After hearing Chronos' report the court spent two hours deliberating what to do.
Some of them wanted to invade the wasteland in revenge for the troll's invasion. Forcing Chronos to explain multiple times why that wouldn't work and would only result in unnecessary casualties.
Others wanted to take full control of Dracon Fen and drive the naga's out, but King Roderick shot that down immediately saying that as long as the tribes of Dracon Fen did not betray them then they would not be removed.
A few considered invading through the ocean but given how bad the wastelands' weather was they could only assume that the ocean would be even worse.
The entire time Chronos wondered how these fools were missing the most important part.
They hadn't discussed what to do with the tears yet.
Deciding that this couldn't wait any longer Chronos spoke up, "Nobles of the court we have a bigger problem than the trolls of the wasteland. The tears will be a constant threat in the near future, and we have no way to defend against them."
"Hmph, they just spawn some low-level monsters, they're not that big of a deal." A fat noble said.
"Indeed, they can't threaten our capital city or any major city within our kingdom." Said a lanky man in the seat next to him.
"So those are the greedy ones that want nobles to rule." Chronos thought.
"It's not a matter of being threatening. The fact that they can appear anywhere at any time is a problem." A noble from the neutral faction countered.
"Nonsense we can just erect a barrier around all important cities and they'll be safe." The noble faction responded.
Nearly two-thirds of the nobles agreed with him.
"These people really don't get it." Chronos thought before he spoke, "If you only protect the major cities, you will lose the trust of the people. That means no food or resources will be coming to the major cities and you'll starve."
"Not everyone is as disloyal as your clan boy." Another noble faction member cut him off.
Chronos drew some void power into his eyes and glared at the man. He shrank into his seat feeling like he was facing an ancient beast.
King Roderick raised an eyebrow at that display but said nothing.
"If we're going to discuss loyalty then if you don't protect the people of this nation, you have already betrayed them. Besides there is no evidence to suggest that a barrier can stop a tear from forming inside of a city." Chronos continued.
"He has a point, if the barriers don't stop the tears, then we're just locking ourselves inside a cage with an inexhaustible number of enemies." A man from the king's faction called out.
The debate continued for another hour before Chronos was finally, and unwillingly, dismissed.
He left huffing with anger. Many of those fools wanted to just take care of themselves and didn't consider the people at all.
He knew that the noble faction was leaning that way before but seeing just how many were on their side today made him realize how corrupt the court had become.
He was still fuming at their stupidity when he reached his carriage.
"Welcome back young master. How did things go in the court?"
Leon, a captain under Christopher's command, was standing there waiting for him while restraining a stable hand.
"Terrible, the court is more corrupt than I thought, and those halfwits won't change their ways until they're the ones being hurt. At least the King and a number of the landed nobles understand the threat. Let that boy go."
"Are you sure? He did try to plant a bag of drunken incense in your carriage."
"Ha, which fool paid you to do that boy? Drunken incense only annoys werewolves. The dung used in its creation stings our noses."
Chronos looked at the young stable hand. Some of the generational servants raised by earls and above served at the royal castle to gain experience serving high nobility before returning to their household.
Most likely he was the child of a generational servant for one of the Earls or Marquis' and was being taught at the castle. A Duke's servant might also be trained at the castle, but they would never need to accept a job that framed someone else.
A pity the castle servants had never taught him to remain loyal to his master even when the master was away.
"Please let me go sir." The boy pleaded.
From the look in his eye, he wasn't going to say anything and there wasn't much they could do against him either. He wasn't planting anything dangerous after all.
"Report him to the stable master and let's go home. I need to finish whatever work has built up while I was gone."
The boy's face paled at the thought of how the stable master would punish him.
"Yes sir."
Captain Leon dragged the boy into the stable and returned a few minutes later after reporting what he'd done to the stable master.
Chronos didn't expect the boy to suffer much, too many nobles tried to embarrass their rival with such tactics for a serious punishment to be given out.
At most he might receive a few lashings for being caught then sent back to work.
Returning home Chronos found a messenger from the Archivists Tower waiting for him.
"Greetings once more, Young Master Ulv. I bear a message from Archivist Quillfeather of the Archivists Tower."
"Ah Micheal, wonderful. Please come inside and we can discuss it."
Nodding Micheal followed Chronos into the study where they could speak in private.
"So, when can Archivist Quillfeather speak with me? I know he has things he wants to ask and I have a few questions for him too."
"He can meet with you tomorrow if you have the time. He was quite eager to see the system I delivered and wants to know more about how it first came about." Micheal said while sipping tea.
"That's not a problem. Its creation is no secret, but should I prepare other materials that he may want to know about?"
Micheal touched his chin as he thought about that.
"Perhaps one of those item bags you were making during the trip. I know that Archivist Quillfeather is deeply interested in matters of space and time."
"I understand. I can't help him much with time, but I know a fair bit about space. I'll even prepare a good book on it for him."
"Thank you for that. Having the boss in a good mood would make things easier on me. Maybe I'll even get some time off," Micheal eagerly said.
They laughed and talked about a few other things before Micheal had to leave for the evening. Then Chronos tried to tackle the paperwork that had piled up while he'd been gone.