The sun barely peeked over the horizon, casting long shadows across the Beacon courtyard as Teams RWBY and JNPR observed their targets from a safe distance.

"Alright," Blake muttered, narrowing her golden eyes. "Let's see how they spend their weekend."

Weiss, ever skeptical, folded her arms. "This is ridiculous. What are we hoping to find? That they secretly gather in dark alleyways plotting world domination?"

"Shhh!" Ruby hushed her, binoculars in hand. "They're moving!"

Sure enough, Teams AJMK and DLVR had begun their morning routine.

Anthony, as expected, was heading toward Professor Goodwitch's office for his detention.

David, alongside Karma, strolled toward the training hall, seemingly engaged in a deep conversation.

Vincent and Lena went toward the Beacon library, appearing completely casual.

Jason and Rose walked in the direction of Vale's Bullhead docks, carrying duffel bags over their shoulders.

Mina, meanwhile, was nowhere to be seen, having disappeared before their surveillance even began.

This immediately threw everyone off.

"Wait... what?" Jaune muttered, scratching his head. "Where the hell did she go?"

Yang frowned. "She vanished before we even started watching?"

Nora grinned, punching her fist into her palm. "Ooooh, sneaky sneaky! I like her already."

Ren, ever the logical thinker, furrowed his brows. "If we weren't able to track her before we started watching, it means she was already gone long before we got here."

Blake clicked her tongue, frustrated. "Damn it... they're covering their tracks."

Ruby lowered her binoculars, looking mildly disappointed. "So... we follow the others, right?"

Weiss sighed. "Obviously. But who do we follow?"

The group debated for a moment, before ultimately deciding:

Blake and Weiss would follow Vincent and Lena to the library.

Ruby and Yang would keep an eye on David and Karma at the training hall.

Jaune, Nora, Ren, and Pyrrha would track Jason and Rose to the Vale Bullhead docks.

Mina was untrackable for now.

"What are you eight doing?" Said Mina behind them.

"Oh, we're just-AAAAAHHH!!! MINA!?!?" Jaune screamed like a little girl.

The moment Jaune Arc let out a high-pitched scream, the entirety of Team RWBY and Team JNPR whipped around to see Mina Takahashi standing behind them, arms crossed, her sharp eyes filled with amusement.

"Uh... H-How?!" Weiss stammered, taking a step back.

Blake froze, her mind racing. We were watching the others. She was already gone before we even started. How the hell did she get behind us without us noticing?

Ruby, eyes wide, muttered, "Is she a ninja?"

Mina smirked. "Ninja? No, just very good at getting places without being noticed." She took a step forward, tilting her head. "But the real question here is: What exactly are you guys doing?"

Silence.

For once, even Nora Valkyrie didn't have an immediate response.

Jaune, who had yet to recover from his absolute embarrassment, stammered out, "N-Nothing! Just... enjoying the fresh air?"

Mina's smirk grew. "Oh? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're spying on us."

Blake clenched her fists. Damn it. She knows.

Yang, trying to salvage the situation, threw an arm around Ruby and grinned. "Oh, come on! 'Spying' is such a strong word. We were just... um... observing? You know, friendly curiosity!"

Mina raised an eyebrow. "Friendly curiosity, huh?"

Her sharp gaze scanned each of them, analyzing their body language. Her military instincts screamed that they were horrible at lying.

Jaune and Ruby were too nervous.
Blake looked too tense.
Weiss was already trying to distance herself from this entire mess.
Ren was simply watching, expression unreadable.
Pyrrha was polite but silent, waiting to see how this played out.
Nora... well, she was just having fun.

Mina sighed. "You know... if you wanted to know more about us, you could've just asked."

That caught everyone off guard.

Weiss narrowed her eyes. "And you would have answered?"

Mina smiled mysteriously. "Maybe. Depends on the questions."

Blake, still wary, crossed her arms. "Where were you?"

Mina shrugged. "Training."

