Chapter 4 - Reporting in

Part one: Za Warudo

Firstly, the world. It seems to mostly be Remnant, Geographically speaking. Dragon-shaped continents, four major kingdoms and multiple smatterings of towns and villages. Though there are some differences, such as the Patch island and Waifei penninsula being somewhat close by. Vale had fallen over a hundred or so years ago during the Great War due to the emergence of a huge Hollow and pressure from both Mistral and Mantle.

Now, it serves as a multicultural metropolis with some of the best Huntsmen and Huntresses coming from here. That includes pretty much the whole cast of Zenless. Cunning Hares, Belobog, Pubsec, Obol squad, Victoria Housekeeping, Sons of Calydon, Section Six, Mockingbird, Yunkui Summit and I even saw 'Spook-Shack' on Interknot.

As for the other Kingdoms? As I've rarely traveled outside Vale (Country), I only have surface level knowledge and reports from Pubsec I can rely on. Vale seems to be a superpower on the world stage. Corps like TOPS and military all vie for power and exist in an uneasy balance of power for now. Atlas is a democratic capitalist nation with a focus on scientific advancement nestled in the arctic mountains. Vacuo is a desert nation rich in Dust, rich natural resources and a big Hollow off the coast that a ton of their people delve into for Hollow Raiding. Mistral is a cultural and varied land where the very concept of martial arts was founded. Finally, Menagerie is just as it was in the series, only one city exists on the island and it lacks resources that would see its economy flourish.>

Jane closed her notebook and mentally noted to update it later. There was still a few things she needed to sort through. Such as if every single 'character' was exactly the same. Like if Summer Rose died, if Caesar hadn't lost her arm, if Adam Taurus was an obsessed ex-boyfriend with a Faunus supremacy agenda and finally, if Salem and Ozpin were still having the world's longest couple's fight.

In all likelihood, Jane knew there had to be some changes. Just as the Branwen bandits had proved.

*Riiing~* *Riiiing~*

Jane was pulled from her thoughts by the ringing of her scroll. Picking it up off her coffee table, she saw the caller ID: 'Handler'. That could only be one person. Zhu Yuan.

*Click*

"Hello? You rarely call me yourself, Captain. Is something wrong?" Jane greeted, then asked.

It had to be said Zhu Yuan did rarely call. But that was for good reason. It'd be a little awkward if she called Jane while she was infiltrating.

"Ah, sorry Jane. It's just that something unexpected came up. You haven't infiltrated the Mountain Lion tribe yet, have you?" Zhu Yuan sounded casual yet Jane could tell there was something stressing her out.

"I haven't yet, no. I still have to contact my informant.. What came up exactly? Something you need my assistance with?"

There was a brief pause before Zhu Yuan cleared her throat.

"We were contacted by Councilor Ozpin, the headmaster of Beacon Academy. He dropped your.. name specifically. He wants to meet you but I'm not sure why. Do you want to meet with him or should I..." Zhu Yuan paused, internally debating if she should lie to cover her comrade.

Jane hummed thoughtfully. She had no memory of ever interacting with Ozpin or his agents. She knew of him as just 'Jane' but knowing the full scope of who he is as an immortal sort of changed the previously vague opinion she had of him.

Then it hit her. Her encounter with Yang two days prior. She must have dropped her name to either him or her Uncle. Given that Beacon starts its new semester in two weeks, she figured Yang must have told her Uncle, who told Ozpin.

"Jane? If you're unsure about meeting the Headmaster I can-" "No no. I was just thinking. I have an idea about what he may want from me." Jane interrupted, trying to assuage Zhu Yuan's nervousness.

Lying to the Headmaster of Beacon and head Councilor of Vale who was in charge of Huntsmen would probably make anyone nervous after all..

"Let him know I'll stop by tomorrow. I'm curious how he knew I worked with Pubsec but he probably has access to our files. Being the head Huntsman in Vale and all.." Jane thought aloud.

Zhu Yuan sighed and grumbled something about 'Huntsman priviliges' away from the reciever before asking, "Do you want me to come with you? And can you tell me why exactly he wants to speak with you? You didn't interfere with Huntsman business, did you?"

"Mmmm~.. yes and no. The fight that broke out in Junior's nightclub? I was involved, but so was one of his students. I gave her a little history lesson and some knowledge anyone could dig up in Mistral. So you can relax~ I didn't do anything bad. Oh and I can handle the meeting by myself, no need to worry, Captain."

