Chương 139: Chapter 132: The Elite Banquet and the Warmed City

The crisp, brilliant morning sun of Solitas streamed through the expansive panoramic windows of General James Ironwood's office at Atlas Academy. However, the warmth of the light did little to melt the heavy, bureaucratic tension settling over the room. Resting dead center on the General's massive steel desk was a single, heavy envelope. It was crafted from premium, high-grade parchment, adorned with ornate, royal-blue designs and stamped with a pristine, gold-embossed crest.

General Ironwood stared at it as if it were an active explosive. Specialist Winter Schnee stood rigidly to his right, her pale blue eyes locked onto her family's crest with a mixture of profound disdain and tactical concern. Qrow Branwen leaned casually against the window frame, taking a slow swig from his silver flask.

"Jacques is making his move," Ironwood stated, his voice a low, gravelly rumble.

"He is hosting a grand victory celebration at Schnee Manor tomorrow night. The finest minds, the wealthiest investors, and the highest-ranking officials in Atlas will be in attendance. Councilman Sleet, Councilwoman Camilla... even Robyn Hill, and myself."

"He despises you, Jimmy," Qrow pointed out, raising an eyebrow.

"He does," Ironwood agreed grimly.

"But Jacques Schnee is a creature of public perception. He invited me simply to look professional and magnanimous in front of the press. However... his true prize for the evening is currently residing in our penthouse." Winter crossed her arms, her posture stiffening.

"My father sent this VIP invitation directly to 'Darwin'. His strategy is transparent. He intends to build a highly publicized relationship with the 'Savior of Mantle', despite the anomaly explicitly stating his annoyance with the title. By associating himself with the very man who saved Robyn Hill's rally, my father believes he can instantly clear his name of any lingering hostility in the lower city and consolidate his absolute power over the Council."

"It's a smart play," Qrow admitted reluctantly.

"If he gets his picture taken shaking hands with the guy everyone idolizes, the people of Mantle might actually start trusting him." The three veterans had been debating this exact geopolitical nightmare since the previous evening. Ozpin's group absolutely needed to keep Saitama's true identity hidden from the public. Plunging the oblivious, apathetic hero into a room filled with the most cunning, manipulative, and perceptive elites in the Kingdom was a recipe for absolute disaster.

"We cannot simply decline the invitation," Ironwood sighed, aggressively rubbing his temples.

"If Saitama refuses to attend, the elites and the citizens of Atlas will interpret it as a slight. They will assume 'Darwin' is entirely siding with Mantle and holds disdain for the upper city."

"And we can't afford that," Winter nodded in agreement.

"If the city of Atlas views him in a negative light, it will create immediate political complications and definitely lead back to the chaos we just averted. It would completely unravel the declaration of neutrality he established during the broadcast three days ago." Just then, the console on Ironwood's desk chimed.

"General, your requested guest has arrived," the automated secretary system announced. Ironwood tapped a button. The heavy, reinforced doors hissed open. Stepping into the office was "Darwin". Saitama was fully dressed in his sharp black suit, pristine white trench coat, and Roman Torchwick's signature bowler hat. He walked with a heavy, dragging shuffle, his shoulders slumped as he covered his mouth to let out a massive, highly comical yawn.

"It's too early for this," Saitama complained, his voice a flat, nasal drone. He casually scratched his cheek, looking at the three highly stressed military figures.

"You guys called me?"

"Yes, Mr. Saitama. Please, come in," Ironwood greeted, gesturing toward the desk.

"We need to brief you regarding the invitation you received yesterday." Saitama blinked his dotted eyes, completely confused.

"Wait, you actually want me to go? I thought you guys explicitly told me to hide from crowds and avoid strangers. Now you want me to walk into a giant party full of rich guys in fancy suits?"

"The situation has changed, baldy," Qrow chuckled, stepping away from the window.

"Ever since you gave that speech during the interview, you've become a universally respected figure in both Atlas and Mantle. You're the glue holding this Kingdom's morale together right now. If you don't show up, people are going to take it personally." Saitama let out a long, suffering groan, his head tilting back as he stared at the ceiling.