That was technically true—she had spent the past few hours moving discreetly around Beacon's blind spots, testing the security measures and ensuring that their cover remained airtight. The fact that she had circled around and caught them red-handed was just an added bonus.

Yang, still trying to play it cool, grinned. "What kind of training?"

Mina's smirk didn't waver. "A kind you wouldn't understand."

Blake, Weiss, and Jaune exchanged glances. That answer was deliberately vague.

Damn it. She knows exactly what she's doing.

Ruby and Yang had no idea that their cover had already been blown wide open. They peeked around the entrance of the training hall, watching David Fernandes and Karma Yoon.

David was mid-spar, weaving through Karma's strikes with unnatural agility, his footwork crisp and precise. Karma, ever the sadistic combatant, had a wide grin on her face, her movements unpredictable and wild—yet controlled at the same time.

Ruby leaned in, whispering, "Look at them! They don't even use weapons, just hand-to-hand. That's gotta mean something, right?"

Yang, nodding, muttered, "Yeah, but the way they move... That's not just some Huntsman school technique. That's brutal."

Then, suddenly—

Karma stopped mid-punch and turned directly toward them.

Ruby and Yang froze.

Karma grinned.

David, without even looking, sighed. "They followed us, didn't they?"

Karma giggled, her red-tinged eyes locked onto Ruby and Yang's hiding spot. "Yep."

Ruby gulped. "...Oh, crap."

Yang immediately grabbed Ruby's collar. "Run."

Before the sisters could even blink, Karma closed the distance, appearing in front of them with zero warning.

Ruby yelped. "GAAAAAAAAH! NINJA!"

Karma tilted her head, giving them a sharp-toothed grin. "Awww, you two were watching us? How cute."

David stretched, walking up behind Karma. "You do realize you guys suck at sneaking, right?"

Yang, sweating, chuckled nervously. "Uh, well, you know! Just... admiring some combat technique!"

David smirked. "Right. Sure. And I'm the King of Vale."

Karma leaned in uncomfortably close to Ruby, her eerie, cat-like gaze boring into her soul. "So... should we start charging admission?"

Ruby gulped again. "M-Maybe?"

David grinned, ruffling Ruby's hair like she was a child. "Cute. But next time? Just say hi."

Yang quickly grabbed Ruby and dragged her out of the training hall, yelling, "Welp, gotta go! We'll totally do that next time, BYE!"

Karma and David watched them sprint away, shaking their heads.

David laughed. "Man, they're so obvious."

Karma stretched. "Should we mess with them more?"

David smirked. "Oh, definitely."

Weiss and Blake peeked over a bookshelf, watching Vincent Park and Lena Garcia, who were calmly reading in the Beacon library.

Or at least, that's what it looked like.

Vincent, flipping through a book, suddenly said, "Hey Lena, you ever get the feeling you're being watched?"

Lena, without looking up, nodded. "Mmm. About fifteen feet to our right. Two sets of eyes. One pretending to read a book, the other trying to hide behind the shelf."

Weiss, stiffening, whispered, "How the hell did they know?!"

Blake was silent, but internally, she was thinking the exact same thing.

Vincent grinned, lowering his book. "Think we should give them a little surprise?"

Lena smirked, closing hers. "Oh, absolutely."

Before Weiss and Blake could react, the two disappeared.

Blake's ears twitched. "Where did they—"

"Looking for us?"

They were right behind them.

Blake's entire body froze.

Weiss, startled, nearly jumped out of her skin.

Vincent grinned, arms crossed. "Hey there, ladies. Enjoying the view?"

Blake, gritting her teeth, forced herself to remain calm. "We were just curious."

Lena raised an eyebrow. "Curious about what, exactly?"

Weiss, desperate to save face, huffed, "We just... wanted to know more about you."

Vincent smirked. "Well, if you wanted to know more about us, you could've just asked."

Lena leaned in, eyes gleaming with amusement. "Or is this your idea of reconnaissance?"

