Summoner's Second Chance

Chapter 25

Trace has been busy studying and researching various herbs when he realized that the fatigue had caught up to him. He looked out of his room and saw a clear blue sky. He groaned and put his quill down. "It's such a lovely day... I should go out and do something else." He stood up from his desk, and walked out of his room. "Trace." Just as he was about to leave the mansion, his father called out to him. Trace smiled and walked nearer to his father. "What is it, father?" Scorpion smiled, and put a hand on Trace's shoulder. "Your laboratory is finally complete, son."

Trace's  eyes lit up in joy, and he nodded vigorously. "Thank you, father! Is it built near the storehouses from before?" Scorpion nodded, and Trace quickly left after a quick bow. Scorpion laughed and just watch as his son dashed away from the mansion. "With everything said and done, he is still a child at heart." Scorpion closed his eyes, and nodded.

Trace quickly gathered all of his friends, and brought them to the laboratory. When they arrive, they were greeted by a large stone building. It was two story tall, and the inside was spacious. Every lab equipment Trace possibly need is also available, all of them lined up in large wooden shelves attached to the walls. Even the storehouses are already stocked with various herbs and medicinal grasses. Trace looked at each and every one of them, and smiled. "Father... thank you." Promising to himself that he will thank his father once more when he got back, he stood up, and met up with his friends in the lab.

"Alright, gather up." Gilbert, Fang, and Liu sat down at a large table. The large, mahogany table was enough to accommodate ten people. "This is my new laboratory, as you all now, and this shall serve as our base of operation." Gilbert raised his hand. It's as if he is attending class, and Trace is the teacher. Trace smiled, and nodded at him. "Is it really safe though? I heard you've had several run-ins with the Black Moon?" Trace nodded, and smiled. "Don't worry. I am planning to put several defense mechanism around. I will also reassign Ursa's company here."

Fang tilted his head and hummed. "But is it really okay? I know your father owned a part of this land, but what about the rest?" Trace nodded and put 5 Diamond Sverd, making his friend's eyes pop out involuntarily. "This should be enough to buy the lands around us. If my calculation is correct, then we can buy the whole area around the lake." Fang heaved a large sigh, and shrugged. "Any other question?" This time, it's Liu's turn to raise his hand. "What about funds? We need money to pay Ursa's company, maintain the building and it's facility, not to mention the taxes. I heard that the tax of owning buildings and lands are quite pricey." Trace laughed and shook his head. "Not to worry, I have plans for that."

Trace clapped his hand and stood up. "Now, shall we head out?" the three looked at each other, before shrugging. "If you're wondering where we're going, we're going to the Eruga Plains." Gilbert threw his eyebrows up. "Why? That place is quite dangerous these days, and I don't think the guard is going to let us go out of the walls easily." Trace shook his head with a grin. "Have you forgotten, Gilbert? You are one of the people that managed to defeat the Lizardmen army. Of course the guard is going to let us pass easily. That, and I also have this." Trace took out a small emblem. "This is given to me by the king. It allows me and my companion to go out of the walls." Gilbert looked at Trace in disbelief, and sighed. "Guess I won't be able to talk my way out of this..."

Trace gave dimensional bags to his friends, and packed some potions inside. Just as he was about to leave, the door swung open and three girls can be seen standing outside. "Big brother, are you up to something again?" The first one to voice her concern was Melody. She had heard about the laboratory's completion, and she immediately felt that Trace is going to do something reckless again. Trace scratched the back of his head and laughed. "You caught me Melody. Yes, I am about to head out to Eruga Plains to gather some herbs and medicinal grass." Behind Melody was Olivia, and she had her index finger and her thumb on her chin. "Eruga Plains... You mean, outside the walls?" Trace nodded calmly.