Read Novel Full Chapter 838: Eve of the Court [5]
Chapter 838: Eve of the Court [5]
The man pulled his umbrella lower as he crossed the street.
Rain struck the pavement around him, gathering near the drains. He stepped around a puddle and was about to reach the other side when the people ahead suddenly stopped.
“What’s that?”
He lifted his head.
A dark line stood across the pavement.
For a moment, he thought it was something hanging from the building. Then it widened, stretching upwards as the people nearest to it hurried back.
“Hey! Move!”
Someone bumped into his shoulder.
His umbrella tilted, spilling water down the back of his coat, but he barely noticed.
The opening continued growing, displaying the insides for all to see.
Beyond it, he could make out what appeared to be a wooden floor.
“…..”
The man slowly stepped back.
“W-hat’s going on…?”
The voice sounded almost terrified as everyone reached for their phones.
The man included as his fingers slipped against the wet screen before he managed to open the camera and point it towards the Gate.
“There are people!”
Someone pointed out. And it was there that everyone noticed the four people inside.
They wore orange uniforms, their lights moving across the benches as they walked farther into the room.
One stopped beside a wooden railing.
Another turned towards him and said something.
The man filming couldn’t hear a word.
Around him, people were shouting, calling someone, and trying to get away from the opening.
Inside, the four figures continued looking around.
As though they had no idea how many people were watching.
Click!
The recording stopped.
Deputy Director Roland Venn lowered the remote and turned towards the table.
“This is the situation.”
Several Guild representatives sat in front of him. Most were looking at the screen, while a few checked the reports distributed before the meeting.
“Over a dozen Gates have appeared throughout Sines. The readings are similar across all confirmed locations.”
He changed the display.
Several recordings appeared together, all of which were located in different areas of Sines.
But beyond each opening was the same courtroom.
“…..”
The room grew quieter.
“We’re treating the scale of this incident as a crisis approaching rank,” Venn continued. “The individual Gates are still classified as , but that doesn’t account for the number of openings or their locations.”
“Has anyone found out what’s going on?”
The question came from Edwin Rask, one of Arithmus’s representatives.
He was a thin man with neatly parted grey hair and narrow glasses. His hand remained against the report as he leaned forward.
“What are the people inside saying?”
“Nothing useful so far. The room is empty apart from the scouting group.”
“No anomaly?”
“None that they’ve found.”
Venn looked back towards the screen.
“We haven’t established what causes the new entrances to appear. However, they all show the same place.”
“The same courtroom.”
“That’s correct.”
Rask’s brows drew together.
“But why is nothing happening?”
“That’s what we’re trying to determine.”
Venn paused.
“If the room serves the purpose it appears to, then there may be a hearing.”
His words spread across the room, the gravity in them clear for everyone present. Looking back at the recording, his expression turned grim.
“I’m afraid that even if we try to contain the news, it’ll be difficult. Footage is already spreading online.”
He lowered the remote.
“If something happens inside, it won’t remain within Sines for very long. The entire world could be watching.”
“In that case, I don’t see why this requires so much attention.”
Several heads turned.
A broad-shouldered man sat near the end of the table, one arm resting against his chair. His dark hair was swept back, revealing a heavy brow and a pair of eyes that remained fixed on Venn.
A small gold insignia rested against his lapel.
He was none other than the Guild Master of Helios Vanguard. Just his presence alone was enough to make many quiet down.
Venn shook his head.
“We don’t know what will happen.”
“The rating is only .”
His voice wasn’t particularly loud.
“We have teams capable of dealing with Gates of that level. Calling everyone here before anything has happened seems unnecessary.”
“I wouldn’t say so.”
A walking stick tapped lightly against the floor.
The Guild Master of Obsidian Bastion sat on the opposite side of the table, both hands resting over the knob.
There was no smile on his face.
His attention moved from the screen towards the Guild Master of Helios Vanguard.
“This is no simple matter. Something like this has never occurred before. It’d be unwise to treat it lightly.”
“…..”
The Helios Vanguard Guild Master’s eyes narrowed.
For several seconds, neither looked away.
The people seated between them remained still, the air seemingly constricting.
Then Venn spoke again, breaking the tension.
“We’ll be keeping a close watch on every confirmed location. Until we understand the situation, nobody is to treat these as ordinary Gates.”
He changed the display to a map.
Markers covered several parts of Sines. Another appeared while they were looking.
“Each Guild present will be assigned responsibility for one of the entrances. Your teams will help maintain the perimeter and remain ready in case anything comes through.”
A man farther down the table frowned.
“Our available personnel are already—”
“Then adjust your assignments.”
Venn looked around the room.
“This is an order.”
“…..”
Several people exchanged looks.
Nobody seemed particularly pleased, but after a little while, they could only relent. Even though the Guilds held considerable power, it was nothing compared to the BUA. Only the major Guilds held enough power to refuse the orders, but even they needed to be careful.
