A Path To Omniscience

"A smart bullet?" Winter mused silently, her thoughts turning to the concept. If she remembered correctly, that kind of technology was still fairly new. It wasn't even officially issued to any division or specialized unit of the Atlas Military, largely due to its unreliability.

As she processed Asher's proclamation, Ironwood appeared skeptical. He voiced his doubt openly, his tone carrying a hint of challenge.

"You don't think it's a bit rash to call it the most effective anti-Grimm ammunition in the world? Have you even tested it against an actual Grimm?" Asher shook his head casually, unfazed by the question.

"No, but I've run plenty of simulations based on all the available data." He paused after saying this, his gaze drifting toward the crate from which he had taken the Predator Round.

Walking back to it, he returned the round to its place.

"But words don't mean much, do they?" He continued.

"So, I'll give a live demonstration instead." He gestured toward the Anti-Grimm SU-P drone, still hovering silently nearby. The drone seemed to understand the gesture immediately, floating over to his side without a word.

"I'll need a small obstacle—a three-by-three wall with a two-by-one set up a few paces behind it," Asher explained.

Ironwood's doubt lingered, but he gave a firm nod to one of the soldiers who had brought in the crates. The soldier saluted and hurried off, heading for one of the two elevators built into the walls of the training room. Both elevators led to an observation deck with a glass window overlooking the entire space.

From there, staff, teachers, huntsmen, or even students could control the room's layout via a holographic hard-light interface.

Barely a minute or two after the soldier took the short ride up, the training room began to shift. Asher watched as a three-by-three wall rose up from the floor about twelve meters away, just as he had requested. A moment later, a faint sound indicated that the second part of his setup was also complete.

"Is he planning to show off its penetrative power?" Winter muttered, half to herself and half to Ironwood.

"Perhaps," Ironwood replied, his eyes narrowing as he focused on Asher's demonstration.

"The cubes can be destroyed with a strong enough impact, but most Grimm can withstand hits like that."

"GAIA, take aim. Target is behind the center cube of the three-by-three wall," Asher instructed, pointing at the designated spot. His words weren't formal, yet the drone seemed to interpret them perfectly. It stopped bobbing in place, locking its aim precisely on the marked target.

[Target locked.]

The feminine artificial voice came through Asher's headset, prompting a nod from him.

"Good. Now fire." The drone responded instantly. To most observers—Liv, the soldiers, and anyone else without enhanced reflexes—the shot was a blur, far too fast to track. But Winter and Ironwood, with their aura-boosted senses, caught everything. The bullet fired from the drone's barrel was unmistakably the same one Asher had shown earlier.

Its trajectory was perfect, aimed dead center at the three-by-three wall. For a moment, it seemed like the round would punch straight through with sheer power. Then, one of the vents at the rear of the bullet ignited. Flames burst from it, unmistakably fueled by combustion dust, and the bullet abruptly shifted mid-flight. What had been a direct path toward the wall suddenly veered the round arching just over the top of the wall. 

As soon as it cleared the obstacle, the other rear vents activated. In a seamless maneuver, the bullet corrected its trajectory, returning to its dead-center alignment.

A split second later, the top of the two-by-one cubes behind the wall erupted, shards flying as the impact obliterated the target.

The sound startled Liv and the soldiers, making them flinch slightly—not from surprise, but from the sheer volume. The initial crack of the gunshot was loud enough, but the impact was even more thunderous for some reason, echoing through the training room.

Winter and Ironwood didn't jump, but their reactions betrayed their astonishment. Their expressions shifted, brows furrowed and eyes sharp, as they processed what they'd just witnessed.

Asher, however, remained composed. The echo of the shot hadn't even fully faded before he began speaking.

"As you can see, the key feature of the Predator Round is the micro thrusters at its rear. These are powered by compact combustion-dust propulsion systems, made to generate precise bursts of energy. This allows the bullet to not only steer mid-flight but also accelerate for greater speed and, by extension, enhanced penetration."

Ironwood's gaze flicked between the drone and Asher as he listened, his expression a mix of curiosity and reservation.

"Wait, are you saying it-"

"Yes," Asher cut him off with a confident nod.

"Unlike the smart bullets the Atlas Military has been working on, this one actually earns the title. It doesn't just adjust for environmental factors like wind speed. It accounts for everything: bullet drop, obstacles, even the shooter's error. Just aim, fire, and the bullet takes care of the rest."

Asher's explanation left a flurry of questions in its wake, not just for Ironwood but also for Winter. Among them, one stood out: How did Asher know about the classified smart bullet projects the Atlas Military was developing?

That information was never made public.

Winter opened her mouth to ask, but Ironwood raised a hand, silencing her before she could speak. Seeing their reactions, Asher carried on.

