Chapter 27: The Twentieth Big Mistake
Cinder Fall was done.
She had spent years plotting her rise to power.
Years crafting the perfect infiltration, the perfect scheme, the perfect downfall of Beacon.
And yet—
Somehow—
The entire school had turned against her in the most insulting, baffling, incomprehensible way possible.
Not with strength.
Not with counter-strategy.
Not with heroic defiance.
No.
With mind games.
With passive-aggressive nonsense.
With cookies.
And she knew exactly who was responsible.
Ozpin.
Step Two Hundred and Forty-Seven: Make Her Snap.
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Step Two Hundred and Forty-Eight: The Emerald Crisis
Emerald was a wreck.
She jumped at every shadow.
She refused to answer her scroll.
She had started sleepwalking.
And worst of all?
She was starting to question everything.
"What if he really does know?" she muttered. "What if he's always known?"
Cinder gritted her teeth. "He doesn't know. He's just toying with us."
Emerald shuddered. "But why? Why would he do this?"
Step Two Hundred and Forty-Nine: She's Losing Hope.
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Step Two Hundred and Fifty: Mercury's Breaking Point
Mercury Black was a lot of things.
A killer? Yes.
A manipulator? Absolutely.
A professional smug bastard? Without a doubt.
But even he had limits.
And Ozpin?
Ozpin had found those limits.
Mercury now checked under his bed before sleeping.
He double-checked every door before opening it.
He jumped every time he heard the word "coffee."
And then—
One day—
He went to put on his boots.
And inside one of them…
Was a tiny, handwritten note.
Four words.
"Nice try, Mister Black. –O"
Mercury threw the boot across the room.
Step Two Hundred and Fifty-One: He's Done.
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Step Two Hundred and Fifty-Two: Cinder's "Master Plan"
Cinder was furious.
This wasn't a game.
This wasn't a joke.
This was war.
So she made a new plan.
A brilliant plan.
A flawless plan.
Find Ozpin. Corner him. Demand answers. Make him suffer.
Step Two Hundred and Fifty-Three: Terrible Idea.
---
Step Two Hundred and Fifty-Four: The Confrontation
Cinder stormed through Beacon's halls.
Her eyes burned. Her hands shook.
And then—
She found him.
Standing outside his office.
Drinking tea.
Completely calm.
She stopped.
Because—
Something was wrong.
He knew she was coming.
He had been expecting her.
Ozpin turned.
Met her gaze.
Smiled.
"Miss Fall."
Cinder froze.
Step Two Hundred and Fifty-Five: Checkmate.
Step Two Hundred and Fifty-Six: Ozpin's Ultimate Power Move
Cinder clenched her fists. "Enough."
Ozpin took a slow sip of tea. "Oh?"
"Stop playing games," she snapped. "What do you know?"
Ozpin studied her.
Then—
Slowly, deliberately—
He reached into his coat.
Pulled out a single piece of paper.
And handed it to her.
Cinder snatched it, eyes narrowing.
She unfolded it.
Read it.
And her entire world shattered.
Because on that piece of paper—
Was a detailed, perfectly accurate summary of her entire plan.
Every step.
Every strategy.
Every contingency.
All written in his own handwriting.
And at the bottom?
One final note.
"Nice effort. Try again next time. –O"
Cinder screamed.
Step Two Hundred and Fifty-Seven: Victory.