I feel like this chapter should come with a content warning for Cinder being the biggest red flag the world has ever seen, but then it's Cinder lol. Girl wears that red flag.

Cover Art: Solace O'Autumn

Chapter 58

"Are we sure he can pull this off?"

Cinder didn't blame Emerald her doubts. Jaune had talked of pulling this off and she trusted that he wanted to, and yet the first step on a path like this was always the hardest. Talk was always easy. Cinder knew he had the potential, she could sense it, but everyone had potential – even the smallest and most innocent of children could be monsters given the right motivation, or sometimes just the opportunity. She had been innocent once. Cinder Fall had not come out the womb plotting murder.

But Emerald was right to have her fears, even if it was cocky to air them while they were dealing with the spider gang.

Not that cockiness equated to unfounded arrogance.

Cinder swayed under a crowbar and caught the arm, turned and threw the man over her shoulder. Emerald and Mercury were dealing with their own, casually working their way through the small group of people. The gang was presumably much larger, but they only had a small number of their people here. The hardest part was not killing them, because the three of them were much more used to dispatching enemies permanently.

But these idiots won't be of any use to us if they're dead.

"We'll see if he can manage it," she said, disarming and backhanding a man over a bar. "I hold hope. There's a hunger to him."

"All for the sake of some little girl," Mercury joked.

"Love can be a powerful motivation. It's also a predictable one. If he can come to adore this girl enough to wage war on her in just a week or two, imagine how much he might do for us—" For her, of course. "—after becoming our beloved companion."

She wasn't against using love to secure loyalty – and she wasn't above giving it either. Mercury might have been a sociopath who was in it for the laughs, but Emerald was with them because she loved Cinder. Because Cinder had saved her from the streets and given her a life. Because she had given her a home, attention, and a family of sorts. Was the affection fake? To a certain degree, yes, but not entirely. Emerald was more like a pet to her than anything, but people loved their pets.

If someone threatened Emerald, Cinder would show them the error of their ways. If Emerald were injured, Cinder would help and heal her. Sure, she'd still abandon Emerald if the need came, but that was only if she needed to. It was much easier to show Emerald her softer side and have the girl eating out her hand. Even Salem knew the benefit of love to win loyalty, showing it with Tyrian. The mad Grimm witch was incredibly patient with that psycho, accepting mistakes from him that she never would with anyone else.

So, yes, there was nothing wrong with Jaune doing this for love. Better that than uncertain loyalties or an obsession with money. This was far more predictable, and all she had to do to not get on his bad side was avoid harming those he held dear. And it also gave her an easy way in, because all she had to do was win over those same people and Jaune would always side with her. Helping this Chang girl would have Jaune firmly in her debt.

The last of the spider gang crumpled before them. They really were just thugs at the end of the day, preying on weak civilians. No match for the three of them. Beating them had never been in question, however. The problem was that taking over would require more. Force was good for ensuring short-term compliance, but it required your constant presence and the threat of violence. They would swear to follow her orders but run the moment she was out of sight. Or worse, they might join back up and plan to overthrow her. The fact that any such plans would fail wouldn't change the fact it'd waste her time.

"Well, it's up to Jaune now to make a show," Emerald said, dusting her hands. "Let's see if he has it in him."

Indeed. It was time for his part.

A low, ominous whistle sounded through the building. No one missed it. The sound echoed, seeming to come from every direction at once, and people on the floor began to look around nervously. Even Cinder felt a trickle of cold in her veins, but it was overwhelmed by a burning desire.

Yes. Show me, Jaune. Show me your power.

The door to the private room burst open and a hefty woman spilled through, tripping and falling to the floor with a meaty splash. She scrambled, hands and feet slipping and sliding like a dog trying to sprint on clean tiles. The comical display was ruined somewhat by the look of abject terror on her face, and the tears streaming down her cheeks.

And then he arrived.

Whistling.

Cinder felt the wave of crushing fear hit her like a train. Everyone else did too. Bruised gangsters whimpered and curled into balls. Emerald took a step back before catching herself, and even Mercury trembled.

Jaune stood in the open doorway, silhouetted against the extreme light within. He held no weapon, and yet Cinder felt deep in herself that she would die if she threatened him. If she so much as caught his attention.

