CHAPTER 779: REPORTING

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All kinds of tools for divination appeared around Travis.

He approached the area closer, then paused before closing his eyes and began pinching his fingers. Each time he did, a mystical wave of energy emanated from his body, containing the essence of time and causality.

Cedric could recognize this; he too, after all, knows divination. However, his progress on it falls short compared to Travis, who raised it at the Heavenly Law level.

This went on for a couple dozen minutes before he heard Travis groaning in pain. Following that, his face paled and his energy dropped dangerously low. Cedric came behind him for support and asked,

"You’re okay. I got you."

A pulse of golden flame emerged from Cedric’s hand, which also enveloped Travis. No, it didn’t burn him to a crisp; it also didn’t hurt him at all, not even in the slightest. Instead, it healed him from the inside out, replenishing the color on his face and the energy he just lost.

"Thank you, Lord Stormrider." Travis marvelled at his abilities for a bit before saying this. He could feel his energy replenishing at an alarming rate, alleviating the backlash of his divination.

’What a wondrous application of Fire Laws.’ Travis couldn’t help but be amazed by the sector lord’s abilities.

Technically, this skill wasn’t unique. Anybody who could use fire laws can also use it to heal. But this aspect of fire laws remains elusive because most people see fire as a purging element, not a healing one. Therefore, it was rare to see people using fire laws to heal.

The golden flames retreated once Travis recovered to a certain degree. Then, Cedric asked:

"How is it? Did you get any confirmation?"

Travis sighed and nodded grimly.

"I’m very sorry, Lord Stormrider, but the doors to the Unstable Heavenly Domain will indeed manifest here."

This confirmation lined up with Cedric’s earlier guesses, but hearing someone else confirm it for him doesn’t make it easier to accept.

Those who came with Travis felt giddy and also confused. Of course they were happy to have located the place where the doors to the Unstable Heavenly Domain will manifest this early.

At the very least, they don’t have to comb through the entire chaos realm to find it. It’s even luckier for them that this sector lord decided to contact them right away instead of keeping this to himself until the very last moment, like others would do.

But they’re also confused because the sector lord didn’t look too happy about this. Why? Isn’t this something to be celebrated? The door to a life-changing opportunity was practically right at his doorstep! How was he upset about this?

More importantly, why did Travis apologize? Didn’t he just do what he was asked to? What did he do wrong?

"Damn it," Cedric sighed helplessly. "My domain is nowhere near ready for this chaos. Why here of all places?"

This little complaint of his cleared up their confusion.

Yeah, that’s right. It’s not that the sector lord hated the opportunity; he hates that it’s this close to his territory. They knew that he’s a newly elected sector lord, and for someone like him, this was truly bad news.

This opportunity will be fought for not just by humans but other races too. And once the news of its location is eventually leaked out, and it will, no doubt about that, then this whole place will become a battlefield.

The sector lord didn’t care so much about this opportunity, more than he does about his people and his territory. Honestly, that’s respectable.

Travis knew this too from his divination. He learned that this Lord Stormrider would really rather stay away from all this trouble. He held no love or desire towards the Unstable Heavenly Domain. He’d rather stay in his office and wrestle with a mountain of paperwork instead of becoming a host to this chaotic event.

That’s why he apologized earlier.

"Whatever. It’s not your fault." Cedric sighed once more and comforted Travis. "Since we’ve practically confirmed this, what’s our next step?"

"I will directly contact the councillors, sir," Travis replied, not even hesitating in the slightest. "This matter concerns them too, as this was an opportunity that they won’t miss."

"It shouldn’t take them long to arrive here. Maybe you can negotiate with them, Sir. Ask them to protect your territory or at least move it away or isolate it. I don’t see them blaming you for making such a request," Travis advised.

"That’s what I was thinking too." Cedric nodded. "It’s just that...the councillors had been particularly generous towards me already; I feel bad asking them for more help. Though I guess I don’t have much choice anymore. Hopefully they can help me."

