Board Thread:Speculation House/@comment-14138255-20140829002738/@comment-24994749-20140901001455

Bismarkus wrote:

Also, I was under the impression that Hunters were not under the sovereignty of any nation; it's kind of their point, be completely apolitical so that you can effectively deal with the Grimm threat and not get caught up in political affairs. Although, I think it'd be cool if they explored what happens when the Hunters do become a political force.

(..)

It'd actually be quite easy for Ironwood to justify it, too. If they are meant to be apolitical, all he'd need to do is provide proof of them doing otherwise (Team RWBY kinda broke that rule already in regards to the White Fang, didn't they?), then it's just a matter of manufacturing an incident during the Vytal festival where it looks like the Hunters attacked Atlesian troops or visitors of the Vytal festival or even linked them to the WF; if that happens now he can claim with probable cause that the Hunters are corrupt and must be dealt with before they become a bigger threat to the peace. Then it's just a matter of mopping up trouble makers and then Ironwood is in total control.

- Ruby kind of compared Hunters to the police in V1E1, so I think they do respond to the Kingdoms to some degree. The fact that one might start attending a combat School at one Kingdom but then continue at an Academy from another (like Pyrrha) might have to do with how young training starts and the fact it seems each Academy has its own criteria to accept candidates (ie, Beacon accepts anyone who can pass the Initiation). Maybe hunters ain't linked to the goberment of one Kingdom but to some international authority akin to the ONU of our world.

- That would require Ironwood to prove Blake and Sun infiltrated the White Fang meeting, or that he uncovers Blake's White Fang previous affiliation. Sure, he might make her and Sun's vigilante act at the docks at the end of V2 look questionable, but he risks exposing Penny. As for the mecha fight, unless he can prove Sun and Blake acted vigilante by infiltrating a White Fang meeting when they should have informed the authorities about, it will look bad for him.

Also, between Qrow's message to Ozpin, Ironwood going to Ozpin and Ozpin's words to Blake, plus Glynda's actions during V1E1, it would seem hunters have some authority akin to that of the or a military. Maybe they are like the federals?