The air was tense for god knows how long as both parties watched each other intensely.
Hector then broke the silence by saying while getting up from the stall.
"If you're not willing to cooperate then I guess I'll take my business-"
"Wait!" Rider said reaching his arm out and saying.
"If we're going to sell her out we ain't gonna stick around for you when you're out to get her. Not that it'll be easy."
To further their trust in him and to make things go even smoother he lied saying.
"I know, fifty thousand Lien and a ship that can get you to Vale with little no to no problem from there you and your comrades can do what you wish."
The group of five looked at one another surprised and looked at the stranger wondering who the hell he was.
"W-Who are you?" Rider said before Hector looked into Rider and said,
"Someone who you do not want to make an enemy out of. Now, the sooner you get me what I want, you will get what you want."
"I'll get in c-contact with one of Owl's squad mates." Rider said before heading towards the back.
LINEBREAK
In Mantle's eastern district Robyn Hill and two of her trusted friends, Fiona Thyme and Joanna Greenleaf.
They were heading towards the town that sent a distress signal over a month ago. They've been trying to reach them but were constantly held up with the other problems Mantle was facing.
As they reached the town they noticed no thugs or such. So when they reached the center of the town by snowmobile they were greeted by glares by the locals.
They saw some of the townspeople doing pushups, situps, and even using guns on snowmen as target practice.
"Did... they take care of the problem themselves?" Fiona asked which then a young man said.
"What are Huntresses doing here?" The young man said, the same one Hector yelled at.
"We came to answer your distress call." Robyn answered which the boy scoffed and said.
"Don't you think you're a little too late?"
"Okay kid, listen I know we didn't come right away but-"
"Ben! Who are these- oh Huntresses." The cheifton said unamused.
After Hector saved them he helped them organize a stronger defense and even how to properly fight in the frozen terrain he had earned the respect of people despite his rather ruthless tactics.
"I think it would be better if we talk about it in my office." The cheifton said before turning his attention to Ben.
"Oh and Ben, please remember what the bounty hunter told to train with controlling your recoil. A bullet whizzed passed my window."
Ben then turned a bit red before scratching the back of his head before apologizing and going back to the firing range.
"Bounty hunter? You think bounty hunters freed them?" Joanna asked which Robyn replied, "We're about to find out."
As they entered his office he took a seat and said,
"Please, take a seat."
The Huntresses nodded before Robyn and Fiona took a seat while Joanna stood next to Robyn. They were themselves curious to see who took the job, around thirty thugs and wondered of it was someone other than a Huntsmen since the cheifton seemed a bit nervous.
"So cheifton, who helped your town." Robyn asked before he answered,
"A bounty hunter."
The three of them looked amongst each other in disbelief. A bounty hunter? Bounty hunters weren't anymore than combat school or Huntsmen academy dropouts or just amateurs with guns. But hearing the cheifton said it was one was surprising to say the least.
"A bounty hunter? Really?" Joanna said as she crossed her arms but the cheifton shouted.
"Well it's even more embarrassing since the bounty hunter wasn't any older than seventeen!"
The Huntresses were taken back by his sudden outburst before he apologized.
"S-Sorry but ask anyone here and they will too agree that a young bounty hunter saved us. He even stuck around when I asked if he could protect us until we were able to get things running again."
"If he helped free you and your people then where are the bandits who took over the town?-"
"He killed them... all of them."
The cheifton said with a dreaded voice. Although he was grateful and respected the bounty hunter, he would be lying if he said he wasn't afraid of him. That painted smile spoke of sadistic pleasure in the violence he did.
"He... killed them?" Robyn said in disbelief before the cheifton turned around and pointed out towards the snowy valley.
"If you don't believe me, look around there. He burned the bodies there. But in less than two hours he killed all of them with no hesitation. He even forced them in the townhall to make sure they didn't get their heads blown off with that sniper of his."
The Huntresses were in utter disbelief but continued to listen.
"We were shoved into shacks before he started to attack. One of the men saw him kill two bandits... with one bullet. Not once, not twice but THREE times! Tell me, how many people do you know that can do that? S-Soryy I'm rabbling but in the end, he won."
"W-What happened afterwards?" Robyn asked.
"He of course freed us, helped us take out the fires and made sure we didn't get attacked while we rebuilt our small town. But..." the cheifton said trialing off mumbling.
"But?" Fiona repeated which the cheifton looked up at them and said,
"While the last few remaining thugs were held out in the townhall he said and I quote,
You are surrounded! Your comrades killed. Make peace with your god now, for tonight is your final one. BUT I am not without mercy, come out and I will grant you a quick death. And if you don't... then prepare."
"A thug then went outside with his hands out and... I guess you know what happened next?"
Joanna still didn't believe a kid did this so she then headed out to verify if he really did burn the bodies.
"Where can we find this bounty hunter?" Robyn asked. She wanted to know who this person was and figure out what game they were up to. But she also in some way help this very troubled kid since they were killing with no hesitation or remorse.