Blake said nothing.

Weiss, embarrassed, turned on her heel. "This was a waste of time!"

Blake followed, though she couldn't shake the feeling of frustration.

Vincent and Lena watched them leave.

Lena chuckled. "We're really good at this."

Vincent smirked. "Oh, I know."

Mission: Confuse the Hell Out of Team RWBY & JNPR?

Success.

Meanwhile, in an Empty Classroom...

Anthony sat in a chair, arms crossed, legs stretched out, as Professor Glynda Goodwitch stood at the front, lecturing him about the importance of discipline, restraint, and how students at Beacon were expected to uphold a level of professionalism.

At least, that's what he thought she was talking about.

Because at this point?

Her voice had turned into a complete blur of "Blah, blah, blah..."

Anthony fought to keep his focus, but his mind wandered, and before he knew it—

Inside Anthony's Imagination...

Glynda, standing at the front of the room, suddenly stopped talking. Instead of her usual stern expression, her cheeks flushed pink, and her cold demeanor melted into a sultry, inviting gaze.

Her tight outfit seemed just a little tighter, the blouse unbuttoning slightly, exposing more of her ample cleavage as she ran a gloved hand through her hair.

Anthony's eyes widened slightly as she took slow, deliberate steps toward him, her hips swaying in a way that was dangerously hypnotic.

Her voice was honeyed and silky, a stark contrast to her usual strict tone. "Anthony..." she purred, stopping just in front of him. She leaned down, placing a delicate, yet firm hand on his chest, her face mere inches from his own. "You've been a very bad student..."

She smiled seductively, biting her lower lip, her gloved fingers trailing down the front of his shirt—

BAM!

A loud slam echoed through the room as Glynda smacked her riding crop against the desk, snapping Anthony's mind back to reality like a gunshot.

He blinked rapidly, jolting upright, shaking off the vision as if he had been caught in some kind of spell.

"Mr. Grant!" Glynda's voice cut through his daze like a knife. Her eyes narrowed at him, full of suspicion.

"Are you even listening?" she demanded, tapping her riding crop impatiently against her palm.

Anthony cleared his throat, quickly adjusting his posture, masking any hint of what just happened.

"Of course, ma'am," he said, keeping his expression completely neutral.

Glynda, clearl y not buying it, huffed, adjusting her glasses.

"Then please, repeat what I just said," she challenged.

Anthony's brain sprinted into overdrive, trying to salvage the situation.

He winged it.

"You were talking about... the importance of restraint in disciplinary actions, and how physical altercations should only be a last resort?"

Glynda raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "Hmph. At least you retained something."

Anthony mentally sighed in relief. Close call.

But Glynda still wasn't done.

Her sharp gaze lingered on him a second longer, as if she could sense something was off.

"...You seemed distracted just now," she remarked, eyes narrowing slightly.

Anthony, keeping his cool, simply shrugged. "Just thinking about my training, ma'am."

Glynda crossed her arms, lips pressing into a thin line. "Good. You're going to need it—because if you ever pull a stunt like that again, you'll be cleaning the entire combat arena by yourself."

Anthony resisted the urge to smirk.

"Understood, ma'am," he said smoothly.

Glynda gave him one last look before turning back to her desk, continuing the lecture.

Anthony, now fully awake, took a deep breath and made damn sure not to let his mind wander again.

The last thing he needed was another unexpected fantasy distracting him.

Because honestly?

That was way too close.

Back in Team AJMK's room. The dim light of the dorm room barely illuminated Mina as she knelt on the tatami mat in front of her full-length mirror, draped in a black kimono with a gold and red sash tied elegantly around her waist.

Her posture was perfect—disciplined—as she clasped her hands together in a traditional seiza sitting position, her sharp, dark brown eyes locking onto the reflection before her.

A slow, deep breath left her lips before she uttered,

"おはようございます。メナさん。"
"Good morning, Mena-san."

