Chương 45: Chapter 42: The Shadows in the Neon

The steady hum of the rental sedan's engine did little to drown out the explosive energy radiating from the front passenger seat. Outside, the neon lights of Vale's commercial district streaked across the glass in vibrant blurs of violet and cyan. Yang Xiao Long kept one relaxed hand on the steering wheel, a sharp contrast to Nora Valkyrie, who was practically vibrating against the dashboard, her nose pressed flat against the side window.

"Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Because if we aren't, I might actually eat the upholstery, Yang!" Nora bounced, her boots drumming a chaotic rhythm against the floorboards.

"Cool your jets, Nora, we're two blocks away," Yang laughed, her violet eyes flashing with amusement in the rearview mirror. She glanced at the backseat, where the contrast couldn't be starker. Blake Belladonna sat pressed against the left door, her golden eyes fixed on the passing cityscape, her hand occasionally drifting to the black ribbon masking her cat ears. Next to her sat Weiss Schnee, arms tightly crossed over her white combat skirt, her lips pressed into a thin, severely displeased line.

"I still cannot fathom how I allowed myself to be dragged into this... this absolute charade," Weiss muttered, her voice dripping with pure Schnee ice. She adjusted her asymmetrical ponytail with a sharp, irritated flick of her wrist.

"A nightclub, Yang? Seriously? I have a mountain of dust-chemistry theorems to review, and instead, I am trapped in a mid-sized rental vehicle breathing in the scent of cheap pine air freshener." Yang caught Weiss's glare in the mirror and offered a brilliant, unbothered grin.

"Oh, come on, Ice Queen! It's a girls' night out. Once in a while, you need to untie that ponytail, let your hair down, and stop acting like the head of a global conglomerate before you turn twenty. Besides, what part of'I'm paying the entire bill' didn't register in that genius brain of yours?"

"It is the principle of the matter!" Weiss huffed, though her posture softened by a fraction of an inch at the reminder of the free tab.

"And what about Ruby? Leaving your own sister behind feels entirely uncharitable."

"Ruby is sixteen, Weiss," Blake pointed out quietly, her voice smooth but carrying a hint of exhaustion.

"Junior's establishment checks IDs at the door, even if the enforcement is... flexible. If the general public saw the savior of the Vytal festival getting turned away for being underage, it would be an administrative nightmare."

"Yeah, and Pyrrha is totally booked anyway," Nora chimed in, turning around in her seat to grin wildly at the backseat.

"She and Jaune went out for that official dinner date! Jaune was sweating through his good hoodie before they left the dorms. I told him if he didn't treat her like a queen, I'd break his legs, so he's probably very focused right now!"

"Let's just hope Jaune doesn't trip over his own feet and ruin the boy's progress," Yang chuckled, swinging the sedan into a sharp turn that made Weiss clutch the door handle.

"Alright, ladies. Welcome to the rough side of town."

The entrance to Junior's Club loomed beneath a flickering neon sign. The moment Yang pushed the heavy double doors open, a wall of thumping electronic bass and the pungent aroma of fermented sugar and sweat hit them squarely in the face. Inside, the dance floor was a sea of moving bodies under strobe lights, glasses clinking against the long mahogany bar. Instantly, Weiss's nose wrinkled in profound disgust.

"It's loud, it smells like unwashed desperation, and the floor is remarkably sticky. I hate it."

"You and me both," Blake murmured, her shoulders tensing as her sharp hearing picked up the jarring frequencies of the music. Then, it happened. A lone henchman near the entrance, wearing a sharp black suit and red sunglasses, caught sight of the golden hair and the silver hair-piece entering the foyer. He froze. The word spread like wildfire through the crowd. The DJ abruptly lifted the needle, causing a horrific screech to echo through the speakers. The music cut out entirely. The dancing stopped.

Within three seconds, the entire nightclub fell into a dead, suffocating silence, save for the low murmur of panicking patrons backing away toward the exits. From the shadows of the VIP lounges and the back rooms, dozens of Junior's black-suited henchmen stepped forward, drawing batons and charging their small-caliber firearms, their faces pale but determined. Blake's hand slowly dropped to the hilt of Gambol Shroud at her hip.

"I'm getting the distinct feeling that we are not entirely wanted here."