“Your locations will be sent shortly. Coordinate with the agents already stationed there.”
Venn placed the remote down.
“That’s all.”
Chairs moved against the floor.
The Guild Master of Helios Vanguard stood first, leaving his report on the table as he headed towards the door.
Section Chief Johansberg rose a moment later.
He was attending on behalf of Severed Stars, and unlike several of the others, he made no attempt to speak with the Bureau personnel before leaving.
His attention remained on the man before him.
He caught up with him in the corridor.
“Guild Master.”
The man slowed slightly.
His gaze shifted towards Johansberg from the corner of his eyes.
“I take it you’ve resolved the situation in your Guild.”
Johansberg lowered his voice.
“Yes. There’s no need to worry.”
His fingers briefly moved through his beard.
“The Guild will be mine soon enough.”
“That’s good.”
They continued walking.
Johansberg remained half a step behind, his expression considerably more restrained than it was inside the meeting room.
For a while, the Guild Master said nothing else.
Then—
“Once that’s settled, make sure you don’t sell him.”
Johansberg’s steps slowed.
“…Thorne?”
The man looked towards him.
“Yes.”
“But—”
“I haven’t forgotten what happened at the Congress.”
Johansberg closed his mouth.
The Guild Master’s expression remained unchanged.
“He should serve as an example to anyone else who thinks they can antagonise Helios Vanguard.”
“…..”
“I expect you to remember that.”
He continued towards the exit.
Johansberg stopped beside the wall, watching him leave.
For several seconds, his hand remained caught against his beard.
Then he slowly lowered it.
***
The people outside were becoming rather busy.
At first, it was only the phones.
One rang.
Then another.
Afterwards, someone came into the room and spoke with the two people watching me. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but one of them immediately brought up something new on his monitor.
A map, from what I could see.
“…..”
I sat on the edge of the bed and watched.
The outer door opened again.
Several people in dark uniforms passed through, one carrying a case while another spoke into his earpiece.
None looked towards me.
That wasn’t unusual. Out of boredom, I had done the unimaginable. Everyone had grown resistant to my nonsense.
I stood and approached the glass.
The two observers remained at their desks, not looking at me. I was starting to wonder whether everyone had forgotten about me.
But then the outside door opened once more.
This time, I recognised the person entering.
Venn.
He spoke briefly to one of the observers before turning to leave again.
I raised my hand and knocked on the glass.
Tok! Tok!
He stopped.
Then he looked towards me.
For a moment, he seemed to consider continuing towards the door. Eventually, he approached the glass and pressed something beside the speaker.
“I don’t have much time. There’s a situa—”
“What happened outside?”
His mouth stopped moving.
I looked past him towards the monitor.
Then back at his face.
“Everyone seems quite busy.”
Venn glanced towards the people behind him before answering.
“A Gate has formed.”
“A Gate?”
“No.”
He rubbed the space between his brows.
“Several dozen Gates have formed. They all appear to connect to the same place. It doesn’t seem particularly dangerous, but we’re taking extra care since this is the first time we’ve seen something like this.”
“…..”
I tilted my head.
“Several dozen?”
“The number is still increasing.”
“That sounds troublesome.”
“It is.”
His attention briefly moved towards the outer door.
“…As things stand, I won’t be able to attend our usual meetings. I hope you understand.”
A phone rang behind him. One of the observers answered, turning slightly away while looking at the monitor.
Venn let out a short laugh shortly after.
It didn’t sound particularly amused.
“I suppose you’re lucky to be here. At least you won’t get caught up in whatever’s happening outside.”
I looked at him for a moment.
Then I smiled.
“I guess so.”
Venn gave a small nod before turning away.
The speaker went quiet.
I watched him exchange another few words with the observers.
Then—
Krrr…
A familiar sound echoed from beside me as I slowly turned my head.
Krrr—
One of the observers looked up.
I remained beside the glass, watching the radio as the static continued.
Growing louder.
So loud that the sound soon enshrouded the entire room.
And for the first time in a while, I started feeling lightheaded.
Ba… Thump!
My heart skipped at the same time as a sense of dread engulfed me, and a faint ticking sound echoed next to my ears.
Tik, Tik!
A familiar office appeared in my vision as I found myself back in the familiar environment, staring at a familiar door.
Creaaaak!
Slowly, the door opened.
Tik!, Tik!
I never pulled my eyes away from it, the sound of a step reaching my ears as the outline of a figure appeared on the floor beneath, slowly emerging from behind the door.
Krrr!
But by the time I blinked, it was all gone, the static of the radio filling the surroundings once more.
Bang! Bang—!
Two loud ‘bangs’ emerged from the radio as I turned my gaze towards it.
At the same time, the outside seemed to turn chaotic as everyone abruptly stood up at once, their expressions changing.
I knew then.
—Bring forth the first defendant.
BANG!
—Let all bear witness. His fate shall be decided here, and the judgement passed shall be absolute.
BANG!
It was coming.
The Judge was coming.