Muxi Town, February 19th, 1171 (Two months after the Second War Council).

"How is it? Are you able to adapt to the 'Dragon Bone' now?"

Todd, pen and paper in hand, observed the warhorse before him, occasionally writing something down, and then asked the rider on horseback a question.

Sitting on horseback, Huggins moved his arms and twisted his waist. The sharp hooks of the parasites embedded in his spine caused him a dull pain. He squinted and said slowly, "When it first started two weeks ago, I couldn't even move my fingers. Now it's much better."

Todd pointed to his back: "So, how's 'The Hive'? How's it working now?"

Huggins shut his mouth, and a rattling sound, like a rattlesnake's tail, suddenly came from the 'Dragon Bone' parasite on his back. Several subordinates ten meters away shouted to him, "Sir, that's a great idea!"

Todd asked curiously, "What did you 'say'?"

Huggins shrugged: "I just told them I had a frozen leg of lamb at home, and we could roast it together for lunch."

Todd laughed, patted the warhorse's neck, and finally asked, "How are these exotic warhorses performing?"

Huggins stroked the horse's mane affectionately, causing the horse to snort contentedly. He said happily, "When they run at full speed, they're like lightning; no wound can hinder their fighting spirit. I really can't think of anything in this world that can stop their charge!"

Todd tapped the paper in his hand with his pencil, thinking to himself, "Swiftness, Regeneration, Pain Resistance, and Metal Skin—I've used up most of my potion inventory just to transform your 13 warhorses into 'Successors'."

Huggins stopped what he was doing and looked toward the hills.

Todd followed his gaze and saw the knight Alfonso wielding his greatsword, still practicing day and night.

"He still refuses to wear the 'Dragon Bone'?"

Huggins sighed: "I've talked to him several times, but he still can't accept that tragedy."

Todd withdrew his gaze, looked at the parasitic limbs covering the man's body, and sighed: "We can't help him. Perhaps he can only rely on himself to get out of the nightmare of the past... As for you, take your men and get used to 'Dragonbone' and the alien warhorses. We have less and less time left."

Having left the intensively training squad of "The Successors," Todd encountered Cumberland hurrying along the road. The old knight's expression brightened upon seeing him: "Grand Master, I was just about to look for you. Silver Ring City has made its move."

Upon hearing this, Todd immediately inquired about the details.

Cumberland compiled the intelligence gathered in recent days: in the Silver Ring City's military camps, logistics officers had begun allocating supplies according to the troops' needs; some nobles' private armies had left their manors and were gathering outside the city; and the government hall had held several meetings in recent days. All signs indicated that the kingdom was likely to launch an offensive against Twilight Town in the near future.

After Cumberland finished speaking, he began to reassure Todd: "Don't worry, even if the kingdom's army sets off today, it is estimated that it will take seven days to reach Muxi Town. Our troops can intercept this army by setting up an ambush at a location close to the town."

Todd then asked, "Is that fake military order ready?"

Cumberland nodded: "It is a perfect forgery. All the seals on it are exquisite and unimaginably detailed, exactly as I remember it."

Listening to the old knight's praise, Todd was a little puzzled. Even if Queen Mary was skilled in painting and had been in contact with royal objects, it was incredible that she could memorize so many seal designs and draw them so accurately.

However, this was not the time to think about these things. Todd asked Cumberland a few more questions, said goodbye, and returned to his laboratory building.

Pushing open the door, we entered the back room, where Rachel and Karin stood at the far end of the room, adjusting and operating the 'volcanic environment simulation culture bottle'.

Compared to the chill outside, the room was warm as spring. Todd took off his coat, placed it on the back of a chair, and walked behind the two nuns: "How is the situation?"

Without turning his head, Rachel said, "Culturing bottles number one and three broke again. I had Old Aiden take them to be repaired. The 'Sutherland Potion' produced these past few days is enough for one person. I plan to select another person from the mutants for inoculation. Oh, and the 'Regeneration' and 'Pain Resistance' in the cold storage are all used up. I've already notified those two types of mutants to come here as soon as possible."

Todd nodded, indicating that he understood.

Karin lifted her small face, covered in soot: "Todd, why can't my and Rachel's abilities be given to others?"

The person being asked the question was stunned.

Todd touched the bridge of his nose. He had tried to transplant Rachel's "telekinesis," Karin's "possession," and Adelina's "beast language" several times, but all of them had failed. He didn't know the specific reason, but could only vaguely guess that it was related to human genes or something smaller.

He used a damp cloth from the lab to wipe Karin's face and replied helplessly, "Maybe it's because you guys are special."

Rachel looked away from the culture bottles, picked up a notebook from the table, and said to Todd, "From two months ago until today, we have trained a total of twenty-seven 'Inheritors,' including four elemental attack mutants, two 'Flame Breath' mutants, and two 'Sonic Wave Oscillation' mutants, all equipped with 'Speed' and 'Regeneration'; thirteen melee attack mutants, equipped with 'Regeneration,' 'Pain Resistance,' 'Metallic Skin,' and 'Weakening'; and ten underwater attack mutants, equipped with 'Regeneration,' 'Underwater Breathing,' 'Webbed Hands and Feet,' and 'Speed.'"

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