"I... don't know where they went. They traveled back on foot to Mantle but other than that I don't know anything else." The cheifton said as the Huntresses saw themselves out. But then Fiona asked,
"If you don't mind me asking how does he look like?"
The cheifton then responded,
"He blends in with the snow, dressed in all white but you know it's him if you see... that smile. That sadistic smile he painted on his gas mask. You'll know when you see it."
LINEBREAK
"Have you had any luck finding the bounty hunter?" General Ironwood asked his right hand woman and one of his best trackers:
Winter Schnee and Marrow Amin.
"No sir, after he landed in docks in Mantle he practically became a ghost." Winter replied which Ironwood sighed before Marrow chimed in.
"Or at least that's what we would've said if we weren't smart."
Ironwood looked up perplexed while Winter pinched the bridge of her nose. Ironwood then chuckled and said,
"Well? What do you have?"
"He's a bounty hunter correct?" Marrow said which the general agreed.
"Yes."
"So what better place to look than recently completed bounties? So me and Winter yesterday went to a nearby town and found out he in fact was there after looking into other finished bounties." Marrow explained which Ironwood asked.
"And what happened at the town?" Winter stepped foward and said,
"The town was under the control of thugs. So he... killed them."
"As much as it sounds wrong... I can't say I'm surprised."
"He stayed with them for another two weeks for security. After that he left on foot for Mantle but we didn't get any video or even someone seeing him pass through the gate."
Winter explained, she had to admit he was smart, calculated and dangerous.
A single fifteen year old that could take on thirty thugs was telling but even more disturbing that his bullets passed through one person to another that ended up killing two with on shot.
"Any leads on him now?" Ironwood asked which Marrow answers,
"No sir. Up until he came back he has been a ghost but we are going to Mantle to ask if anyone has seen him or at least let us know if they do."
"Very well. You are dismissed." Ironwood said which Winter and Marrow left.
"Do you think Ironwood wants to recruit him?" Marrow asked Winter.
"Maybe but having a deranged bounty hunter on the loose doesn't make Atlas look good." Winter replied coldly.
"I wouldn't say completely deranged. I mean, if he'd have to go somewhere to sleep and eat. Plus, he wouldn't go to Atlas itself obviously but go to either the southern district or the crater considering that's where criminals usually hang out and where's there criminals... there's bounties."
Marrow said looking up with a realization that he just helped their search by days of not weeks.
"Marrow Amin, that might've been the smartest thing you said all week." Winter said before the elevator doors opened and left which Marrow said proudly,
"Why thank you- hey! What's that supposed to mean?" Marrow said following Winter outside.
Both groups were determined to find the bounty hunter. Both sides wanted to know what his game was, why he was in Atlas and why he took lives so easily.
Unknown to them that this bounty hunter was actually just now giving the defacto leader of the crater some advice concerning the Mole Rats.
The defacto leader of the crater was concerned since more recently the Mole Rats have been moving in and Hector assured him that the Mole Rats will in less than three months be no more.
"That is assuring but we don't have the Lien to pay you." The leader whose name was James Bone.
"Payment? No! No no no! What type of guest would I be if I charged the people of the home I am staying at?"
Hector said patting the nervous leader's back while the paced around his large tent where meetings were sometimes held.
He raised an eyebrow which Hector sighed and said,
"I might kill people for a living but even I have morals. Professionals have standards sir."
Which was true, Hector was no doubt ruthless to those he hunted down and how he killed them but when it came to the innocent, even he was hesitant to hurt them.
As his abuela said,
"Never hurt an innocent person who just want to live their lives. But to those no good criminals? No mercy!"
He also respected the elderly because his grandma so suffice it to say: They were pretty safe.
"We... are grateful to help us. You have no idea what we have lived through. Constant fear of knowing where, when or who will be kidnapped. We are in your debt." The elder said which Hector responded.
"No need to bow, Mr. Boone. I will personally see that the Mole Rats go six feet down. Or into little pieces. BUT! There is one thing I ask of your people."
"A-And what could you need?" The elder asked unsure.
"You see ever since I killed Sion, the Headmaster Ozpin has been on my ass ever since. And his dog Ironwood is trying to track me down."
Hector explained which the elder finished by saying,
"And you want my people to act like we haven't interacted with you in the crater?"
"Yes, why they want me I don't know for sure exactly but I won't let that get in the way."
"I understand... but there is someone here you should know about." The elder said which Hector raised an eyebrow from under the shadow casted by his hood and asked,
"Who?"
"She used to be a one helluva Huntress from way back in the day. Heh, twenty years older than me." He responded.
"Ah, I have a distinct feeling that he doesn't like me?" Hector said with his arms behind his back.
"That's one way to put it but she has sensed great potential in you. However she did say something rather interesting about you." The elder said which Hector asked what it was,
"She... didn't sense an aura."
Hector simply chuckled trying to hide his worry. This woman was bad news, if word of this spread then any potential enemy could become emboldened by this.
"Where can I find this retired Huntress?"
"In the northern part of the crater. But please try to be cordial. The last one who greatly disrespected her was an Atlas soldier who got launched from one end of the crater to the other."
"Then it sounds like we'll get along just fine."