"Oh, structural observation, Blake," Weiss said, her silver rapiers of ice dust already beginning to hum subtly within Myrtenaster as she stepped into a flawless fencing stance. In stark contrast, Yang's grin split wide across her face, the gauntlets of Ember Celica ticking into place around her wrists with a heavy, metallic clack. Next to her, Nora's eyes lit up like standard fireworks as she hoisted Magnhild onto her shoulder, the massive grenade hammer practically begging for a swing.

"Oh, matching suits? How formal," Yang purred, her violet eyes shifting into a dangerous, glowing crimson as she took a slow step forward. She looked at the leading henchmen, her voice dripping with heavy, theatrical sarcasm.

"Are you boys absolutely sure you want to attack such powerless, innocent little ladies like us? It might ruin your reputation."

"Yeah!" Nora shouted, a maniacal grin plastered across her face as she rested the head of her hammer on the floor, cracked concrete spider-webbing beneath it.

"If you guys get scared, just let us know! We can always call The Hero of Vale to come jog over and save us! Though, honestly, I think his sweeping schedule is a little tight today!" Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The henchmen didn't wait for the punchline. With a unified roar, the first wave lunged forward. The brawl was over almost before it began.

Yang met the first line with an explosive right hook that sent three men crashing through a tier of glass tables. Weiss moved like a blizzard, her glyphs flashing in brilliant whites and blues, freezing the feet of incoming attackers before parrying their batons with elegant precision. Blake was a blur of shadows. Her clones took the brunt of the gunfire while she swept the legs of the shooters from behind.

Nora simply spun once, the heavy draft of Magnhild's weight clearing the entire left side of the bar with a resounding CRACK that sent bodies flying into the drywall.

"Enough! Stop making a total mess of my establishment!" A booming voice echoed from the upper balcony. Hei "Junior" Xiong marched down the grand staircase, his heavy green coat billowing behind him. The remaining henchmen, who were currently trembling in absolute terror while holding broken batons, instantly fell back, letting out audible sighs of relief as they scrambled out of the line of fire. Junior stopped at the base of the stairs, rubbing his temples as he looked at the shattered glass and splintered wood.

He glared at Yang, though his eyes held a deep, unyielding weariness.

"Yang. It's been a while. But this is the first time you've actually brought a whole circus with you."

"Hey, Junior!" Yang waved casually, the crimson fading back into her cheerful violet eyes as Ember Celica retracted.

"Good to see you too! Yeah, it's been a minute since the whole Battle of Beacon business. Thought I'd bring the girls by for some quality bonding." Junior hid his profound annoyance behind a tight, forced professional smile. He gestured toward the far corner of the room, away from the debris.

"Right. Splendid. What would you four like to order? And please, tell me it's something that doesn't involve breaking my structural load-bearing pillars."

"Four strawberry cross-fizzes. Virgin. No liquor," Yang ordered smoothly. Junior blinked, slightly caught off guard by the lack of alcohol, before sighing deeply.

"Back in a minute." He turned and disappeared into the back kitchen to prepare the drinks himself, clearly wanting to keep his remaining staff out of harm's way. The four Huntresses walked over to a semi-intact circular booth near the back.

"See? I told you this place had character," Yang said, sliding into the leather booth with her hands locked behind her head.

"I used to do this all the time back before Beacon. It's a great way to stay limber." Weiss let out a long, theatrical sigh that shook her entire frame, dabbing a speck of dust off her white sleeve.

"Your definition of 'staying limber' involves reckless property damage and terrorizing the local underworld, Yang. It is an incredibly chaotic hobby."

"Are you kidding? This is amazing!" Nora bounced into the seat next to Yang, slamming her fists on the table.

"Yang, you should have invited me here way more often! The acoustics in this place make the hammer swings sound so crisp!" Before Blake could offer her own commentary, Junior returned, carrying a tray with four tall, sparkling red drinks topped with fresh strawberries. He set them down with a heavy thud just as the girls settled in. Yang took a deep sip, humming in satisfaction, before leaning across the table, her eyes narrowing as she locked onto Junior's gaze. The casual atmosphere evaporated in an instant.

"Alright, Junior. Fun time's over," Yang said, her voice dropping into a low, dangerous register.

