Read Novel Full Chapter 840: The Judge [2]
Chapter 840: The Judge [2]
Breaking — [Mysterious Gates Appear Across Sines. What Is Happening?]
Breaking — [Four Scouts Killed During Public Hearing. The Bureau Identifies VILE-3107.]
Breaking — [One Courtroom, Dozens of Entrances. Growing Concern Over the Anomaly Known as the Judge.]
The articles spread quickly.
So did the recordings.
At first, there was only the footage of Garrick standing before the judge as his crimes were listed, and his sentence was carried out in front of everyone watching.
Then the other recordings appeared.
The next scout was brought forward.
Then another.
By the time the courtroom grew quiet again, all four scouts were dead.
The footage was difficult to contain.
There were too many entrances spread across the entire city, and despite the Bureau’s attempts at stopping people from getting near, the Gate was simply too big to hide, with many people managing to get videos and recordings of the entire event from outside.
Even after the authorities blocked the videos from circulating, new ones would appear.
Some people stopped watching before the first sentence was carried out, whilst others watched everything until the end.
The videos only brought more questions.
Was this it…?
…Or was there more to it?
But why is the Gate still there? How come it’s dark?
Could the thing sitting behind the desk come outside?
Nobody seemed to have an answer. And it was that ‘unknown’ that brought a heavy sense of dread towards all beings living in Sines.
*
⎯The Bureau has identified the anomaly as VILE-3107, provisionally named “The Judge.”
The news presenter’s voice filled the office.
An image of one of the Gates appeared beside her. Several agents stood behind the barriers, trying to move people away while rain continued falling across the road.
The courtroom remained visible beyond them. But unlike before, the lights were off.
It was dark inside.
⎯The initial scouting team is confirmed to have suffered complete losses. We will not be showing the footage of their deaths.
Kyle remained standing near the desk.
His jacket rested over the back of a chair, still damp around the shoulders. Beside him, Zoey watched the screen without saying anything.
The presenter continued.
⎯The appearance of so many entrances connected to a single location is unprecedented. However, it’s important to distinguish the scale of the incident from the strength of the Gate itself.
A small panel appeared beneath the image.
[Current Classification: ]
⎯The readings remain within the category. While the circumstances are unusual, the Bureau and the Guilds have extensive experience dealing with Gates of this rank.
“…..”
Kyle’s eyes moved towards the image of the entrance.
There was blood on the floor inside.
Even from the distance at which the recording was taken, he could see it.
⎯There have been no confirmed attacks beyond the entrances. Residents are advised to avoid the affected areas and follow the instructions of personnel on site. There is currently no reason for widespread panic.
Kyle slowly looked away.
The Section Chief sat behind his desk, the dark circles beneath his eyes as glaring as always. In his hand was a singular report.
He wasn’t reading it.
His brows were tightly furrowed as he watched the screen, occasionally moving his thumb against the surface of the paper.
“…I’m afraid things won’t end like this.”
Kyle looked towards him.
The Section Chief remained focused on the television.
“The Gate has yet to fade…”
He lowered the report.
“To me, it seems like this is merely the prelude of what is to come.”
Neither Kyle nor Zoey answered.
On the screen, the presenter started discussing the number of Guild teams assigned to the incident. Their presence was meant to be reassuring, but everyone understood that things were a lot more complicated than that.
The Section Chief leaned back.
“I’m afraid things will get worse soon.”
His tone carried a rare sense of gravity.
“I am not really feeling this one.”
“…..”
The rain struck the window behind him.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Kyle looked towards the television again.
The camera showed the Judge’s desk from farther away. He couldn’t make out much of the insides as it was dark, the figure known as the ‘Judge’ long gone. But his presence still remained deep within his mind.
It wasn’t something he could ever forget.
‘But I’m glad it’s not him.’
Initially, he wondered whether Seth was involved.
The thought came almost immediately after he saw the Gate.
It was difficult not to think of him when something this strange happened.
But…
‘It isn’t him.’
Kyle could still feel their connection.
Although it wasn’t strong, and he couldn’t spy on him, he at least knew that Seth had remained where he had been the entire time.
‘Not this time.’
The thought brought him a little relief.
But that relief didn’t last very long. Even if Seth wasn’t involved, this new anomaly… It was certainly no simple anomaly. Nobody understood what the anomaly wanted, but at the very least, they had an idea of what it was trying to do.
‘Judge criminals.’
Kyle lowered his gaze towards his phone, his thumb mindlessly moving across the screen before he eventually turned towards the window.
Rain ran down the glass in uneven lines, making it difficult to see the buildings beyond the Guild. Every so often, the wind pushed harder, and the entire window filled with moving water.
“It really doesn’t show any signs of stopping.”
Zoey’s murmur made him look towards her.
She was standing a little closer to the window now, her arms folded as she looked outside.
For a moment, Kyle wasn’t certain what she was referring to.
Then she spoke again.
“This rain. It’s making me sick.”
***
The outer door opened again as I turned my head slowly.
Two people stepped inside, one holding a tablet while the other went straight towards the monitors. They spoke with the people watching me, pointing at something on the screen.
I couldn’t quite hear what they were saying, but from their expressions, I could tell that it was serious.
Then the door opened again, and someone called them from outside.
‘Quite busy.’
I sat on the edge of the bed, my hands resting beside me as I followed the movement beyond the glass.
Nobody seemed interested in speaking with me anymore. It made me feel a little lonely.
‘I’ve grown tired of doomscrolling.’
If someone asked me, I could probably tell them about fifty high protein meals at the top of my head.
I also saw a lot of gossip. Even regarding those belonging to our Guilds. Some about Kyle, and even some about Zoey. Especially regarding her dating life.
Apparently, she was dating Kyle.
Naturally, I couldn’t stand that. I cursed everyone and their mother.
That girl was my girlfriend after all.
That led me to me getting banned, but of course, I just created a new account just to get banned again.
Creating a new email was a bit too tiresome, so I stopped, leading to this very moment as my attention moved towards the radio.
It sat on the small table, its speaker now quiet. I liked the silence that it brought.
But the more silent it was, the more I knew something was up.
“…..”
I moved a little on the mattress, staring at everything that was unfolding outside. Things seemed to grow more and more chaotic by the minute, and staring at everything that was happening, I couldn’t help but smile.
“Looks like it really has started.”
Tik! Tik!
I slowly leaned back, letting my head settle against the pillow.
The ceiling above me was plain.
There was a light near the middle, and a camera positioned a little farther away. I watched its lens turn slightly as it followed my every action.
But it mattered little to me.
For I knew I didn’t have much time left.
He was here.
Tik! Tik! Tik!
The Judge.
Krrr⎯