She knew it wasn't true.

Her usual reaction to fear was anger and hate – both at the person causing it and at herself for being so weak as to feel it. She had made a habit of destroying anything she was afraid of, or planning to in Salem's case. As such, she ought to have despised him in that moment. Hated him like she had never hated before.

But she didn't.

Cinder knew the fear was fake. It wasn't her being afraid, and so it wasn't her being weak. This was Jaune's Semblance artificially inducing fear. Getting angry at him for that, when they'd planned this out, would be like criticising her body for not being immune to blood loss.

She let it wash over her and took pleasure in the fact she alone didn't give ground. Instead, she saw it as a fun challenge – even an experience. The whole reason people went on rollercoasters was to experience near-death fear in a safe environment, and that was how it felt here. Cinder licked her lips and leaned into it, allowing herself to taste the unusual terror like she would a fine wine.

Such a raw and powerful blend. So sudden, overwhelming in its intensity and rooting me to the spot. Cinder's legs rubbed together, but it was not in fear. This feeling. I've never felt so weak and afraid, and yet so okay with it. Because it's not really me being afraid, but him doing this to me. Playing with my emotions.

If he could make her feel fear then what else could he make her feal?

"Malachite…" Jaune snapped his finger as he spoke the name, replacing the whistle with a thunderclap grom the gloves she'd bought him. It worked just as well, making everyone – even Cinder – flinch with one word.

Lil Miss Malachite whimpered and sobbed.

"You have tested me—" Another snap, accompanied by a step toward the crying woman. "You have insulted me." Another. Emerald gasped and hugged her own arms for warmth. "You have marked me against my will."

With a metallic clang, Mercury's knees hit the floor. He slapped his palms down, sweat dripping from his face. Only Cinder remained standing, Emerald having backed up and fallen onto a seat at the bar. She, too, felt the urge to sit or give ground, but she fought against it. Not out of anger or because she needed to, but because she wanted to – she wanted to see how much of his fear she could withstand.

Give me more, she thought, eyes shining. Let me weather it!

"I am through with your games, Malachite. I am through with you."

"I'm sorry!" the woman sobbed. "I'm sorry! You can go! Please, leave! I won't follow—"

"How can I trust that? You're a criminal. Untrustworthy."

"N—No. Please no—"

Jaune planted a foot down on her long skirt, between her legs, both keeping her in place and looming over her. "I think an example needs to be made of you," he hissed. His anger wasn't an act. That rage was real. Deserved. This woman had marked him against his will. Cinder wouldn't fault him if he killed her. It was what she would have done.

"No. No. Nonononononono—"

A smell, pungent and ugly, filled the room. Jaune grimaced and looked down, lifting up his boot as the woman's dress became wet and sticky. The hardened criminal had pissed herself on the floor like an animal.

Jaune sneered. "Pathetic."

Something deep in Cinder's stomach twisted and coiled. In that moment, she felt fear and arousal mesh unto the point she had to bite her lip to hold back a moan. It was said that fear was an aphrodisiac, and she believed it now. There were people who indulged in it, but always with the knowledge that it was safe – that the threats were just that, and no harm would come to either partner. He'd be perfect for that, wouldn't he? The thought was alien, intrusive, but she couldn't push the idea away. Jaune wouldn't have to waste time with dirty talk, costumes, whips and chains. He could just snap his fingers and have her a quivering mess of nerves and flesh.

Oh no, she thought. I think I'm falling for him.

That was… well, what was that? Unideal? Not really if he was this powerful and this useful. He could make her stronger in battle and make her feel weak outside of it, and for some reason she rather liked the sound of that. Not true weakness because she wasn't truly weak, but a feigned sense of it that had her feeling small and frail.

Cinder wasn't even sure why she liked the sound of that. She shouldn't have, given her hunger for power, and yet maybe that was the reason. Maybe those who were untouchable secretly longed to be touched. Immortals surely longed for death and those who were about to die longed for immorality. So, was it unusual that she – on her road to supreme power – would long for someone to make her feel powerless in private? It bore looking into, possibly with some late-night visits to websites she normally didn't.