The reflection stared back at her, the same face, same eyes, same body—yet something was different.

The way her reflection's lips curled slightly at the edges.
The way her eyes gleamed with something sinister, something dark.

This was not Mina.

This was Mena.

Ever since the 1800s, the Takahashi family carried a unique, cursed trait passed down through generations. A Yin & Yang split-personality—two consciousnesses existing within one body, often cooperating, but more often than not, battling for control.

Sometimes they worked in harmony.
Most of the time?

The dark path always won.

Mina had spent years keeping Mena in check, maintaining control.
But now?

Now, she needed to talk to her.

The reflection's smirk deepened, her eyes flickering with amusement.

"おはよう,ミナちゃん。"
"Good morning, Mina-chan."

Mina stiffened slightly at the mocking familiarity.

"I assume you're here to keep me from ruining your little spy game?" Mena mused, tilting her head.

Mina didn't flinch, didn't waver. "You already know the answer."

Mena let out a low, sultry chuckle, her expression filled with mock innocence.

"But why?" she purred.
"It would be so much more fun if I took over, don't you think?"

Mina narrowed her eyes. "We agreed. I lead. You stay quiet."

Mena pouted theatrically, placing a delicate hand under her chin.

"Tch, tch, tch... But that gets so boring."
"Let's be honest, Mina—you and I both know how much easier things would be if I just... handled things my way."

Mina's jaw tightened, her fingers clenching over the silk of her kimono.
Not this time.

"I don't need you."

Mena's expression darkened, the mockery vanishing in an instant.

"Oh, really?" she murmured, voice dripping with venom.
"Is that what you told yourself when those men tried to kill you back in North Korea?"

Mina's breath hitched ever so slightly—but Mena caught it.

The reflection leaned in, her dark amusement returning.

"Ohhhh, I hit a nerve, didn't I?"

Mina gritted her teeth, but remained silent.

Mena grinned, her voice lowering to a whisper.

"Remind me... who saved you back then?"

Mina didn't answer.

"Who took control when you were bleeding out, when you were surrounded, when there was no one left?"

Mina closed her eyes for a fraction of a second, willing herself to block out the memories.

But Mena didn't stop.

"Who killed them, Mina?"

Silence.

"Who made sure they never got back up?"

Mina's fists tightened, her nails digging into her palms.

Finally, she exhaled sharply, staring straight at Mena.

"I did."

Mena's smirk widened.

"That's right. And I can do it again. Any time. Any place."

Mina's gaze didn't falter, her voice steady.

"I don't need you, Mena. Not anymore."

Mena's expression flickered—just for a moment—before she sighed dramatically.

"Fine, fine. You win this time, Mina-chan."

The reflection's sinister smirk faded into something softer—more familiar.

It was her own face again.

Mina exhaled deeply. Control restored.

Mina slowly rose to her feet, adjusting her kimono.

She glanced at her reflection one last time before turning away.

As she reached the door, she paused—because just before she stepped out, she heard Mena's voice in her head, ever so faintly.

"But we both know... one day, you'll need me again."

Mina ignored her, stepped out into the hall, and locked the door behind her.

Vale – The Lower Districts

The air in the back alley reeked of damp concrete, sweat, and desperation. The further Jason and Rose ventured into the darker parts of Vale, the more they noticed the crooks, gangs, and underground operations that thrived in the shadows of this so-called kingdom of "peace."

Jason, wearing a dark hoodie, walked ahead with Rose Kim at his side, her own hood pulled low over her face. The two stopped at a rusted metal door, its surface covered in scratches, faded graffiti, and bloodstains that had long since dried.

Jason banged his fist against the door three times.

Silence.

Then, with a sharp metallic scrape, the small window slot slid open. A pair of red Faunus eyes glared out at them.

Jason said nothing.

The eyes narrowed in suspicion, scanned him, and then moved to Rose, who remained still.

Then, without a word, the slot slammed shut.

