suspicious! Everyone would have immediately linked 'Darwin' to the 'Hero of Vale'!" Saitama paused. He looked at the beaming, impressed faces of the teenagers. Slowly, an expression of profound, comical, completely unwarranted arrogance settled over Saitama's face. He crossed his arms, puffing out his chest and nodding with absolute, unearned pride.

"Well, yeah," Saitama boasted smoothly, completely bluffing.

"Of course I was thinking ahead. I knew exactly what I was doing the whole time. I may be careless, but I'm not an idiot." General Ironwood, Winter Schnee, Qrow Branwen, the Ace Operatives, Yang Xiao Long, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, Lie Ren, and Nora Valkyrie all stared at him. Without missing a single beat, they spoke in perfect, deadpan unison:"Yes, you are." Oscar, Ruby, Jaune, and Pyrrha immediately burst into highly awkward, strained laughter, desperately trying to ease the comedic tension.

Neo covered her mouth, her shoulders shaking violently as she laughed in absolute, unbroken silence. Saitama's proud smirk shattered instantly. A massive blue vein throbbed on his bald head beneath the bowler hat.

"Goddammit," Saitama grumbled miserably.