Wait, no. Take over criminal gang now. Browse erotic material later.

"This gang is now mine!" Jaune announced. "That's the only way I can trust you enough to let you go, Malachite. Unless…" he snapped his finger once more. Everyone whimpered, though not everyone whimpered for the same reasons. Cinder certainly didn't. "Unless you would like to challenge my decision? I'm not above making an example of you."

"No. It's yours! Please just let me go!"

Pathetic. This wouldn't work on Salem or Ozpin, she was sure, but this woman really wasn't anything special. Small time, really. Just a petty crook. Given how easy they'd dispatched her people, Cinder wasn't surprised Lil Miss Malachite buckled. Criminals were akin to terrorists in a way. They all relied on fear to keep people in line, and the problem with that was that if you showed fear then everyone would stop being afraid of you.

Speaking of terrorists, I haven't heard back from Adam and the White Fang. I was so sure they'd work with me to bring down Beacon, but they've been quiet for well over a month now. Hmm. Something to look into later. Because, come to think of it, she hadn't heard of any terrorist attacks by them in the last month.

"Go." Jaune threw out a hand, pointing. "Leave and never return."

Lil Miss Coward up and ran, hiking up her long skirt and running away as if a Beowolf were on her tail. She burst out the door and into Mistral, and Cinder would be surprised if she stopped before leaving the city, such was the power of Jaune's fear. In fact, it had killed Jax Asturias in Vacuo. How powerful must that fear have been to stop the heart of a huntsman? Obviously, she didn't want to feel that level of terror, but she couldn't help but feel curious.

"Anyone want to challenge my rule?" Jaune asked.

Yes. Yes, she did.

But not now in public where it would ruin his moment. And she didn't really want this silly group anyway. Cinder just wanted to challenge him so he would loom over her and call her pathetic like he had that weak cow.

No one did. Everyone gave in.

"He's terrifying," Emerald whispered to her, as the criminals swore their allegiance. "He's terrifying!"

"I know," Cinder panted. "Isn't it great?"

/-/

The Quest hadn't yet been completed.

Jaune wasn't sure what to make of that since he'd done what it wanted and taken over the Malachite criminal family. Maybe it needed time to register, or maybe he hadn't officially taken over yet. It might have been something like winning the loyalty (or fear) of half the criminals in the gang, and most of them weren't yet aware of the change in leadership. Jaune chalked it up to that, with a mental note to check on it later. The hard part was already done. Jaune dispatched his new employees to inform their fellows, to spread the word of his takeover and also spread tales of how fearful a figure he was.

Approaching Cinder, he said, "So. How did I do?"

"Marvellously." She was practically purring. "That Semblance of yours is simply wonderful. The fear had me shaking."

"Ah shit. I'm sorry if it hit you. I had to be indiscriminate to catch everyone in the room."

"Don't apologise." Cinder placed a hand on his chest and stepped into him. Her eyes burned, but she smiled, letting him know she wasn't upset. "I know about your Semblance so I knew I wasn't truly afraid of you. It feels different when you're aware of it. Still terrifying but… like standing on the edge of a cliff. Or riding a rollercoaster. You know you're safe and so it's almost… fun…"

Fun, huh? That didn't sound too unbelievable in all honesty. He was just glad she hadn't suffered under it like the others had. "I guess that's something to keep in mind, then. My Semblance won't be as useful if the person I'm using it on is aware of it."

"Same for every Semblance in existence. The element of surprise only works once." Cinder didn't remove her hand from him. "I was very impressed, though. It's your first time doing something like this. Were you nervous?"

"Yes. Unbelievably so. But I channelled my anger and let that lead me."

"Mmmm. Emotions are useful like that. Always so raw and powerful." Cinder's hand moved just a little, pulling away so she could keep a finger on him, circling his chest. "We really should conduct some experiments with your Semblance when we have the time. A shame we don't now," she said, sighing and pulling back. "What do you plan to do with these criminals?"

"We'll reach out to Joo-won and arrange a meeting. He wouldn't listen to me before but he will now what I'm a crime lord. I'll speak to him about Chae-young."

"And do what? Demand he let her live her life as she wishes? He won't."

"I'll figure something out."