For a few seconds, neither of them moved.

Then—

CLANK. CLUNK.

The locks disengaged, and before either of them could react, the door swung open violently, and a pair of strong arms grabbed them, yanking them inside.

Jason and Rose hit the ground hard, forced onto their knees.

Their hoods were yanked back, exposing their faces.

At least a hundred White Fang grunts stood around them in a tight formation, all armed—mass-produced pistols, bolt-action rifles, Dust-infused spears, swords, and even crude explosives.

Several Faunus aimed their weapons directly at their heads.

Jason and Rose remained completely still, eyes forward.

A large, burly bull Faunus, standing at the center of the group, stepped forward. His massive arms, covered in scars, flexed as he held a large-caliber pistol aimed at Jason's face. "You have ten seconds to explain why we shouldn't put you in the ground."

Jason slowly exhaled.

He and Rose raised their hands, moving deliberately.

Then, in perfect sync, they unzipped their hoodies—

Revealing their Kevlar vests underneath.

At the center of Jason's vest was the USNA flag,
And at the center of Rose's was the Republic of Korea flag.

A hushed silence spread through the White Fang grunts.

The tension shifted immediately.

The Faunus who had their fingers on their triggers hesitated.

The bull Faunus' eyes widened, lowering his gun slightly.

Murmurs began to ripple through the crowd.

"They're the ones Sienna reported about..."

"The ones from Menagerie..."

"Wait—my cousin was in Menagerie! She said the Marines protected her!"

"Yeah, my uncle was evacuated by those Australian soldiers!"

"And the UN—didn't they send in the Koreans and Japanese to rebuild?"

Jason and Rose remained calm, waiting for the recognition to settle.

The White Fang members, who just seconds ago treated them as hostiles, now looked at them with uncertainty and curiosity rather than outright hostility.

The bull Faunus, now clearly the leader of this particular cell, huffed and crossed his arms. "You two better have a damn good reason for coming here."

Jason nodded.

Slowly, he and Rose grabbed the duffel bags slung over their shoulders and placed them on the floor in front of them.

They unzipped the bags—

Revealing stacks of Lien and containers filled with Dust.

A collective gasp echoed through the room.

Jason's voice was steady as he spoke. "This is a peace offering."

The bull Faunus narrowed his eyes. "What the hell do you mean by that?"

Jason glanced around, making sure everyone was listening. "We're aware of what the UN is doing in Menagerie. You all have families there—some of you lost everything, but the Marines, Australians, Japanese, and Koreans helped. That's not a coincidence."

The murmurs grew louder.

Jason leaned in slightly, his tone sharper. "We also know that the UN doesn't recognize the White Fang as a terrorist organization. They still think you're an activist group for civil rights."

The White Fang members stiffened. "If the UN knew what you were really doing in Vale?" Jason paused for effect, letting the weight of his words sink in. "Let's just say... they'd have questions."

Silence.

A few of the White Fang members shifted uncomfortably, exchanging glances.

The bull Faunus scowled. "So what? You came here to threaten us?"

Rose finally spoke, her voice soft but firm. "No." She shook her head. "We came here to offer you a choice."

The bull Faunus raised an eyebrow. "A choice?"

Jason nodded, picking up a handful of Lien from the duffel bag and tossing it toward him.

The Faunus leader caught the money, staring at it suspiciously.

Jason's expression was calm but serious. "You take the money and supplies, and you stay quiet. No unnecessary violence, no slaughtering civilians, and no blowing up infrastructure."

"In return?" Rose added. "You get to survive."

The room fell into dead silence.

The bull Faunus looked down at the Lien in his hands, then at the Dust containers in the bags.

Then, his gaze met Jason's. "...And if we refuse?"

Jason's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Then we tell the UN the truth about you."

Rose tilted her head slightly. "And we let them handle you the same way they handled the terrorists in our world."

The White Fang members flinched.

They didn't need details—they all probably know the UN has crushed organizations like the White Fang.

