After Albert and Lina left, the King was alone on his throne.
He stared at his golden ring with a green gem.
"The time has come…"
he muttered.
After a few minutes, Lina returned and asked why he made the decision not only to spare Albert from being a criminal but also to give him the high role of subduing the entire group of Abaddon. She saw his decision as foolish and irresponsible.
He laughed.
"Lina… I have trusted you even after the death of my son. Have you ever wondered why?"
he asked, staring at her kneeling in front of him.
Lina raised her head to answer.
"M-My King, I have never asked of it eve..."
The King raised his hand, cutting her words.
"That's why I can't answer you,"
he explained with a smile.
King Ceamiato Wenthoriz was a mysterious and wise ruler, and no one ever thought of him making unreasonable decisions, except Lina, who believed everybody had their own flaws.
She didn't insist on making the King answer her latter question, and accepted it with respect.
The King looked upward.
And in his mind was a decision that every King in the history of Wenthoriz made in their final days.
He faced Lina.
"Lina! Call all Chiefs of Dryland tomorrow at night, for I will… hand over the throne to a more powerful King!"
he commanded, his voice loud.
As Lina heard this, she froze for a second, because she knew the King was now going to follow his ancestors and their lifeline culture.
"Y-Yes, my King!"
She stood and hurried outside, arranging the invitations, sadness in her heart, for the King was like a true father to her.
Meanwhile, Albert was inside the King's Castle, in a narrow but beautiful room, lying on a ten-foot bed with thick, smooth white foam.
His two hands rested behind his head.
He was thinking with a peaceful mind.
Ironically, he thought about how messy his last few days had been.
"Maybe I am destined to experience… No, all humans are destined to experience unexpected realities,"
he thought.
He was now able to see the letters of his power without closing his eyes, looking at the list of spells he had made so far.
[Soul Collected > (Positive: 34) (Negative: 227)]
[Spell List]
[Auto Regeneration]
[Undying Soul]
[Spell One]
[Spell Two]
[Spell Zero]
[Rider Spell]
[Memory Spell]
Spell Zero was the spell he used to break the barrier blocking him, and Rider Spell was when he summoned a cart with the guide of Hell as the driver, something he had read from a book.
He smiled, thinking of how powerful he had become.
"I have so many things to add to this list… but first of all, I must consider how dangerous I might become without thinking of the risk of having this power,"
he thought, clicking his tongue while his foot waved unconsciously.
Then he looked at the functions he had.
[Function List]
[Soul Reading Eyes]
[Absolute Ego Raiser]
[System Hacking]
[The Librarian]
[Morphing]
[Item Manifester]
He read, curious.
"Hmm, it's just so confusing. I don't have any kind of knowledge about these names, except Item Manifester and Soul Reading, which I've used unconsciously when I fought Abaddon's soldiers. Very convenient functions."
He wondered what the others were for.
Then he thought deeply, forcing the meanings to show. He felt a hot energy starting from his heart, flowing into his head until...
[Absolute Ego Raiser > Allows the holder to elevate their self-esteem, improving their respect for themselves.]
"Did I use that already?"
he asked.
[System Hacking > Allows the holder to gain access to the system of the ?????]
The last word was censored to Albert.
"Huh? Why can't I see the last word?"
he wondered.
[The Librarian > Allows the holder to read and organize a collection of used souls inside a pocket dimension.]
"So I am a librarian again, but on another level… and with another confusing word,"
he muttered, pointing at Pocket Dimension.
[Morphing > Allows the holder to decide how the system will manifest physically.]
"Ohh, I've used that before,"
he said, remembering the time when he and the artifact were not yet fused and he almost made it become Seth.
He understood the functions' meanings, but not entirely. Then he gasped loudly.
And then, someone knocked at the door.
Albert hurried to open it, expecting Lina.
And so, when he opened it, it really was Lina but with a sad face.
Albert wondered why she was sad.
His left brow rose.
She entered silently and sat in a chair beside his bed.
Albert sat too, on the bed opposite her.
"So, what made you come here? Knowing you, you must have an urgent matter to say with that face of yours,"
Albert asked, his voice unknowingly worried.
Lina smiled a little and clenched her hands in her lap.
"The King is now going… to use his artifact and summon a new King to rule this kingdom,"
she said in a low voice.
Albert's eyes widened, his mouth opened. He didn't know what she meant, but it might be bad news for him. He worried that if the King was replaced, he might have to follow a ruler who could turn out wicked.
"Then how about his promise to me? Can I still have my freedom to do anything, as long as I prioritize my mission of eliminating Abaddon?"
he asked.
Lina then reached into her shirt pocket and pulled out a scroll tied with golden thread.
"You are selfish sometimes, you know. You didn't even ask about what the summoning was that I mentioned,"
she said, handing him the scroll.
Albert opened it and read:
{A Lifetime Authority given to Albert, the last survivor of the North.
A group of one thousand prisoners was sent to the North to fight Abaddon's army, but sadly, they perished in the hands of one of Abaddon's generals.
But their deaths did not become in vain, as we discovered a brilliant prisoner who survived and unbelievably killed over two hundred soldiers of Abaddon and one general on his own, an impossible feat for any soldier of the kingdom.
Contract > He is tasked by the King to defeat the group who wage war against the Kingdom: Abaddon, who has already wasted thousands of pitiful lives.
Condition > He can do anything as long as it doesn't violate the laws, as long as he prioritizes his mission.
This Contract has no expiration and must be kept secret from the Chiefs of Dryland.
Approved by King Ceamiato Wenthoriz and his Right-hand, Commander of the Spy Guild, Miss Lina.}
Albert finished reading the scroll and folded it back, smirking.
Lina stared at him.
"So, want to know what summoning is?"
she asked.
Albert lifted his legs, bent them, and sat on the bed with both feet resting on it.
"But before that… do you know why the King believed and decided this so quickly? Is he a fool, or just too unpredictable?"
he asked, curious.
Lina sighed.
"He's not a fool… but I don't really know his reasoning,"
she answered.
After she spoke, Albert suddenly became serious.
"Now, explain what Summoning is, and why it's necessary to pick a new King?"
And in his mind, he thought of Victor Quasinto, the first hero, who spoke as though he was not from this world and why he was called a hero.
And then Lina started.
"Summoning is the power of the King's artifact that allows them to…"
This information was often kept secret from normal people, known only to the Chiefs and Wielders.