"The best bet might be an arranged marriage."

Jaune balked. "Between me and Chae? She's a child!"

"That's the benefit of it being arranged. You never have to follow through. She'll be too young for years yet, so live life as normal but stress that you want your future wife to be free to pursue her own dreams. Then, when it does come time, you and she can always agree to wed but not touch one another. You can divorce amicably a year later."

"I… I guess… It just makes me squirm to think of asking for a child's hand in marriage."

"With good reason," Cinder said, chuckling. "But you care for her, no? If not you, he'll look to arrange a match with someone else."

"True…"

"I'm happy to provide Mercury as a fake suitor if you want." Cinder nodded towards him. "Same rules, with him not touching her, but Joo-won may see that as an insult and, between you and me, I wouldn't wish a relationship Mercury on my worst enemy." Cinder smiled at the annoyed boy. "No offence."

Mercury grimaced. "I mean… quite a bit taken if I'm being honest…"

"Accurate, though," Emerald sniped.

"Wow. You're both awful. Jaune, bro. You'll stick up for a fellow y-chromosomer, right?"

"Sorry Mercury." Jaune smiled. "But you like Guitar Cutie. That makes me automatically aligned against you."

Cinder laughed and, after a moment, Jaune joined in. There was an easy camaraderie to them, especially as Mercury and Emerald both began to defend his alter-ego. You know what, this isn't so bad. I may be a criminal now, but I've made some good friends here. And maybe Cinder's plan isn't so bad. Chae doesn't have those feelings for me anyway, so it's a safe way to look after her and let her continue her dreams.

/-/

Margaret Malachite stared at her reflection in a broken mirror.

She was calm once more. Calm and unfettered. Unshaken. Not that it bloody well mattered after that humiliating display in her club. Her spiders would never look at her again the same way!

"No matter," she said, needing to hear her own voice. It calmed her. "That was but a small number of them. They can be removed and replaced, and no one else saw me lose control like that. I'm still in control."

That boy – that arrogant little shit! – had made a fool of her, but he was the fool if he thought this was over. She had promised to leave, but since when did words matter? She would collect the rest of her spiders and tell them a small group had gone rogue, then close the net on him and kill him and his friends in one fell swoop.

Or maybe she'd go after his family first. Yes, having some hostages sounded like a great idea. He'd realise his place once she delivered him the bloody ears of his sisters, maybe even a hand to go with it.

"He'll rue the day he challenged me," she hissed at her reflection. It was as much to give herself strength as anything. Remind herself she was the one in control. "I'll make him scream – no, I'll make him beg and cry! I'll make him soil himself in fear of what I'll do to them, and then once I kill him, I'll make his sisters eat his fucking remains! Then no one will dare cross Lil Miss Malachite and her spiders! No on—"

Her reflection was cut off as red splashed over the mirror.

"—hrrrkkk!"

Margaret Malachite stumbled, turning and bumping her hip against the sink. There, in the doorway to the restroom, stood a woman with black hair and golden eyes, dressed in a Haven school uniform.

"I thought it might be worth keeping an eye on you," she said. "Turns out I was right after all. Scum like you simply don't understand your place. And Jaune is still a little too soft to put you in it."

Margaret tried to speak, but words wouldn't come.

There was a sword in the woman's hands, seemingly made of glass.

And it was dripping blood onto the tiles.

Lil Miss Malachite's hands came up to touch her throat; they came away covered in slick blood. It bubbled over her fingers as carbon dioxide expelled from her lungs and came bubbling out the savage wound in her throat, that had cut right through her windpipe.

Oh, she thought. I'm going to die…

It was her last thought as she stumbled, cracking her head on the sink, and collapsed to the floor in an ungainly heap.

Cinder Fall snorted and turned away. "Turn on the oven," she said to Mercury. "We'll make sure the place burns down behind us. An unfortunate accident ending an unfortunate woman. A shame, really, but no one will miss her."

"This is a lot of work for one guy, ma'am."

"It's an investment. Jaune is an investment that will pay dividends in the future."

/-/

.

QUEST COMPLETE: In the Pocket of the Mafia

Forcefully inducted into the criminal underbelly of Mistral, it's time to make your stand. Repay your debt, crush your foes or go further and claim the Malachite's criminal empire for your own.