"Hmm.. okay. Just let me know if you need assistance, Jane. I'll have your back."

Jane felt touched. She knew Zhu Yuan was dedicated to the precinct and looked after her colleagues but not many would stick their necks out. Least of all for a somewhat sketchy undercover agent they rarely spend time with. Though maybe that last part can be rectified after the meeting.

"Thank you, Zhu Yuan. I'll be sure to call you if I need to get bailed out~." Jane responded in her signature teasing tone, yet conveyed her sincerity by calling Zhu Yuan by her name.

"Ah-yes.. wait-" *Click* Jane hung up, hearing how obviously flustered Zhu Yuan was.

"Ah~ I'll never get tired of that.."

Jane then took a quick look around her apartment and decided to eat. Though the only things she ever stocked were junk food and quick, easy to make food like instant ramen. A life like hers, where she was always busy, she rarely had time to learn how to cook. Even as Eve, she could really only cook a somewhat decent mac n cheese. And after an inventory check she did yesterday, Jane was pretty sure she had nothing aside from junk food, gas station food and over thirty cups of instant ramen.

"I really should eat better.." Jane muttered as she peeled back the plastic lid of her instant ramen cup.

The rest of her evening consisted of researching Ozpin, his trusted allies and updating some of her notes. She wasn't going to trust her base knowledge of RWBY and ZZZ but she wasn't going to dismiss it either. There was a solid plan budding in her mind but she would need to get a little closer to the main cast and see if both team RWBY and Random Play would encounter each other.

She had noted the Cunning Hares were operating but hadn't yet done that job where they stole Fairy yet. When they do? Jane planned to send an anonymous 'tip' to up their HDD security so their account wouldn't get hacked. That would be her way in. At least before she would 'officially' meet them during her special episode.

*Sluuurp*

"I should also try those noodles on sixth street.." Jane muttered to herself as she slurped down the, frankly mid, instant ramen.

-Beacon, next day-

The trip to Beacon was a lot more time consuming and eventful than Jane expected. First off, she needed to take a bullhead to the Academy, as it was actually separate from Vale city. Sitting over a huge cliff with numerous waterfalls and a few craggy rock formations was one of the largest castles she had ever seen. Looking a lot different than she had remembered as 'Eve'. Though that may very well be due to the budget.

It was still incredibly impressive. She didn't have very long to admire the architecture though, given as soon as she stepped off the bullhead, she was met with the barrel of a gunblade, courtesy of Qrow Branwen. Given her high perception and attention to details, she noticed he didn't have his finger on the trigger and thus didn't immediately move away.

"I'm sensing some hostility~." Jane quipped, noting the slight twitch of Qrow's lips.

"Qrow. We talked about this. Miss Doe didn't do anything wrong." An aged, refined voice cut in. Ozpin walking over with a calm yet stern expression as he gave Qrow a warning.

"Didn't do anything wrong my ass. You had no business telling Yang about her Mom like that. Who the hell do you think you are? I've half a mind to put you in your place."

"Qrow. We invited her to talk and clear the air. Not to punish her." Though Ozpin stated as much, he hadn't moved to actually stop him.

Jane tilted her head with a small smile.

"Well, I appreciate the 'good cop' and 'bad cop' routine but can we continue whatever test you're thrusting upon me inside? I'd like to at least see more of Beacon while you figure out my motives."

Qrow's lips twitched again. But this time, he snickered and looked at Ozpin with a smug grin.

"Told you it wouldn't work. Even trying to catch her off guard right out the gate didn't do much. Hell, as soon as she saw my finger wasn't on the trigger she practically relaxed, Oz."

Ozpin wordlessly shrugged and took a long sip of whatever was in his mug.

"Yes, I noticed. I wanted to be sure of your capabilities, you see. And Qrow.."

Qrow sheathed Harbinger, his blade, and cleared his throat.

"I wanted to see if firecracker's first crush measured up. I was a bit annoyed you revealed all that before her family did but.. well, she's seventeen. She'd eventually find out around this age." Qrow shrugged.

Jane raised her brow. She knew Yang definitely checked her out. But crush? That was probably an exaggeration. They only met once and it's not like she made that much of an impression on her, right?

"Well, let's head inside. I think we have an interesting conversation ahead of us, Miss Doe." Ozpin slid his glasses up and smiled mysteriously before he led them toward the massive academy