"This is so much trouble. I already had to sit through that incredibly annoying interview, and now I have to go to a stuffy elite gathering? I don't even own a tie."

"You don't need to worry about the politics, Mr. Saitama," Winter assured him, her tone softening slightly.

"Everyone in this Kingdom already knows that 'Darwin' absolutely hates politics. You are expected to be blunt. All you need to do is act perfectly normal."

"The only thing you must avoid is spilling your true identity," Ironwood added firmly.

"If Jacques or any of the elites ask about your background, simply repeat what you said to Robyn Hill. Tell them you are a Huntsman from Vale who moved to Atlas." Saitama sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"I don't know, guys..."

"You won't be alone. The General and I are also invited," Winter interjected quickly.

"Team RWBY and Team JNPR will come along as well as the General's request. We will be there to watch over you. Furthermore, Neopolitan can accompany you as your plus-one. She will use her Semblance to gently mask her own face to avoid the media, but she can act as your immediate backup." Saitama still looked incredibly hesitant, his face a portrait of pure, unadulterated laziness. Qrow smirked. He knew exactly how to play this.

"You know, Saitama..." Qrow drawled lazily, walking around the desk.

"This isn't just a political meeting. It's a Schnee victory gala. Do you have any idea what kind of food they serve at those things?" Saitama's dotted eyes stopped blinking. He slowly turned his head toward the Huntsman.

"Food?"

"Oh, yeah," Qrow grinned wickedly.

"We're talking a massive, high-society banquet. Endless tables of the most premium, exotic foods in the world. Not just Wagyu beef. Caviar, imported Mistralian seafood, Vacuan delicacies, chocolate fountains. It's going to make Robyn Hill's rally catering look like a cheap fast-food joint." Qrow leaned in closer, dropping the ultimate bait.

"And since you are one of the most highly anticipated VIP guests... you can eat absolutely whatever you want. As much as you want. For free." The color drained from Saitama's face, instantly replaced by a blinding, holy sparkle of pure, unrestricted gastronomic temptation. His eyes expanded into massive, hyper-detailed stars.

"A... an elite banquet?" Saitama whispered in profound awe. In a flash of movement, Saitama's posture snapped from a lazy slouch to absolute, rigid perfection. He stood tall, the white trench coat flaring dramatically behind him. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

With a smooth, practiced, incredibly mob-boss-like motion, he reached up and elegantly tipped the brim of his bowler hat, his face shifting into a heavily shaded, deadly serious portrait of heroic resolve.

"Understood," Saitama declared, his voice dropping an octave into a cool, cinematic whisper.

"I will infiltrate this gathering and succeed in the mission." Qrow threw his head back and laughed loudly.

"Man, he is so easy." General Ironwood and Winter Schnee simply stared at the anomaly, simultaneously burying their faces in their hands as they delivered matching, highly comical sighs of utter resignation.

Down in the freezing, frost-bitten streets of Mantle, the atmosphere was undergoing a miraculous transformation. BANG! A stray Sabyr let out a dying yelp as a high-velocity sniper round pierced its skull. Ruby Rose landed gracefully on the snow-covered pavement, her red cloak billowing as Crescent Rose folded back into its compact form. Beside her, Weiss, Blake, and Yang finished off the remaining two Grimm with swift, precise strikes, their weapons flashing in the morning light.

"Area secure!" Yang called out, giving a thumbs-up to a nearby squad of Atlesian engineers.

"Thank you, Huntresses!" the lead technician yelled back. He tapped a command into his console. A massive, heavy blast door groaned on its hinges, sliding shut to perfectly seal the jagged breach in the city's perimeter. The defensive wall of Mantle was finally, fully operational. There would be no more Grimm breaches, so long as the hacker didn't manipulate the system again. Deeper within the city, near the central plaza, Dr. Pietro Polendina was directing a massive installation effort from his mobility chair.