They weren't stupid.

The bull Faunus scowled, staring at Jason and Rose for several tense seconds. Then, with a heavy sigh, he lowered his weapon. "Tch. Fine."

Jason and Rose exchanged a glance.

The White Fang leader gestured for his men to stand down, then crossed his arms. "We'll take the deal."

Jason exhaled subtly. Good.

Rose smiled softly, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Smart choice."

Mission Success: The White Fang Deal

The White Fang in Vale are now "neutral" toward the undercover team.

They have agreed to take the supplies in exchange for keeping a low profile.

Jason and Rose successfully avoided a potential firefight and gained new contacts in Vale's underworld.

Jason and Rose walked briskly through the streets of Vale, their strides confident but discreet as they made their way to "Flour & Loaf: Fresh Baked Goods and Subs." The bakery, with its charming facade and the aroma of fresh bread wafting through the air, was the perfect cover for CIA operations—a place where no one would suspect that espionage activities were being conducted right under their noses.

Upon entering, they were greeted by the warm, inviting interior and the sight of assorted breads and pastries lined up behind the glass display. The server behind the counter, a middle-aged man with a welcoming smile, nodded at them knowingly.

"Welcome back! What can I get for you today?" he asked, his eyes flickering briefly to the back door—a signal understood only by those in the know.

Jason and Rose approached the counter, maintaining their cover. "Two specials, please," Jason said, his tone casual but clear.

"Coming right up," the server replied with a wink, before heading to the back to prepare their order.

The "special" was a pre-arranged signal for operatives to deliver or receive intelligence reports. As Jason and Rose waited, they casually scanned the bakery, noting the other patrons who were blissfully unaware of the covert activities occurring within. Moments later, the server returned with two plates. To any onlooker, it appeared they were just being served sandwiches, but tucked underneath the bread were envelopes containing their mission updates and new orders.

As they took their seats at a secluded table by the window, they carefully opened the envelopes and reviewed the contents. Both operatives had been officially promoted to Corporal—recognition of their successful handling of delicate situations and a nod to their increased responsibilities.

Jason's envelope contained a commendation for his negotiation skills with the White Fang, along with new orders to establish deeper intelligence networks within Vale. Rose's instructions were to map out potential logistic routes for covert operations, utilizing her connections from Menagerie to ensure safe passages for operatives and equipment.

After reviewing their orders, Jason looked up at Rose, a slight smirk forming on his lips. "Looks like we're moving up in the world, Corporal."

Rose chuckled softly, her eyes scanning the document once more. "Corporal, huh? Never thought I'd see the day. We better get used to it."

They spent the next hour discussing their strategy, blending their conversation with bites of their sandwiches to maintain the appearance of a casual lunch. Every now and then, they'd exchange notes from their briefings, piecing together their next moves.

What Jason and Rose didn't know was that their activities were being monitored not just by their allies but also by unknown observers. Hidden within the shadows of the bakery, micro-cameras installed by an unidentified party captured every exchange, every glance, every document.

As they left the bakery, feeling confident about their next steps, they remained unaware of the eyes that followed them out. The game of espionage they were playing had layers they hadn't yet uncovered, and in the world of covert operations, trust was a luxury few could afford.

Back at Beacon, their absence was noted by Teams RWBY and JNPR, who were becoming increasingly curious about the frequent disappearances of their new classmates. Little did they know, the true nature of their missions could alter their perceptions forever.

The chapter closed with Jason and Rose stepping back into the sunlight, their faces set with determination, ready to tackle the challenges of their new ranks and responsibilities, oblivious to the deeper shadows that moved around them.

Deep within the winding streets of Vale, nestled between old bookstores and street markets, stood a seemingly unremarkable clothing boutique—"Imperial Styles: Fine Tailoring & Fashion." A humble shop that specialized in fine suits, dresses, and outerwear, catering to Vale's elite and those with a taste for luxury.

