Chapter 21: Mountain Glenn
~Jae POV~
*Ding*
*Ding*
Fucking finally this semester is fucking over.
Glancing over to professor Bartholomew Oobleck he began to give us a proper farewell towards his class also known as us in a sincere tone, "Welp! Look at the time class I hope you all do well during your semester break. I know you will do a lot in the future, but I hope you take this time to relax and enjoy yourself with your loved ones. Now then gooooood byyyyyyyeeeee!!!!!"
*VROOM*
I swear I will never get what that crazy quack is up to these days as I have a hard time understanding that guy.
Seriously though what does he add in his coffee a good dose of cocaine or something or what?
Glancing around I see the students are finally leaving for this time as we have only a few weeks off for this glorious time of events.
That was when Nora was especially happy the moment as she grins happily at the news holding Ren, "YIPPIE!!! FINALLY, FREEDOM REN!!!"
Yeah, that would be how I expected it to be…
Seeing as the two are gone with a dust cloud of their shapes I asked Pyrrha honestly what is her plans were as I spoke catching her by surprise, "Say Pyrrha what exactly are you doing during semester break? Just asking to be curious."
She grins at this as she clasps her hands together in joy as she began to explain to me what she'll do once she gets back home at Mistral, "Oh! I'm so glad you asked Jae I was planning to have some family time with my mother oh but…"
Quickly dismissing her attempts to calm me I waved it off as I have been busy with something else other than crime for a change. I began to calm oh my so-called fearless leader in a cheerful tone of voice, "That must sound great Pyrrha! I hope everything goes well for you once you get back home. As for me, I have plans of my own to do."
That and plenty of things to do behind the scenes that are not helping Cinder bitch out a lot on in between jobs between my work and school life once she gathered the info about the student's semblances.
But I have some plans I need to be doing since finding the remote island is no good even with Penny's help. Then again, I should expect that much since I couldn't find him the normal means since he wants to be hidden.
Pyrrha looks sad at me remembering what we talked about those few weeks ago, but I waved it off her as I commented on how she should spend it, "No worries Pyrrha. Just have fun let loose and be yourself. I think you more than deserve it after the stress of being the leader for so long I think you need this."
That was when she looked conflicted as she tries to give me a reason to join her as she offers me the trip to go along with her, "I see… Oh! I know how about you come and join me during our time in Mistral! I – "
As much as I would very much like the idea to corrupt Pyrrha into a mind slave bitch there is a better time and place for it. Even I can't use <Mind Control> till I find a way to erase people's memories.
Fortunately, though I got the chance to meet and befriend Team CFVY with Velvet allowing me to meet up with everyone again… as well as know where they went off for the time being so I can track them down later.
Team CFVY pronounced Coffee is a team of second-year students from Beacon Academy.
Coco Adel is the leader of Team CFVY with her other members Scarlet Velvet, Fox Alistair, and Yatsuhashi Daichi. They were right there and their abilities for the taking but it was too soon to act during the fall of beacon or the break would I act.
Till then they are off the tables, but I have to secure a few things first before acting.
But I have important behind the plans of the curtain I have to make as it's too important to stop for this. So interrupting Pyrrha as I talked to her kindly refusing her invitation, "Sorry Pyrrha but I don't want to be the third wheel with your family. And besides, I have something else to do something a bit personal. But it's nothing to be concerned about yourself. So, no worries ok?"
She looks downcasted but she returns with a smile as she told me in a chipper but with the hint of defeated tone in her voice, "Oh… ok then I guess… But if you have spare time do call me to see how you are doing ok? I don't mind you coming to visit ok. Don't worry about yourself alright Jae? Were… friends so don't worry ok."
I nodded at her as I smiled while thanking her for her invite as I should call her later to come by. No worries Pyrrha I just have some things to do or not.
Whiter you care or not is a factor.
Plus knowing where you, Ren, Nora, Ruby, Yang, Velvet, and Wiess lives are really useful for me to have. But first things first I need to get a scientist to work under me before moving ahead with the next steps of my goals.
With that, I began to leave her as I began to get things ready for the next objective that is highly dangerous to me and Penny…
Going to a Grimm-infested land of Mountain Glenn to search for Merlot Industries then find the founder to make him work for me.
Time to hurry along with my goals…
…
…
~Third POV~
Mountain Glenn was an expansion of Vale to the southeast that was overrun and destroyed by the Creatures of Grimm.
Mountain Glenn is a defunct city-dwelling comprised of destroyed and dilapidated buildings. Grimm and sand have begun to retake the landscape.
The area also boasted an extensive subway system, taking advantage of the preexisting underground caverns; these caverns also contain a makeshift village as derelict as the rest of the city. Mountain Glenn was the Kingdom of Vale's first serious attempt at expansion.
