After the initial shock, Huggins gestured to the guards around him, signaling them to quickly gather more troops.

Todd stopped him by raising his hand and beckoned to Brunhilde, saying, "Come inside."

With her spear slung back on her back, the swaggering Valkyrie stepped over the knight on the ground and headed towards the council chamber door.

Huggins stepped to the side, blocking her way, his eyes fixed on the spear, and said through gritted teeth, "You must remove your weapon before you enter!"

Brunhilde watched the king disappear into the depths of the hall, then nonchalantly plunged her spear deep into the earth.

Upon returning to his throne, Todd ordered his servants to bring him some simple refreshments, only to find the Valkyrie standing out prominently among the crowd.

The somewhat hunchbacked monk Joe, seeing Brunhilde's tall figure of 175 centimeters beside him, subconsciously moved aside.

Todd looked down at his seat and said, "Has the Kingdom of Muxi neglected you?"

Brunhilde shook her head.

"So you're homesick and want to leave?"

The naive Valkyrie spoke her mind directly: "We left in the first place to seek the glory of the gods, so how could we possibly go back to guard the tombs?"

Todd smiled and asked, "So, what is your purpose?"

"Fight!" Brunhilde swung her arms forcefully. "We are the war maidens of the gods, the Valkyries charging into battle! We can prove with our strength that the battlefield is our ultimate destiny!"

Todd didn't speak, nor did he show any affirmation or denial.

Harkins, who was constantly watching the king's expression, whispered to Cumberland beside him for a moment, then said to Brunhilde, "Do the Valkyries wish to become mercenaries for the kingdom?"

"Mercenaries? Those scum who fight for money?! No, my sisters and I, and the warriors of North Island, wish to join the Twilight Knights!"

Upon hearing this, Huggins paused for a moment, exchanged an incredulous look with Alfonso, and then hesitantly asked the woman, "Are you... planning to convert to God?"

Brunhilde's face showed disgust: "Of course not! We are followers of the gods of the North Island, and Valhalla is our eternal home!"

Huggins angrily pulled out the cross from his chest and shouted, "The Knights of Twilight are the Father's sword and shield; how could they possibly agree to accept heretics..."

Cumberland slapped Huggins' thigh hard with the back of his hand under the table, silencing the latter.

The old knight turned to Todd and slowly asked, "Your Majesty, what do you think?"

Todd glanced around at the people in the hall. Rachel and Jemro worshipped the three gods of ancient Talos; the Valkyrie Brunhilde served Odin, the king of the gods of the North Island; the Southern scholar Kendi worshipped Allah; and the rest were followers of the Father.

The belief system of the Kingdom of Muxi can now be described as a hodgepodge, and with the expansion of its territory and the growth of its army, its religious beliefs will likely become even more complex in the future.

Although Todd himself delivered a speech on the founding day of the kingdom, emphasizing that the Kingdom of Muxi was a religiously tolerant country where heretics would not be judged or expelled, religious oppression and discrimination had always existed, either overtly or covertly, especially in such an important field as the military.

“Brynhildr, I’m sorry. The Knights of Twilight are the Father’s army, and I cannot agree to let you join.”

The King's decision greatly disappointed the Valkyrie, while Hudgens and Alfonso breathed a sigh of relief.

Todd paused for a moment, then said, "While the Knights of Twilight cannot accept you, the Kingdom of Twilight can."

Everyone in the hall held their breath, bewildered by the king's sudden remark.

Todd smiled and continued, "The Kingdom of Muxi has always been an open and inclusive world. It provides shelter for all those who have suffered injustice and persecution, and there will be no favoritism or exclusion based on your beliefs, origins, or even race."

Brunhilde cast a grateful glance at Todd, while the other pagans in the hall all wore expressions of reverence.

“I intend to establish the second army of the Kingdom of Twilight, composed entirely of Valkyries and North Islanders. You will be granted the right to roam the battlefield, for glory and for the kingdom.” Todd looked into Brunhilde’s eyes: “You will be the commander of the army, and the kingdom will provide the equipment and supplies.”

Looking at everything before him, unlike the dumbfounded Huggins and Alfonso, Cumberland, the commander of the Twilight Knights, looked at Todd with a hint of approval and satisfaction in his eyes, and said something that only he could hear.

"He's really starting to resemble a proper monarch more and more..."

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The Valkyries and the warriors of the North Island pledged allegiance to King Todd and established the kingdom's second army—the "North Island Knights," marking the beginning of a more diversified military force for the Kingdom of Twilight.

But compared to this matter, the residents of Twilight City are more concerned about the latest way to get rich that has emerged in the kingdom.

First, the advancements in shipbuilding and navigation technology within Muxi City, coupled with the flourishing of maritime trade, fostered a large number of fleets that sailed the high seas in pursuit of wealth.

Secondly, the patent law protecting inventions, the growing number of scholars, and the strong support from the wealthy population led to a wide variety of emerging products in the kingdom.

Finally, the ever-expanding population and increasing demand for goods in the Kingdom of Muxi created a virtuous cycle of wealth and rapid commercial growth.

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