"Of course, the bullets aren't magic. They can't make ninety-degree turns or follow perfect arcs when adjusting their trajectory. And if you're targeting something out of sight, you either need to give them precise instructions, like I did, or rely on the drone's guidance system." Still, even with those limitations, the fact remained—they were completely self-aiming.

"And you're saying these bullets can take down a Grimm?" Ironwood asked, seeking clarification.

"Bullet," Asher corrected, the single word sharp enough to make Winter tilt her head curiously.

"Hmm? What do you mean?" She asked.

Turning toward her, Asher elaborated, "He said bullets—plural. But a single Predator Round is capable of completely neutralizing any Grimm below the class of a Goliath. Even against a Goliath, a few well-placed shots should be more than enough, if my calculations are accurate."

Winter frowned slightly, her tone skeptical.

"Are you serious?" Her reaction was understandable. Goliaths were massive, elephant-like Grimm with the same black, tar-like bodies and white bone features typical of their kind.

Their size, however, made them especially dangerous.

A single Goliath could stand as tall as a twenty-story building. An entire herd could flatten a city, toppling skyscrapers in their path. It was no wonder Winter questioned him.

But, Asher didn't hesitate to respond.

"Yes. Each S.H.A.D.O.W. Unit has an effective range of between two thousand five hundred and three thousand meters. Predator Rounds themselves are fired at a velocity of eight thousand meters per second. With their boosters, they can accelerate by another thirty to fifty percent, pushing their speed to somewhere between ten thousand and twelve thousand meters per second."

He stopped there, knowing Winter and Ironwood were skilled enough to connect the dots. A bullet traveling that fast was more than capable of penetrating even the toughest Grimm.

"Still… just because they can penetrate a Grimm's body doesn't mean they can take it down," Winter commented, her tone measured.

"True," Asher admitted, "which is why each Predator Round carries an explosive payload. That was the secondary sound you all heard earlier."

As he spoke, he gave a command to GAIA. This time, the drone fired another shot, aiming directly at the corner of the three-by-three wall without deviating.

With nothing obstructing the impact, the result was clear. The bullet exploded on contact, not only destroying the targeted cube but also damaging the surrounding cubes that made up the wall.

"As you can see," Asher continued, "the Predator Round uses a special Dust mixture. It not only detonates explosively but also incorporates Earth Dust to create shrapnel during the explosion, maximizing the damage. As I said, it's the most advanced and effective anti-Grimm ammunition in the world."

His confidence in his words was unmistakable, not born of arrogance but of assured competence.

"This… this is incredible," Ironwood said, his voice tinged with genuine amazement. His expression mirrored his tone, fully captivated by what he'd just witnessed.

"These drones and your Predator Rounds could revolutionize how we combat Grimm," he added, already visualizing their potential. With an army of drones stationed around settlements or high-priority locations, manpower could be preserved, and efficiency would skyrocket.

"It certainly could," Asher replied with a faint smile, "if you can afford it."

Snapping his fingers, he signaled the drone. It exited combat mode and returned to its crate, lowering itself carefully inside before powering down.

"You think the Atlas Military can't afford your drones?" Ironwood asked a touch of amusement in his voice.

"Oh, I'm sure you can," Asher said, folding his arms.

"Just not to the extent you're imagining. Each Predator Round has a built-in microcomputer, which is what makes it so precise. It allows the S.H.A.D.O.W. Unit—and by extension, the S.I.R.E.N. System—to feed real-time data to the round mid-flight, enabling its adjustments. Naturally, integrating such high-speed computing into each round drives up the cost."

Ironwood studied Asher for a moment before asking, "How high?"

"The raw materials alone for a single Predator Round, like the one I demonstrated, cost about Ⱡ15,000. Once in mass production, that might drop to somewhere between Ⱡ7,000 and Ⱡ10,000. Considering each S.H.A.D.O.W. Unit can carry a maximum of sixty rounds, that totals a minimum of Ⱡ420,000."

The figure hung in the air. Liv, who had been quietly listening, visibly faltered. She quickly coughed to cover the slight choke that escaped her, but her eyes darted toward the crate holding the Predator Round Asher had shown off earlier.

Ⱡ420,000… That's enough to buy a low-end apartment in Atlas. And that's just the cost for a single drone firing off its rounds in a few minutes?

She turned her gaze toward Ironwood, expecting him to balk at the price. To her surprise, he didn't look deterred in the slightest. Instead, he seemed to be contemplating the figure.

"Hmm, more expensive than I expected. You're right," Ironwood muttered, his tone thoughtful as he seemed to run the numbers in his head.