"For now, let me at least be a good host to you. My bodyguards will take your temporary resting place. If there’s anything you need, please don’t hesitate to inform them. I’m sorry if I’m unable to accompany you too much; I have to make arrangements for my domain as soon as possible."

"It’s alright, Lord. We wouldn’t dare to impose, either. We understand your worries. I’ll contact the councillors as soon as possible. Don’t worry about us and do what you must for your domain and your people."

"Thank you." Cedric shook Travis’ hand and asked his bodyguards (clones) to help them settle temporarily.

Meanwhile, Cedric himself disappeared and returned to his office. There were a lot of things that he needed to take care of before the doors to the Unstable Heavenly Domain manifested completely.

Before he left, Travis and his team couldn’t help but feel bad about this. They saw Cedric’s face turning grimmer before he disappeared.

They felt bad but also admired this lord for prioritizing his territory and his people first, instead of being blinded by this great opportunity.

Quinella and Wilfred led them to their temporary settlement. Because of their discovery, it’s almost certain that they won’t be permitted to leave right away.

Not by Cedric’s pardon, but by the council’s.

This discovery was a huge deal, and since they discovered it, they are way too involved in this now. But at the same time, they are also bound here.

It’s included in their contracts that, if they have confirmed the location of the prize, they are to stay and make sure to guard it; they must also contact the councillors themselves right away.

In this group, only Travis has the means of communication. Not just directly to the councillors but also everyone else. The other team members are forbidden from touching any communication lines.

This was to prevent them from leaking out the news.

Although everybody knows that this matter will eventually spread out, they’d be damned if they don’t fight tooth and nail to delay it as much as they can.

Cedric was also vaguely aware of this; that’s why the temporary settlement he chose for this team was near the location of the budding portal.

It didn’t take long before the team was eventually taken there and was left to their own devices.

This was when Travis began using the direct communication line to the councillors. He had to unlock the mechanism for it, requiring him to verify his identity about 10 different times before he was allowed to touch and use it.

When he finally did, someone from the other side answered in a matter of seconds.

’Nicholas here. It’s Travis, right? I assume that you’ve located it? You won’t use this unless you’ve confirmed it, right? ’

"Indeed, Dear Councillor," Travis replied. "We have confirmed that the doors to the Unstable Heavenly Domain will, indeed, manifest near the Rising Sun Sector Domain. Lord Stormrider’s initial guess was correct, and it was confirmed through divination. I’m sending my location to you."

"Great job. I promise that you will be properly compensated for this. In the meantime, keep an eye on your subordinates. Make sure to prevent them from touching any communication devices. If you need to cut off their arms or slice their throats to silence them, do so. Take action even at the slightest suspicion, you understand?"

"Yes, sir. I will, I promise." Travis didn’t argue.

The order was harsh but understandable. Humanity couldn’t afford to give up this chance, especially not to the Horde.

The Crimson Womb Mother was now allowed to get any more chances to become stronger. She can’t disrupt the delicate balance between races because if she does, humanity will be wiped out from existence.

That’s why even if Travis were to be forced to strike against his own, he must do so.

"And Sir, Lord Stormrider is worried about his domain and his people. We all can tell that he was not happy about this. From my divination, I confirmed that he wanted nothing to do with this opportunity at all."

"Oh, really?" Nicholas sounded surprised.

"Yes, Sir. I wouldn’t dare lie to you. If he had a choice to move the location of this opportunity somewhere else, he wouldn’t hesitate to chuck it off to the other side of the chaos realm, as far as it could ever be from his territory."

"He’d rather be stuck in his office dealing with paperwork rather than worry about the potential damage this could bring to his territory and his people. So please, if there’s something that can be done..."

"Alright. I hear you. I’ll see what we can do. For now, focus on your task, alright?"

"Right, thanks, Uncle."