To any ordinary citizen, this was just another high-end fashion store.

But to those who knew better, it was one of the many fronts operated by the FSB, Russia's Federal Security Service, serving as a covert intelligence outpost for their agents stationed in Vale.

Their mission?

Monitor and assist the undercover USNA, ROK, and JGDF operatives when necessary.

Observe and analyze the political and military structure of Vale.

Establish emergency contingencies if the mission was compromised.

Counter espionage efforts from rival factions, including the Atlas Military and possible Vale Intelligence.

And right now?

The Russian operatives had eyes on Jason and Rose.

FSB Surveillance – Eyes in the Shadows

Inside Imperial Styles, behind a hidden reinforced steel door, lay a high-tech surveillance room. Monitors displayed live feeds from micro-cameras planted all over Vale—street corners, rooftops, alleyways, even inside Flour & Loaf.

Several FSB operatives in civilian clothing watched the screens intently. One man, sitting in the central seat, was none other than Colonel Dmitry Volkov, a seasoned FSB handler and master tactician in counter-espionage.

He was a broad-shouldered, tall man in his early 40s, with short-cropped brown hair, a hardened expression, and the sharp, calculating eyes of a veteran spy.

One of his analysts, a young woman named Natalya Petrov, wearing a stylish yet unassuming black suit, turned to him. "The American and Korean have made contact with the White Fang as expected. The deal was accepted. No signs of resistance."

Dmitry grunted, his sharp gaze focused on the footage of Jason and Rose inside Flour & Loaf. "Smart move. If the UN still thinks the White Fang is just an activist group, that means they're still blind to their true nature. The Americans and Koreans can use that for leverage."

Another operative, a stocky man named Igor Sokolov, leaned back in his chair, lighting a cigarette. "And what of Ozpin and his people? Their interest in these troops grows by the day."

Natalya tapped on her keyboard, pulling up another screen—hidden cameras inside Beacon Academy, showing Professor Ozpin, Glynda Goodwitch, and the Vale Council discussing the newcomers.

The audio was muffled, but the intent was clear.

Ozpin was digging.

"They are suspicious, but not yet hostile," Natalya noted. "Ozpin plays the long game. He won't act unless he's sure of something."

"Hmph," Dmitry muttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Then we play the long game too. Keep monitoring them. If Ozpin tries anything, we neutralize his efforts before he gets too close."

Igor exhaled smoke, nodding. "And if the troops get compromised?"

Dmitry's cold blue eyes narrowed. "Then we execute Contingency Plan Volk-7. Extraction, evacuation, and total disinformation campaign. We have agents embedded in Vale's infrastructure—we can erase their presence before Vale Intelligence even knows what happened."

Natalya smirked. "They won't even know what hit them."

Dmitry leaned back in his chair, watching the screens in calm, calculated silence.

The Russians were patient.
They would not act unless necessary.
But if the time did come...

They were ready.

As Jason and Rose left Flour & Loaf, stepping onto the bustling streets of Vale, they remained blissfully unaware of the unseen eyes watching their every move.

Across the street, inside Imperial Styles, a single FSB field agent, disguised as a tailor, observed them through the shop's window, speaking quietly into his earpiece. "Targets are mobile. Continuing passive observation."

Jason adjusted his duffel bag, glancing toward the distant city walls. "We should get back to Beacon before someone starts asking questions."

Rose nodded. "Agreed. Don't want to be late for curfew."

They casually made their way back toward the Bullhead docks, blending seamlessly into the crowd.

Meanwhile, the FSB continued watching.

Silent. Unseen. Ever-present.

Mission Status:

✅ Jason & Rose successfully established a connection with White Fang in Vale.
✅ They were promoted to Corporal for their efforts.
✅ FSB continues passive surveillance as a hidden safety net.
❗ Beacon leadership is growing suspicious.
❗ Ozpin is gathering information.
❗ Tensions are slowly rising.

The game of spies and shadows had only just begun.