Success: +EXP. +Rep Criminal Gangs. +Title: Criminal.

Bonus Reward: +EXP -Rep Mistral. +Title: Crime Lord.

.

New Titles:

Criminal: Replaced by Crime Lord.

Crime Lord: You are a dastardly crime syndicate boss. Criminals will feel inclined to take you more seriously, and you project an aura of intimidation while this title is active.

.

You have gained 2 levels.

You have 10 attribute points to spend.

.

Jaune grunted. "Huh." He felt Pyrrha's curiosity and explained. "The quest just completed. I guess I was worried for nothing."

"What changed?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe it just needed time for all the gang members to learn I'm the boss."

"At least it was a bloodless takeover. It could have been a lot worse."

"Yeah." Jaune smiled. "Cinder made that possible. Speaking of, I got a new title. I'm not sure how useful it'll be, though." Jaune explained it to her, reading out from his status page. "I'll use it when I'm talking to Joo-won but I can't see it being much use after or otherwise."

"Maybe you'll find a use for it later. It could be good if you ever get in a fight to have your opponent panic and make mistakes." Pyrrha, as a competition fighter, had no trouble finding uses. "I know you're not looking to get into fights, but sometimes a fight will find you. And better you send them running in fear than risk being injured."

"Do you think I should keep it on as a default, then?"

"Probably not. I feel like it could have police noticing you." Pyrrha giggled. "And you're technically a criminal now. Oh, what would mom say if she knew I was here with a wanted criminal? She'd be aghast."

"Don't joke about that. Ugh. That reminds me. Apparently, someone noticed us spending time together. Someone from the hotel must have leaked it, because Malachite told me there were rumours in the newspapers that you have a secret boyfriend you've been visiting. I think they mean me."

Pyrrha didn't look half as upset as she should have. In fact, she didn't stop smiling.

"I'm really sorry if it's causing you issues."

"It isn't," she said. "It's fine."

"Should we maybe spend less—"

"No."

"You didn't let me finish."

"No."

"I was going to say—"

"No."

Pyrrha kept smiling.

For those wondering, since it's been a while since it was seen, the reason the quest didn't automatically complete was because of the wording of it. Its specific wording was:

Optional: Kill Margaret Malachite and take over

So, it didn't pop until Cinder killed her.

Omake:

Jaune groaned and opened his eyes. The buzzing of his scroll, at midnight no less, roused him, and the screen was flashing Cinder's name on the ceiling of the hotel room to alert him. He rolled over and answered. "Hrngh. Whazztit?"

"Jaune…" Cinder was breathy. "I wanted to test your Semblance on something."

"Now…?"

"Yes. I want to see if you can use it through a scroll. Use your fear aura on me. Don't worry. I'm ready for it."

Half-asleep as he was, his addled mind decided it'd be better to just do as she wanted so he could get back to sleep. Jaune began to whistle, activating Discordant Note and focusing it down the scroll.

Cinder sucked in a breath.

"Y—Yes. That's it. Oh. It's working."

Jaune stopped. "Cool. Then can I slee—"

"No! Keep going!"

"Why…?"

"Science! Now whistle, damn it!"

Jaune sighed and started again. The sooner he did it, the sooner she'd be satisfied and the sooner he could go to bed.

"Ngh. Yes. That's it. Right there. Ah. Gnh. Don't stop. I can… I can feel it… Agh. Fuck!"

Jaune paused. "Cinder—?"

"NO!" she roared. "KEEP GOING!"

"Uh. Okay. Fweeee—"

"Gahhhh! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Gnh!" Cinder sucked in a huge breath and let it go. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

For a moment, the only sound was her heavy breathing.

"Cinder. Are you okay…?"

"Y… Yes… Better than okay. Good science. We'll… We'll try more science tomorrow. Goodnight."

The call ended with a click.

"Weird," Jaune said, shrugging and setting the device back on the side before rolling over and going back to bed.

.

You have gained 1 Charisma for bringing someone to orgasm.

You have gained +Rep with Cinder.

.

Jaune's eyes snaped open.

"What the fuck…"

Next Chapter: 16th February

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