The kingdom developed an elaborate underground metro system that allowed the settlers to commute to and from the main kingdom and the new territory, thus bypassing the danger of the Grimm, while also setting up an aggressive perimeter defense that worked for a short period, keeping the thousands of the city's residents safe in their new home.
However, Mountain Glenn did not boast the natural barriers Vale did, and as such Grimm attacks began to increase every day until inevitably they overwhelmed the city's defenses.
These ever-increasing attacks were partly due to the actions of Merlot Industries which worked to attract more Grimm for experimentation.
In a last-ditch effort to stave off destruction, the citizens of Mountain Glenn took refuge in the tunnels they had initially cleared for their subways, converting them into an underground settlement and cutting themselves off from the surface entirely.
Unfortunately, this supposed haven was eventually compromised when an explosion opened the mouth of another cavern filled with subterranean Grimm. This left the town completely exposed and the remaining citizens beyond saving.
With no other recourse, Vale sealed off the tunnels permanently, creating the world's largest tomb. The ruins of Mountain Glenn now stand as a reminder for history to reflect upon….
…
…
*Vroom*
*Thud*
Wearing his Happy Man disguise Jae, Penny and Neo are now arriving at Mountain Glenn from the Bullhead as one of the White Fang grunts replies at them growling, "There humans. This is as far as I'm willing to drop you off. Better hurry up your way human scum."
"Ahm!"
That was when Penny was glaring at the White Fang grunt as her eyes changed red to the grunt as she replies correctly in a childish manner, "Ahm! Sorry mister but I'm an android. Can you please not be racist towards machines like me. That was a very rude jerk!"
Pausing at this Neo looked confused as Jae placed his hand over his mask Neo began to speak through her semblance with a deadpan voice, 'Is this secret weapon of Atlas android that you stole and reprogramed that dumb…. I question your intelligence for this?'
A sigh escaped his mouth as Jae explained to Neo while shaking his head as he began to speak in a normal tone of voice, "Sigh… not much I can do about it. They placed a learning program for her to adapt and learn her surroundings like a normal person. Even when I installed the ways for her to improve."
The White Fang grunt just stands there for a second before he shakes his head as he began to leave as he said a few choices of words, "Yeah….. sorry tin can…. This is so awkward so… yeah see ya later humans and robots…"
*Vroom*
With that, the Bullhead that carried them here left as all three began to move ahead as the three are getting the attention of the Grimm in the area.
"Brr…"
Growling of Beowolves and Ursai began to get near the three as Neo rolls her eyes at them as she gets ready to fight but then stop as Jae raised his hand on her as he talks, "No need Neo. Leave this to me. I needed to test out my power and Penny will catch up with you later at the meeting point with Roman."
Smiling at this she began to leave as her illusion began to break down like glass as the Grimm began to get closer Jae began to conjure up his aura as he used his <Aura Manipulation> to create a sphere made of pure aura as he talked to himself, "Heh. I always wondered why aura was so useful. Aura by our definition is the manifestation of our soul but at the same time completely weightless. No mass whatsoever…"
Pointing his finger at the hordes of Grimm coming towards them the ball of aura soon gets bigger to the point it looks more like a size of a car, "So Penny what happens if the ball of completely condensed aura were fired upon at the enemy?"
Looking honestly intrigued Penny began to explain as she is briefly as she could remember in her memory banks about aura in a positive manner, "Correct! Aura by our nature is massless but since Aura is mostly used defensively as well as an attack when imbue it's never really had a speed before. However…"
*Pew*
*SWOOSH*
*BANG*
That was when Jae began to shoot at the hordes of Grimm as the giant ball of aura as it immediately crushed them from the sheer speed it was flown as the ball began to disappear while Jae began to reply to his question, "The only few things that have the great speed that have no mass – "
But that was defeated as Penny immediately answered his question as she answered with a childish grin on her face, "The speed of light! Only a few things that have no mass that can go at incredible speeds breaking away anything in their wake! Truly wondrous discovery master!"
Twitching could be seen under his mask as Penny stole his moment but digress as he releases a sigh of defeat as they began to get ready for their purpose, "Sigh… yeah, yeah Penny you got it right. But since we got to ride along with Neo, she should be safe with the others. For now, we have our objective the time being. So is your search accurate to know where Merlot Industries is located at?"
Penny nodded her head as her eyes beam out a map with Jae nodding in agreement as they both began to go along…
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A/N: Now we finally get to the semester break portion of the story where the MC will finally start getting his subordinates into motion. Also, the quick question would you want the MC to brainwash some of the Main Cast to his side or just remain a few people for him to corrupt?