Final Decision

Toma finally arrived at the cathedral in which the meetings are held. He opened the door and entered and saw Ms. Shaman and went straight up to her. Ms. Shaman notice Touma is coming towards her.

“Touma, thank goodness you're here.” Said Ms. Shaman.

“What's going on? Why did the meeting commence now and not next week?” Ask Touma.

“The guards of the settlement doors have received a letter from Mr. Hitman.” Said Ms. Shaman.

“Do you know what the letter says?” Asked Touma.

“Not yet, but they will read it here, whatever it says, I am ready. I have already convinced Mrs. Richardson to talk to her husband, he might see us in a brighter light this time.” Said Ms. Shaman.

As the judge was entering the room, everybody stood up straight, respectfully. But this time it was not the old man, Mr. Tom Richardson, who came to the podium, but his son, Mr. Troy. Richardson, who is known to have a great friendship with Mr. Roger.

“You may now sit down.” Said Troy.

As everybody settled down and talked to each other, confused of the situation in which Why the son of the judge was acting as judge in this moment Troy suddenly spoke.

“As you all may know, my father, Tom Richardson, was doing judgment for the last meeting. But due to unfavorable circumstances, my father has gotten sick. So, I am assuming his place as judge for this meeting.” Said Troy.

As someone stood up, it was Ms. Shaman. She spoke.

“But doesn't it say in the book of rules that if one of the judges is not able to attend. Then their spouse shall become the acting judge. So, in this case scenario, it would be your mother who would be acting judge, wouldn't she?” Stated Ms. Shaman.

Troy turned his head and looked straight at Miss Shaman.

“As one who studies the book of rules to someday replace my father, I know that rule very well, but it also says that if the spouse is unavailable, it would be delegated to another relative of the judge. My mother, in this case, instead of wanting to act as judge for this meeting, attended to my father in his sickness and told me to attend as acting judge, being the closest relative and only relative.” Said Troy.

“Damn it.” Muttered Ms. Shaman. As she sat back down.

“I have been informed about the letter that was recently received by the guards at the gate. We shall be reading it before we commence.” Said Troy.

As someone came up to Troy and handed him the piece of paper, he inspected it.

“Bring over the ones who found the paper.” Said Troy.

Yuza and Thomas were brought to the

“Now, answered truthfully, was this paper ripped when you received it?” Asked Troy. Showing the paper in front of everyone.

“Yes, your honor, when that Raider handed it over to me, it was torn in half we check inside his pockets and his clothing if he had the other half, but it appears he did not carry it with him.” Said user.

“I see, thank you for your testimony, you may go back.” Said Troy as they took Yuza and Thomas. Back to their seats.

“I should start reading the note: This is your chief, Junkei, Hitman. This was a trap in the name of peace; we came, but we were imprisoned. Zodrick, the chief of this settlement. Has a destructive plan in motion, this letter will get to you from one of our men who we will help escape from here. Now listen well to my orders. R-.” Said Troy as he finished reading the letter.

“R- is that what it ended with?” Asked Mr. Roger as he stood up.

“Unfortunately, it seems that the letter was ripped at that moment.” Said Troy.

“Your Honor, I have a feeling that this note is a warning to us of something that might happen,” said Ms. Shaman as she stood up.

“We do not fight for just having a feeling, we fight for what we have on the table, and what we have now is a note that is clearly telling us to go fight.” Said Mr. Roger as he stood up as well.

“What do you mean it's telling us to fight? What reason do you have to say that?” Said Ms. Shaman.

“Well clearly Mr. Hitman started by informing us of how this Zodrick guy has a destructive plan and he ordered us to do something that starts with the letter R, and I don't know, that seems to me like he means he wants us to raid the place.” Said Mr. Roger.

“Is raiding the only word with R in your vocabulary?” Said Ms. Shaman.

“There's nothing here that says to stay here, it's most implicating that there is a danger in that other settlement that we must put an end to it.” Said Mr. Roger.

“I propose that we send some explorers of the expedition group before anything else?” Said Ms. Shaman to Troy.

“Oh, what are the expeditioners going to do? They don't have as much sense of combat as the Raiders do.” Said Mr. Roger.

“I understand both of your points, but this note clearly implicates danger, and our chief and some other men are inside that danger. So, I have made my conclusion,” said Troy as he looked around in the Cathedral.

As Ms. Shaman and Touma hope that the conclusion Troy has come up with is not the one raiding the other settlement, Troy speaks.