"You know exactly why I'm here. I need information. The usual topic. Where is my she?" Junior took a step back, crossing his arms, his face hardening.

"Yang, I told you before the network crashed, I don't know anything new. Her tribe stays off the grid. I'm not committing suicide by digging into the Branwen Tribe's business for you--" In a flash of movement that made the glasses rattle, Yang reached across the table. Her hand bolted forward, wrapping tightly around the collar of Junior's green coat, yanking the heavy man downward until his face was mere inches from hers. Weiss gasped softly, her hand flying to her mouth in surprise at the sudden escalation.

Blake's eyes widened, her posture tensing as she looked between Yang and Junior. Nora, however, simply leaned forward, a wide, predatory grin spreading across her face as she cheered silently.

"Junior," Yang whispered, a sweet, terrifyingly sarcastically pleasant smile forming on her lips as her eyes flickered with a faint ember glow.

"Let's try that answer one more time. I know your scouts see things. Tell me." Junior's throat bobbed. The memory of what Yang had done to his club in the past, and the knowledge of what her friends could do, flooded his mind. He panicked, his hands rising in a gesture of absolute surrender.

"Alright! Alright! Fine! My scouts... they picked up something last week. A nomadic movement. They saw the Branwen Tribe setting up camp deep within the northern forests of Mistral. That's all I know, I swear!" Yang's smile turned into a bright, victorious beam.

"See? Was that so hard?" She released his collar with a sudden flick, smoothing out his lapels with her palms.

"Thanks, Junior! Keep the change." As Junior scrambled backward, muttering curses under his breath while straightening his coat, Blake suddenly went rigid. Behind her thick black ribbon, her Faunus cat ears twitched violently. She picked up the distinct sound of shuffling fabric and a hurried, nervous breath near the dark service corridor by the kitchen. Blake turned her sharp golden gaze toward the shadows.

A figure clad in a dark, oversized civilian hoodie with the hood pulled low was creeping toward the emergency exit, desperately clutching a silver scroll to his chest. The silhouette, the slight tilt of the shoulders, it struck an immediate chord of dangerous familiarity in her chest.

"Hey! Stop right there!" Blake shouted, leaping over the back of the booth before Weiss or Yang could even ask what was happening. The hooded Faunus gasped, his head snapping toward her. Realizing he had been spotted, he bolted for the door. But Blake was entirely too fast. With a fluid burst of speed, she caught up to him in the narrow corridor, her hand grabbing his shoulder and twisting him around. She threw him against the wall with a firm, practiced sweep.

The force of the impact caused the silver scroll to slip from his panicked grip, clattering loudly across the floorboards. Yang, Weiss, and Nora rushed over, their weapons partially drawn. Yang looked at the trembling young man, raising an eyebrow.

"Huh. As far as I know, there are rarely ever Faunus coming into Junior's joint. What's his deal?" Blake didn't answer. Her eyes were locked onto the glowing screen of the dropped scroll, which had lit up upon impact. A heavy, suffocating weight seemed to drop into the corridor. Displayed in bright, stark crimson lines on the glass screen was the unmistakable, stylized crest of a burning white mask. The logo of the White Fang. Weiss stepped closer, her breath catching in her throat.

"What? I... I thought all the White Fang cells had completely fled from Vale's borders months ago, especially after Saitama started 'patrolling' the city."

"They did," Blake whispered, her hands trembling as she picked up the device. Her thumbs flew across the screen, her expressions turning from suspicion to absolute, cold horror as she bypassed the low-level encryption.

"This isn't a local Vale operation... Oh gods, no."

"Blake? What is it?" Yang asked, her voice losing all of its previous playfulness as she saw the sheer terror bleeding into her teammate's face.

"It's an encrypted tactical log," Blake said, her voice cracking under the emotional weight of the words as she read the scrolling text.

"High-priority operational orders... sent directly from the main command hub in Mistral to the Menagerie regional branch." Blake read the data on the screen. It showed the organization's plan in deploying forces. It was written that they are setting up a massive surveillance perimeter around the Belladonna estate, and the direct order from the new leadership:'Neutralize the political threat posed by Ghira Belladonna'"My parents..." Blake dropped her hands, her face completely pale as she looked up at her friends.

"Adam is going to kill my father."