This task was not only arduous but also slow-paced. Finding what one wanted among tens of thousands of "memory fragments" was like finding a needle in a haystack. But Todd truly had no other choice.

"Your Majesty, Lord Cumberland is outside requesting an audience with you."

Since Huggins was still recovering at home, the task of relaying the message was still handled by the Knights' guards.

Todd opened his eyes and said, "Please let him in."

To the guards' strange looks, Cumberland looked like a shepherd going to market, with a rope in his hand.

An old man, bound hand and foot, with a look of utter despair on his face, was dragged into the room by Cumberland.

"Your Majesty, let me introduce you. This is my former superior and also my good friend—Earl Emerson."

Todd stared at the rope in Cumberland's hand, his mind reeling, his mouth agape but unable to utter a word.

“He was formerly the commander of the Southern Legion of the Silver Ring Kingdom, the tutor of three crown princes of the Silver Ring royal family, and also served as the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.” Cumberland tugged at the rope in his hand, and Emerson stumbled forward a few steps. The old knight’s expression was exactly like that of a vendor selling his wares: “He has been interested in everything in the Kingdom of Muxi for a long time, and this time he has very eagerly made a request to serve His Majesty.”

Extremely urgent?

Serve His Majesty?

Todd glanced at the rope, then at Emerson's sour face, and whispered to Cumberland, "Are you sure he wants to serve the Kingdom of Muxi? He doesn't seem willing..."

"He was born with this kind of face; everyone looks to him like they're there to collect a debt."

"Then what about this rope?"

"These are just some of his peculiar hobbies..."

Emerson, who had been listening to the conversation between the king and his minister, turned red with anger and finally shouted furiously, "Cumberland! If you dare to utter another word of nonsense, I'm leaving right now!"

Todd glanced at the embarrassed old knight, walked up to Emerson, and personally untied him, saying, "If Cumberland forced you to come, you can leave at any time."

Emerson stretched his limbs, looked at Todd, and sighed: "Your Majesty, I'd like to speak with you."