“Tomorrow morning, all Rangers will be heading out towards the other settlement, destroying everything in that other settlement and bringing back our chief and the other Raiders,” said Troy, hitting his gavel on the podium.

“Damn it, why?” Said Ms. Shaman as she banged her fist on the table.

Troy looked over to where Miss Shaman and Touma were.

Oh, and Dr. Hidayashi you're one of our greatest doctors here so you will be heading out with the Raiders.” Said Troy.

Touma was surprised as he stood up immediately.

“But I can't, I'm off commission and I'm currently raising my daughter.” Said Touma.

“The decision is final, as the rulebook says if the chief isn't present at the settlement, any decision made by the Ruling Judge is official now, you may all leave.” Said Troy as he stepped back from the podium and started walking away.

“I'm sorry, Touma, that I had to drag you into this.” Said Ms. Shaman as she stood up.

“It's fine, I just hope it's all over soon”. Said Touma.

Mr. Rogers gets closer to Touma and Ms. Shaman.

“Hey, Dr. Hidayashi, I know we started on the wrong foot, but now we'll be working together. You should go take your rest tomorrow, we'll be heading out early to finally put an end to this story.” Said Mr. Roger.

Touma left the cathedral and started walking back to Lucy’s house as he thought about how he would have to leave Alice with Lucy. Finally, he got to Lucy's house, she opened the door and he came in. Alice saw him and ran straight to him.

“Daddy, you're back.” Said Alice as she hugged him tightly.

Touma, crouch down and gave Alice a huge hug.

“Don't worry, I will always come back.” Set Touma with a lower tone.

Lucy noticed Toumas' disappointment in his facial expression.

“What's wrong? You don't look so happy.” Said Lucy, concerned.

“The judge ruled that we would be heading out to raid the other settlement.” Said Touma.

“Don't tell me you have to go to. I thought you were out of Commission.” Said Lucy.

“I was until the. Judge recommissioned me to go with the Raiders.” Said Touma.

“I see.” Said Lucy.

“I just hope it's a quick job.” Said Touma as he glanced over to Alice playing on the floor.

“I think you will have to tell Alice that,” said Lucy.

Touma nodded as he walked over to Alice and sat right next to her.

“Alice.” Said Touma, trying to get her attention.

“Daddy, you're going to play with me.” Said Alice as she handed him a toy that looked like a Prince.

“You could be the Prince and I'll be the Princess.” Said Alice as she showed him the other toy that looked like a Prince.

“And Ms. Bear is going to be the dragon.” Said Alice as she started setting up how they're going to play.

“Oh, I didn't think Ms. Bear was a dragon.” Said Touma in a playful tone.

“Ms. Bear isn't a dragon, she's a bear, she's going to act like a dragon.” Said Alice.

“Wow, she doesn't look like a dragon to me, she looks like a nice bear.” Said Touma playfully.

“Daddy, you have to use your imagination. Ms. Bear is a dragon.” Said Alice.

“Oh, Mr. Prince, please save me, I am stuck with this dragon.” Said Alice as she played the part of the Princess.

“OK, I'm on my way to save you.” Said Touma, playing the part of the prince.

“Ha ha ha. No one will get past me, I am not a bear, but a big, scary dragon.” Said Alice, trying to put a deeper voice to the toy bear.

“No matter what, I will defeat this big Dragon, and I'll come and save you, Princess.” Said Touma as he acted out fighting the bear, finally, he got towards the Toy Princess.

“I am here to save you, princess, and bring you down from this castle.” Said Touma

“Yeah, let's do it again.” Said Alice cheerfully.

As they played again, two more times, the third Touma decided to take a different approach.

“Daddy, aren't you going to fight the big, scary dragon?” Said Alice, confused of why he stopped.

“I'm sorry, Princess, but I cannot save you right now. Something is holding me back, but don't worry, I will return, and we will live happily ever after.” Said Touma

“Daddy, what are you saying? Said Alice as she didn't see this turn coming.

“I'm sorry, Alice tomorrow I have to leave.” Said Touma as he took Alice and brought her closer.

“But don't worry, I will come back because you are my princess, and the prince always comes back to his princess.” Said Toma. As he brought her closer to Lucy.

“You'll be staying here with Lucy for the time being, you'll be good, right?” Said Toma with a soft and delicate voice.

“Yes.” Said Alice in a low tone and as she started to sniffle with tears in her eyes.

Touma crouched down and hugged Alice one more time as he stood up and left Lucy’s house.