"Careful with those thermal coils, boys!" Pietro instructed warmly.

"We need to ensure the bypass nodes are perfectly aligned!" A team of Atlesian military technicians were carefully installing the localized temporal stabilizers into the main heating grid. However, the scene surrounding them was entirely different from the violent, rock-throwing riots of the previous weeks. The people of Mantle were actively cooperating. Ever since the entire Kingdom had watched the broadcast of "Darwin's" blunt, unintentionally wise speech, a profound shift had occurred.

The citizens had realized the absolute truth in his words: rejecting the military's temporary heaters purely out of spite was not wise when their families were freezing. They had finally accepted the military's help. Atlesian Knight androids and military drones still patrolled the streets, but they were no longer enforcing curfews or pointing rifles at the populace.

They had been officially reprogrammed by Ironwood to focus entirely on crime detection, specifically scanning for the hidden culprit behind the heating grid failure and the rigged election. Nearby, Oscar Pine and Team JNPR were hard at work assisting the locals. Jaune and Pyrrha were gently guiding an elderly Faunus couple across an icy intersection.

While Ren and Nora helped Oscar ignite a series of large, contained bonfires inside heavy metal drum containers, providing immediate, vital warmth to the people on the sidewalks. However, they were no longer the only ones helping. Several Atlesian soldiers, dressed in their heavy white armor, were working side-by-side with the citizens. They were hauling heavy crates of supplies, stacking firewood, and genuinely, humanely watching the streets for them.

Near one of the roaring bonfires, two Atlesian soldiers stood warming their hands. Standing directly across from them was Forest, his arm heavily wrapped in clean white bandages from Tyrian's attack at the rally.

"I... I just wanted to apologize," the younger soldier said awkwardly, his breath pluming in the cold air as he looked at Forest.

"We were incredibly harsh to you all over the past few weeks. We were just... stressed. We were completely paranoid about the hacker and the serial killer."

"He's right," the older soldier nodded sincerely.

"Now that the terror of the serial killer is over thanks to Darwin... we realized we weren't protecting this city like actual soldiers should." Forest looked at the two men. The deep-seated resentment in his eyes softened. He understood.

"We get it," Forest replied, his voice gruff but forgiving.

"You guys were just following orders. And honestly... you were victims to those villains just as much as we were. We're sorry for throwing rocks and rejecting the stabilizers earlier. We know you're just trying to make amends." The soldiers smiled, a genuine, heartfelt bridge forming between the military and the slums.

"Let's just hope they find that hacker soon," the younger soldier added.

Team RWBY jogged around the corner, their boots crunching in the snow as they reunited with Team JNPR and Oscar near the bonfires.

"Good work, guys!" Ruby cheered, high-fiving Jaune.

"The perimeter wall is completely sealed!"

"That is wonderful news, Ruby!" The teenagers turned to see Pietro Polendina rolling up to the group, accompanied by Maria Calavera and Penny.

"I cannot thank you children enough for everything you've done for Mantle," Pietro smiled warmly, his eyes crinkling. Penny hovered slightly off the ground, beaming brightly.

"Your assistance has been sensational!" The twelve of them stood together near the warmth of the fire, looking out over the bustling, peaceful streets of Mantle. There were no more riots. No more androids enforcing martial law. More Atlas soldiers were present, but they were actually watching over the city in a humane, compassionate way, interacting and helping the citizens. A profound, massive wave of relief washed over Oscar, Penny, Pietro, Team RWBY, and Team JNPR.

Maria adjusted her cybernetic goggles, letting out a raspy, highly amused cackle.

"I gotta admit... I never thought I'd see the day. That bald idiot completely revolutionized the social structure of an entire Kingdom by complaining about groceries on live television."

"He really did," Blake smiled softly, shaking her head in sheer disbelief.

"He's definitely something else." The group turned. Walking smoothly through the snow toward them was Robyn Hill. She wasn't flanked by her usual entourage, and the fierce, rebellious anger that usually defined her posture was noticeably absent. She looked relaxed, at peace with her city.