"If the Atlas Military plans to buy these in bulk and sign a private contract with you, the budget would definitely need adjustments." Still, he glanced toward the unopened crates sitting at the edge of the training room, his curiosity clear.

"Just from what you've demonstrated so far, they certainly seem worth the price. It does make me wonder though, what else you've brought with you." Asher's expression didn't change, but his reply came without hesitation.

"Ah, well, I'm afraid I won't be showcasing those today." That response caused Ironwood's expression to freeze for a moment before settling into a focused frown.

"And why's that?" Asher removed the headset and placed it back into the crate he'd taken it from.

"Because we had a deal, didn't we? You wanted proof that I could modify my drones to be combat-ready and deliver a weapons test. I've done both. Now it's your turn to hold up your end of the agreement. If you're interested in purchasing the S.H.A.D.O.W. Units in bulk or seeing what the other variations of the SU-P drones can do, we'll discuss that another time."

The training room fell silent after Asher's statement, the tension thick enough to make Liv shift uncomfortably. He hadn't just ended the demonstration—he had essentially told General Ironwood, of all people, that there would be no further negotiations or demonstrations for now.

Ironwood's gaze narrowed on Asher, his eyes turning sharper. After a moment he took a step forward, his boots clicking sharply against the floor. The sound echoed in the room, filling the heavy silence. Even Winter seemed unsure of what to do, her eyes flicking between the two figures.

She hadn't expected Asher to speak so boldly, especially to Ironwood.

"Is that so..." Ironwood muttered, his voice dropping slightly as he stopped just a few steps from Asher. He looked down at him with an unreadable expression, the tension in the air palpable. Despite this, Asher maintained his friendly smile, meeting the general's gaze without hesitation.

After a moment, Ironwood chuckled.

"I'm glad I'll be working with someone who knows not to compromise under pressure. You're right—a deal's a deal. You've shown me all I needed to see anyway." With that, he turned to the soldiers still in the room and ordered them to start sealing the crates and preparing them for transport back to the airship.

Then, turning back to Asher, Ironwood placed a firm hand on his shoulder. The oppressive air he'd carried moments ago seemed to vanish completely.

"Still, this isn't exactly the place to discuss business. How about the two of you join me in my office?" He asked, including Liv with a glance.

"It would be a pleasure," Asher answered for both of them, his tone polite.

And so, the weapons demonstration came to an end. It was an unusual conclusion. Asher hadn't revealed everything he'd brought or even demonstrated the full capabilities of the S.H.A.D.O.W. Unit. Yet, what he had shown was enough to leave both him and Ironwood satisfied.

As the soldiers packed up the remaining equipment, Ironwood and Winter led the way toward the elevator, with Asher and Liv walking behind.

"Sorry we didn't get to discuss your guidelines," Asher said to Liv as they walked side by side.

"Hmm? Oh, it's fine," Liv replied, her voice low as she glanced ahead at Ironwood's back.

"Honestly, I'm more surprised he focused on the Anti-Grimm drones first and was satisfied with just that." She sighed softly, her expression thoughtful.

"I guess I've just been influenced by how the media always portrays him."

"Maybe," Asher said, shrugging lightly.

"But either way, you'll have plenty of time to see what kind of person he really is as we work with him, right?" Liv considered his words for a moment before a small smile broke through her thoughtful expression.

"Yeah, I suppose so."

The group reached the elevator and rode it all the way to the top floor of Atlas Academy, reserved for the Headmaster—and in this case, General Ironwood's office.

Once they arrived on the top floor, it was a short walk to Ironwood's office. As they stepped inside, Asher and Liv were greeted by the general's unexpected apology.

"I'm sorry, but there are no additional seats. My office is typically used for short conferences with students or handling military matters, not meetings like this."

"It's fine; I don't mind standing," Asher replied easily. Ironwood took his place behind the large desk, while Winter stood off to his side, her hands clasped neatly behind her back. Asher and Liv remained on the lower level of the office, standing at the base of the short staircase that led up to Ironwood's slightly elevated workspace.

"Now then," Ironwood began, leaning back slightly in his chair.

"You fulfilled my request for a demonstration, so it's time for me to pay up, am I right?"

"That's right," Asher confirmed.

Ironwood nodded.

"Then what is it? As I said before, I'll do everything in my power to fulfill your request."

There was a quiet weight to his words, a trust implicit in the agreement they had made. Both of them had granted each other significant leeway—Ironwood had been free to ask for anything he wanted, and he had settled on Asher providing a weapons demonstration. Now, it was Asher's turn to name what he believed that demonstration was worth.

Having clearly prepared for this moment, Asher didn't hesitate

"I want you to create a new division within the Atlas Military and appoint me as the Director of Operations."