Summoner's Second Chance

Chapter 37

It has been three days since the raid against Rigurl, and Trace is still in his room. In his hand was a quill pen, and the other was the documents and letters found in Rigurl's hideout. "It's done!" Trace threw his quill pen on the desk, and threw his hands up to the air. He had spent the last three days deciphering and translating, and it was starting to take a toll on his mind.

Trace slowly retracted his arms, and sighed. He took a piece of paper on the table, and read it carefully once more. He had done it more than ten times just today, but no matter how many times he read it, he still couldn't believe his eyes. In the end, he only let out a rather heavy sigh, and put everything he had worked on in his bag, and made his way to the castle.

The guards had remembered Trace's face, and let him in easily. They even didn't bother sending someone to escort him any longer, for Trace had memorized the entirety of the castle. After a brief exchange with one of the palace's maid to confirm that the king is indeed in the throne room, Trace went there with heavy footsteps, as if his feet had turned into iron. The news he carried with him was grim, and the scale of it was beyond what he could handle himself.

Trace arrived in front of the throne room in a daze, and he pushed the door slowly, letting the grand wooden door creak to announce his presence to the king. The king was talking with general Oliver and some of his minister, and they all turned towards the grim-looking Trace as he entered. The king felt that something was off, and told the ministers to leave the room. After bowing to the king, the ministers went out of the room, giving Trace a curious, but also worried glances.

Trace approached the throne, and bowed to the king. "Raise your head, Trace Redfate." Trace raised his head, but his expression remained as blank as when he entered. Trace slipped his hand into his bag, and pulled out two piece of papers. "I have news regarding the documents we found in Rigurl's hideout." The king nodded slowly, and gestured Trace to continue. "The first one is Rigurl and his men were planning to use the Judge's Gate in the mountains to attack Lumen. It was planned to be executed five years from now."

General Oliver was clearly disturbed by this news, and so was the king. A small smile finally appeared on Trace's face as he spoke once more. "Me and my friends have destroyed said gate, and I believe it will not reactivate ever again." The king tried to maintain a dignified front, but it was clear to see that he was relieved, for the muscles on his face had slacken. General Oliver on the other hand, heaved a loud and heavy sigh. The king rubbed his chin, and spoke. "It must have been quite an ordeal, destroying such a dangerous gate with only a handful of people. Let me properly thank you some other time, Trace Redfate." Trace bowed, and continued his report.

"The second one is about something that I cannot take care of myself." The king put on a surprised expression. It was not something he expected to hear from Trace, especially after hearing all about his achievements. The king, half-driven by curiosity, urged Trace to continue. "What is it? Do tell me." Trace nodded, and continued. "It was about an attack on the Kingdom of Gerstad. If the letters and documents are correct, then they will launch their attack a few months from now, on the tenth month of this year."

The king rested his back on his throne, and rested his arms on the armrest. The king lets out quite a long sigh, before nodding a few times. "Now I understand..." The king closed his eyes for a moment, and looked back to Trace with a smile on his face. "I will send an envoy to Gerstad, and arrange a meeting with their king. If it is as you predicted, then an organization akin to Black Moon is looming over them as well." Trace nodded, and took out another piece of paper. "The last one is something that will need not just this kingdom's attention, but possibly the whole continent's."

General Oliver swallowed his spit. All his life, he was always worrying about his family, and the people of Lumen. Now, Trace carried with him a piece of information that may very well change not just the kingdom's fate, but the whole world's. The king also felt the gravity of Trace's words. He immediately knew that it was truly something that can change everything he knew. Trace took a deep breath, and continued. "An organization calling themselves the Apostles of Chaos is playing an active role in our recent incidents, and from the documents I deciphered, it seems that they are also active in every city on this continent."