"Robyn!" Ruby greeted pleasantly. Robyn smiled, stopping in front of the group. She looked around at the bustling, cooperative streets.

"How is 'Darwin' doing today?"

"Oh, you know," Ren answered with a dry, knowing smirk.

"As mundane as usual."

"I bet," Robyn chuckled softly. She reached into the pocket of her coat and casually produced a pristine, gold-embossed envelope.

"I received an official invitation to Jacques Schnee's grand victory celebration tomorrow night at the Manor. Knowing Jacques's desperation for good public relations, he must have sent an invitation to Darwin as well." Weiss crossed her arms, her expression souring instantly.

"He did. My father is completely transparent. He just wants to use Darwin as a political prop to clear his own name."

"I figured," Robyn sighed, crossing her arms against the cold. She looked directly at the teenagers.

"It will be a complete snake pit. But it also gives me the perfect excuse to speak with him again tomorrow night. Are you sure he'll be okay in a room full of Atlas elites?"

"Don't worry about Darwin," Jaune assured her, a confident, proud smile on his face.

"Whatever grandiose stunt Jacques tries to pull, Darwin won't falter. He will stand with anyone in need. He will always protect the weak, no matter what."

"He is a genuine hero," Pyrrha added firmly. Robyn let out a small, highly amused laugh.

"You kids certainly seem to know an awful lot about him." Oscar and the students instantly stiffened, exchanging highly awkward, panicked glances. Robyn looked at the sweating teenagers. She didn't even need to activate her Lie Detection Semblance. The truth was written all over their terrified faces. She knew, with absolute certainty, that these kids secretly knew exactly who "Darwin" actually was. But she didn't press it. Robyn's charismatic smile faded into a look of deep, probing seriousness.

She locked eyes with Oscar, Ruby, and the others.

"I told you I wouldn't pry into what General Ironwood is actively hiding from the public," Robyn stated, her voice low and steady.

"But I need to make sure. Whatever project the General is running up there... is it truly to protect everyone? Including Mantle?" The group froze. They couldn't spill the apocalyptic secret of the Shadow War. They couldn't speak of the Grimm Queen or the Relics. But Ruby stepped forward, meeting Robyn's intense stare with absolute, unwavering determination.

"Yes," Ruby promised, her silver eyes burning with total sincerity.

"Everything we are doing... is truly to protect everyone." Robyn stared at the young Huntress for a long, heavy moment. Slowly, the tension left Robyn's shoulders. She let out a low sigh, a small, genuine smile returning to her lips. She still didn't fully trust James Ironwood, but she knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that these kids were good people.

"Alright," Robyn conceded softly.

"I'll let this slide. As long as what you're doing is truly the right thing, and no innocent people are put in harm's way. I will look into it again later. But for now... I am going to focus entirely on Mantle, and being with my people." She wouldn't be blinded by her obsession with Ironwood's secrets or her stolen election anymore.

"Darwin" had saved her from losing herself to the political game. Robyn then turned her attention to Pietro Polendina. Her expression softened into genuine regret.

"Doctor," Robyn began gently.

"I wanted to formally apologize. Threatening you with civil disobedience to force you to make a deal with the General... it was unfair to put you in that position." Pietro smiled warmly, waving a dismissive hand.

"It is quite alright, Robyn. I understand exactly how desperate you were. Water under the bridge." Robyn nodded gratefully. She took a step back, raising a hand in a casual, respectful wave to the twelve heroes gathered around the fire.

"I'll see you all around," Robyn called out as she turned to leave. She glanced over her shoulder with a playful smirk.

"Tell Darwin to save some room for dessert! I'm looking forward to catching up with him tomorrow night!"

"W-Will do!" Jaune laughed awkwardly.

"See you, Robyn!" Oscar waved. As the politician disappeared into the snowy, peaceful streets of Mantle, the teenagers and the adults turned back to the roaring bonfire, finding warmth in the profound, impossible peace that a bored man in a bowler hat had somehow managed to create.